The oldest written evidence we have of Masonry As an organization in
Rumford is the charter issued To Blazing Star Lodge. This charter is dated
March July, 1819, and was issued by the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of
the Most Ancient and Honorable Society of Free and Accepted Masons for
the
Commonwealth Of Massachusetts.
petition of Joseph K. White, William Wheeler, Joseph Lufkin, Ingalls Bragg,
Farnum Abbott, Henry Farwell, Winthrop Knight, Jonah Hall, Tilson Hall,
Obadiah
Kimball and Abel Wheeler.
not now in Existence, but was lost, with many valuable Masonic Records,
when
the Masonic Temple in Boston was destroyed
By fire.
precious
to every member of Blazing
evidence
of its antiquity
Fireproof
vault of the Rumford Falls Trust Company,
lodge
room is supplied by a
Lodge
appears
in these pages.
Were alive when our beloved brother Most Worshipful Waldo Pettengill was
made a Mason in Blazing Star Lodge in 1867. These were Bros. Farnum,
Abbott. Joseph Lufkin and Tilson Hall. Bro. Aaron Stevens, the first Mason
raised in Blazing Star Lodge Was also living at that time. Joseph Lufkin
died January 16th, 1872; Farnum Abbott, August 4th, 1872; Tilson Hall,
January
5th, 1876, and Aaron Stevens,
February 7th, 1877.
know the exact date on which the lodge Was constituted. We do learn,
however, that during The year 1819, twenty-four were initiated, crafted and
Raised in the lodge. In 1820 ten candidates received All three degrees,
and
became members of the lodge.
began to feel The effects of the anti-masonic wave which swept over The
land like a pestilence, and so far as we can learn, Not a single candidate
applied for, or received the Degrees in the lodge from 1829 to 1844. By
1844, this blind fanaticism, encouraged and Propagated by some
politicians and ecclesiastics, for Political and ecclesiastical purposes, had
so far given Way to the influence of reason, that Blazing Star Lodge
resumed its labors, and since that time its Growth and prosperity have
been
steady and satisfactory.
occupies
so,
gratitude to those stalwart men who kept the Fires of Masonry burning on
our altar at a time, when To be known as a Mason was to invite
persecution and Social ostracism. That they were good men and true We
doubt not. That they were lovers of the fraternity We have ample proof. Let
us honor their memory, And endeavor to perpetuate their names to
posterity.
The
Grand Lodge of the Most Ancient and Honorable Society of Free and Accepted
Masons, for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts sends GREETING:
Whereas,
a petition has been presented to us by Joseph K. White,
William Wheeler, Joseph Lufkin, Ingalls Bragg, Farnum
Abbott,
Henry Famvell, Winthrop Knight, Jonah Hall, Tilson Hall, Obadiah Kimball
and Abel Wheeler, all Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons, praying that they, with such others As
shall hereafter join them, may be erected and constituted A regular LODGE of
Free and Accepted Masons—which Petition appearing to us as tending To the
advancement of Masonry and the good of he Craft.
KNOW
YE therefore, that WE the Grand Lodge
Aforesaid,
reposing special. Trust and Confidence in
The
Prudence and Fidelity of our beloved brethren
Above
named, have Constituted and Appointed, and by
These
Presents, do Constitute and Appoint them the
Said Joseph K. White, William Wheeler, Joseph Lufkin, Ingalls Bragg,
Farnum Abbott,
Henry Farwell,
Tilsoa Hall, Obadiah
a regular LODGE of
under the Title and Design
BLAZING
STAR LODGE, hereby giving
And granting unto them and their successors,
full
within
And
commonwealth aforesaid—to receive and enter
Apprentices,
pass Fellow Crafts, and raise Master
upon
the payment of such compensate
for the same as maybe
determined
by
Also to make choice of a Master, Wardens
and other Office Bearers, annually, or other Wise,
as they shall see cause; to receive and collect Funds
for the relief of poor and distressed Brethren,
Their Widows or Children,
and in general to transact All matters relating to Masonry,
which may to them Appear to be for the good of the Craft,
according to The ancient Usages and Customs of
Masons.
And
we do hereby require the said constituted
Brethren
to attend the Grand Lodge at their Quarterly
Comlnunieations, and other meetings,
by their Master and Wardens, or by Proxies regularly
appointed;
Also to keep a fair and regular Record of all there Proceedings,
and to lay them
before the Grand Lodge When required.
And we do enjoin our Brethren of said Lodge,
That they be punctual in the quarterly payment of
Such sums as may be assessed for the support
of the Grand Lodge
that they behave themselves respect Fully and
obediently to their superiors in, office, and In all
other respects conduct themselves as good
Masons.
And we do hereby declare the Precedence of the Said Lodge,
in the Grand Lodge and elsewhere, to eommende
from the 10th day of March A. L. 5819.
In
Testimony Whereof, WE the said Grand Master
And
Grand Wardens by virtue of the Power and
Authority to us committed, have hereunto set our Hands,
and caused the Seal of the Grand Lodge to be Affixed, at
Boston, this Eleventh day of March Anno Domini
one thousand eight hundred and fiineteen and
Of Masonry five thousand eight hundred
and nineteen.
]’RANCIS
J. OLIVER, Grand Master.
CALEB
BUTLER, Senior Grand Warden.
JOSEPH, JENKINS, Junior Grand Warden.
By
Order of the Grand Lodge,
JON
SOLE¥, Grand Secretary.
In Grand Lodge of Maine, Masonic Hall,
Port Land, May 8th, 1862, the
following resolution was Adopted, to wit:
“Resolved,
that Blazing Star Lodge, NO. 30, be Permanently located at Mexico, and that the
Grand Secretary be authorized to endorse this vote upon the Back of the
Charter.”
Attest:
Imt
BERIY, Grand Secretary.
In
Grand Lodge of Maine, Masonic Hall, Port
Land,
May 4th, 1871.
On
petition for removal, and report of committee On the same, leave was granted to.
Blazing Star Lodge To remove from Mexico to Rumford Centre, and voted That it be
there permanently established.
Attest:
s,t Bssay, Grand Secretary.
In
Grand Lodge of Maine, Masonic Hall, Portland, May 6th, 1897.
Permission granted to permanently Locate at Rumford Falls.
Attest:
STEPHEN”
Belfry, Grand Secretary.
From
the most reliable information now attainable,
I
am satisfied that the first meetings of the lodge were
Held
in the house built and occupied by Bro. William
Wheeler,
one of the charter members. It was a large
Two
story house and stood between the houses formerly
Occupied
by Bro. Alvin Bolster and the cemetery at East Rumford. The property afterwards
came into The possession of A. J. Inight and the house was taken Down by him.
It
would be a source of great satisfaction to us if We could learn the times and
places in chronological Order, when and where the meetings of the lodge were
Held, but nothing appears in the records from which Such knowledge can now be
obtained. An old resident Of Rumford, whose father became a member of?
The
lodge in 1820, told Bro. Henry W..Dark, former Historian of the lodge that the
meetings were held at Bro. Wheeler’s as late as 1829.
James
N. Briekett, who was made a Mason in Blazing, Star Lodge in 1829, told Bro. Park
that he got. His Degrees in a hall over. Joshua Graham’s store at Rumford
Center, that soon after he was made a Mason, He helped Bro. Hezekiah Hutehings
to move the furniture, Charter, records and regalia to a private, house On Ellis
River, where it remained until about 1844. Benjamin W. Elliott, whose father bought the premises?
Occupied
by Hezekiah Hutehings, told Bro. Park
That
when his father bought the premises the above
Named
property of the lodge was still there
It
is evident, however, that the lodge continued to
Hold
its meetings, transact business and elect its officers
Until
1833, which was evidently done openly and
With
regularity. I am, therefore, of the opinion that
12
The
removal mentioned by Bro. Briekett, did not take Place before 1833.
From
tradition, and from conversing with well informed Brethren, we learn that from
1833 to 1844, no Regular meetings of the lodge were held, but that the Few
members who had the courage of their convictions, Used to meet occasionally at
the house of one of the Members, but that no regular business was transacted, No
officers elected and no returns made to the Grand Lodge.
After
the lodge resumed business in 1844, and from That time until 1848, it is
impossible to say with any Degree of certainty where the meetings were held, but
The probability is that the lodge met in a hall connected With the hotel at
Rumford Corner, the owner And occupant being Bro. Joseph H. Wardwell.
It
is quite certain that from 1848 to 1853 the lodge Meet in the hall of Benjamin
Barden at Rumford Corner. At a
meeting held in {arch 1853, Benjamin Barden was reported by the committee chosen
to settle With him for hall rent, as claiming three dollars per Year for the use
of the hall, and that the amount of The bill was sixteen dollars, clearly
showing that since 1848, the lodge must have met in that Hall.
At
this meeting it was voted “To move the Lodge To the East Side of Ellis River
if Bro. Charles A.
ings
of the lodge.”
A
committee was also chosen to
Move
the furniture.
From
the Record following that of the March Meeting in 1.853, it appears that the
lodge did meet at Least once in the hall of Bro. Kimball, and then moved To the
hall of David H. Farnum, then to a hall of Bro. James M. Dolloff’s at Rumford
Center, where it Remained until moved to Mexico in 1861.
April
20, 1850; a meeting was held with only five Members present. District Deputy
Grand Master Cornelius Holland was present at the meeting. No Record of any
other meeting appears until that of December 1lth, 1853.
I
find the following note on the record of this Meeting, viz.: “The D. D. G. M.
having interdicted The meetings of Blazing Star Lodge in the hall in Which they
formerly met, therefore, on the fourteenth Day of December, A. D. 1853, the
following members Of the lodge met (seven being present) at Bro. Kim-Hall’s
house according to appointment, and proceeded as follows, to vit:
Choose
Bro. Farnum, Chairman.
Choose
Bros. David Kimball, William Frost and Ivy A. Putnam a Committee to procure a
suitable Place for the lodge to meet, to move the furniture, and to notify the
lodge and the D. D. G. Master in season to meet on the day of our next regular
com munication.
The
foregoing was followed by a further note, in
which
it was stated, “That the committee decided to move the lodge from the hall of
David Farnum to that of James M. Dolloff, which was done on the seventh day of
January, A. D., 1854.
(Signed)
IvY
A. PUTNAm, Sec’y.
No
record is found showing when the lodge met at Bro. David Farnum’s hall, or
whether his hall was the one in which “the meetings of the lodge was
interdicted,” or whether it was that of Benjamin Bar-den, or the place of
meeting prepared by Bro. Charles A. Kimball.
March
21st, 1861, we find the lodge ready for other change, so we find that
at the communication of the lodge held on that date that “Bros. James N. Brickett, William Frost and Dura Bradford were constituted a
committee to make arrangements for the removal of the lodge, and to report at
the next toe’s’t-ring.” We find nothing preceding this, to indicate an
intention to remove, and nothing to indicate a proposal to remove to any
particular place mentioned even at that time.
There
is no reason to believe otherwise than that
the
proposition had been thoroughly discussed prior to
the
passage of the vote appointing the committee, and
that
the brethren well understood that what did occur,
would
occur; therefore, on April 24th, 1861, the
15
mittee
above named reported “That in their opinion,
it
would be for the interest of this lodge that it be removed
to
Mexico.” The consent of the Grand Lodge
bei,g
obtained, Bro. Simeon C. Gleason finished a
two
story building at Mexico Corner in such a manner
as
to provide a small, but pleasant and safe hall, with
fairly
good ante rooms, in which the lodge could meet
and
do its work. The lodge was, accordingly, moved to Mexico. It held its last
communication before removal,
June
19th., 1861, at Rumford Center; its first communication after
removal, at 5Iexico, 3Iine, July 17th, 1861.
For
ten years the lodge continued to hold its communications at Mexico. It had a
prosperous existence, and in that small hall at Mexico, ‘ many first received
“Light in Masonry,” who in later years have been important factors in
producing the conditions which led to the steady growth and prosperity which
Blazing Star Lodge has since enjoyed. With a lodge at Bethel and one at
Bryant’s Pond, there can be no doubt that at that time the Order and Blazing
Star Lodge benefited by the change.
In
1871 another change seemed to be advisable;
The
jurisdiction of the lodge was quite extended, including
As
it did the towns of Dixfield, Carthage,
Peru
Mexico, Roxbury, Byron, Andover, Hanover,
Rumford,
as well as the adjacent plantations. It
seemed
to include too large a territory. Several prop
16
propositions
were informally submitted as t tile best change that could be made, euhninating
at last in a decided opinion, that Blazing Star Lodge should again return to
Rumford Center, and that a lodge should be instituted at Dixfield; a minority,
however, were in favor of giving the influence of the lodge in favor of a lodge
at Andover, where a fine hall was nearly, or quite finished, and in which the
lodge could meet.
It
was arranged that action on the division and removal
of
the lodge should be had at the regular communication
of
the lodge in April, 1871. The communication
held
April 5th, 1873, was, therefore, largely
attended,
every officer being present, allso a goodly number of brethren.
It
was known from the opposition made by them in the skirmishing before the day of
battle, that the 3lexieo members would make as strong” a fight as they could
against the removal of the lodge from their town. They counted on assistance
from the members living in Andover, as the removal of the lodge to a place
nearer Andover would somewhat mar their chance of having a lodge in that town.
Only one member from Andover, however, attended the meeting.
Every
e{fort was made by those desiring to defeat
the
removal of the lodge. A motion was made by
Bro.
John 3I. Eustis to divide the funds of the lodge
“By
donating, when a lodge is established at Dixfield
or
vicinity, by a revival of the charter of King Hiram
17
Lodge,
or otherwise, to the new lodge, the sum of Five hundred and twenty ($520.00)
dollars.” This motion was carried by a vote of twenty-three (23) to thirteen
(13). The committee in charge of these arrangements consisted of Bros. W. Scott
litehell, James S. Wright and Isaac Randall of Dixfield, and Bros. Nathan S.
Farnum,
Waldo Pettengill and Richard E. Martin of
Rumford.
The consent of Blazing Star Lodge to the
instituting
of lodge at Dixfeld was given, a dispensation
was
granted by the Grand Master for a lodge at
Dixfield
to be known as King hiram Lodge, and the
charter
granted to King Hiram Lodge ii 1828 was
re-issued.
The necessary arrangements were made to-
obtain
the consent of the Grand Lodge for the removal of Blazing Star Lodge to Rumford
Center. This consent being granted, the arrangements for removal. Of the lodge
to Rumford Center were completed.
At
a communication of the lodge held May 31st, 1871, Bros. Waldo
Pettengill and E. Hopkins Hutehings were chosen a committee and empowered to
appoint another member to act with them; to prepare and furnish a Masonic Hall
at Rumford Center for the use of the lodge. This committee had a suitable hall
erected and furnished for the use of the lodge, and here the regular
communication was held in October, 1871.
Blazing
Star Lodge continued to hold its communications
in
the hall erected at Rumford Center until
1896.
In 1892 work was commenced in earnest in developing the water power at the
Falls, which has since been carried to its present stage of development This has
resulted in the building up of a great village, with large industrial plants and
fine mercantile establishments, where up to that time only farms and pastures
had existed. The great increase in population again suggested the wisdom of
changing the location of the lodge, this time to Rumford Falls Village.
At
a stated communication of the lodge held at Masonic Hall, Rumford Center,
February 26th, A. D. 1896,
we find the following: “On motion of Brother Waldo Pettengill, Voted that the
officers and members of Blazing Star Lodge No. 30, P. & A. M. now holden at
Rumford Center, Maine, request the permission of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge
of Maine to hold its meetings at Rumford Falls instead of Rumford Center in the
Town of Rumford.”
On
this motion it was found that fifty ballots were east, thirty-six (36) being in
favor of removal, and fourteen (14) opposed to removal.
It
was then Voted: That a committee of three be appointed to present-the matter to
the Grand Lodge, and Master appointed Brothers Waldo Pettengill, George D.
Bisbee and Edwin P. Smith to serve as said committee.
The
committee attended to the duty entrusted to
them
and presented the matter before the Grand
19
Lodge,
and the following vote was passed by that body; and a copy of the vote
transmitted to Blazing Star Lodge and incorporated in its records:
“Portland,
Maine, may 11, 1896.
In
Grand Lodge, May 6, 1896, it was voted: That Blazing Star Lodge, No. 30, ‘be
refused permission to remove its place of meeting from Rumford Center to Rumford
Falls until the proper consent of the nearest lodge has been obtained, but that
until the next meeting of the Grand Lodge, Blazing Star Lodge be per-mitred to
hold its meetings at Rumford Falls.
Attest:
STEPHEN
BERRY, Grand Secretary.”
In
accordance with the authority given by said vote, the lodge rented a hall on the
fourth floor of the Cares Block in Rumford Falls, and the first meeting was held
there on Wednesday evening June 24, 1896, with fifty-six (56) members present
and visiting brethren from twenty-three (23) lodges.
The
lodge continued to hold its meetings in Cares Hall until 1902, when it moved
into a new hall.
which
was built for Masonic purposes by Blazing Star Lodge and Rumford Chapter, where
all the Masonic bodies in Rumford now meet.
That
the brethren of Blazing Star Lodge acted
wisely
in voting to remove from Rumford Center to
Rumford
Falls is shown by even a casual examination
20
of
the present condition of the lodge as compared with its condition before it
removed.
Such
examination cannot fail to show that we have greatly increased, both in
membership and in financial strength, the membership increasing from one hundred
and five (1(95) on March 1st, 1896, to three hundred and forty-nine
(349) December 31, 1919. This increase we believe to have been gained without in
any degree lowering the moral strength of the lodge, or forgetting that it is
the internal, and not the external qualifications of a man that should recommend
him to be made a Mason.
By
the terms of the vote of the Grand Lodge passed in 1896, Blazing Star Lodge was
granted permission to hold its meeting at Rumford Falls, until the next meeting
of the Grand Lodge, it became necessary to take measures to make this permission
permanent, or rather to obtain the removal of the lodge to Rumford Falls.
The
proper measures were taken to obtain the consent of King Hiram Lodge of Dixfield,
which was granted on condition that the jurisdiction of the two lodges should
not be changed.
At
the communication of the Grand Lodge held in
May,
A. D., 1897, a petition was presented on behalf of
Blazing
Star Lodge to be permanently established at
Rumford
Falls; this was accompanied by a petition
21
of
Master Masons of Rumford and vicinity praying that the petition be granted.
The
following extract from the report of the committee on dispensations and charters
is quoted: “In the matter of the petition of Blazing Star Lodge, No.
30, of Rumford, located at Rumford Falls, the past year by permission of
the Grand Lodge, that the place of meetings of said lodge be permanently
established at Rumford Falls, where the meetings are now held, instead of
Rumford Center, where the meetings were formerly held, also petition of Master
‘[masons, residents of Rumford Falls and vicinity, for the same, we find as
follows: The petitioners have the sanction of the District ‘Deputy Grand
Master of the district where said lodge is situated, and the qualified approval
of the nearest lodge, King Hiram, of Dixfield, the qualification being that the
jurisdiction shall not thereby be changed. While such permanent location would
not affect the jurisdiction of either lodge in its own town it would affect the
jurisdiction of King Hiram Lodge, in the adjacent town of Mexico.
The
prosperity of Blazing Star Lodge, at Rumford Falls, has demonstrated the wisdom
of the Grand I, lodge in permitting it to hold meetings there, and the need of a
lodge at Rumford Falls is clearly established.
A
new lodge there would be the ruin of Blazing Star
Lodge
in its former location, and the loss of Mexico
to
King Hiram in Dixfield. Believing that the
22
greatest
good to the greatest number, and the interest of the craft as a whole should be
considered in determining such matters, the approval of the nearest lodge in
this ease, therefore, is deemed to be unreasonably withheld.
Your
committee recommend that the prayer of
the
petitioners be granted.”
This
report was accepted and the recommendation adopted and Blazing Star Lodge, No.
30, became duly, and we hope, permanently located at Rumford Fails.
The
growth and prosperity of the lodge in its new location was so great as to
inspire in its members the desire to own a hall of their own and which would be
dedicated wholly to Masonic purposes. It was thought that it might be feasible
to raise the Odd Fellows Block by adding an additional story, and a committee
was appointed to act in conjunction with a similar committee appointed by
Rumford Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, to ascertain the feasibility of the project.
A
competent engineer was engaged, who, after carefully examining the premises,
reported that the project was feasible, and the necessary rights were purchased,
the building was raised, and a new and commodious hall completed, furnished and
dedicated to Masonic uses.
Brothers
Gerald A. Peabody, Frank R. Reed and Fred O. Eaton were appointed a committee to
consult with a similar committee appointed by rumford Chapter in relation to the
dedication of the new hall.
These
committees attended to the duties assigned them.
The
new hall was first used for lodge work April 30th, 1902, the
following dispensation having been granted by the Grand Master:
(Seal)
FREE
AND ACCEPTED 3{ASON$.
Office
of the Grand Master, Norway,
Aptil
24th, 1902.
By
virtue of the authority vested in me as Grand Master by the Ancient Customs and
Regulations of the Fraternity, and by the Constitution of the Grand Lodge of
Maine, I do hereby grant permission to Blazing Star Lodge, No. 30, Free and
Accepted Masons, under the jurisdiction of said Grand Lodge, to hold future
meetings for the transaction of Masonic work in the hall and apartments at
Rumford Falls, recently fitted and furnished by the members of said lodge for
for the purposes. R.. W. District Deputy Grand Master Don A. Gates having made
report to me that said apartments are suitable, and in all ways secure.
Fraternally
yours,
Gra)d
3Iaster.
Under
the above dispensation meetings were held
24
in
the new hall until 3lay 23rd, 1902, at which time the hall was
dedicated to Masonic purposes agreeable to the ancient usages and customs of the
order, in the presence of a large number of the members of the lodge, and many
visiting brethren, who with families and invited guests of the members filled
the hall to its capacity.
The
Grand Lodge opened in the small hall in due
and
ancient form by the officers of the Grand Lodge
as
follows :
Alfred
S. Kimball,
Don
A. Gates, D. D. G. M. as
:Eugene
F. Smith
as
A.
C. T. King
as
A.
M. Rollins
as
Fessenden
I. Day, P. G. M. as
W.
E. Brooks
Bial
F. Bradbury
as
Charles
L. Hathaway
as
John
P. Shepherd
as
William
F. Allen
as
William
P. Gamman
as
Warren
O. Carney
Most
Worshipful Grand Master
R.
W. Deputy Grand Master
R.
W. Grand Senior Warden
R.
W. Grand Junior Warden
R.
W. Grand Treasurer
R.
W. Grand Secretary
W.
Grand Chaplain
W.
Grand Marshall
W.
Grand Sen. Deacon
W.
Grand Jun. ]Deacon
W.
Grand Sen. Steward
W.
Grand Jan. Steward
W.
Grand Tyler
with
Charles
M. ]3isbee
as
Architect
Worshipful
M[aster Gerald A. Peabody appointed
the
following committee to receive and introduce the
Grand
Officers, Past Masters Waldo Pettengill,
5
George
D. Bisbee, Joseph W. Simpsot and R.
Brookes
Stratton.
After
completing the dedication of the hall the Grand Master delivered a Yery able and
interesting address, nd congratulated the members of Blazing Star Lodge on its
fine quarters and on its large increasing membership.
27
MEMBERSHIP
The
following list, though doubtless incomplete owing to loss of early Records,
contains the names of those known to have been members of Blazing Star Lodge,
with the date of their becoming members so far as known.
Charter
Members
White,
Joseph K.
Knight,
Winthrop
Wheeler,
William
Hall,
Jonah
Lufkin,
Joseph
Hall,
Tillson
Bragg,
]ngalls
Kimball,
Obadiah
Abbott,
Farnum
Wheeler,
Abel
Farwell,
lqenry
Members
1819
Bartlett,
Freeborn G.
Stevens,
Aaron
Ellio’tt,
Cotton
Lufkin,
John
Godwin,
Coieman
Kimball,
Moses
Marble,
Epl}riam
Flint,
Benjamin
Holman,
Jonathan
Kimball,
John
Bernard,
Silas
Stevens,
Stephen G.
Farnum,
Dvid Hall
Rolfe,
Samuel
Bolster,
Alvin
Kimball,
David
Adams,
Joseph