HISTORY OF WASHINGTON LODGE NO. 61, F & A M

BY: ELMER D. GOODWIN, PM 1957 (updated to 2002)

FOREWORD

Two hundred years ago Lord Chesterfield denominated history as “only a heap of confused facts.” He was right, of course, if confusion and facts are all that are offered the student.

Emerson saw more truly “There is no history, only biography,” he stated.

Masonic history has greatly suffered from the amateur historian who has been meticulous in gathering his “confused heap of facts” and forgetting that the heart of history is men: men’s thoughts, philosophies, morals, beliefs, and acts. The Masonic Service Association in a recent bulletin published the above lines. As an amateur historian we find much food for thought therein.

On the first day of January 1857, the MW Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire, Alfred Greeley, issued a dispensation to a group of 27 members of Lafayette Lodge No. 41 to organize a second Lodge in the City of Manchester, under the name of Washington Lodge No. 61.

This was not the first Lodge in New Hampshire to bear the name of the “Father of his Country.” A charter was issued but a few months after Washington’s death to organize a Lodge in Exeter under the name of Washington Lodge No. 13. It apparently had an uphill passage, for it surrendered its charter after about 24 years.

The following names appear on the dispensation: John S. Kidder, Isaac C. Flanders, Edward W. Harrington, Samuel G. Langley, Samuel W. Jones, Ebenezer H. Davis, Charles Moore, Caleb Duxbury, Walter Gray, William H. Hill, James S. Cheney, Edson E. George,

James S. Cogswell, David B. Kibby, George W. Morrison, Charles H. Adams, D. L. Robinson, Nathaniel W. Cumner, Daniel C. Gould, Andrew W. Thompson, George B. Chandler, Samuel H. Edgerly, Ira Bliss, James F. Angell, Ira Stone, Samuel B. Kidder, and Daniel W. Fling.

The dispensation stipulated that only the EA degree could be conferred, and that the officers appointed by the Grand Master, or their proxies, must attend the next annual communication of the Grand Lodge.

This session convened on the 9th of June 1857 and was a session long to be remembered.

Prominent among its guests was the celebrated Masonic Lecturer and Traveler Robert Morris, a Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky and founder of the Order of the Eastern Star.

An invitation from the MW Grand Lodge of Massachusetts was accepted to take part on the 17th of June in the dedication of a monument at Charles town erected to the memory of Past Most Worshipful Grand Master General Joseph Warren. Carrying Out the terms of the dispensation. Brothers George W. Morrison and William H. Hill, representatives, returned the dispensation and with it the bylaws and records of the Lodge, and also a petition for a charter which was referred to the Committee on Lodges, who recommended that the request be granted, whereupon the Grand Lodge voted that a charter be granted to Washington Lodge No. 61.

A charter was then issued dated June 9, 1857. On June 12th George H. Hubbard, having been elected Grand Master, issued a second dispensation continuing the Lodge in full force until organized in regular form, under the charter, and designated the 17th day of June for the election of all necessary officers and that said meeting act upon the application for the Fellow Craft degree of all Brothers initiated under the initial dispensation.

On Thursday evening June 25th, 1857, a Lodge of Master Masons was opened, Most Worshipful George H. Hubbard presiding. The other stations were filled by Henry I. Mowatt as Senior Grand Warden, John Mosley as Junior Grand Warden, Asabel A. Balch as Grand Secretary, Isaac M. Haynes as Grand Marshal, and James S. Cogswell as Grand Chaplain.

The Grand Master duly consecrated the Lodge and installed the Officers elected on June 17th as follows: Edward W. Harrington, Worshipful Master, Samuel G. Langley, Senior Warden, Samuel W. Jones, Junior Warden, James S. Cheney, Treasurer, George Byron Chandler, Secretary, Caleb Duxbury, Senior Deacon, Nathaniel W. Cumner, Junior Deacon.

Washington Lodge No. 61 was now duly organized. In the first dispensation Grand Master Greeley appointed John S. Kidder, Worshipful Master, Isaac C. Flanders, Senior Warden and Edward W. Harrington, Junior Warden.

Lafayette Lodge No. 41 left its birthplace in Bedford and located in the Duncklee Block on Elm Street opposite Mechanic Street in September 1845. In 1856 it moved to larger and more pretentious quarters at 27 Hanover Street, which was thereafter known as the “Masonic Temple.” These apartments were dedicated on December 6, 1856, and here Washington Lodge No. 61 was invited to share and there remained undisturbed until July 7, 1870, when a fire destroyed the entire section from Nutfield Lane to Chestnut Street. So quickly restored was the “Masonic Temple” that on the 26th of December 1870 it was rededicated. Past Master Joseph S. Kidder gave the dedicatory address and Brother John P. Newell furnished the historical address, both members of Washington Lodge.

Twenty years later these two Lodges felt the need of more room and leased the fifth floor of the Pembroke Building and a portion of the fourth floor for fifteen hundred dollars per year. The dedication took place on October 15, 1890, by the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge, Frank Dana Woodbury Most Worshipful Grand Master presiding.

Past Grand Master Henry E. Burnham, a member of Washington Lodge gave the address. Here the two Lodges together with other branches of the Order flourished until 1927, when they moved into the present Temple.

We have no exact date of the migration but associate the event with the week of Brother Charles Lindbergh’s lone flight over the Atlantic, when he left New York, being May 20. 1927.

On St. John’s Day June 24, 1925, the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge convened in the Masonic Hall, Pembroke Block, for the purpose of laying the cornerstone of the new Temple. Lafayette and Washington Lodges escorted the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge to the site of the new structure where under the direction of Most Worshipful Bela Kingman the stone was placed in position.

The following officers of Washington Lodge were present: Elmer D. Goodwin, Worshipful Master Charles E. Perkins, Senior Warden, Philip English, Junior Warden, John C. Bickford, Treasurer, James E. Dodge, Secretary, George E. Wilcomb, Senior Deacon, Hiram B. Haskell, Junior Deacon, George A. Lang, Senior Stewart, George H. Bailey, Junior Stewart, Thomas F. Dalton, Marshal, Harry B. Cilley, Chaplain, John A. Hoffman, Tyler.

May 12, 1933 was the date of dedication. A Lodge of Master Masons being opened the M.W. Grand Master Allan M. Wilson declared a “Lodge of emergency” open and consecrated the Temple in due form. On this occasion Mr. Frank P. Carpenter, an honored citizen and public benefactor, was made a Mason at sight. This was the first time a Grand Master, in New Hampshire, had exercised this prerogative in 70 years. Brother Carpenter became a member of Washington Lodge No. 61 September 28, 1933.

On October 16, 1936, a second ceremony of dedication came to pass from the fact that in the Main Lodge room a complete refurnishing and redecorating had taken place through the generosity of Mrs. George Hosser in memory of her late husband Brother George Hosser, a member of a Lodge in N. B.

The organ, a gift from Brother Henry A. Stevens, a member of Washington Lodge, in memory of his wife Sarah C. Stevens, was included in the ceremony of dedication.

M.W. Allan M. Wilson presided at the ceremony, assisted by officers of Lafayette and Washington Lodges.

November 10, 1925, being the 173rd Anniversary of George Washington’s initiation into Masonry, Washington Lodge No. 61 celebrated the event. Brother Percy Thomas, a member of William North Lodge of Lowell, Massachusetts, gave an appropriate address.

During its one hundred years the Lodge has assisted at many dedications.

On July 4th, 1867, in conjunction with Lafayette Lodge No. 41 it assisted the M.W. Grand Lodge in laying the cornerstone of the Hillsborough County Court House.

The Hon. George W. Morrison, a Past Master of Washington Lodge, delivered the oration.

Again, in company with Lafayette Lodge No. 41 Washington Lodge assisted the M.W. Grand Lodge in the dedication of the Soldiers Monument on Merrimack Common, September 11, 1879.

The speaker on this occasion was also Hon. George W. Morrison, member of Congress.

September 6, 1897 the two Lodges assisted the M.W. Grand Lodge in the dedication of the Weston Observatory, which was a gift to the City of Manchester by Governor James A. Weston, a member of Lafayette Lodge No. 41. The oration was delivered on this occasion by Edwin F. Jones, a member of Washington Lodge and Most Worshipful Grand Master in 1910.

The laying of the cornerstone at the Masonic Home took place on July 8, 1902, and the dedication of the building occurred on May 11, 1903. On both occasions the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge was escorted by Lafayette and Washington Lodges. The lot was purchased of the Amoskeag Corporation and was a gift from Lafayette and Washington Lodges.

The purchase price at 4 cents per foot was $2,270.48.

The Semi-Centennial of Washington Lodge was celebrated June 25, 1907. 1:30 PM a Lodge of Master Masons was opened with the following Officers at their stations: Frank L. Way, Worshipful Master, Halbert N. Bond, Senior Warden, Frank W. Batchelder, Junior Warden, John C. Bickford, Treasurer, James E. Dodge, Secretary, Walter G. Africa, Senior Deacon,

Waldo Marston, Junior Deacon, Thomas Chalmers, Chaplain, Edward W. Fogg, Marshal, Frank L. Blair, Senior Stewart, Charles R. Dustin, Junior Stewart, John Gillis, Tyler. A procession was formed and the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge was escorted to the First Congregational Church by Lafayette Lodge No. 41 and Washington Lodge No. 61 where the following program was presented:

Organ prelude by Walter Lewis — Invocation by Right Worshipful Joseph E. Bobbins, Grand Chaplain. — Schubert Quartette — Address of welcome, Frank L. Way, Worshipful Master –

Schubert Quartette — Address: Most Worshipful Grand Master William A Plummer. –

History, James E. Dodge, Secretary — Schubert Quartette (Lost Chord)

Oration by Henry W. Rugg, Dep. Grand Master of the Grand Encampment KT

Presentation of a gavel by Worshipful Master Minot T. Phelps of Lafayette Lodge No. 41.

Poem by Brother Edward E. Parker of Nashua — Schubert Quartette (Evening Song) –Benediction Rev. Thomas Chalmers –Returning to the Hall a musical entertainment was furnished by the Schubert Quartette, Brother Lewis, organist. — Refreshments were served.

On the 22nd of February 1932, again the two Lodges joined hands and celebrated the two hundredth anniversary of George Washington’s birth; in fact, Lodges all over the United States celebrated the event.

After an address of welcome by Most Worshipful Brother Allan M. Wilson, a pageant was presented under the direction of our late Brother Edwin A. Norton. This pageant depicted George and Martha Washington at their home in Mount Vernon. Representing General Washington was Brother David Bissett and Martha, was represented by Mrs. C. D. Steele. Sixteen others were in the cast.

A fine address was given by the Hon. George H. Moses, US Senator from New Hampshire, at the conclusion of which he presented a bust of Washington, as well as a copy of Stuart’s unfinished painting of our first President. A local artist (Adelbert Foster) painted a standing portrait of General Washington that now adorns the wall of the lower hall. Preceding the program a banquet was served under the sponsorship of the ladies of St. James M. E. Church, to which 654 people rendered justice.

On Sunday, September 12th, 1948, the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge was escorted by Lafayette and Washington Lodges to Stark Park, where under the direction of Most Worshipful Grand Master Harold O. Cady an equestrian statue erected to the memory of Brother John Stark was dedicated in due form.

Brother Sherman Adams, a member of Parker Lodge No. 99 and ex-Governor of New Hampshire, delivered the oration.

The statue was a gift to the city of Manchester by the will of our late Brother Charles H. Bartlett, a Past Master of Washington Lodge and a former Mayor of the city.

On Sunday, August 28th, 1955, in compliance with a request from his Honor Josaphat T. Benoit, Mayor of Manchester, the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge was escorted to Derryfield Park by Lafayette and Washington Lodges where under the direction of Most Worshipful Grand Master Leslie F. Murch a drinking fountain was dedicated in due form.

This fountain was a gift to the City of Manchester by the late Emma Varney in memory of her father, Hon. David B. Varney, one of our first Mayors as well as the first candidate in Washington Lodge No. 61 in 1857. The Reverend Brother Mark B. Strickland, pastor of the First Congregational Church, delivered the oration.

By special dispensation Washington Lodge No. 61 opened a Lodge of Fellowcrafts at the Tip-Top House on Mt. Washington June 23, 1932.

Brother Frank Barndollar Worshipful Master was assisted by the following officers: L. Ashton Thorp, Senior Warden, David C. Lamprey, Junior Warden, Thomas J. Fellows, Treasurer, Arthur M. Ward, Secretary, Herman C. Christophe, Chaplain, Alfred B. March, Senior Deacon, George H. Bailey, Junior Deacon, H. H. Rouse, Marshal, Everett E. Austin, pianist, Charles D. Barnard, Senior Stewart, Charles H. Barnard, Junior Stewart, John A. Hoffman, Tyler.

Brother Herbert Leach was passed to the degree of Fellowcraft. Many Lodges were represented.

On Sunday, September 10, 1933, under special dispensation, Washington Lodge No. 61 and Morning Star Lodge No. 15 of Wolfeboro assembled on Black Island, Lake Winnipesaukee, in the town of Tuftonboro, a Lodge of Master Masons being opened by Washington Lodge No. 61, Brother Richard Byron Steams was made a Master Mason. The following officers were present: L. Ashton Thorp, Worshipful Master, Right Worshipful Edwin H. Matson, Most Worshipful Grand Master Orville E. Caine and Past Most Worshipful Allan M. Wilson. Music was furnished by Ashlar Quartette of Manchester, Everett E. Austin, organist.

Having noted some of the activities of the Lodge during its first century, some of which might be classed with the trivial, let us turn to the “heart of history,” namely: men.

Beginning its 100 years existence with the 27 charter members, we find 918 names on the roster January 1, 1957.

Our membership has been made up of many of Manchester’s leading citizens, clergymen, doctors, lawyers, teachers, merchants, in fact, from every walk in life. Some of our number have been governors, several have been justices of the Supreme Court, several have been judges of the Probate and Municipal Courts. Nine have served the city as mayor. We have been represented at the Nation’s Capital several times as well as in our state legislature by members of Washington

Lodge.

One hundred and nine of our Brothers have occupied the Oriental chair. Time would fail us to pay them tribute individually; however, we may be forgiven in calling attention to our first Worshipful Master Edward Weatherbee Harrington, born of Irish parents in Acton, Mass. In 1816 came to Manchester at the behest of a brother who was an operative Mason laying brick on the then rising mills of this City, arriving January 1st, 1839. He opened a restaurant on the east side of Elm Street and later moved across the way to the corner of Market Street, now the property of the Manchester Savings Bank.

Upon the organization of the City National Bank he became its first cashier and continued in the banking business the remainder of his life. Treasurer of the Manchester and Lawrence as well as the Suncook Valley Railroad for many years, Mayor several terms, Water and Eire Commissioner, and Captain of the first Hook and Ladder Company.

Serving as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in July 1876 that nominated Tilden for President at St. Louis, he journeyed on to Hot Springs, Ark., where he died on the eleventh of July.

He was made a Mason in Lafayette Lodge No. 41 and became a charter member of Washington Lodge, District Deputy Grand Master in 1858-59 and Grand High Priest of the Grand RA Chapter in 1862.

Eminent Commander of Trinity Commandery in 1863-64. He was the first Mason in Manchester to receive the 33-degree.

The following is a list of our Worshipful Masters: (* Deceased)

Edward W. Harrington* 1857

Samuel G. Langley* 1858-1859

John S. Kidder* 1860-1861

Nathaniel W. Cumner* 1862-1863

Charles Bunton* 1864

Lewis W. Clark* 1865

Daniel F. Straw* 1866

Clinton W. Stanley* 1867

Isaac W. Smith* 1868

Joseph Kidder* 1869

Andrew Bunton* 1870-1871

Charles H. Barrett* 1872-1873

Daniel A. Clifford* 1874-1875

Henry E. Burnham* 1876-1877

George A. Bailey* 1878-1879

George E. Thompson* 1880-1881

Edward P. Sherbume* 1882

Charles C. Hayes* 1883-1884

John P. Bartlett* 1885-1886

George I. McAllister* 1887-1888

Edward L. Kimball* 1889-1890

Edwin F. Jones* 1891

Fred C. Baldwin* 1892

Frank S. Sutcliffe* 1893-1894

George B. True* 1895-1896

Charles W. Knowlton* 1897-1898

Arthur S. Bunton* 1899

Charles W. Bickford* 1900-1901

George B. Rogers 1902-1903

Albert E. Blanchard* 1904-1905

Frank L. Way* 1906-1907

Halbert N. Bond* 1908

Frank H. Batchelder* 1909-1910

Walter G. Africa* 1911-1912

Frank L. Blair* 1913-1914

George A. Campbell* 1915-1916

Allan M. Wilson* 1917-1918

Edward H. Fogg* 1919-1920

Arthur W. Phinney* 1921-1922

Vaughn D. Griffin* 1923

John C. Hayes* 1924

Elmer D. Goodwin* 1925-1926

Charles E. Perkins* 1927

Philip English* 1928

Hiram B. Haskell* 1929

George H. Bailey* 1930-1931

Frank Barndollar* 1932

L. Ashton Thorpe* 1933-1934

David C. Lamprey* 1935

Alfred B. Marsh* 1936

Robinson C. Frost* 1937

Herman Christophe* 1938

Harry Watkins* 1939

Eugene W. Moore* 1940

Harold C. McAllister* 1941

J. Walker Wiggin* 1942-1943

Henry G. Massey* 1944

Walter S. Little* 1945

Ralph L. Sloan* 1946

Charles H. Barnard* 1947

Edwin D. Tebbetts* 1948

Alfred B. Penniman* 1949

Hugo V. Hallstrom* 1950

Howard W. George* 1951

Ralph C. Locke* 1952

Alfred W. Baines* 1953

Jonathan B. Pollard* 1954

A. Graham Yuill* 1955

Walter B. George* 1956

Harry W. Bennert* 1957

Harry G. Merrill* 1958

Sidney A. Peyton 1959

Stanley F. Dydo* 1960

John F. Thompson* 1961

Norman S. Ewing* 1962

Alfred J. Clark* 1963

Marin Lipski 1964

Joseph M. Martino 1965

Robert DeVore 1966

Alan J. Pollard 1967

Nicholas G. Skaperdas 1968

Walter H. Page* 1969

Thomas K. Lalos 1970

Robert W. Sinclare 1971

Sidney Baines Jr. 1972

Raymond N. Decorse 1973

Robert H. Bishop 1974

Karl H. Bickford III 1975

Robert E. Mclean* 1976

Mark Northridge 1977

Carlton Ekdaul 1978

John E. Williams 1979-80-81

Charles S. Munn* 1982

Mortimer C. Simon 1983-84

Roger L. Tellier 1985

Robert W. Blymire 1986

M. Stephen Zogopoulos 1987

Vernon L. Townsend 1988

Wayne D. Flood 1989

George M. Shepherd 1990

Thomas X Tsirimokos 1991

James T. Benoit 1992

R. Bradley Alderfer 1993

Robert E. Gadoury 1994

Dean A. Demarre 1995

Ralph W. Austin 1996

Theodore H. Smith Jr. 1997-98

George C. Skaperdas 1999-2000

John B. Clark 2001

M. Stephen Zogopoulos 2002

Frank P. Kenney 2003-2004

Out of this list of 109, ten became Grand Masters:

Nathaniel W. Cumner 1872-1873-1874

Andrew Bunton 1880

Henry E. Burnham 1885

Charles C. Hayes 1894-1895

George I. McAllister 1900

Edwin F. Jones 1910

Walter G. Africa 1921-1922

Allan M. Wilson 1931-1932

Harold C. McAllister 1951-1952

Ralph L. Sloan 1969

Seventeen members of Washington Lodge who have received the 33rd degree:

Edward W. Harrington May 2, 1863

Joseph W. Fellows Aug. 20, 1874

Nathaniel W. Cumner Sept. 19, 1882

Andrew Bunton Sept. 17, 1885

Nathan P. Hunt Sept. 20, 1892

Charles C. Hayes Sept. 21, 1897

George I. McAllister Sept. 18, 1900

Henry E. Bumham Sept. 21, 1904

J. Brodie Smith Sept. 19,1905

Walter G. Africa Sept. 16, 1913

Elmer D. Goodwin Sept. 21, 1920

Halbert N. Bond Sept. 18, 1922

Frank C. Livingston Sept. 16, 1924

Allan M. Wilson Sept. 20, 1927

H. C. McAllister Sept. 24, 1947

George H. Bailey Sept. 24, 1947

Wallace S. Webb Sept. 26, 1956

Of Treasurers we have had ten.

James S. Cheney 1857-1860

Isaac C. Flanders 1860-1864

N. W. Cumner 1864-1881

B. G. Cumner 1881-1888

John C. Bickford 1888-1931

Thomas J. Fellows 1931-1950

Walter S. Little 1950-1952

Ralph L. Sloan 1952-1969

Walter H. Page 1970-1995

Thomas X. Tsirimokos 1995-

Frank Kenney

R. Brad Alderfer Present

Of Secretaries we have had fourteen:

George Byron Chandler 1857-1859

Charles F. Livingston 1859-1866

Hiram Forsaith 1866-1868

Charles G. Blake 1868-1875

Jonathan Smith 1875-1879

E. P. Sherburne 1879-1880

James E. Dodge 1880-1926

Arthur M. Ward 1926-1954

Edwin D. Tebbetts 1954-1980

Karl C. Bickford III 1980-1983

John E. Williams 1984-1991

Thomas X. Tsirimokos 1991-1995

Dean A. Demarre 1996-1997

Nathaniel C. Foss Jr. 1998-2006

Steven Gendon 2006-Present

SIDE LIGHTS

The first funeral attended by Washington Lodge, and there have been many, was that of Ira Bliss, one of the petitioners. He died in February 1857.

David B. Varney was the first candidate under the dispensation.

George A. Cults was the first candidate initiated in the new Temple September 1927.

Two members of Washington Lodge produced our State Song, “Old New Hampshire,”. The words by the late John Franklin Holmes, M.D. and the music by Maurice Hoffmann, Jr.

We started with 27 members, our membership now is about 950. (in 2001 353)

The dues originally were one dollar a year payable quarterly. ($49.00 in 2001)

Our first District Deputy Master was Edward W. Harrington and our last George H. Bailey.

The Samuel P. Hunt foundation is a gift from a member of Washington Lodge.

In the beginning of this compilation of “confused facts” we had little trouble but much trouble in coming to an end, for like the widow’s meal barrel recorded in the Scripture, there is plenty more in the barrel.