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1851-1901. 
 
 FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY 
 
 M^tiM^n t:o59^, Bo* 77^ 
 
 Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. 
 
 MERIDEN, CONNECTICUT, 
 January Fii'st, Nineteen Hundred and One. 
 
Hs 
 
 /i 5'^ MSI 
 
 A-Din^ 
 
 PRINTED BY 
 
 THE JOURNAL PUBLISHING CO., 
 
 MERIDEN, CONN. 
 
TO THE 
 
 Brethren of Meridian Xodge^ Mn. 77^ 
 
 A.. F. & A.. ~NL. 
 ■WTHO STTA T.T, CBaL,BBK_A.TE; THEIR 
 
 CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY 
 
 jAN^rr.AJRY 1, 1951, 
 THIS book; 
 
 IS FRATBIRN'ALX.Y 3DBIDIOATED. 
 
M^tidian Co^ei^, ^o. 77, 
 
 At a stated communication of Meridian Lodge, No. 
 77, A. F. & A. M., held at Masonic Hall, Palace Block, 
 Monday evening, March 12, 1900, the following vote 
 was passed : 
 
 " That Meridian Lodge celebrate its Fiftieth Anni- 
 veisary on January i, 1901, and that the Worshipful Master 
 appoint a committee to have full charge of all arrange- 
 ments." 
 
 At a stated communication March 26, 1900, the Wor- 
 shipful Master appointed the following Brothers as part of 
 the committee to make arrangements for the celebration of 
 the Fiftieth Anniversary of Meridian Lodge : 
 
 Past-Masters Levi E. Coe, William H. Westwood, Geo. 
 E. BiCKNELL, Eugene A. Hall and William C. Comstock. 
 
 The Committee immediately organized, and at the 
 stated communication of the Lodge, October 22, 1900, 
 reported the following programme which was approved and 
 adopted by the Lodge: 
 
Programtne. 
 
 Tuesday, January i, 1901. 
 
 I P. M. Special Communication of Meridian Lodge, No. 
 77, A. P. & A. M., AT Masonic Hall. 
 
 Opening of Lodge. 
 
 Reception of Grand Officers. 
 
 Reading of Original Records. 
 
 Form in Grand Procession and March to the 
 Town Hall. 
 
 2.30 P. M. PUBLIC EXERCISES AT TOWN HALL. 
 
 programme : 
 Music, . . Orchestra 
 
 Prayer, . . .... 
 
 Reverend Brother Alexander H. Mead, 
 Chaplain of Meridian Lodge. 
 
 Address or Welcome, 
 
 Worshipful Master Wilbert L. Babcock. 
 
 Music — "Anniversary Ode," 
 
 ( Sung by Audience, accompanied by Orchestra). 
 
 Hail ! sacred art! by Heaven designed 
 A gracious blessing for mankind ; 
 Peace, joy and love thou dost bestow, 
 On us, thy votaries below. 
 
Bright wisdom's footsteps here we trace 
 From Solomon, the prince of peace, 
 Whose righteous maxims still we hold 
 More precious than rich Ophir's gold. 
 
 His heavenly proverbs to us tell. 
 How we on earth should ever dwell, 
 In harmony and social love, 
 To emulate the blest above. 
 
 Vain, empty grandeur shall not find 
 Its dwelling in a Brother's mind ; 
 A Mason, who is true and wise, 
 Its glittering pomp will e'er despise. 
 
 Candor and friendship, joy and peace, 
 Within his breast shall have a place. 
 Virtue and Wisdom thus combined 
 Shall decorate the Mason's mind. 
 
 Historical Address, . . . . 
 
 Worshipful Brother Levi E. Coe, 
 Past-Master of Meridian Lodge. 
 
 Poem, . . . Brother Edwin B. Everitt 
 
 Music, ...... Orchestra 
 
 Address, . . U. S. Senator, Brother Orville H. Piatt 
 
 Music — "America," . ... 
 
 (Sung by Audience, accompanied by Orchestra). 
 
 Benediction, ...... 
 
 Reverend Brother Warren S. Perkins, 
 Past- Chaplain of Meridian Lodge. 
 
 5 P. M. Re-form Procession and March to Lodge Room. 
 
 Closing of Lodge. 
 
 6 P. M. Banquet at Armory of Company I, Second 
 
 Regiment, C. N. G. 
 
At the same communication the Worshipful Master 
 announced the appointment of the whole committee to have 
 charge of the celebration as follows : 
 
 EXECurrvE committee: 
 
 W. Bro. Levi E. Coe, Chairman, 
 
 W. Bro. Eugene A. Hall, Secretary, 
 
 W. Bro. William H. Westwood, 
 
 W. Bro. George E. Bicknell, 
 
 W. Bro. William C. Comstock. 
 
 RECEPTION : 
 
 worshipful MASTER, 
 
 w. B. ne'atton f. hart, 
 
 M. W. B. WILLIAM WALLACE LEE, 
 
 W. B. HENRY J. CHUFICH, 
 
 W. B. H. WALES LINES, 
 
 W. B. MATTHEW BEATTY, 
 
 W. B.JOHN C. BOOTH, 
 
 W. B. JOHN A. LEEDS, 
 
 W. B. E. ERNEST WEST, 
 
 W. B.JAMES P. PLATT, 
 
 V/. B.JOHN P. WEIR, JR., 
 
 W. B. JOSEPH L. PORTER, 
 
 W.B.WILLIAM H. SPROUT, 
 
 W. B. DAVID F. POV/EP.S, 
 
 W. B. EDWIN A. WATROUS, 
 
 V/. B. FR^NK A. STEVENS, 
 
 W. B. A'.THUR E. MlLLEa, 
 
 W. B. R03ERT L. MACKAY, 
 
 BRO. O^VILLE H. PLATT, 
 
 BRO.CH-SLES L. UPHAM, 
 
 WILBERT L. BABCOCK, CHAIRMAN, 
 
 BRO. G. HERRICK WILSON, 
 BRO. EDGAR J. DOOLITTLE, 
 BRO. BENJAMIN PAGE, 
 BRO. AMOS IVES, 
 BRO. JOHN W. COE, 
 BSD. GEORGE VAN NOSTRAND, 
 BRO. JOHN C. BYXBEE, 
 BRO. FRANCIS STEVENSON, 
 BRO. CHARLES S. PERKINS, 
 BRO. FRANK D. SMITH, 
 BRO. GEORGE H.WILCOX, 
 BRO. FRED DePEYSTER. 
 BRO. WALTER S. BILLARD, 
 BRO. IRVING L. HOLT, 
 ESQ. JOHN S. LANE, 
 BRO. WILBUR F. PARKER, 
 BRO. ALLEN B. SQUIRE. 
 BRO. JOHN D. ROBERTS. JR., 
 BRO. ROBERT G. CHURCH. 
 
 ENTERTAINMENT: 
 
 W. BRO. LEVI E. COE, CHAIRMAN, 
 
 W. BRO. H. WALES LINES, 
 
 BRO. RICHARD W. MILES, 
 
 BRO. CHARLES M. WILLIAMS. 
 
banquet: 
 
 w. bro. william h.westwood, chairman, 
 
 W. BRO. JOHN A. LEEDS, 
 BRO. EDWARD J. POOLEY, 
 BRO. FRED E. TUCKER, 
 BRO. CHARLES P. CONNOLLY, 
 BRO. GEORGE S. CLARK, 
 
 BRO. CHARLES E. CHAPMAN, 
 
 BRO. JOHN W. KERWIN, 
 
 BRO. ALBERT E. BRECKENRIDGE, 
 
 BRO. NORMAN E. SMITH, 
 
 BRO. FRED K. STORM, 
 
 BRO. JOHN M. WISE. 
 
 MUSIC : 
 
 W. BRO. GEORGE E. BICKNELL, CHAIRMAN, ' 
 
 BRO. FREDERICK S. BIDWELL, 
 
 BRO. GEORGE G. MARBLE, 
 
 BRO. JAMES F. GILL. 
 
 printing: 
 
 W. BRO. WILLIAM C. COMSTOCK, CHAIRMAN, 
 BRO. EDWIN 8. EVERITT, 
 
 BRO. GEORGE A. DAVIS, 
 
 BRO. ELMER E. SPENCER, 
 
 BRO. FRANK C. YOUNG. 
 
 decorating: 
 
 w. bro. eugene a. hall, chairman, 
 bro. henry b. levi, 
 
 bro. louis h. 
 
 PERKINS, 
 
 BRO. JOHN H. PARISH, 
 
 The following members of the Lodge were appointed 
 Marshals for the Anniversary Celebration: 
 
 Colonel Charles L. Upham, Chief, 
 
 Colonel Seger S. Atwell, Past-Master John P. Weir, Jr., 
 
 Captain Roger M. Ford, Captain Reuben Waterman, 
 
 Captain John S. Lane, Past-Master Arthur E. Miller. 
 
 9 
 
The following form of inAdtation was adopted : 
 
 1851 — 1901. 
 Meridian Lodge, No. 77, A. F. & A. M., Meriden, Con- 
 necticut, desires your presence at the celebration of its 
 Fiftieth Anniversary, to be held January first, nineteen 
 hundred and one, beginning with a communication of the 
 Lodge at Masonic Hall, Palace Block, at one o'clock, p. m., 
 followed by Public Exercises at Town Hall. Banquet at 
 Armory of Company I, Palace Block, at six o'clock. 
 Fraternally, 
 
 WiLBERT L. BaBCOCK, 
 George A. Davis, Worshipful Master 
 
 Secretary. 
 
 K. s. V. r. 
 
 INVITED GUESTS: 
 
 Grand Master John O. Rowland, Wallingford. 
 
 Deputy Grand Master Frederick S. Stevens, Bridgeport. 
 
 Grand Senior Warden Arthur C. Wheeler, Norwalk, 
 
 Grand Junior Warden Leon M. Woodford, Naugatuck. 
 
 Grand Treasurer Miles W. Graves, Harttord. 
 
 Grand Secretary John H. Barlow, Hartford. 
 
 Grand Senior Deacon George E. Parsons, Norwich. 
 
 Grand Junior Deacon Asa P. Fitch, Hartford. 
 
 Grand Chaplain Rev. Cornelius G. Bristol, Hartford. 
 
 Grand Marshal Benjamin F. Turner, Middletown. 
 
 Grand Senior Steward Andrew F. Hallock, Bethel. 
 
 Grand Junior Steward Edward E. Fuller, Tolland. 
 
 Grand Tyler John McCarthy, New Haven. 
 
 District Deputy Watson G. Grannis, Litchfield. 
 
 Wilbur F. Hard, Deep River. 
 
 Frank H. Wheeler, New Haven. 
 " " Fred A. Verplanck, Manchester. 
 
 " Hknry O. Cakfield, Bridgeport. 
 
 Edward G. Wright, Putnam. 
 
 Arthur B. Calki.ss, New London. 
 
 10 
 
Past Grand Master Eli S. Quintard, New Haven. 
 
 Asa Smith, New Haven. 
 
 James L. Gould, Bridgeport. 
 
 Luke A. Lockwood, Riverside. 
 
 James McCormick, Windsor. 
 
 Fred H. Waldron, New Haven. 
 
 John W. Mix, Yalesville. 
 
 John H. Swartwout, Stamford. 
 
 Hugh Sterling, Bridgeport. 
 
 Samuel Bassett, New Britain. 
 
 Henry O. Warner, New MUford. 
 
 George A. Kies, Norwich. 
 
 Frank W. Havens, Hartford. 
 
 George G. McNall, Greenwich. 
 Governor-Elect Brother George P. McLean, Simsbury. 
 Worshipful Brother William A. Fosket, New Haven, Worshipful Master 
 
 Meridian Lodge, 1857. 
 Worshipful Brother William Cochran, Jleriden, Worshipful Master 
 
 Meridian Lodge, 1858-1859. 
 Worshipftd Brother Edwin O. Hibbard, Springfield, Worshipful Master 
 
 Meridian Lodge, 1872. 
 Brother Charles Parker, Meriden, Treasurer Meridian Lodge, 1851. 
 Brother Linus Birdsey, Meriden, Treasurer Meridian Lodge, 1861. 
 Brother Eli C. Birdsey, Secretary Meridian Lodge, 1865. 
 Reverend Brother Joseph J. Wooley, Pawtucket, R. I., Chaplain of 
 
 Meridian Lodge, 1870-1871. 
 And the Worshipful Master, Senior Warden and Junior Warden of each 
 Lodge in Connecticut. 
 
 11 
 
Address of Welcome. 
 
 ■WORSHIPFUL MASTER -WILBERT L. BABCOCK. 
 
 Brethren and Friends: 
 
 To-day marks a very important period in the history of Masonry 
 in Meriden, for it was on New Year's day, 1851, that Meridian Lodge of 
 Free Masons was instituted ; it also was the first Lodge to be organized 
 in the state for a period covering over twenty years, there being at that 
 time a very strong feeling averse to Masonry; but since then, times and 
 opinions have changed. 
 
 We have grown and prospered as a Lodge and to-day. New Year's 
 day, 1901, we have assembled to celebrate our Fiftieth Anniversary. 
 
 It is my privilege at this time, in the name of Jleridian Lodge, 
 to extend to you. Most Worshipful Grand Master, your associate Officers 
 and members of the Grand Lodge ; to you, Brethren of Center Lodge, 
 No. 97, and also of other Lodges here represented; and to you, ladies 
 and friends, a most cordial and fraternal welcome to these Public 
 Exercises, and we sincerely hope that you may find them not only 
 interesting, but profitable and enjoyable. 
 
 12 
 
Historical ^aSrcss. 
 
 WORSHIPFUL BROTHER LEVI E. COE, 
 Past-Master of Meridian Lodge* 
 
 Worshipful Master and Brothers: 
 
 Fifty years ago to-day Meridian Lodge, No. 77, A. F. & A. M., was 
 instituted, and we have met to commemorate the event and pay honor 
 to the memories of its founders. 
 
 As early as 1815 a few of the faithful Free Masons of Meriden asked 
 for a charter for a Masonic lodge in Meriden. 
 
 At a stated communication of Temple Lodge, No. 16, of Cheshire, 
 held September 25, 1815, it was "Voted, That the petition of Joel Hull, 
 in behalf of the brethren of the town of Meriden, praying the Grand 
 Lodge to grant them a charter, be supported by this Lodge in their 
 behalf." 
 
 The Grand Lodge records of October, 1815, say: "After full discus- 
 sion the petition was negatived." 
 
 A few years ago Brother M. W. William Wallace Lee prepared a his- 
 torical sketch of Meridian Lodge, from which I quote: 
 
 "Meriden was included in the town of Wallingford until 1806. St. 
 John's Lodge, No. 2, was chartered at Middletown m 1754, Compass 
 Lodge, No. g, at Wallingford in 1769, Temple Lodge, No. 16, at Chesh- 
 ire in 1790, Harmony Lodge, No. 20, at Berlin in 1791, Friendship 
 Lodge, No. 33, at Southington in 1795. So that Meriden was sur- 
 rounded by Masonic lodges when it was only a small hamlet. . . 
 
 "The records of Compass Lodge prior to 1822 are lost, but a roll of 
 members from its organization has been kept which is probably correct, 
 or very nearly so. From that list I have obtained the following of those 
 who lived in Meriden, but cannot give the year prior to 1822, for the 
 reasons stated above: 
 
 " Isaac Atwater, Asahel Curtiss, Joel Hall, Augustus Hall, Jr., John 
 Hall, Chauncey Hall, Isaac I. Hough, Sherlock Perkins, Reuben Ives, 
 Joel Hull, Charles Yale, Selden Yale, James S. Brooks, 1821; Hiram 
 
 13 
 
Yale, 1821; Joseph A. Twiss, 1824; Charles Yale, 1826; Ira Twiss, 
 1827. From Temple Lodge I find these: Levi Douglass, 1 795 ; Patrick 
 Clark, 1797 ; John Plymart, W. M., 1806 ; Moses Rice, 1812 ; Damon 
 Conner, Moses Cowles, 1815; Joseph Plymart, 1824. Very likely there 
 may have been others." 
 
 William Olds, of Meriden, the father of Brother William B. Olds, was 
 a member of Compass Lodge before 1822. 
 
 Brother Rev. Ashbel Baldwin should not be omitted from the list of 
 early Masons of Meriden. In 1824 he removed to Wallingford when 67 
 years old, where he officiated several years, and afterwards at Meriden, 
 North Haven and Oxford. 
 
 He was the first Chaplain of the Grand Lodge of Connecticut and the 
 first Master of St. Paul's Lodge, No. 11, Litchfield, his native place, and 
 the first clergyman who had sufficient courage to show himself to be 
 closely identified with the craft. He graduated at Yale College in 1776. 
 He received an appointment in the Continental army, which he held for 
 some time; became rector of St. Michael's church, Litchfield, in 1785, 
 and in 1793 rector of Christ church, Stratford, and remained there until 
 1824. 
 
 "During the year 1828-9-30, yes, even to 1840, the anti-Masonic 
 storm raged with great violence in Connecticut, as well as many other 
 states. Of the seventy-five lodges in Connecticut which had been 
 chartered previous to 1828, all but sixteen either surrendered their 
 charters, had them revoked, or ceased to hold their meetings during that 
 period." 
 
 In 1850 a petition for a dispensation for a lodge in Meriden was pre- 
 sented to Avery C. Babcock, then Grand Master, but was refused, be- 
 cause, as he said, he did not think, as the law then was, that he had the 
 power to grant a dispensation. 
 
 At the next session of the Grand Lodge the law was so amended as 
 to give the Grand Master that power. 
 
 During -the year another petition for a dispensation for a lodge was 
 presented to the Grand Master and granted, and on the first day of 
 January, 1851, M. W. Grand Master Benoni A. Shepard, with associate 
 officers, instituted the Lodge and installed the following officers: 
 
 John Parker, W. M. 
 Asahel Curtis, S. W. 
 William Allen, Jr., J. W. 
 Bertrand L. Yale, Secretary. 
 Charles Parker, Treasurer. 
 
 U 
 
"William B. Olds, S. D. 
 Luther Parmelee, J. D. 
 
 The Lodge continued work under dispensation until the annual com- 
 munication of the Grand Lodge in May, 1851, when a charter to 
 Meridian Lodge, No. 77, was granted, being the first lodge chartered in 
 Connecticut after the anti-Masonic crusade. 
 
 The Lodge held its meetings in Odd Fellows hall, up-town, as by the 
 charter the Lodge was located at Meriden Centre. 
 
 In 1851, September 6, occurred the death of Brother Dr. Allen, the J. 
 W. of the Lodge. 
 
 In 1852 St. John's Lodge voted to present a Masonic carpet to 
 Meridian Lodge as a token of friendship and fraternal regard. In that 
 year the Centennial anniversary of the initiation of Brother George 
 Washington was observed in Hartford with much ceremony and enthu- 
 siasm. All Masonic bodies were represented. 
 
 In 1853 H. Lyon and others presented a petition to the Grand 
 Lodge for a new lodge in "West Meriden. The Committee on Charters 
 reported that the prayer of the petitioners ought not to be granted, and 
 it was vot^d, " That the petitioners have leave to withdraw." 
 
 At the same session T. E. Doolittle moved to amend the charter of 
 Meridian Lodge by striking out the word "Centre." The motion was 
 laid on the table. 
 
 In 1854 the "Wooster Monument, erected in Danbury, was completed 
 and dedicated, to which Meridian Lodge contributed. General David 
 "Wooster was a graduate of Yale College, the first master of the first 
 Free Mason's lodge in Connecticut. He became a general in the army 
 of the Revolution. Wooster Lodge, No. 79, was named in his honor. 
 
 March 12, 1855, a committee was appointed to visit Wallingford, 
 Southington and Berlin lodges and inform them of the death of Brother 
 James Beach, and invite them to attend his funeral the 14th. Brother 
 Beach was not a member of this lodge. 
 
 In 1857 appropriation was made for the benefit of Relief Lodge, No. 
 I, in the city of New Orleans. 
 
 In 1859 sprig of olive from Mount Mpriah and sprig of cypress from 
 the garden of Gethsemane presented to the Lodge by Brother Governor 
 Thomas H. Seymour, Past Grand Master. 
 
 In 1861, December 23, celebrated the tenth anniversary of the institu- 
 tion of the Lodge, in connection with a public installation of ofBcers by 
 M. W. Howard B. Ensign. An address by Brother O. H. Piatt. 
 
 In August, 1862, presented Brothers Lieutenant M. C. Augur, Colonel 
 
 15 
 
Dexter R. Wright and Captain Julius Bassett each with sword, sash 
 and belt, they being about to leave for the war. 
 
 On October 4, 1863, the subject of removal of lodge to a more central 
 location was suggested and a committee was appointed "to ascertain 
 if a suitable lot can be secured for a building in the vicinity of the Town 
 Hall." The question of removal to vicinity of Town Hall ; of buying a 
 building lot; of building a Masonic Hall; of hiring the institute rooms in 
 Town Hall, was discussed at various meetings in 1863-4-5. "the growth 
 of the Lodge having been largely from West Meriden (so-called) had 
 so changed the membership that in 1865 less than a dozen were living 
 east of the Lodge room," and on the 8th of March, 1865, after a long 
 discussion it was voted by quite a large majority to petition the Grand 
 Lodge to amend the charter by striking out the word "Centre.'' 
 
 In Grand Lodge report of 1865 it says: Petition of Meridian Lodge for 
 amendment of charter referred to committee on charters. The com- 
 mittee reported as follows: "That they have had before them the 
 petition of Meridian Lodge, No. 77, to strike out the word "Centre" in 
 their charter in order to locate their lodge in some more desirable loca- 
 tion in their jurisdiction. Your committee would recommend the adop- 
 tion of the following resolution: 
 
 Resolved, That the Grand Secretary be instructed to erase the word 
 " Centre" from their charter. 
 
 On the 25th of June the Lodge voted to remove "to Morgan Hall and 
 it was hired for a term of years, fitted up and dedicated November 15, 
 1865, and occupied for Masonic purposes until 1871, when the present 
 premises were secured and have since been its home, being solemnly 
 dedicated to the purposes of Free Masonry December 27, 1871. 
 
 "Some of the brethren at the Center or Up-town were very desirous 
 of having a Lodge in that section, and after much discussion Meridian 
 Lodge voted to recommend their petition to the Grand Lodge and a 
 charter was accordingly granted May, 1866, to Center Lodge, No. 97." 
 
 Sept. 24, 1865. Voted, That the hall shall not be rented or re-rented 
 to any person or persons except it be for Masonic purposes, and instruct- 
 ed committee to use all means in their power to banish the sale of 
 intoxicating liquors from Lodge building. Rev. Brother Wooley made 
 a formal presentation to the Lodge of the gavels made from wood the 
 gift of Brother Capt. Julius Bassett. 
 
 Oct. 28, 1867. Lodge tendered sympathy to Compass Lodge, No. 9, in 
 loss of hall by fire. 
 
 Oct 2g, 1866. Committee appointed to have in charge the depositing 
 
 16 
 
of papers relating to Masoniy of this Lodge, in the comer stone of the 
 new M. E. Church to be laid \nth proper ceremonies on Wednesday 
 next. 
 
 In iSrj, donation made for educating Masons' chilcren. 
 
 Dec 27, iS^i. New hall dedicated by M. W. W. TV. Lee, Grand Master. 
 
 Conunittee reported that the late fair netted I1.690.67 above all ex- 
 penses. 
 
 In 1S73, a vote was passed prohibiting smoking in the hall. 
 
 In 1S75, sobscription to Memphis $214.25. 
 
 Dec. 27. 1S75, the 25th anniveisarr of the institation of Meridian 
 Lodge and public installation. Address by Brother O. H. Platt. 
 
 June 27, 1577, Veteran Association welcomed and entertained as 
 guests of Lodge; also on June 20, iSSS. 
 
 Jnly 10, 1SS9, Centennial celebration of Grand Lodge in New Haven, 
 Meridian Lodge participating. 
 
 In 1893, appropriation towards operating table at Meriden hcspitaL 
 
 On Sept- 23, 1S9;, Masonic Home dedicated. Amount contributed to 
 Masonic Charity Foundation by Meridian Lodge, $609.12. 
 
 The first room. No. iS, fitted up in Masonic Home, was furnished by 
 Meridian Lodge and a door plate suitably engraved was placed on the 
 door. 
 
 Rev. Brother A. H. Mead presented the Lodge r75 volumes for 
 Masonic Home. 
 
 At the end of five years of existence of the Lodge it had fifty enrolled 
 as members including the thirteen charter members. At the end of ten 
 years, 125. Meriden with a population in 1S50 of 5,559 had grown to a 
 population in 1S60 of 7,426. The growth of the Lodge had been gradual, 
 regular and healthy. 
 
 Of the total 715 members enrolled to the present time 4S9 have re- 
 ceived the degree of Masonry in this Lodge and 225 in other Lodges, 
 classified by occupation as follows: Artists 3, bakers 3, bankers 9, 
 blacksmiths 9, bookkeepers 30, butchers 5, carpenters 20, carriage mak- 
 ers 3, dergymen 13, clerks 33, commercial travelers 4.2, dentists 4, 
 designers 4, druggists S, editors 3. electricians 3, engineers 19, engravers 
 S. farmers i~, florists 2, foremen 32, grocers 10, gunsmiths 4, hotel keep- 
 ers 3, insurance 10, jewelers 4, lawyers i5, liverymen 7. machinists 40, 
 manufacturers 71, marines 2, masons 11, mechanics loi, merchants 55, 
 milleis 2, musicians 7, painters 7, photographers 6, physicians 17, platers 
 4, policemen 5, publishers 4, real estate 5, silver and britannia workers 
 27, shoemakers 2. tailors S, teachers 15, undertakers 4. Present mem- 
 bership in good standing, 306. 
 
 17 
 
In the first charge to the E. A. Mason occurs this exhortation, "You 
 are not to countenance disloyalty or rebellion, but patiently submit to 
 legal authority and conform with cheerfulness to the government of the 
 country in which you live." 
 
 Sixty-nine members of this Lodge enlisted in the Union Army in the 
 civil war, of whom were 3 Colonels, i Lieut. -Colonel, 2 Majors, 9 Cap- 
 tains, 6 Lieutenants, 3 Chaplains and i Surgeon. 
 
 That the members of Meridian Lodge have taken an active interest in 
 public affairs is shown by the honors which have been conferred by 
 selecting the following ofHcers among others from the Lodge: 2 Colonels 
 and 7 Captains of State militia, 4 Chiefs of Police, i Judge of Court of 
 Appeals, 2 Judges City Court, 5 Judges of Probate Court, 15 Mayors, 
 20 Representatives, 6 State Senators, i Secretary of State, 3 Speakers 
 of House of Representatives, 2 Sheriffs, 3 Deputy Sheriffs, 5 City 
 Sheriffs, 2 State's Attorneys, 4 Town Clerks, 9 Town Collectors, 4 Town 
 Treasurers, 4 Superintendents of Reform Schools, i U. S. District 
 Attorney, 3 U. S. Collectors, 5 U. S. Postmasters, i U. S. Senator, 2 
 U. S. Consuls, I Grand Master of Masons, 10 W. M's. of other lodges. 
 
 At the first city election after the incorporation of the City of Meriden 
 in 1867 the offices filled by members of this Lodge were: Mayor, City 
 Clerk, City Treasurer, both City Sheriffs, and seven councilmen. 
 
 Of the 34 years of existence of the city it has had 17 Mayors; 14 of 
 whom have been Free Masons, and 12 members of Meridian Lodge, 
 holding office, including the present year, 26 years of the 34. 
 
 The Lodge has responded to many calls for aid not enumerated, to 
 relieve suffering from floods, fires, fevers, tornadoes, war and famine, 
 not to specify aid to our own members in sickness and burial, and to 
 widows and orphans. Of the many thousands of dollars received all 
 has been paid out in charities, except a small amount for necessary ex- 
 penses and the balance in the treasury. 
 
 Lectures have been delivered at various times before the Lodge upon 
 the subjects of Masonry, Education, The Arts and Sciences, Travels in 
 the Holy Land, etc. 
 
 Lodge outings, fairs and festivals have occasionally taken place. 
 
 The officers have generally been efficient and faithful ; the govern- 
 ment charitable, merciful and just. 
 
 Members committing un-Masonic acts have been admonished, repri- 
 manded, suspended or expelled. While using the milder means of ref- 
 ormation for minor misdemeanors, for serious offences against the prin- 
 ciples of Masonry and the laws, suspension has been meted out in a few 
 
 18 
 
cases, and the extreme penalty of expulsion has been inflicted in three 
 cases, yri, in only one case has a court convicted a member of Meri- 
 dian Lodge of crime. 
 
 Harmony has prevailed to a remarkable degree : with bitter political 
 discussions and church dissensions on every hand, nothing has been 
 allowed within the Lodge to mar its general peace and harmonj-. 
 
 Again I quote from Brother Lee: 
 
 "Within its walls have gathered mechanics, tradesmen, professionals, 
 soldiers and citizens, worthy representatives of the var\-ing business 
 interests of our town. Men of all parties, sects and creeds have gath- 
 ered within its tyled precincts — as members of this great fratemitv . 
 May this process continue so long as humanity shall need this great 
 brotherhood of ours." 
 
 The charter members of Meridian Lodge stand upon the roll in the 
 following order: Charles Parker, John Parker, William AUen, Jr., Ber- 
 trand L. Yale, Asahel Curtis, William B. Olds, Luther Parmele, Ira 
 Twiss, Stephen Se}-mour, Benjamin Twiss, Henry Stedman, Almeron 
 Miles, Humphrey Lyon. 
 
 HON. CHARLES PARKER. 
 
 Brother Charles Parker, bom in Cheshire, Connecticut, January- 2, 
 1809, was the son of Stephen Parker and Rebecca (Ray). Stephen 
 Parker served in the Revolutionary war. He was the son of Joel 
 Parker and Susanna (Hotchkiss) . He was son of Edward Parker, who 
 was son of John Parker, who was son of John Parker, Sen., who was 
 son of William Parker, immigrant. 
 
 At the age of nine years, after attending a district school in Cheshire, 
 he lived five years with a fanner in Wallingford, going to school winters 
 and working on the farm the rest of the time. At the age of eighteen 
 years he went to work at making pewter buttons in Southington, re- 
 ceiving sis dollars per month and his board. He came in iSzS to Meri- 
 den and was employed by Patrick Lewis in the manufacture of coffee 
 mUls. In December, 1S29, he contracted with Patrick Lewis and Elias 
 Holt to make for them a specified number of coffee mills per month. 
 Starting with a capital of seventy dollars, he made under his contract 
 in thirteen months a profit of eighteen hundred dollars. In 1S31 he 
 took Jared Lewis as a partner, and in 1S32 sold out to him his interest 
 in the business, buUt a shop and carried on alone the manufacture of 
 coffee mills and waflBe irons. In 1833 his brother Edmund and Heman 
 
 19 
 
White became his partners. In 1837 the firm temporaril}- suspended, 
 but afterward paid their debts in full with interest. In 1845 the 
 firm dissolved and Charles Parker continued the business alone, 
 adding to it the manufacture of other articles too numerous to men- 
 tion. 
 
 At this time he put in steam power to take the place of the horse 
 power previously used. From time to time he has added new buildings 
 to the original plant, known as the Union Jlills, and has built or pur- 
 chased extensive manufactories in various parts of the town. Desiring 
 to be relieved of the care of his extensive business, also to perpetuate 
 the business which he founded, he in 1877 formed the present corpora- 
 tion of The Charles Parker Company. Other corporations of which he 
 is the principal are: Parker Brothers, manufacturers of the celebrated 
 Parker gun ; The Jleriden Curtain Fixture Company, the largest manu- 
 facturer of shade rollers, curtains and fringes that there is in the 
 United States ; The Parker Clock Company, with factory situated about 
 two miles west of the railroad depot. The Charles Parker Company 
 has manufactories at East Jleriden for making cabinet locks, tea, table 
 and basting spoons, and at Yalesville for making piano stools, coflEee 
 mills and packing boxes. These companies employ twelve hundred 
 hands and do a business of about 82,000,000 annually. 
 
 Brother Parker has been a liberal but unostentatious giver to every 
 good cause. To the Methodist Episcopal church he gave the lot on 
 Broad street and one-half of the cost of building the first church of the 
 society. He contributed $4o,o<X) toward the erection of the present 
 Methodist church. 
 
 The citizens of Meriden, in recognition of his public spirit and the 
 esteem in which he was universally held, made him the first mayor of 
 the city after its incorporation in 1S67. 
 
 He is a man of unusual executive ability, with keen foresight, rare 
 judgment, shrewd power of calculation and a knowledge of men not 
 often possessed by a single man. His career has been one of marked 
 success. In 1831 he married Abi Lewis Eddy, daughter of Thomas and 
 Abi (Lewis) Eddy. 
 
 Brother Parker was made a Master ilas.n in Harmony Lodge, No. 
 20, New Britain, December 11, 1S4S. He was a charter member of 
 Meridian Lodge and its first Treasurer. He was exalted in Keystone 
 Chapter, No. 27, Februai-y 21, 1S71, and knighted in St. Elmo Com- 
 manderj'. No. 9, May 27, 1S71. 
 
 He is living at his beautiful home in Meriden, beloved of all. 
 
 20 
 
REV. JOHN PARKER. 
 
 Rev. Brother John Parker, bom in Cheshire, Conn., April 30, 1805; 
 was son of Stephen and Rebecca (Ray) Parker. Stephen Parker, of 
 Cheshire (1759-1846) was a Revolationary soldier and pensioner; was 
 son of Joel Parker, who was son of Edward Parker, who was son of 
 John Parker, who was son of John Parker, Sen., who was son of Wil- 
 liam Parker. 
 
 Brother Parker was made a Master Mason in Harmony Lodge, No. 
 20, New Britain, December 11, 1848. He was exalted to the degree of 
 Royal Arch Mason in Keystone Chapter, No. 27, Meriden, in 1857 or 
 1858; was received and greeted a Cryptic Mason in Hamilton Council, 
 No. 22, Meriden, April 8, 1869; a Knight Templar in St. Elmo Com- 
 manderj', No. 9, May 12, 1869. He was a charter member and the first 
 Worshipful Master of Meridian Lodge, No. 77. He also served after- 
 wards as Senior Warden, Treasurer and Chaplain of the Lodge. 
 
 He has filled acceptably the offices of Grand Juror, Board of Relief, 
 Selectman and Justice of the Peace, and in 1870 was elected a Repre- 
 sentative to the State Legislature. 
 
 He received his early education in the common schools of his native 
 town. Desiring to devote his life to preaching the gospel he studied 
 theology at the Wesleyan University in Middletown, Conn. , where he 
 graduated in 1831. He then removed to Massachusetts and preached 
 at Webster two years ; at Newtown in 1833-4; HoUiston, 1835; Lowell, 
 1836-7; Lynn, 1838-9; HoUiston, 1840. 
 
 On account of his voice he had to give up preaching regularly, and 
 in 1840 came to Meriden and entered into business with his brother 
 Charles, although he occasionally preached as supply when his health 
 would permit. His sermons were earnest, logical and convincing. His 
 wife has remarked, that it was a great trial to them both when he had 
 to abandon the ministry. It was largely through his exertions that the 
 Methodist Episcopal church was established, grew and prospered in 
 Meriden. He and his brother Charles jointly contributed between forty 
 and fifty thousand dollars toward the erection of the present church 
 edifice. 
 
 He married, first, Miss Emily Ward, of Ashfield, Mass. ; second, Miss 
 Grace A. Belden, of Meriden. He died June 21, 1892, and was buried 
 in Meriden cemetery, East Main street. 
 
 DR. WILLIAM ALLEN, JR. 
 Brother William Allen. Jr., was bom in Hebron, Conn., in 1818. He 
 
 21 
 
studied medicine with Dr. Statton, of Middletown, and afterward with 
 Dr. Lapham, of New York. After practising in New Britain one year 
 and in Goshen about six months, he removed to Meriden in 1840 and 
 settled on East Main street. He built the house near the corner of 
 East Main and Center streets. He was about five feet seven inches in 
 height and weighed about one hundred and seventy-five pounds. He 
 had dark hair and eyes and a very high forehead; was of a. social dis- 
 position, fond of company, and well read and skillful as a physician. 
 He was made a Master Mason in Harmony Lodge, No. 20, February ig, 
 1849. He was active in the formation of Meridian Lodge, being a 
 charter member and the first Junior Warden ; a zealous mason, although 
 permitted to enjoy the privileges of Free Masonry but two and a half 
 years, for he was cut off in the prime of life by typhoid fever, Septem- 
 ber 6, 1S51, in the thirty-third year of his age. The following minutes 
 are placed on the records of Meridian Lodge in memory of Dr. William 
 Allen, Jr. : 
 
 ' ' Resolved, That in the death of our late brother the Lodge has lost 
 a most worthy and consistent member, and society an upright, useful 
 and respected citizen. 
 
 "That long after his earthly tabernacle shall have decayed the 
 memory of his many virtues will be 'evergreen' in the hearts of his 
 surviving brethren." 
 
 He lies buried in the Meriden cemetery. East Main street. 
 
 BERTRAND L. YALE. 
 
 Brother Bertrand Levi Yale, born in Meriden, November 17, 1S20, 
 was son of Levi and Annie (Guy) Yale. Levi Yale served in the war 
 of 1812; was son of Nathaniel, who was son of Abel, who was son of 
 Nathaniel, who was son of Captain Thomas, one of the original settlers 
 of Wallingford in 1670. He was son of Thomas, the immigrant, and 
 signer of the Plantation Covenant, New Haven, 1639. 
 
 Brother Yale was made a Mason in Harmony Lodge, No. 20, New 
 Britain, October 4, 184B. He was a charter member of Meridian Lodge 
 and its first Secretary. He was S. W. in 1852 and W. M. in 1854. 
 
 He retained a keen appreciation of and interest in Masonry through- 
 out his life. When twenty years old he commenced the manufacture of 
 cigars in a small way, but soon began business as a merchant tailor and 
 dealer in furnishing goods. He added fire and life insurance to his 
 business. At this time he was appointed postmaster, which he held for 
 eight years. He continued in the insurance business twenty-five years, 
 
having sold out his store, and his health having become somewhat im- 
 paired through close confinement and steady application to business, he 
 retired to his farm, where he lived for about eighteen years. He was 
 one of the incorporators of the Meriden Savings Bank, was a director 
 of the Meriden Bank, assessor of the town, one of the Board of Relief, 
 an alderman and mayor, pro tern., of the city. His official acts met the 
 approval of his constituents, for he was prompt, thorough, economical 
 and just. He was a man of high character; of modest manners; of 
 frugal habits ; of positive opinions and fixed principles. 
 
 Brother Yale was a quiet man, with marked attachment for home. 
 He had a remarkably retentive memory, and was possessed of a wide 
 knowledge of political, ancient and modern history. On February 4, 
 1861, he married Chloe Elizabeth Holcomb, daughter of Hon. Raynor 
 Holcomb, of East Granby, Conn. 
 
 He died October i, 1892, and was buried in Meriden cemetery, East 
 Main street. 
 
 ASAHEL CURTIS. 
 
 Brother Asahel Curtis, born in Meriden, July 2, 1786, was the son of 
 Benjamin and Mindwell (Hough) Curtis. Benjamin Curtis served in 
 the French and Indian War during the campaign of 1758. He was a 
 farmer, and his farm comprised several hundred acres in the south- 
 eastern part of Meriden. He gave the land on which the first Episcopal 
 Church was erected. He was son of Benjamin and Miriam (Cook) 
 Curtis. He was son of Nathaniel and Sarah (Howe) Curtis. Nathaniel 
 Curtis was born in the town of Wallingford, and held manj' town 
 offices. In the issue of the Connectictit Gazette, October 21, 1758, we 
 find him advertising for a runaway negro slave. In 1730 he bought of 
 John Prout, of New Haven, a farm in Meriden, on which now stands 
 the Curtis Home, built and endowed by his great-great-grandson, 
 Lemuel J. Curtis. He was son of Thomas and Mary (Merriman) Curtis. 
 Thomas was born in Stratford, Conn., moved to Wallingford with the 
 first planters in 1670, and signed the first planters' agreement. Was 
 deputy to General Court, 1689, 1714, 1717. He was son of John Curtis, 
 the immigrant, who was bom at Nazing, in Essex County, England, 
 and came to Startford, Conn., in 1639. The Curtises have been prom- 
 inently identified with the industrial, moral and religious advancement 
 of Meriden since its incorporation. 
 
 Brother Asahel Curtis was a worthy representative of the honored 
 name. He married, November 8, 1812, Mehitable Redfield, daughter of 
 Augustus Redfield, of Clinton, Conn., a descendant of John Alden. 
 
 23 
 
He was by occupation a farmer, although following other vocations at 
 various times. He held various offices, among them tythingman, con- 
 stable, grand juror, lister, collector, town treasurer, selectman, repre- 
 sentative to the General Assembly. He was also commissioned ensign 
 by Gov. Oliver Wolcott. 
 
 He was made a Freemason in Compass Lodge, No. g, prior to 1822, 
 was a charter member of Meridian Lodge, No. 77, and its first Senior 
 Warden. He died December 27, 1865, and was buried in Meriden ceme- 
 tery. East Main Street. 
 
 WILLIAM B. OLDS. 
 
 Brother William Bolivar Olds was born in Indiana, May 28, 1826. He 
 was son of Wiliam and Deborah (Griswold) Olds. His grandfather on 
 the maternal side served in the Revolutionary War. 
 
 William Olds, senior, lived in Meriden as a young man, and was in 
 company with John Butler in the tannery business on Liberty street. 
 He removed West before 1821, and later to Brownsboro, Ken., where 
 he died, February 22, 1834. After his death his widow removed back 
 to Meriden, bringing her five children with her; the youngest child 
 being only one year old. Owing to the inconveniences of travel at that 
 time, .she was several weeks making the passage, two weeks being by 
 canal-boat. There were Freemasons on the boat, who, learning that 
 Mrs. Olds's husband had been a Freemason, showed her and her chil- 
 dren many courtesies. She ever after was a firm believer in Free- 
 masonry. Y»'illiam Bolivar was then about nine years old, and lived 
 three or four years with his uncle, Ashbel Griswold, and then with his 
 mother. He attended the public schools till old enough to learn a. 
 trade, when he went to Middletown and learned the tailoring trade, 
 which business he followed in Meriden and Springfield till his death, 
 except about one year in California, to which place he went in 1849, by 
 passage around Cape Horn. He married Jane Mildrum, of Middle- 
 town, Conn. 
 
 Brother Olds was made a Master Mason in Harmony Lodge, No. 20, 
 December 11, 184S; was a charter member of Meridian Lodge and its 
 first Senior Deacon, and one of the representatives to Grand Lodge, 
 May 14, 1851. 
 
 He was exalted in Keystone Chapter, No. 27, Meriden, in 1855 or 6. 
 His erect figure, fine form, fashionable dress and courteous manners 
 fitted in well with his occupation of merchant tailor. He was proud, 
 cheerful, social and witty, and was a favorite among his associates and 
 
 24 
 
respected in the community. As a friend said; "He was sprightly, 
 honest and good; he never spoke evil of any one." If 'by word or deed 
 he hurt the feelings of another he was quick to apologize ; if wronged, 
 he was ready to forgive. 
 
 He died in Springfield, Mass, January 20, 1858, and was buried in the 
 Meriden cemetery with Masonic honors. 
 
 A Masonic monument has been erected to his memory. 
 
 DR. LUTHER PARMELE. 
 
 Brother Luther Parmele, born in Saybrook, Ct., Oct. 18, i8o6, was 
 son of Samuel and MoUie (Graves) Parmele. Samuel Parmele was son 
 of Capt. Samuel and Sarah (Bishop) Parmele, of Guilford, Ct. He was 
 son of Joseph and Abigail (Kimberly) Parmele. He was son of Isaac 
 and Hannah (Hiland) Parmele. He was son of John, who was son of 
 John, the immigrant, one of the settlers of Guilford and original signers 
 of the "Covenant" June i, 1639. 
 
 Brother Luther Parmele married first April 7, 1836, Lavinia Maria 
 Farrington, daughter of Joseph and Triphena (Perkins) Farrington, of 
 Meriden. He married second Emily Susan Savage, daughter of William 
 and Hepzibah (Porter) Savage, of Berlin, Ct. 
 
 He was a charter member of Meridian Lodge and its first J. D., and 
 was secretary in 1852. He was exalted in Keystone Chapter, No. 27, 
 Meriden, in 1855. 
 
 Dr. Luther Parmele was one of the pioneer dental practitioners of 
 Connecticut, commencing practice as early as 1834 at Meriden, also 
 opening o£B.ces at Berlin and Middletown. At a subsequent period he 
 was associated with Dr. J. Smith Dodge, in Bond street. New York, 
 and was still later for some time at Washington, D. C. About 1850 he 
 returned to Connecticut, opened offices at Meriden, New Haven, New 
 Britain and Middletown, but residing in Meriden. After his second mar- 
 riage he resided at times at East Berlin. In 1859 he settled at Hartford 
 and continued in practice there until his death, August 25, 1877. He 
 was one of the charter members of the Connecticut State Dental Asso- 
 ciation. Dr. Parmele was a quiet, modest, unassuming gentleman who 
 made many friends and few enemies. He ranked high among the 
 dentists of his time, was a skillful operator, fine mechanic, and was 
 eagerly sought by those desiring to become dentists, as a preceptor, and 
 many were indebted to him for their early training. 
 
 He died at Hartford August 25, 1877, and was buried in Cedar Hill 
 Cemetery, Hartford. 
 
 25 
 
IRA TWISS. 
 
 Brother Ira Twiss, born in Meriden April 17, 1797, was son of Joseph 
 Twiss, a Revolutionary soldier, who was son of Joseph Twiss, who was 
 son of Benjamin Twiss, who was son of Thomas Twiss, the immigrant. 
 
 He was one of thirteen children, all of whom were born at the Twiss 
 Homestead (or "Twiss Place" as it was commonly called in those days) 
 on North Colony street. The property is now known as the Bartlett 
 estate. The house, however, was burned several years since. 
 
 Brother Twiss was made a Free Mason in Compass Lodge, No. 9, 
 Wallingford, Jan. 8, 1827; was a charter member of Meridian Lodge 
 and was its J. W. in 1852-3, and S. W. 1854. His occupation was manu- 
 facturer, farmer and miller. 
 
 He was an accommodating neighbor and kind and charitable to the 
 sick and needy. 
 
 He took a deep interest in town affairs as evidenced by his regular 
 attendance at town meetings, where he took part in the discussions 
 advocating small taxes, but sufficient to prevent the town running in 
 debt. He did not believe in entailing an incumbrance upon after genera- 
 tions. His ideas would conflict with those of the present in the matter of 
 economy, frugality, expenditure and extravagance. He was set in his 
 opinions and open to express them. The town records show that he 
 was moderator, grand juror and tythingman. He died Sept. 14, 1S70, 
 and was buried in Meriden Cemetery, East Main street. 
 
 COL. STEPHEN SEYMOUR. 
 
 Brother Stephen Seymour was born February 29, 17S4. He received 
 his early education in the country common schools, which consisted of a 
 term of about four months in the summer and a like term in winter. 
 Like other boys of his time, when old enough to do chores and work on 
 the farm he was put to work till old enough to learn a trade, then he 
 learned the shoemaker's trade. He worked for many years in the shoe- 
 maker shop of "Uncle'' John Butler. He married Betsey Collins, 
 daughter of Dan Collins of Meriden. She inherited from her father the 
 land on the west side of Broad street (then called Market street) , ex- 
 tending west to Harbor Brook: the north boundary was The Gulch (so 
 called) adjoining the land of the present residence of Hon. Charles 
 Parker. On this farm they took up their residence, the house being 
 situated about where Mr. A. S. Thomas now lives. Since the Seymours 
 went there to live great changes have taken place in the neighborhood ; 
 Pratt, Hobart, Yale, Montgomery and Myrtle streets have been laid out 
 
 26 
 
through the farm a-qd nearly all the building lots utilized for manufac- 
 tories and dwellings. The latter part of his life he worked on the farm 
 and at his trade. He was grand juror in 1817 and other offices he filled 
 with credit are constable, collector, tythingman and board of relief; 
 these show that he was held in high esteem for character and efficiency 
 in the discharge of his various duties. He attained high honors in the 
 military service of the State, advancing step by step till he received his 
 commission as Colonel of the 22nd Regiment, State Militia. 
 
 He was made a Master Mason in Federal Lodge, No. 17, Watertown, 
 Ct., October 30, 1822: was a charter member of Meridian Lodge. 
 
 He died March 16, i860, and was buried in the Broad street Ceme- 
 tery, Meriden. 
 
 BENJAMIN TWISS. 
 
 Brother Benjamin Twiss, born in Meriden, October 31, 1798, was son 
 of Joseph and Lois (Austin) Twiss of Cheshire and Meriden. 
 
 Joseph Twiss (1761-1842) served three years in the war of the Ameri- 
 can Revolution. He was son of Joseph Twiss of Cheshire, who was son 
 of Benjamin Twiss of Cheshire, who was son of Thomas Twiss, the 
 immigrant who was an early settler in Cheshire. 
 
 Brother Benjamin Twiss was given the advantages of the schools then 
 extant, and being naturally fond of books and travel he availed himself 
 of every opportunity to equip himself for his life work. He was for a 
 period engaged with his brother in Montreal, Canada, in the manu- 
 facture of clocks (some of them are still in use in Canadian homes) and 
 later, built up a large trade in his native town. Twiss Pond was built 
 by them for the necessary water privilege to conduct the business. 
 
 They also manufactured coffee mills. 
 
 Brother Twiss was made a Master Mason in St. Andrew's Lodge, No. 
 64, Winsted, Ct., in 1824, and was a charter member of Meridian Lodge. 
 He held the following offices: tythingman, constable, collector, se- 
 lectman and assessor. He was appointed postmaster in 1853 but 
 resigned. 
 
 He was interested in the development and growth of Meriden and 
 was one of the few who labored to secure the railroad through the center 
 of North Haven. Wallingford, Meriden and Berlin. The majority de- 
 feating them "in favor of the swamps and land fields !" He took an active 
 interest in the establishment of the State School for Boys, and spent 
 much time in the layout of the Air Line Railroad, as one of the com- 
 mittee, appointed for the purpose. 
 
 27 
 
He was many years a consistent member of the First Baptist Church, 
 being a member of the building committee, when 'the present edifice 
 was erected. 
 
 His first wife was Mrs. Susan Maria Redfield Couch who died in 1831 . 
 
 March 7, 1832, he married Lucy Goodrich Francis at the Old Francis 
 Homestead in Wethersfield, Ct. 
 
 He resided continuously thereafter at his home, corner of Broad and 
 Britannia streets, where he died January 23, 1854, His burial was in 
 Meriden Cemetery, East Main street. 
 
 HENRY STEDMAN. 
 
 Brother Henry Stedman was born in Berlin, September 20, 1800. He 
 was a manufacturer of tin and japanned ware under the firm name of 
 Stedman & Clark, and located on East Main street where now stands 
 the Meriden National Bank, the Meriden Savings Bank and the City 
 Mission building. His residence was where the Main street Baptist 
 Church stands. He sold out his manufacturing business and engaged 
 in the grocery business. In this he was unfortunate in losing his prop- 
 erty through relatives, who should have been a help rather than an 
 incumbrance to him. If there was any fault on his part, it was that he 
 was too indulgent, too liberal, too charitable ; otherwise no stain was 
 ever attached to his name. The town honored him by electing him tyth- 
 ingman, grand juror, a member of the board of relief, and repre- 
 sentative to the Connecticut Legislature. He was a charter member of 
 this Lodge, and made a Royal Arch Mason in Keystone Chapter, No. 
 27, Meriden, in 1854 or 1855. He died in Whitestone, L. I., February 7, 
 1867 and was buried in the Masonic lot at Flushing, L. I. 
 
 CAPT. ALMERON MILES. 
 
 Brother Almeron Miles, born in Cheshire, Ct., June 1, 1808, was son 
 of John Miles and Laurinda Porter White, the daughter of Moses White, 
 who was a soldier in the war of the American Revolution. John Miles 
 was son of John and Abigail (Perkins) Miles; this John, 1745-181S, was 
 captain in the Revolutionary war, a U. S. pensioner and a member of 
 Society of Cincinnati. John was son of John and Sarah (Beebe) Miles. 
 He was son of John and Abigail (Watrous) Miles. He was son of 
 John and Elizabeth (Redfield) Miles. He was son of Richard and 
 Catharine Miles who emigrated from England in 1637. 
 
 Brother Miles was made a M. M. in Harmony Lodge, No. 20, New 
 
 28 
 
Britain, Dec. ii, 1848; was a charter member of Meridian Lodge, was 
 its W. M. four terms, was also W. M. of Center Lodge. 
 
 He was proficient in the ritual, well versed in Masonic law, a strict 
 disciplinarian, a good presiding officer and conferred the degrees with 
 dignity and impressiveness. 
 
 He married Caroline Lawrence and has three sons, all of whom are 
 Freemasons and Past Masters. He attended common school and 
 worked on his father's farm as a boy, until nineteen years old, when he 
 took up his residence in Meriden and worked in the shop till the failure 
 of Lewis & Holt, when he formed a partnership under the name of 
 Miles & Holt, and engaged in the manufacture of coffee mills. He sold 
 out to Charles Parker, and Miles and Barns went into merchandizing. 
 Bams ran away with the company money and Miles closed out the 
 business and went to California in 1849. 
 
 A friend went with him as far as the city of Mexico, then refused to 
 go farther and Brother Miles engaged a Spanish boy to go with him 
 overland to the gold diggings. In 1851 he returned to Meriden and 
 entered the ofSce of Charles Parker. He remained with Mr. Parker till 
 his last sickness. 
 
 He had the confidence of his associates and townsmen for his fixed 
 principles and upright character. He held the office of postmaster of 
 Meriden. He was captain of the Meriden Grays, a military ccimpany 
 formed of the picked men of the town, which he brought to a high state 
 of proficiency both in manual of arms and in military maneuvers. On 
 field days the company was the center of attraction on account of the 
 soldierly bearing of the men, their precision in drill and their showy 
 uniforms. Capt. Miles was a man of commanding presence, being of 
 good form, tall, large, stern, with white hair combed up from his fore- 
 head ; he would attract attention whether at the head of his company, in 
 the counting room, in the Lodge or on the street. 
 
 He died June 21, 1876, and was buried in Meriden Cemetery. 
 
 HUMPHREY LYON. 
 
 Brother Humphrey Lyon, the son of Charles and Lois (Grimes; Lyon, 
 was born in East Haddam, Conn., December 19, 1797. At an early age 
 he united with St. Stephen's Church, of which his father and grand- 
 father, Robert, had both been active members, his grandfather giving 
 the land on which the church stood. 
 
 Only a few years ago an East Haddam man said: "The older in- 
 habitants remembered well when Humphrey Lyon sang in the choir at 
 
 29 
 
St. Stephen's, and his sister was organist." In 1819 he married Harriet 
 Canfield, of East Haddam, and they continued to live there until 1826, 
 when they moved to New York State, remaining there -until 1849, when 
 they came to Meriden, which continued to be his home up to the time 
 of his death, which occurred on April 13, 1887. 
 
 For the last ten years of his life he was totally blind, but was always 
 bright and cheerful and ready to enjoy a joke. He often said in speak- 
 ing of his misfortune, "It might have been worse." He was always 
 very glad to see his friends and acquaintances, especially his Masonic 
 friends, for he ever took a very great interest in everything pertaining 
 to the order from the time he joined it. 
 
 Strong in conviction and uncompromising in opinion in political and 
 religious matters, he was respected for his kindness of heart and absence 
 of bitterness or anger towards those who diflfered from him. 
 
 He was an active participant in the affairs of the town, having held 
 several offices, among them first selectman, collector, and constable. 
 
 "Even when four score years had passed and the infirmities of age 
 had begun to tell on his vigorous constitution, he did not lose in any 
 degree his love or interest in the institution of Masonry, with which he 
 had united in early manhood. Masonry with him meant something 
 more than mere form. He believed it was something to be lived for: 
 hence he always gave it willing and loyal service. Since the formation 
 of the Masonic Veterans, Brother Lyon had been one of their number 
 and attended every annual until age and other infirmities prevented. 
 Masonry has had many able exponents in our city, but to none is it 
 more indebted for the favorable position it occupied in Meriden for 
 nearly forty years than to Humphrey Lyon." 
 
 He was made a Master Mason in Columbia Lodge, No. 26, East Had- 
 dam, AprU 8, 1818, was a charter member, W. M. and Treasurer of 
 Meridian Lodge. A charter member of Keystone Chapter, No. 27, in 
 1854, and H. P. in 1S55-6-7. A charter member of Hamilton Council. 
 No. 22, March 10, 1856, and T. I. M. 1857-8. He was treasurer of the 
 Chapter and Council until failing sight compelled him to decline further 
 service. In response to his wish the Masons accompanied his remains 
 to their last resting place in West Cemetery, Meriden. 
 
 To the thirteen founders of this Lodge, twelve of whom now rest in 
 Paradise and one among the living, we acknowledge our gratitude. The 
 honors so justly their due have not been paid them. How can Masons 
 
 30 
 
better honor their memories than by living according to the grand and 
 divine principles of our Order," as exemplified in every degree in Ma- 
 sonry and written upon every page of our Ritual. If our successors so 
 live and act, may we not expect that when they meet to celebrate the 
 centennial anniversary of Meridian Lodge, that they will receive from 
 the Supreme Grand Master, the commendation : Well done ! We have 
 to do, to-day, with the semi-centennial and with the fifty years which 
 have passed, and as we look back, the retrospect reminds us that "we 
 have left undone those things which we ought to have done, and we 
 have done those things which we ought not to have done." For our 
 many shortcomings, God forgive us. In so far as we have been faithful 
 in a few things, God be praised. 
 
 31 
 
BROTHER ED-WIN B. EVERITT. 
 
 TRTO^T-WrrrTiTTT.T.Y DEDICATED TO THE 'WOKSHIPECrL ]V[ASTEB, 
 
 '\^7'AT?T>TT>J« A.ND 33RETHKEN OP 
 
 MBRIDIAjST LOEGHC, N^O. 77, A. F. <fc A. 3VI. 
 
 MERIDIAN, No. 77. 
 
 Master divine ! Our fathers' God ! We come with glad acclaim, 
 To render homage unto Thee, and bless Thy holy name. 
 We thank Thee for " Meridian," named for the noontide sun; 
 For all her glorious wealth of work ; her service nobly done. 
 
 We thank Thee for our fathers' faith, shining with steady ray, 
 And, guided by Thine open word which on their altar lay. 
 How many joys, how much of grief, what varied hopes and fears 
 Cluster around "Meridian,"' and crown her fifty years! 
 
 The number of Meridian, how worthy of her fame ! 
 
 Of all the rest the one the best adapted to her name. 
 
 The sacred seven, the perfect seven, these two to her a,re given, 
 
 The number worthy of herself, — Meridian, " Seventy-seven." 
 
 OUR FATHERS. 
 
 Divinely led, with faith in God, here did our fathers raise 
 
 An altar, where to-day we come with gratitude and praise. 
 
 Here, brothers of the mystic tie, these fifty precious years, 
 
 Have shared their sorrows and their joys; partners in smiles and tears. 
 
 32 
 
E. 13. EVERIXT, 32° 
 
 AST-COMMANDER AND I'BELATE ST. ELMO COMMANDERT, NO. O, K. T. 
 
In true Masonic brotherhood, which builds in many lands 
 The Temple of Humanity ; with reverent loving hands, 
 Here labored they with patient toil, to build, as best they might, 
 The noble temple of a life ; illumBled with heavenly light. 
 
 Pillars of strengsh and beauty rose, on either hand, to aid 
 
 A symmeti-y adorned and strong, on sure foundation laid ; 
 
 The conduct squared by perfect rule, with right and justice crowned, 
 
 Upon a level absolute, with sympathy profound. 
 
 Confining every wild desire, restrained on every side. 
 As with a perfect circle drawn, to govern and to guide ; 
 True as a plumb line, and exact, each duty gladly done, 
 Brotherly love, the strong cement, uniting all in one. 
 
 The glorious sun that rules the day, the moon that rules the night. 
 In their unwearied course have looked on no sublimer sight ; 
 The stars that stud the firmament have smiled upon no view 
 More fair than labors such as these, where each to each is true. 
 
 This honored craft has everywhere wrought gloriously for man, 
 Guided by wise and master minds, in following heaven's plan. 
 Wherever found, the world around, these faithful, loving Brothers, 
 Attentive all, to Duty's call, delight in helping others. 
 
 Whoever at our altar kneels, as Washington once knelt, 
 The same inspiring ardor feels which those brave patriots felt 
 Who loved their country unto death, and freely gave their all, — 
 Masons who, mindful of the Craft, honored their country's call. 
 
 The oldest order on the earth has proved its right to be ; 
 Her sons have done the noblest work, and they, the best agree; 
 Have learned and taught the grandest truths, all radiant with light,— 
 Truths that will make the whole round world with heavenly glory 
 bright. 
 
 SONS OF SUCH SIRES. 
 
 Sons of such sires, arise ! " Look to the east," — the sun 
 
 Their good deeds emulate ! Shines on each earnest face. 
 
 Their path before you lies The work is well begun. 
 
 Under the brightening skies, Rest not till all is done. 
 Why hesitate ? Win thou the race ! 
 
 33 
 
See where their footsteps trod 
 This upward, shining way ! 
 They wrought for man ; and God 
 Who sent the light abroad 
 Hath blest their day ; 
 
 Hath crowned for all mankind 
 Such patient work of love ; 
 A love that long shall bind 
 Brothers of kindred mind 
 Who look above. 
 
 And, looking there, receive 
 Help for each passing hour. 
 While they distress relieve 
 And comfort hearts that grieve. 
 Who need such power. 
 
 The help so freely given 
 
 By those who hear aright 
 
 These words ; — where shine, in 
 
 glorious trine. 
 The Wisdom, Power, and Love 
 
 Divine, 
 The words which glorified the earth 
 And gave the gladsome sunshine 
 
 birth, 
 
 " Let there be light ! " 
 
 All glowing with such light. 
 Entered Apprentice ! Youth , 
 Comes into radiance bright, 
 Gladdening the mental sight 
 With glorious truth. 
 
 Then, polished, square, and new, 
 Fit for the Temple wall, 
 Its beauty brought to view, 
 Symmetrical and true. 
 Admired by all. 
 
 Prepared for service, when 
 He comes to man's estate. 
 As "Fellow Craft" we see him then. 
 Ready to take his place with men 
 In labors great. 
 
 Proud now to do and dare. 
 No matter what befalls ; 
 In weather foul or fair. 
 Expect to find him where 
 His duty calls. 
 
 Building with patience rare. 
 From mom to dewy night. 
 Using with zealous care 
 The ' ' Level, Plumb, and Square ' 
 To build aright ; 
 
 Then, having done his best 
 And honored duty's call, 
 We see him lead the rest, 
 As "Master" now addressed, 
 Revered by all. 
 
 As some unfinished block, 
 So is the youthful heart, 
 'Till, like the flinty rock. 
 Wrought by the constant shock 
 Of skillful Art; 
 
 The "Master Masons" stand 
 Strangers to angry strife, 
 A consecrated band 
 To bless a favored land 
 With light of life. 
 
 34 
 
FREE MASONRY. 
 
 There is a strong, a hidden force, best understood by those 
 Who come within its blessed sway, and as its influence grows 
 Its power, beneficent and mild, with ever widening sweep, 
 Brings heart to heart, and all to God, with impulse strong and deep. 
 
 Its symbolism born of heaven, full of instruction wise 
 Turns every thought to things divine and strengthens all the ties 
 "Which bind the earnest soul to God, Who crowns this earthly strife 
 With victory over sin and self, and leads to endless life ; 
 
 On tesselated floor designed, in strictly perfect squares 
 (Symbol of rectitude supreme in all of life's affairs). 
 With border rich and beautiful enclosed on every side, 
 And Central Blazing Star of Hope, securely we abide. 
 
 Beneath the great. All Seeing Eye, an ever present fact. 
 Here Temperance and Fortitude with Prudence nobly act ; 
 Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth, here full expression find ; 
 Faith, Hope, and Charity abide in each contented mind. 
 
 'Twas more than man devised the plan to aid a needy brother. 
 What higher motive can there be, than "Live to help another?" 
 To make this world a paradise, Heaven must with earth combine, 
 And human will enjoy the thrill of Charity divine. 
 
 POINTS OF TRUE FELLOWSHIP. 
 
 The willing foot, unwearied goes to rescue or to aid ; 
 
 Knee bows with knee, as at the throne, a brother's wants are laid ; 
 
 The manly breast, strong to sustain, is ever closely near. 
 
 The steady hand supports ; and lips breathe counsel to the ear. 
 
 Lion of Judas' tribe — in Thee — is strength to raise the dead. 
 And Thou canst lift the fallen one, when other hope is fled. 
 In all our dire extremities. Thy mighty hand can save. 
 Thy grasp alone deliver from the darkness of the grave. 
 
 Whate'er the fainting spirit needs for comfort, hope, and light. 
 Whene'er the voice of suffering pleads — assistance cheers the sight, 
 A soothing word will end all strife, will drive away all care, 
 A mighty grasp will lift to life, and hope replace despair. 
 
 35 
 
BROTHERHOOD. 
 
 By means of recognition, in daylight or by night, 
 
 All Masons know each other well, blest with enlightened sight; 
 
 By night or day, its signals seen over the ocean wave 
 
 Are sure to bring, in quick response, strong hands to help and save. 
 
 By night or day, on land or sea, with signals of distress, 
 The world around are brothers found, ready with aid to bless. 
 Kindred indeed ! In hours of need, each one — to each a brother, 
 Exemplifies the Royal Law of love to one another. 
 
 In silence and in mystery, to-day, as in the past, 
 The world's oldest Fraternity has wrought from first to last 
 To honor God and bless mankind, to lend a helping hand, 
 To be the sunshine and the joy of every clime and land. 
 
 A brotherhood that spans the world, strong in the God of might, 
 Conserving heaven-taught principles, and standing for the right; 
 Foremost in all good words and work, exemplifying love. 
 Led ever to the good and true, directed from above. 
 
 God's holy word the guiding light that shines upon the way 
 Which leads from darkness and despair to realms of endless day ; 
 That word divine, which has the power to banish all our gloom. 
 To make this world a Paradise, and glorify the tomb. 
 
 Free and accepted Masonry ! Leader of all the rest ! 
 Among the various brotherhoods the oldest and the best ! 
 . Guided aright for centuries, thy light the sacred page. 
 Thy faithful work has ever blest the world from age to age. 
 
 With finger pointing heavenward when one is called to die. 
 Reminding all the living of unending life on high ; . 
 With Hope that, as the evergreen, defies the wintry blasts. 
 Depending on the living Word, which earth and time outlasts. 
 
 Thus, with abiding faith in God, and proving heaveu's plan. 
 That he doth serve his God the best who loves his fellow man. 
 This ancient brotherhood goes on, steadfast in every age, 
 Holding in sacred reverence these teachings, wise and sage. 
 
 3G 
 
REMEMBER NOW THY CREATOR. 
 
 Remember thy Creator in the early days of youth ; 
 Take heed to all the teachings of the Holy Word of Truth ; 
 Make it thy constant Counsellor, the Light to guide thy way, 
 And to its Author dedicate the morning of life's day. 
 
 Before the evil days draw nigh, in which thou shalt complain, 
 "I have no pleasure in them" ; the days and nights of pain, 
 When sun and moon are darkened, and stars shine not again — 
 When all is darkness, and the clouds return after the rain. 
 
 Tremble the keepers of the house ; they bow themselves, the strong ; 
 The grinders cease, because so few; still is the sweet bird's song; 
 When in the street the doors are shut, low is the grinding sound, 
 Daughters of music all brought low, and dreadful fears abound. 
 
 Alas ! And he shall be afraid of all that which is high. 
 The lightest toil a burden now, and fear is ever nigh; 
 The almond tree is flourishing, desire shall all go out ; 
 Man goeth to his last, long home ; the mourners go about. 
 
 When the golden bowl is broken, or loosed the silver cord. 
 Or the pitcher at the fountain is broken, and the Lord 
 Shall call the spirit back again unto the One who gave. 
 The dust, to earth returned at last, lies silent in the grave. 
 
 BRETHREN OF THE MYSTIC TIE. 
 
 Ye brethren of the Mystic Tie, keep ever well in view 
 The Supreme Lodge in Heaven above, and to yourselves be true. 
 Honor your Heaven-taught principles, whatever may betide ; 
 Fulfill your Master's wise designs, and follow well your guide. 
 
 Let Wisdom, Strength, and Beauty abide together here. 
 Perfect, in due proportion, let each in turn appear; 
 Wisdom to guide. Strength to support, and Beauty to adorn ; 
 So thoughtful eve and useful day, succeed the lovely morn. 
 
 Thus, planned with care and wrought with skill. Life's edifice appears, 
 Winsome with sweet attractiveness, to fill the passing years 
 With noblest use to fellow men, as well as highest worth 
 To One who bids us do His will, and live to bless the earth. 
 
 37 
 
They shall not live nor work in vain, who, on foundation sure, 
 Build for the better life to come. Their labor shall endure 
 When yonder sun shall cease to rise, its glorious mission o'er. 
 When earth and sky shall pass away, and time shall be no more. 
 
 MASONIC HOMES. 
 
 When disappointment ends the work of unsuccessful years. 
 The agony of hope deferred finds no relief in tears ; 
 When pitiless adversity obscures and clouds the life. 
 And hope surrenders to despair, tired of the fruitless strife. 
 
 When all the world is unconcerned, averted every face, 
 When even friends have vanished, as if to shun disgrace, 
 'Tis sweet to know of one retreat, shining with glory bright. 
 Where clouds and darkness disappear in heaven's own radiant light. 
 
 Such are the blest JIasonic Homes, in this and other lands ! 
 The ministry to needy ones of willing hearts and hands. 
 The night of need turned into day, thick darkness turned to light, 
 The clouds that God's fair Temple hid, now with His glory bright. 
 
 How blest the hand that brings relief, that binds up broken hearts. 
 Kindles anew the light of hope, and life and joy imparts ! 
 Just such a blessed heavenly work as the bright angels love, — 
 A work that lifts the sad earth up nearer to heaven above. 
 
 10 
 
 THE LEVEL AND SQUARE. 
 
 Ever meeting on the Level, ever parting on the Square; 
 The king his crown forgetting, as the poor forgets his care ; 
 All children of one Father, all objects of His love; 
 All one in common worship of one great God above. 
 
 All hastening to a common home, all meeting there at last 
 Upon a common Level, when this checkered life is past ; 
 The work of each submitted to the common Judge of all. 
 Before Whose throne omnipotent, each one must stand or fall. 
 
 Then walk the highest Levels, the future Life in view. 
 
 All acts controlled, upright, and Plumb, all Level, Square, and true, 
 
 Your rule of life the Word of God, and living in the love 
 
 Of Truth divine, that guides the steps to brighter realms above. 
 
 38 
 
Ever safe in His protection, Who notes the sparrow's fall, 
 Ever trusting in His mercy, Who loves and cares fvr all ; 
 Ever full of loving kindness, scattering sunshine everywhere, 
 Ever meeting on the Level, ever parting on the Square, 
 
 11 
 
 SERVING THE SOVEREIGN MASTER. 
 
 Ever listening to the pleading of a Brother in distress. 
 Ever quick to heed the summons, with a helping hand to bless ; 
 Ever strong to cheer the timid, ever banishing all fears; 
 Ever helpful to the needy, ever drying sorrows's tears. 
 
 Ever striving to correct them, if a Brother's faults appear, 
 Ever giving kindly warning, when impending danger's near; 
 Ever cautious in advising, ever strong and wise to lead ; 
 Ever friendly to the friendless, ever thus a friend indeed. 
 
 Ever faithful unto duty, ever honest, tried, and true ; 
 Ever swift to aid a, brother, ever with this thought in view ; 
 Ever kind to everybody, ever walking in the light ; 
 Ever trusting in your leader, ever loyal to the right. 
 
 Responding to the Book divine, which on your altar lies, 
 Draw daily near the Master, as Time so swiftly flies ; 
 Your pathway growing brighter unto the perfect day. 
 Enlightened, guided, glorified by Heaven's supernal ray. 
 
 12 
 
 AT LAST. 
 
 At last, when work is ended and every duty done. 
 With faith in coming glory we meet life's setting sun ; 
 Awaiting resurrection, we bid the world adieu. 
 And fall asleep rejoicing, the better life in view. 
 
 The heavens that bend above the earth, by night and day proclaim 
 The glorious Architect Supreme, and praise His holy name. 
 With them, and all created things, we gladly sing His praise. 
 Who hath preserved and blest our craft, and guarded all our days. 
 
 We bow before the heavenly throne, to worship Him with awe. 
 The Sovereign Master of us all. Whose slightest wish is Law. 
 We ask His blessing on the Craft: "Give us to know Thy Love, 
 And grant that each at last may reach The Supreme Lodge above.' 
 
 39 
 
Address. 
 
 U. S. SENATOR ORVILLE H. PLATT. 
 
 Worshipful Master and Brothers: 
 
 Something in human nature which we cannot precisely define impels 
 us to celebrate those events in personal or public life which have been 
 productive of happy results. We do not celebrate untoward or trivial 
 occurrences. We only commemorate the beginnings of individual or or- 
 ganized life when we think such life has been of value to us or 
 our feUow men. When, therefore, we are prompted to observe with 
 appropriate ceremonies the end of the first fifty years of the life of 
 Meridian Lodge, it may be taken for granted that such life has been 
 something worthy of notice and commendation. We would not if we 
 could, and we could not if we would, perpetuate the memory of an un- 
 fortunate existence. 
 
 Institutions, like individuals, are born into the world, and their birth- 
 days, marked bj^ recurring years, appeal to us as strongly as anything 
 in life. The world is better for the observance of birthdays. The 
 family — in the narrowest sense of the word — becomes cemented more 
 closely when the birthdays of its members are noted and kept; the 
 human family — in the wider sense of the word — becomes more and 
 more a brotherhood when the birthdays of its institutions are remem- 
 bered and honored. The same sentiment in our nature which makes 
 the observance of Christmas, or the birthdays of great and good men, a 
 necessity as well as a joy, makes the celebration of the birthday of the 
 republic, of a church, a city, a town, or a valuable social organization, 
 also a necessity and joy. 
 
 If I wished to prove by conclusive argument that Masonic institutions 
 are valuable and helpful and wisely adapted to social needs, I could ad- 
 duce no evidence of that fact more satisfactory or convincing than that 
 we are impelled, irresistibly impelled, to celebrate this fiftieth anni- 
 versary of the beginning of the life of Meridian Lodge. The very fact 
 that we cannot pass this semi-centennial period without this recognition 
 
 40 
 
proves that we at least believe that its life has been beneficial in the 
 highest degree. 
 
 More than fifty years ago there was indeed much discussion of the 
 question whether membership in the Masonic Order was consistent with 
 the best interests of public and private life; a discussion which was 
 fierce and bitter, and the prejudice which political and religious contro- 
 versy always engenders became most intense. To be a Mason from 1825 
 to 1840 was to incur obloquy and reproach. Many good men and women 
 believed that Masonic obligations antagonized patriotism and true re- 
 ligion, and must be destructive of both. Masonry and Masons suffered 
 persecution which seemed for the time being to threaten the continu- 
 ance of Masonic life. Very few lodges in Connecticut maintained regu- 
 lar meetings. Lodge rooms were deserted. Masonic furniture scattered 
 and lost, and the curious wandered at will through the neglected 
 halls. Masons, however, remained true to their convictions, but were 
 forced to bend to the storm. To their honor be it said that they never 
 denied their faith. I do not believe that those who live in this present 
 time and only understand that persecution by reading the history of 
 the period to which I have referred, can appreciate the intense oppo- 
 sition and the hostile, bitter, and unreasoning persecution to which our 
 Masonic brethren in those days were subjected. I think we are more 
 tolerant of opinion now than ever before in our history, but however 
 that may be, Masonry has surely outlived its persecutions, and, unless I 
 am greatly mistaken, has won for itself the respect and confidence of 
 all, or nearly all, right minded people. In my estimation it has come to 
 be justly regarded as one of the most beneficent of all social organiza- 
 tions. 
 
 The duty of man is threefold: to God, to his neighbor, and to him- 
 self, and yet this threefold duty is one and the same. Man cannot 
 fully discharge his duty to his Maker without the performance of duty 
 to himself and society, nor can he properly discharge his duty either to 
 himself or to society without fully observing all his obligations to his 
 Maker. Individual and associated life are so closely related that the 
 man who fails to take his proper place in the associated life of the world 
 utterly fails in the performance of duty as well as in his own develop- 
 ment. Herein is the difficulty of leading the highest and noblest life. 
 All true progress would cease the moment that men should fail in their 
 duty to their fellows ; a duty impossible of performance except through 
 association and organization. The man who lives for himself alone, 
 however scrupulously he may endeavor to discharge his duty, is, after 
 all, but an isolated and selfish member of society. 
 
 41 
 
" That man may last, but never lives, 
 Who much receives, but nothing gives." 
 
 He might'as well be a hermit and dwell in a cave : the world is little 
 better for his living in it. 
 
 The very idea of human society is founded on the Divine command, 
 " Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." But society is not one or- 
 ganized body: its whole is made up of a multitude of organizations. 
 There may be organizations inimical to the best interests of social pro- 
 gress, but there are others which make for the highest civilization and 
 the best social results; which, in other words, contribute to real human 
 progress; and it is through such organizations that a man best dis- 
 charges his obligations to his fellow men. He may indeed, v.-ithout be- 
 longing to organizations, be interested in those with whom he comes in 
 contact and seek to better their condition, but such individual effort 
 alone falls far short of producing the happiest results. The true test, 
 then, of an institution or organization is, whether it on the whole tends 
 to elevate humanity, to make society better, and to uplift mankind from 
 a purely material to a higher and spiritual life. Masonry, like all other 
 organizations, must be tried by this standard, and it is therefore worth 
 while to inquire what Masonry really is, both in its ideal purpose and 
 in its practical results. It does not purport to be an organization which 
 embraces all mankind, and no human organization does. The State, in- 
 deed, embraces all who live within its boundaries or the jurisdiction of 
 its government, but there is no world government. We have nations, 
 states, counties, towns; each is a distinct organization that has to do 
 solely with its own membership. We have churches, great missionary, 
 charitable and educational institutions, societies without number; but 
 neither nation, state, church, charitable, educational or social organiza- 
 tions pretend primarily to embrace all mankind. It is only those who 
 associate in the particular institution who are directly benefited, e';- 
 nobled or exalted. Nevertheless, it is true that all beneficent institu- 
 tions exert an influence far beyond the circle of their immediate mem- 
 bership, and thus tend to improve and exalt the world at large. In this 
 respect Masonry differs from none of the other valuable institutions and 
 organizations among men. Primarily the Masonic ideal embraces only 
 the relations beween members of the Order; but the same is true of 
 either church or state ; yet the influence of any church reaches far be- 
 yond its mere membership; a republic organizes for self-government, 
 not for the government of others, and yet its influence extends far be- 
 yond its own people. Thus the compact in the Mayflower, and the con- 
 
 42 
 
stitution of the Connecticut Colony, were the seeds which grew and 
 ripened into a republic, and the force of that republic is felt to-day 
 along the pathway of the sea and to the uttermost parts of the earth. 
 
 All this is true of Masonry. Its principles and the rules of conduct, 
 which are prescribed for its members and which mark the relations 
 which exist between them, exert their influence far beyond the particu- 
 lar body thus associated. I think it may be stated without qualification 
 that any body of men and women organized upon right principles, and 
 for a good purpose, though primarily calculated to benefit only its own 
 members, does nevertheless, exert a potent influence far outrunning 
 its immediate object and aim. Masonry, therefore, though established 
 upon the idea that it is a brotherhood limited by its membership, must, 
 and does, help toward the consummation of universal brotherhood. In 
 this respect, and in many others, it very nearly approaches the idea of 
 the family and the home, and as the recognition of the family tie, and 
 the mutual interest of the members of the family, constitute the very 
 basis of our civilization, so the recognition of Masonic ties and the sen- 
 timent of mutual helpfulness tend to uplift civilization as a whole. 
 
 What, then, is Masonry; what does it teach; what does it accomplish ? 
 A tree is known by its fruit. If its fruitage is good, then Masonry is 
 valuable and good. I regret that Masons themselves have been dis- 
 posed to exaggerate both the antiquity of its origin and the secrecy 
 which is inevitable in all such organizations. For myself I think less of 
 those features which surround it somewhat with mystery, less of the se- 
 crecy which is enjoined upon its formalities than of its ethical nature ; 
 less of its ritual than of its purpose. Whatever is old interests and fas- 
 cinates us. Without inquiring as to the origin and beginnings of 
 Masonry, it has admittedly an antiquity which at once challenges our 
 attention ; but its present is of far more value than its past ; what it will 
 be in the future is more important than what it has been. Its moral in- 
 fluence infinitely outweighs the measure of secrecy which it enjoins. 
 
 Masonry, then, may be broadly defined as an institution which seeks 
 to inculcate among its members the threefold duty of man to which I 
 have heretofore referred. Namely, his duty to God, to his fellow, and 
 to himself. Could any institution have a higher or nobler pui-pose than 
 this? 
 
 It is not a religious institution and yet its whole tendency is religious. 
 Its fundamental rule of membership is that it admits no one who does 
 not believe in a Supreme Being and the obligation of obedience to that 
 Supreme Being. No atheist or infidel can come within the walls of the 
 
 43 
 
Lodge. Think for a moment what this signifies, and how few human 
 organizations are based upon this essential belief. This condition of 
 membership is not a thoughtless, unmeaning, or merely formal require- 
 ment. Masonry teaches no theology; it insists upon no dogma. It tol- 
 erates the widest divergence of religious faith. All sects, all denomina- 
 tions, are welcome; but it has no place for a man who does not truly 
 and earnestly and intelligently believe in a Supreme Being. I think I 
 may say that outside the church itself, there is no other human institu- 
 tion which insists upon this fundamental belief. There have been sad 
 differeQces among those who believe in a Supreme Being, and there 
 have been intense longings for religious toleration and unity, but I 
 know of no place where there is more perfect religious unity and tol- 
 eration than in the Masonic Lodge. For membership therein it is 
 enough to know that he who seeks it believes that we are all children of 
 the self same God. All its teachings are founded on this one basic rule. 
 Through all its history, in all its working, in all its education, this re- 
 cognition of God and our duty and obedience to Him is clearly defined 
 and positively marked. I cannot too strongly emphasize this cardinal 
 idea of Masonry. Whatever may be said of the church as a factor in 
 the civilization of the world, I believe it may be truly said that next to 
 the church the Masonic institution is the most potent human organi- 
 zation seeking that end. The first object which meets the eye of a 
 Mason as he enters the Lodge is the open Bible, and it there as truly 
 urges him toward right living as when his mother read it to him kneel- 
 ing as a child by her side. 
 
 In the early history of mankind teaching was by parable and sym- 
 bol, and all the symbolism of the Lodge is adapted to impress the car- 
 dinal belief in a Supreme Being. Again, Masonry teaches most im- 
 pressively the immortality of man. Old religions consign man at 
 his departure to the under world. Masonry fixes his thought on the 
 Temple above to which he is to ascend when this life shall end. The 
 ladder reaching from earth to heaven which Jacob saw in his dream, is 
 seen by every Mason in every Lodge. I do not know at what remote 
 period in Masonry the sprig of Acacia was planted at the head of the 
 grave . I do not know when the ceremonies of Masonic burial were first 
 devised and it became a custom for each brother in turn to drop an 
 evergreen sprig on the coffin of the departed; but from that early 
 period, whenever it may have been, belief in a future life has been 
 conspicuously outlined and taught. If it be true, as is claimed, that 
 these rites antedate the coming of the Saviour and the revelation of im- 
 mortality through Him, it may be justly claimed that belief in a future 
 
 a 
 
life was taught earlier, and more certainly in Masonry, than in the Old 
 Testament. Symbolic teaching has by no means lost its force. The 
 symbol stands to-day as truly for the thing symbolized as ever. The 
 cross is but a symbol; our flag is but a symbol; but we all know what 
 they stand for and teach. The cross inspires our faith ; the flag intensi- 
 fies our patriotism. Every Masonic symbol has its voice and speaks to 
 us of the Divine natare, of self culture, or of social obligation. 
 
 Let me considei now man's duty to himself, a duty which cannot 
 be separated from his duty to God; and here Masonry presents the 
 highest ideal of life to be found outside the church. Virtue, temper- 
 ance, forbearance, justice and truth are taught as the elements of manly 
 character and the foundation of a noble life. Without these qualities 
 man is little better than a brute ; with them in full and harmonious play 
 he is little less than Divine. Add to these the graces of Faith, Hope 
 and Charity, and man becomes the noble being intended by his Maker. 
 Nor is this teaching merely nominal. Whether the Mason practices 
 such virtues and is adorned by such graces, or not, Masonry continu- 
 ously holds up to his apprehension the perfect image of a man thus en- 
 nobled. It may be said that no Mason lives up to the high ideal of 
 Masonry in this respect, — but who does live up to his ideals in this 
 world ? If men in practical life could only realize the ideals of their 
 better nature the long expected millennium would be an accomplished 
 fact. But he who strives for such ideals is truly a better man than he 
 to whom no such ideal is present. It is an old maxim that he who aims 
 at the sun will shoot higher than he who aims at the ground ; and lofty 
 ideals do, after all, elevate humanity. Surely that organization which 
 thus places before each member his duty to himself must be of the 
 highest value. 
 
 We come then to man's duty to his fellow men, and preeminently 
 Masonry is calculated to teach and enforce this obligation. Liberty, 
 Fraternity and Equality are the three grand watch words of social life. 
 Misapprehended, indeed, and never fully realized in this world, they 
 constitute the foundation of all true human progress and development. 
 Here, too. Masonry teaches with no uncertain voice. The Golden Rule 
 is the rule of Masonic life. On the Holy Bible rest always the Square 
 and Compass. The Rule and the Level have a scarcely less prominent 
 position. They teach that men are to meet on the level and part on the 
 square ; that all dealings between them must be upright and fair ; that 
 class distinctions have no place in Masonic life ; that neither riches nor 
 station can give superiority ; that wealth should not excite envy ; that 
 
 45 
 
advancement comes only by merit, and merit depends upon work. In 
 these days, when so much is said about class distinctions, think how the 
 teachings of Masonry in this respect are calculated to promote harmony 
 and mutuality among men. Let me refer to one phrase which occurs 
 somewhere in the work or the lectures of the Order: "Harmony being 
 the support and strength of all societies, but more especially this of 
 ours." What a world we would have if that sentiment could be as fully 
 recognized outside as inside the Masonic Lodge ! In the charge at initia- 
 tion into the first degree the novitiate is enjoined as follows: "In the 
 state you are to be a quiet and peaceful subject, true to your gov-ern- 
 ment, and just to your country; you are not to countenance disloy- 
 alty or rebellion, but patiently submit to legal authority, and conform 
 with cheerfulness to the government of the country in which you live." 
 
 If Masonry taught no other duty than this, it would be worthy of all 
 praise and of perpetuity. The Mason who heeds this teaching and 
 makes it the rule of Ijis life, will be a loyal patriot and a citizen of the 
 highest usefulness. The life of a nation is preserved by the patriotism 
 of its people, but patriotism depends on good citizenship. 
 
 I do not know that I have ever seen the true nature and tendency of 
 Masonry more aptly described than in the language of Henry Clay. In 
 the year 1827 a muvement was started by Mr. Clay, then in Congress, 
 for the organization of a Grand Lodge of the United States, a move- 
 ment which did not succeed, but which, I think, was wise and should 
 have succeeded. A meeting of leading ilasons was called, a committee 
 appointed, and an address, of which Mr. Clay was the author, was 
 issued to the Masonic bodies of the United States, in which he thus de- 
 scribes the institution : 
 
 "These reflections, drawn from the external circumstances of Ma- 
 sonrj', are strengthened by the consideration of its intrinsic nature. Its 
 foundation is fixed in the social feelings and the best principles of the 
 human mind. Its maxims are the lessons of virtue reduced to their 
 practical application. It stands opposed to sordidness ; to a jealous or 
 revengeful temper ; to all the selfish and malevolent passions. It coincides 
 with the highest motives of patriotism ; the most expanded philanthropy, 
 and concentrates all its precepts in reverence to a Divine Creator, and 
 good will to man.'' 
 
 I may not dwell longer upon the principles and teachings of the 
 Masonic Order. I have spoken of them, not to defend Masonry, but to 
 eulogize it. It no longer needs defense ; it commands praise. 
 
 We cannot but note to-day the fact that the life of this Lodge is co- 
 
 46 
 
incident with the last half of the nineteenth century. It would be inter- 
 esting to go back to its starting point, to recall the incidents of its early 
 life, to speak of the character and virtues of its original members and 
 those who were first initiated, but that time seems so far in the past as 
 to almost dissociate its early from its present life. One who has lived 
 the active and intense life of the past fifty years can scarceh' avoid the 
 feeling that he has lived two lives, one in the far distant past, a life in 
 some sense closed, and one in the present, which looks toward the 
 future. I forbear, therefore, especially after the admirable historical 
 address to which you have listened, to call up the past of this Lodge, or 
 to dwell upon its growth, or that of the Order. It is enough to say that 
 the growth of Masonry' has more than kept pace with the growth of our 
 population and the development of our resources. I«suppose that at the 
 outside we had not more than 2,000 Masons in the State of Connecticut 
 in the year 1850, and probably about 100,000 in the United States. We 
 have now members of the Blue Lodge in Connecticut 17,500, and in the 
 United States 800,000. Masonry has thus been multiplied eightfold, and 
 its future is hopeful and bright. It is a positive increasing force in our 
 moral and social life. Measuring its future usefulness and influence by 
 what it has done in the past, one can scarcely predict too much for the 
 good which it is destined to accomplish in the world. 
 
 Men grow old and pass away.. Many of our brethren have been called 
 to the Temple above and into the presence of the Supreme Architect; 
 but institutions, if founded on right principles, live on, and so long as 
 this Lodge is true to the nature and teachings of Masonry, it will be an 
 ever-increasing power for good. I look to see a widely enlarged field 
 for Masonic effort and action. The Masonic system is modeled upon 
 the family life. In some respects it more truly approaches the ideal 
 than the family itself. The beauty and influence of family is often 
 marred by family pride and selfishness, but Masonry never seeks its own 
 advancement at the expense of others, and never clothes itself with the 
 garments of pride or selfishness. Its members may not always be 
 brothers in the truest sense, but it is a great thing in this world to 
 acknowledge the tie of human brotherhood which depends upon 
 being children of the Infinite Father. I look to see the idea of Masonic 
 brotherhood widening more and more and developing into the idea of 
 universal brotherhood. I look to see the spirit which permeates Masonic 
 life gradually but surely finding its way into and blessing all human 
 life. 
 
 What changes have been wrought during this half century. Surely 
 
 47 
 
the time foretold in scripture, when "Many shall run to and fro, and 
 knowledge shall be increased," may be said to have really come. In all 
 that pertains to material life, development has been scarcely short of 
 the miraculous. How little we thought fifty years ago of what those 
 two forces of nature, steam and electricity, were to accomplish. In 
 science, art, business and knowledge, literally the field is the world. If 
 life is to be measured by the opportunity for knowledge, by the capacity 
 for acquirement, by the means of comfort, then he who has lived actively 
 during this last half of the nineteenth century cannot measure the length 
 of his life by the years that have passed. We need no longer envy the 
 patriarchs of old their length of days. One lives more now in the period 
 allotted to man than they lived in the centuries during which we are 
 told their existence was prolonged. But in all this wonderful era of 
 change some things remain unchanged and permanent. I know of 
 nothing more mysterious in Masonry than the thought that the prin- 
 ciples, sentiments, teachings and rules of Masonic life are to-day what 
 they were centuries ago ; that even in those rude times, in which we 
 are wont to think there was little of real civilization and much of bar- 
 barism, cruelty and selfish wrong, the high truths of ^Masonry were 
 thought out and established, and its pillars reared upon eternal 
 foundations. 
 
 We stand facing the new century' full of faith that material progress 
 and advancement are to go on increasingly. The hill of knowledge has 
 not yet been climbed to its summit; the wonderful powers of nature 
 have but just come under the control of man; the horizon of life will yet 
 widen more and more ; the adjustment of mankind to new conditions of 
 life will go on, and though the present may appear to be marred by 
 displacement and suffering, it seems to me that the future is to be one 
 of increasing comfort and happiness for mankind. Have we not the 
 right to hope that with this increasing happiness will come an increased 
 understanding of God and our obligations to Hira, and of that universal 
 brotherhood which JIasonry typifies and teaches, and which is finally to 
 unite and bless mankind? So mote it be. 
 
 48 
 
^antiutU 
 
 AT A_RMOK1r OF COMFANT I, SECOND REGIMENT, O. N. G-., 
 
 AT Six O'CLOCK. 
 
 Invocation, 
 
 Reverend Brother Henry Blatz, Jr., of Meridian Lodge. 
 
 Pva gramme of aHusic, 
 
 Rendered by r.oosa's Oeohestra during the Banquet. 
 
 Marcli, 
 
 Overture, 
 
 Characteristic, 
 
 Grand Selection, 
 
 Intermezzo, 
 
 Medley Selection, 
 
 Rag Time, 
 
 Selection, 
 
 Caprice, 
 
 Two Step, 
 
 Selection, 
 
 Galop, 
 
 "Across the Continent," 
 
 "Poet and Peasant," 
 
 "Colored Aristocracy," 
 
 "Ernani," 
 
 "Salome," 
 
 "In Gay Bohemia,'' 
 
 "The Colored Major," 
 
 From "The Rounders," 
 
 " Flight of the Butterflies," 
 
 'Under the Flag of Victory," 
 
 From " Idol's Eye," 
 
 "Fire Fly," 
 
 Schwartz 
 
 Suppe 
 
 Bernard 
 
 Verdi 
 
 Loraine 
 
 Beyer 
 
 Langey 
 
 Englander 
 
 Knauer 
 
 Von Blon 
 
 Herbert 
 
 Weingarten 
 
 49 
 
^ost ^ Pfandi^t* 
 
 WORSHIPFUIL, MiASXEPJ. "WITiPlERT L. BA-BOOCK, 
 PREsmrNU. 
 
 PAST-GK-A-ND MASTER WIIjLIAIM: WAIjIjACK LEE, 
 TOASX MASTER. 
 
 Music, 
 
 Quartette. 
 
 " Gtand Lodge of Connecticut," 
 
 Most Worshipful John O. Rowland, Grand Master, 
 Grand Lodge of Connecticut. 
 
 "Ouf Countrjr," 
 
 Reverend Brother Alexander H. Mead, 
 Chaplain of Meridian Lodge. 
 
 Recitation, 
 
 Worshipful Brother Matthew Beatty, 
 Past Master of Meridian Lodge. 
 
 "City of Meriden," 
 
 Worshipful Brother E. Ernest West, 
 Past Master of Meridian Lodge — Mayor of Meriden. 
 
 "Ouf Sister Lodges, 
 
 , Grand Officers. 
 
 "Religion and Ffeemasonfy," 
 
 Reverend Brother Cornelius G. Bristol, 
 Grand Chaplain Grand Lodge of Connecticut. 
 
 50 
 
Solo, 
 
 Brother Erwin M. Beebk, of Meridian Lodge. 
 
 "Patriotism and Masonry," 
 
 Reverend Brother Joseph J. Wooley, 
 Past Chaplain of Meridian Lodge. 
 
 "Masonic ChaHties," 
 
 Past Grand Master Luke A. Lockwood, 
 President Masonic Charity Foundation of Connecticut. 
 
 Recitation, 
 
 Brother Frederick M. Dean, of Meridian Lodge. 
 
 "Early Days of Masonry in Connecticut," 
 
 Past Grand Master John H. Barlow, 
 Grand Secretary Grand Lodge of Connecticut. 
 
 "Our Mother Lodges," 
 
 Compass, No. 9, Wallingford. 
 Federal, No. 17, Watertown, 
 Harmony, No. 20, New Britain, 
 Columbia, No. 26, East Haddam, 
 St. Andrews, No. 64, Winsted. 
 
 "Woman" (with that word Life's dearest hopest and memories come). 
 
 Reverend Brother Warren S. Perkins, 
 Past Chaplain of Meridian Lodge. 
 
 Music, 
 
 Quartette. 
 
 "Auld Lang Syne," 
 
 (Sung by all). 
 
 51 
 
0fflcer$t 3anuat3t 1851* 
 
 Rev. John Parker, 
 AsAHEL Curtis, 
 William Allen, Jr., 
 Betrand L. Yale, 
 Charles Parker, 
 W. B. Olds, 
 Luther Parmelee, 
 
 Worshipful Master 
 Senior Warden 
 Junior Warden 
 Secretary- 
 Treasurer 
 Senior Deacon 
 Junior Deacon 
 
 52 
 
#fliceir$t 3anwar3t 1901, 
 
 WlLBERT L. BaBCOCK, 
 
 Frederick E. Tucker, 
 Charles P. Connolly, 
 Eugene A. Hall, 
 George A. Davis, 
 George S. Clark, 
 John G. Nagel, 
 Robert J. Walker, 
 John D. Roberts, Jr., 
 Rev. Alexander H. Mead, 
 Arthur E. Miller, 
 Frederick S. Bidwell, 
 
 Worshipful Master 
 
 Senior Warden 
 
 Junior Warden 
 
 Treasurer 
 
 Secretary 
 
 Senior Deacon 
 
 Junior Deacon 
 
 Senior Stevirard 
 
 Junior Steward 
 
 Chaplain 
 Marshal 
 Organist 
 
 inditing (Somntittee: 
 
 H. A. W. Prageman, George E. Bicknell, Edward J. Pooley 
 
 John P. Weir, Jr., 
 
 William H. Westwood, 
 
 John A. Leeds 
 
 68 
 
l^orsltiiifttl Masters. 
 
 WITH DATE OF THEIR ELECTION. 
 
 John Parker, January i, 1851 
 
 Humphrey Lyon, " 8, 18 51 
 Almeron Miles, July 23, 1851 
 
 Almeron Miles, December 10, 1851 
 Almeron Miles, " 29, 1852 
 
 Bertrand L. Yale, " 12, 1853 
 
 Almeron Miles, " 25, 1854 
 
 William A. Fosket, January 14, 1856 
 Almeron Miles, December 15, 1856 
 
 William Cochran, 
 William Cochran, 
 Newton F. Hart, 
 Geo. S. Dickinson, 
 Marshall C. Augur, 
 Levi E. Coe, 
 David T- Lyon, 
 Levi E. Coe, 
 Robert Ought on, 
 *Wm. Wallace Lee, 
 Wm. H. West wood, 
 Wm. H. West wood, 
 Levi E. Coe, 
 Henry J. Church, 
 Edwin O. Hibbard, 
 H. Wales Lines, 
 Wm. H. Westwood, 
 Matthew Beatty, 
 
 28. 1857 
 
 20. 1858 
 5, 1859 
 
 24, i860 
 l6, 1861 
 29, 1862 
 21, 1863 
 12, 1864 
 
 25, 1865 
 
 24, 1866 
 23, 1867 
 
 21, 1868 
 
 20, 1869 
 
 26, 1870 
 
 25, 1871 
 23, 1872 
 
 22, 1873 
 
 21, 1874 
 
 Matthew Beatty, December 20,1875 
 
 1876 
 
 1877 
 
 1878 
 
 ,1879 
 
 Lyman H. Hall, 
 John C. Booth, 
 LeMoine N. Fay, 
 LeMoine N. Fay, 
 John A. Leeds, 
 John A. Leeds, 
 Albert R. Yale, 
 E. Ernest West, 
 James P. Piatt, 
 Edgar C. Savage, 
 John P. Weir, Jr., 
 John P. Weir, Jr., 
 George E. Bicknell 
 Joseph L. Porter, 
 William H. Sprout, 
 William H. Sprout, 
 David F. Powers, 
 Wm. C. Comstock, 
 Eugene A. Hall, 
 Edwin A. Watrous, 
 Frank A. Stevens, 
 Arthur E. Miller, 
 Robert L. Mackay^ 
 Wilbert L. Babcock, 
 Wilbert L. Babcock, 
 
 25 
 
 24, 
 
 23 
 22 
 20, 
 26, 
 26, 
 24, 
 29. 
 21, 
 20, 
 26, 
 
 24. 
 I6, 
 
 15. 
 21, 
 19, 
 18, 
 
 17. 
 16, 
 21, 
 20, 
 
 19. 
 18, 
 
 17, 
 
 1880 
 1881 
 1882 
 1883 
 1884 
 1885 
 1886 
 1887 
 1888 
 
 1890 
 1891 
 1892 
 1893 
 1894 
 1895 
 1896 
 1897 
 
 1899 
 1900 
 
 *Grand Master, 1874-1875. 
 
 54 
 
aitem&ev$fi))> l5oII, 3ann^tg t, tOOl. 
 
 Adams, John V. 
 Andrews, Julius 
 Atwell, Seager S. 
 Alexander, Thos. S. 
 Austin, A. Ellsworth 
 Atkinson, George. 
 
 Barnes, Lewis 
 Bradish, James Q. 
 Bacon, J. Buckley 
 Bassett, Jared B. 
 Babb, Albert 
 Barker, Alfred 
 Bradshaw, Arthur 
 Bradley, Clarence P. 
 Banks, John W. 
 Babcock, Wilbert L. 
 Blatz, Rev. Henry 
 Blake, Charles N. 
 Bauer, Gottleib A. 
 Beardsley, Miles B. 
 Beatty, Matthew 
 Beckley, Frank L. 
 Breckenridge, R. M. 
 Bernstein, Sigmund 
 Beach, Henry B. 
 Breckenridge, A. E. 
 Belknap, George D. 
 Bemis, Fred E. 
 Beebe, Erwin M. 
 Bridgen, William 
 
 Bristol, Walter R. 
 Bristol, Joseph L. 
 Bicknell, George E. 
 Bidwell, John S. 
 Britton, John W. 
 Briggs, John R. 
 Bidwell, Fred'k S. 
 Billard, Walter S. 
 Billings, Stephen A. 
 Brough, Harry J. 
 Bronson, Frank H. 
 Booth, John C. 
 Bolles, Franklin G. 
 Bockius, Geo. K, 
 Brown, James W. 
 Brown, Lauren C. 
 Bowers, Ellsworth T. 
 Brown, Fred H. 
 Brown, Andrew L. 
 Burgess, Abram Y. 
 Bushnell, Henry E. 
 Budd, Fred F. 
 Byxbee, John C. 
 
 Clark, Geo. L. 
 Chapman, Rufus E. 
 Crane, Wm. J. L. 
 Cannon, Geo. A. 
 Clark, Wm. A. 
 Clark, Geo. S. 
 Chapman, Chas. E. 
 
 55 
 
Coe, Levi E. 
 Cook, James 
 Coe, John W. 
 Comstock, William B. 
 Collins, William 
 Connolly, Chas, P. 
 Comstock, William C. 
 Converse, Aden J. 
 Coe, Walter E. 
 Cooley, Irving G. 
 Coggins, Sanford 
 Crombie, Paul C. 
 Cody, Lynn R. 
 Churcli, Henry J. 
 Curtis, Louis K. 
 Cushing, Frank H. 
 Church, Louis H. 
 Church, Robert G. 
 
 Davis, Wilbur F. 
 Davis, Geo. A. 
 Dreher, Louis 
 De Peyster, Frederick 
 Dean, Frederick M. 
 Dillaway, Daniel H. 
 Doolittle, Edgar J. 
 Dowd, Zina E. 
 Doolittle, Curtis A. 
 Duncan, Alexander 
 Dunlop, James 
 Duis, Adolph T. 
 Duii, Adolph T., 2nd. 
 
 Evarts, Frank P. 
 Everitt, Edwin B. 
 Eggleston, Jere D. 
 Ewers, James E. 
 Elliott, Joseph M. 
 Eliot, Wm. R. 
 
 Fairchild, Henry E. 
 Franks, Joseph 
 Francis, Edgar S. 
 Fechter, Henry A. 
 Fisher, Daniel C. 
 Ford, Roger M. 
 Fox, Christian F. 
 Fumiss, Walter H. 
 
 Garvey, Patrick 
 Gardner, Wm. C. 
 Graham, Benj. 
 Grant, Frank T. 
 Graham, Benj. L. 
 Glaesner, Arthur F. 
 Green, Frederick 
 Green, Wm. R. 
 Griswold, Nathan F. 
 Gill, James F. 
 Griffin, Albert V. 
 Griswold, Daniel S. 
 Gilkey, D. William 
 Gough, John A. 
 
 Hart, Newton F. 
 Hamilton, Wm. 
 Hayes, John. 
 Harvey, Wm. H. 
 Hastings, Frank N. 
 Haywood, Geo. W. 
 Hall, Eugene A. 
 Hennion, Wm. H. 
 Hiney, Jacob W. 
 Hirschfeld, Henry W. 
 Hills, Simon S. 
 Hotchkiss, Frederick M. 
 Holt, Irving L. 
 Hull, P. Ethan 
 Hubbard, Hermon E. 
 Hughes, Oliver J. D. 
 
 56 
 
Hull, Clarence A. 
 Hyatt, Isaac B. 
 
 Ives, Amos 
 Isbell, Rufus D. 
 Ives, Phineas T. 
 
 Johnson, Sidney E. 
 Jopson, Geo. W. 
 Johnstone, Hector 
 Jones, Augustus H. 
 
 Kay, James T. 
 Kelsey, Dwight 
 Kelsey, Otis S. 
 Kintz, Joseph 
 Kendrick, Wm. A. 
 King, Harry T. 
 Kirwin, John W. 
 Kibbe, Horace W. 
 
 Lawton, Lyman T. 
 Laytham, Thomas 
 Laytham, Edward 
 Lane, John S. 
 Lee, Wm. Wallace 
 Leeds, John A. 
 Levi, Henry B. 
 Leeds, Fred A. 
 Lewy, Julius 
 Lines, H. Wales 
 Liddell, John 
 Logan, James 
 Lohmann, Geo. H. 
 Lyman, Chas. H. 
 
 Magoun, Henry 
 Markham, F. Geo. 
 Mackay, Wm. R. 
 Marble, Geo. E. 
 
 Mather, Albert B. 
 Mather, Heniy M. 
 Mason, Walter 
 Malloy, Richard J. 
 Mansur, Chas. H. 
 Marble, Geo. G. 
 Maguire, John T. 
 Mackay, Robert L. 
 Mackay, Alexander L. 
 McMaster, Lyman W. 
 May, Albert A. 
 Merriman, Emerson A. 
 Merriman, Julius E. 
 Merwin, Nelson D. 
 Mead, Rev. Alexander H. 
 Merriman, A. H. 
 Miller, Chas. A. 
 Miles, Richard W. 
 Miller, Arthur E. 
 Millon, Ira H. 
 Morgan, Wm. P. 
 Mosher, W. W. 
 Monckmeyer, Fred. 
 Morse, Herbert G. 
 Murphy, John T. 
 Mueller, Wm. C. 
 Myatt, William W. 
 
 Nankervis, Wm. H. 
 Nagel, John G. 
 Newport, Herbert E. 
 
 Otis, Samuel D. 
 
 Piatt, Orville H. 
 Parker, Luman F. 
 Page, Benjamin 
 Piatt, James P. 
 Pragemann, H. A. W. 
 Parker, Wilbur F. 
 
 57 
 
Parker, Louis C. 
 Parish, John H. 
 Pardee, Charles F. W. 
 Perkins, Chas. R. 
 Perkins, Chas. S. 
 Perkins. Rev. Warren S. 
 Peck, Chas E. 
 Petts, Ambross S. 
 Perkins, Louis H. 
 Pistorius, August 
 Pritchard, Alfred 
 Powers, Luther A. 
 Powers, Wm. W. 
 Porter, Joseph L. 
 Powers, Charles C. 
 Powers, David F. 
 Pooley, Edward J. 
 
 Rand, Philip C. 
 Reynolds, Walter H. 
 Redfield, Halsted 
 Rice, Hiram H. 
 Rightmeyer, Wm. T. 
 Rogers, Gilbert 
 Roeth, Henry A. 
 Rollins, Frank 
 Roebuck, Alfred 
 Robinson, Geo. H. 
 Roberts, John D., Jr. 
 Rust, Theodore S. 
 Rudolph, Geo. H. 
 Rudkin, George 
 
 Sawyer, Moses H. 
 Stanley, Joseph E. 
 Sharp, John M. . 
 Sawyer, Lodovick L. 
 Shaw, Francis H. 
 Schafmeister, John A. 
 Stevens, Anson L. 
 
 Schleiter, Henry L. 
 Shelley, Florence W. 
 Stevenson, Francis, Jr. 
 Seidensticker, Fred R. 
 Seips, Michael 
 Steuck, Geo. H. 
 Stretch, James 
 Stevens, Frank A. 
 Schmelzer, Victor W. 
 Steinholtz, W. R. C. 
 Spencer, Elmer E. 
 Stevens, Egbert 
 Stevens, Harry A. 
 Stevenson, Howard L. 
 Smith, Henry G. 
 Smith, Walter E. 
 Smith, Nicholas C. 
 Smith, Frank D. 
 Smith, Norman E. 
 Smith, Arthur C. 
 Smith, James B. 
 Schott, John 
 Sprout, Wm. H. 
 Stockder. Chas. H. 
 Storm, Fred K. 
 Schunack, C. Emil 
 Squire, Allan B. 
 
 Tait, John 
 Taylor, William 
 Tanner, Richard T. 
 Tredennick, Charles H. 
 Thomas, John A. 
 Tower, Charles H. 
 Tuttle, James B. 
 Tucker, Fred A. 
 Tucker, Fred E. 
 Tryon, Albert C. 
 
 Upham, Chas. L. 
 
^'an Nostrand, Geo. 
 Vibberts, Fred C. 
 Voorhees, Harvey C. 
 
 Waterman, Reuben 
 Watrous Edwin A, 
 Watt, James R. 
 Washer, Charles L. 
 Walker, Robert J. 
 Westwood, Wm. H. 
 Wheeler, Frank 
 Wheeler, Wm. W. 
 West, E. Ernest 
 Weir, John P., Jr. 
 Wheeler, James A. 
 Wilmot, Geo. R. 
 
 Wilson, G. Herrick 
 Winslow, Geo. M. 
 Wilcox, Charles C. 
 Wilcox, Geo. H. 
 Wilson, Edgar A. 
 Wnght, Chas. R. 
 Wilkinson, Walter H. 
 Wilcox, Norman T. 
 Wiese, John M. 
 Williams, Chas. M. 
 Wolf, Leopold 
 Wood, Chas. H. 
 Woolley, Thomas H. 
 
 Yale, Chas. W. 
 Yonng, Frank C. 
 
 oi» 
 
Cornell University Library 
 HS539.M56 M57 
 
 1851-1901. 
 
 3 1924 030 289 544 
 
 olin.anx