HISTORY OF COLUMBIA LODGE NO. 25
AS TOLD BY
WB JAMES B. KILLAM, HISTORIAN
MARCH 17, 1976

On May 20, 1905, it was voted that a vote of thanks was hereby taken thanking WB Louis W. Howe for his efforts on behalf of Columbia Lodge No. 25 A.F. & A.M. in purchasing a building site for a new Masonic temple. It was voted that the Trustees of Columbia Lodge No. 25 are hereby instructed to purchase of Brother Howe the property recently purchased by him from Calvin L. Oliveton?? And they are hereby directed to withdraw from the Freestone Savings Bank of Portland $575.00 of the trust funds held by them in payment for the same. On December 7, 1907, voted a committee of five brothers be elected as a Building Committee. Brothers they elected: Worshipful Brothers L. W. Howe, J. B. Killam, C. W. Matson, and Ernest N. Mackey; and Brother H. T. Clark.

December 5, 1908, the Annual Report listed 93 members, 76 dues paying and 17 30-year members who paid no dues in those days. On April 4, 1908, Worshipful Master appointed the following committee to set up boundary stones on lot owned by the Lodge south of Mrs. A. E. Babcock: Henry A. Killam, James B. Killam and Louis W. Howe.

Columbia Lodge was chartered in 1793 in Stepney, now Rocky Hill. In the early 1800’s The Lodge moved to South Glastonbury, and after a while occupied Shipman’s old store. It was called an old building then, but the Lodge occupied it for 95 years. September 2, 1911, a committee was appointed to consider repairs on building and make an estimate of the same. On October 7, 1911, the committee reported that they were unanimously of the opinion that the Lodge building was uninhabitable, but how it should be made so was not as clear. After much discussion, a motion to spend $600.00 on repairs was made and lost. Then it was voted that the Worshipful Master appoint a committee of five to prepare plans and specifications of a lodge building to cost from $4,000.00 to $5,000.00. Committee: Henry H. Hunt, Ernest Mackey, Louis Howe, William Brainard, and Thankless Ale (???). You will note a change in the committee. They were some of the other and WB William H. H. Miller was not a member of the committee. But they wished to meet in the old hall another 5 years to make a hundred years, and then in the mean time raise that much more money and as a few dissented, this new committee was changed some.

Up to this time the Lodge had been free from debt. And there was much discussion and hesitation in assuming a debt in so large an amount. On December 2, 1911, it was voted to proceed to build a new lodge building according to the plans of the Building Committee. On March 2, 1912 the Building Committee was authorized to sign a contract with WB E. N. Mackey to build a new lodge building for $5,430.00. This building to be erected on land purchased several years ago by the Lodge. November 16, 1912 it was voted to thank Brother William S. Brainard for his services as architect in drawing the plans for the new building. You will observe that the architect, Brother Brainard, and the builder, WB Mackey, were both members of Columbia Lodge. And also considerable assistance was given by many other brothers of the Lodge in hauling supplies, grading, etc.

The new building was dedicated on November 23, 1912 by the officers of the Grand Lodge. At this time there was a mortgage on the property of $3, 500.00. The old building was taken down and the land sold to Arthur (??) H. Pratt. Dr. Rankin carted the building (I understand he gave $5.00 for it) took it down and carted it to Glastonbury and built a house on Fairlawn, which ????? has destroyed. The last meeting held in the old building, October 16, 1912 voted that the dedication exercises would be confined exclusively to masons. The Worshipful Master appointed a Special Communication of the Lodge for November 23rd at 5:00 pm and November 30 at 8:00 pm. Worshipful Brother William H. H. Miller gave his resolutions of this building more than 50 years ago. A Special Communication ordered by the Most Worshipful Grand Master and held in the new Masonic Hall in South Glastonbury November 23rd, 1912 AL 5912. Master Mason’s Lodge opened in due form at 2:10 pm by Worshipful Master H. T. Clark. Lodge called off. At 2:45 pm Lodge called on and received Most Worshipful Grand Master Justin Holden and his associate grand officers, with the Grand Honors. Lodge at ease. Then the new building was dedicated by the Grand Lodge according to Masonic custom. Lodge closed. At the dedication, there were 145 present, 59 members and 84 visitors.

Special Communication November 23, 1912, AL 5912, Lodge opened at 5:48 pm by WB H. T. Clark. 34 members and 23 visitors present. Voted to extend a rising vote of thanks to the ladies who assisted in the dedication. Then, Lewis William Steveson was duly initiated an Entered Apprentice and paid the usual fee, $5.00. Charge by James B. Killam.

Here is the program of the dedication (apparently displaying a copy). I will not read the dedication ode, but I will attempt to go through the rest:

Order of Ceremonies
Entrance of the Grand Lodge
Temple Male Quartet – The Lord is My Shepard
Address by the Worshipful Master to the Grand Master
Address by Grand Architect to the Grand Master
Reply by the Grand Master
Address by Deputy Grand Master to Grand Master
Music: Lodge Uncovered
Consecration prayer by Grand Chaplain
Response by the Quartet
Procession with singing by the Quartet to the tune of Old Hundred
Presentation by Grand Junior Warden, a vessel of corn
Sprinkling of corn by Grand Master
Grand Honors
Procession with singing by quartet
Presentation of vessel of wine by Grand Senior Warden
Sprinkling of wine by Grand Master
Grand Honors twice repeated
Procession with singing by the Quartet
Presentation of vessel of oil by Deputy Grand Master
Pouring of oil by Grand Master
Grand Honors thrice repeated
Singing by Quartet
Invocation by the Grand Chaplain
Proclamation by Grand Marshal
Temple Male Quartet sang “Behold How Good and How pleasant”
Ceremonial address by the Grand Master
Temple Male Quartet “Praise ye Jehova”
Benediction by the Grand Chaplain
Retirement of Grand Lodge
Closing of Columbia Lodge
Luncheon for the Grand Lodge officers, visiting brothers at 4:00 pm
Degree work, Entered Apprentice at 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm
Dedication Ball, Fantasia Orchestra from 8:00 pm to 12:00 pm
Program of the Ball
Lanciers?? Two step, Quadrille, Waltz, Lanciers?? Two step, Quadrille, Virginia Reel
Etc.

I have tried to give you the facts and the reasons whereby Columbia Lodge assumed so large a debt and found it necessary to give this ???? having to do with the burning of the mortgage this evening. It was an open meeting. Columbian Chapter was invited and ???

And when the world was light and gay they tried to have a smile.
It stood before them like a giant, strong as a high stone wall.
No matter where they looked they saw the mortgage on the hall.
I’ll tell you how it happened though they want the world to know
How glad they are they saw the day while trees are bare and low.
There just as happy as a lark, no cause for fear at all,
For lifted is the mortgage on the hall.
The Lodge was still a glowing but the hall seemed dark and drear,
And at a stated meeting the members had a fear
The old hall wasn’t big enough although for years beneath its humble roof
It shared each other’s joys and tears.
They bought the land and built the hall, they wished we would have seen it.
It seemed the nicest thing in town and big enough to hold it.
Why the banquet room and kitchen seemed to fill the lower hall
And the upstairs room was the meeting place for all.
They bought some fine new furniture and it shortened still the ????
But then they needed it and they used it all the while.
No matter where they looked there seemed to be on every wall
Written quite distinctly “there’s a mortgage on the hall.”
They worked from year to year and toiled as often toils the slave
To meet the grisly interest and the smooth road now to pave.
Eleven annual fairs they held to pay this awful debt
And found they hit the mortgage sir a blow they’ll ner’ forget.
Don’t all the Yankees celebrate the Forth day of July
Because to them that freedoms song lit up our nations sky?
Why shouldn’t we then celebrate and this day nere’ forget
Where is there any freedom now like being out of debt?
While our hearts are now so joyful let us brothers not forget
To thank the good God of Heaven for being out of debt,
For he gave the rain and sunshine and strength to one and all,
And lengthened out our days to see no mortgage on the hall.

This was composed and recited by Anna H. Killam November 17, 1923 when Columbia Lodge No. 25 A.F. & A.M, burned its mortgage.

This document was transcribed from a magnetic tape recording of WB James B. Killam giving the Lodge Historian’s report on March 17, 1976. The spaces marked by ???? were not clear on the tape. Some other inaccuracies may exist because of difficulty in clearly hearing the spoken word. No attempt was made to record the words of the Quartet songs.

Gerald F. Thompson

March 10, 2005