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During my trip to the East coast, I was fortunate enough to attend a Stated Meeting in a lodge under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts.
After getting in touch with the secretary of Major General Henry Knox Lodge the only military lodge in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Wor. Bro.W. Livermore, Master of the Lodge invited me to attend the lodge meeting during mystay which was also the night of the official visit of R.W.Walters, the District Deputy Grand Master (the equivalent of our District Inspector).
The lodge was instituted March 17, A.D. 1926, the 150th Anniversary of the Evacuation of Boston, on the Gun Deck of the Frigate Constitution. It is organized for past and present personnel of the Armed Forces - to cement the ties of Freemasonry to the traditional bond that exists between servicemen.
Proudly, Major General Henry Knox bear the name of a hero of the American Revolution, a Bostonian, the first Secretary of War (which included the Navy), and a Mason.
Just to be sure there will be no problem (and offer my credentials in
advance), I actually presented myself that morning to the building of the GL which was just 3 blocks from my hotel. To my delight, a tour was organized shortly after I arrived. While waiting for the tour to start, I entertained a nice discussion with the librarian of Samuel C. Lawrence Library. The opportunity to see and touch French books about Masonry dating back to the late 1700s was a memorable moment and quite emotional. The library is a treasure chest for any Masons interested in research and I was promised that the basement was even richer in books not classified yet.
The tour was given by Bro. Landry and I had the opportunity to see all the various lodge rooms (depending on the Concordant bodies). Some of the very impressive features of the GL Lodge room is a ceiling that took 4 years to 2 Italian master craftsmen to complete. There are also portraits of prominent
Masons in the lodge room including the Marquis de Lafayette (Yeah!) Bro Landry indicated to me that he will be present at the lodge meeting that night. Sure enough, Bro. Landry was actually the Sr Warden of MG Henry Knox lodge.
So later that day I presented myself to the lodge meeting room (The Doric Lodge) and after a brief inspection, I was seated among the Brethren. Masonry in Massachusetts is heavily charged with history and the proceeding of the Stated meeting and Official Visit of the District Deputy GM reflected this History.
Brethren from many lodges were visiting that night which gave me a lot of perspective on the life of masonry in that area of the country.
After the lodge meeting, I was invited to celebrate with them the
Oktoberfest dinner in one of the key restaurants of Boston, the Historical Jacob Wirth Restaurant. Interestingly, his Masonic patent (from late 1800s) is in display in the restaurant. As for each and every one of my trips, I was received with Brotherly Love and
Affection. The Trowel is an instrument that our Brethren from Boston know the use in and out. And I want to thanks especially Wor. Livermore, Bro Landry, Bro. Samuels, Bro Lancelot and Cynthia Alcorn for their time and warm welcome in a definitely fresh Fall weather.
Submitted by:
Wor. Sebastien Taveau
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