1985 History Page 2 of 17

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THE GRAND LODGE

The Grand Lodge of Masons in Massachusetts with over 330 Lodges located in Chile, China, Japan, Panama and Cuba in addition to Massachusetts is the oldest Grand Jurisdiction in the western hemisphere and third oldest in the world. Only the Grand Lodges of England and Ireland are senior. Organized in 1733 as the result of a deputation issued to Henry Price, a Boston tailor and businessman, as Provincial Grand Master of New England, the Provincial Grand Lodge was formed and immediately constituted St. John's Lodge. Subsequently, the Grand Lodge of Scotland created a Provincial Grand Lodge and an Independent Grand Lodge was formed in 1769 and 1777 respectively. In 1792, the three groups merged to become the Grand Lodge as we know it.

The Grand Lodge in Massachusetts is one of 50 in the United States, each sovereign within its own jurisdiction and each in amity with the others. Masonry in Massachusetts is governed by a Grand Master who traditionally has been elected for three one-year terms and appoints a Deputy Grand Master in each of those years. The Deputy Grand Master becomes acting Grand Master during the absence of the Grand Master from the jurisdiction. The Senior and Junior Grand Wardens, Grand Treasurer and Grand Secretary are elected annually. The Grand Master in Massachusetts is the only one of the fifty who serves for three years and who does not progress through a line to that office.

Other appointed officers include the District Deputy Grand Masters, the personal representatives of the Grand Master in the fifty districts under this Grand Lodge. The Grand Marshal serves with the Grand Master during the three years and runs unopposed for the of fice of Senior Grand Warden in the year following. The Grand Sword Bearer is also a three year service. The Grand Chaplains, Grand Lecturers, two Deacons, four Stewards, Organist and Tyler are appointed each year. The Grand Standard Bearer and two Grand Pursuivants are appointed annually to serve as Marshals for the Deputy Grand Master and Grand Wardens, respectively.

Freemasonry's history in Massachusetts is a proud and distinguished one. Dr. Joseph Warren was serving as Grand Master when he was slain at the Battle of Bunker Hill. Paul Revere was Grand Master in 1795 - 1797 and Isaiah Thomas, a most notable patriot and publisher, served shortly thereafter. William D. Coolidge, the first Master of Dalhousie Lodge under dispensation was elected in 1860 and 1861 as Grand Master and traveled through Confederate lines under a Masonic flag of truce to retrieve the body of our Worshipful Master, Dr. Albert A. Kendall, who was slain at the Battle of Antietam while serving in that office.

Thus, Freemasonry, our Grand Lodge and its members have contributed much toward that which we enjoy today in our country, state and in our Lodge. Be proud of Freemasonry's past, but more importantly, be a part of Freemasonry's future.

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