History
of Columbian Lodge No.2
Major
General John Sullivan Lodge No.2
By Paul
Ladd
On April 28, 1790, the Grand
Lodge received a petition, signed by residents of the town of Nottingham,
asking that a Lodge be constituted there.
The petition was granted and on July 28, 1790, it was voted to
constitute this Lodge on the first Tuesday in September, following.
In July 1792, it is recorded
that the Grand Master had been unable to constitute the Lodge and it was voted
to do so on the second day of August, next.
The Grand Lodge met at
Nottingham as voted, August 2, 1792, constituted the Lodge, and invested its
officers. Its first Master was Joseph
Cilley, a General in the revolutionary war.
Charter members were Joseph
Cilley, Thomas Bartlett, Joseph Mills, Nathaniel Weare, Michael McClary, James
Gray, Benjamin Butler and Johnathan Perkins.
The Grand Lodge called for
their charter on January 23, 1806 because of unmasonic conduct and placed their
properties in the hands of Joseph Mills of Deerfield for safe keeping. Brother Mills a charter member and Past
Master of Columbian Lodge, was to become the first Master of Sullivan Lodge
No.19.
Brother Mills was born in 1749,
place unknown. He was a l/Lt. N.H.
Regiment, Continental Army 1777-1781.
Founder of the Deerfield Academy, Member of the Order Cincinnati. He died on January 14, 1809 at
Deerfield.
Brother Amos Morrill, date and
place of birth unknown. He resided in
Epsom, raised in Columbian Lodge No. 2, November 8, 1790. He was the first treasurer and member of St.
Johns Lodge No. 1 and Washington Lodge (military) June 1782. A Major, 2nd N.H. Regiment,
Continental Army, 1775-1783and was in the battle of Bunker Hill. He Died January 1810 in St.Albans, Vermont.
Brother Nathaniel Weare, date
and place of birth unknown. 1st
Secretary of Columbian Lodge No.2, 1790.
Charter Member of Sullivan Lodge
No. 19, Secretary 1813. Lt. And 1st
and 3rd N.H. Regiment, Continental Army 1777-1782.
When the charter of Sullivan
Lodge No.19 was granted in April 22, 1807, the charter members were Joseph
Mills, Seth Fogg, Michael McClary, John Butler, James H. McClary, Daniel
Cilley, Benjamin Moody, William Gordon, John T. Coffin, Samuel Locke, Benjamin
Butler and Simon Heath.
At the general assembly of
Grand Lodge on June 12, 1816, the petition of Sullivan Lodge to be removed to
Lee was read. On June 12, 1817, the
Lodge was given permission to remove to Lee.
In 1836, Gorham W. Hoitt, of
Sullivan Lodge was elected Grand Senior Warden. Off and on for nearly 40 years, he was Master or Representative
and attended Grand Lodge in these capacities.
He was born on March 5, 1804 and died September 9, 1869.
In December 1868 the Lodge
moved to Epping. Their first meeting
place in Epping was a room 20’ x24’ in a building which stood a few feet west
of our present home. Starting with a
new lease in life in 1869, the Lodge flourished and continued to grow. A fire destroyed their meeting place in May
of 1884 and most of their records prior to 1871 were also lost. They subsequently held their meetings in the
Knights of Pythias Hall until April 1885 at which time the hall committee
reported that John S. Ladd would build them a hall 26’x50’. This new home is our present home and John
S. Ladd, the builder, became W.M. in 1889-1890. It was at this time that the ownership of the hall changed hands
and rent was henceforth paid to Brother William R. Bunker until his death in
1906.
After the death of Brother
Bunker, a committee was appointed in April 6, 1907 to purchase the hall from
his heirs at a price not exceeding $2,500.00.
At their regular meeting of May 3, 1907, the committee reported they had
purchased the property for the specified sum.
One July 25, 1907, Sullivan was incorporated.
No history of Sullivan Lodge
would be complete without mention of the late R. Wor. John J .Tilton who served
as Master of the Lodge 1899-1900. He
served the Grand Lodge as Grand Sword Bearer, and also District Deputy Grand
Master in his district. His term in office as treasurer of Sullivan Lodge for 48 years is unparalleled
in our records. And his presentation of
50 year medals to Wor. William S. Mason, Brother Ralph H. Sanborn, and Brother
John Sanborn, all three whom he raised during his terms in office is unique to
N.H. history.
This Lodge has been blessed
with other faithful officials. The late
Brother Jenness S. Smith was Secretary for 32 years and the late Wor. Brother
Arthur G. MacFarland, Master of the Lodge 1929-1930, was Secretary for 22 years
and Historian for several years. While
Secretary, he spent many hours gathering historical facts, which we value so
highly.
Rt. Wor. Richard S. Brewitt was
Master of the Lodge 1952-1953 and also served as D.D.G. Lecturer in
1954-1955. He served as D.D.G.M. in
1956-1957.
Brother and Governor David L.
Morrill, one of Epping’s three Governors was born June 10, 1772 in Epping,
resided in Epsom, Goffstown and Concord.
He was taught by his grandfather, while at Phillips Exeter Academy. He received two degrees in Columbian Lodge
No.2 and raised in Blazing Star Lodge No.11, May 6, 1816. He was a charter member of Bible Lodge 1818,
D.D.G.M. 1820, Doctor of Medicine, Minister and politician. He was a member of the state legislature
1808-1817, U.S. Senate 1817-1823, president of N.H. Senate 1823-1824, and the
Governor of N.H. 1824-1827. He
practiced medicine in Epsom in 1793-1800, was ordained a Presbyterian minister
and served as pastor of the Goffstown church 1802-1811. He resumed medicine in 1807-1830. While Governor in 1825 he welcomed Brother
Maguis de Lafayette to Concord.
Governor Morrill died January 28, 1849 in Concord.
Brother and Dr. Fred Fernald
was born September 17, 1874 at Nottingham.
Educated at Bowdion, Maine, Baltimore Medical 1900 and John Hopkins
1904. He was raised at Sullivan Lodge
No.19, April 3, 1913. As a physician,
he served Rockingham County Home for 25 years.
Was President of N.H. Medical Society 1944-45. He received a citation from UNH in 1953. The county nursing home in Brentwood was
named for him. He died July 17,1959.
Brother and Dr. Samuel T. Ladd
was born February 7,1877 in Epping, and resided in Portsmouth. He graduated from Dartmouth Medical School
in 1900. He did post-graduate work at
NYU in 1902. He was raised at Sullivan Lodge No. 19. December 26,1900. Member of Scottish and York Rites and Shino. He was a physician and served as Mayor of
Portsmouth in 1916-1918.,and 1923. He
was collector of the port of Boston in 1934, a member of several medical
societies including the New Hampshire Medical Society and had an active
practice in Portsmouth. He died March
27, 1948.
Years
1964-1988
In
1964, the Grand Lodge of NH was about to celebrate the 175th
anniversary of its founding. M.W. Grand
Master Brother George B. Ward suggested every lodge in the state should do
something to celebrate. Since our Lodge
was named after our First Grand Master John Sullivan of revolutionary fame,
M.W.G.M. George Ward felt it only proper that we should honor him by changing
the name from Sullivan Lodge No. 19 to Maj. Gen. John Sullivan Lodge. In the
process, we were able to regain our old Number 2, thanks in part to Brothers
Richard S. Brewitt and R. Dexter Goodrich who were on committee to see about
that.
On June 4, 1964, our Lodge had its unveiling
of the bronze plaque at the entrance door with M.W.G.M. George Ward doing the
honors. The meeting was preceeded by a chicken barbecue dinner. Master at the
time was Brother C. Russell Waterman, Master 1963-64.
May 3, 1973 was awards night for four
members, Brother Elton Smith and P.M. George Hilton received their 25 year
pins. P.M. Dana Moreland received the Maj. Gen. John Sullivan award and P.M.
Henry Holt received his 50 year medal and pin.
On August 14, 1976, five members marched in
the Epping parade in honor of the nation's 200th birthday. Those marching were
W.M. Arthur Whitler, Chaplain Robert Mooers, Treasurer Henry Woods, Tyler Paul
Ladd and Senior Steward Ted Matthews.
Moving
on a few years, we come to Mav 1, 1979.
Unbeknown to this writer, it was to become a very special night in his
honor. He had noticed several members of the Grand Lodge there, including the
M.W.G. M-aster Brother David L. Batchelder in attendance. He still had not
suspected anything until he saw several members of his family. As the meeting
proceeded, the M.W.G. Master had the Grand Marshal Brother Wilford R.
Cunningham usher him to the East. The M.W.G. M. David L.- Batchelder then
presented this writer with the Honorable P.M. Award, the first of its kind
given in Maj. Gen. John Sullivan's history. I was completely surprised and
speechless. This had to have been the best kept secret I have ever known.
On June 6, 1985, Maj. Gen. John Sullivan an
all day celebration in honor of the building’s 100th Anniversary. The members
went on a parade in the morning starting at the legion hall and ending there an
hour later. In the afternoon, the Master Brother Wendall Sargent and several
members went to Not- tingham to pay tribute to Joseph Cilley, its first Master,
whose 250th birthday was in the year, 1985. We had supper at 6 P.M. and the
100th Anniversary celebration with M.W.G.M. Mayland H. Morse, Jr. as guest
speaker.
The
picture of its first Master,Joseph Cilley ,was given to the Lodge by the
historian of the Lodge.
On May
30, 1987, the Lodge again honored several of its members. Several Brothers
received their Solomon 11 award pins. This Historian received his 25 year pin
and his Historian collar. The highest honor went to Brother Robert L. Mooers,
who received his honorary Past Masters Award, a big surprise to him. Brother
Bob richly deserved it. as he has done so much for the Lodge as Chaplain and
filled other chairs as well.
On May 6, 1968, Maj. Gen. John Sullivan Lodge
#2 held a special meeting to honor several guests. PM and Secretary Brother George Graves and Brother Walter
R.Cronshaw Received their 25 year pins and their wives received a bouquet of
flowers. D. D.G. M. Richard Schanda presented P.M. Brother George Pierce with
the Maj. Gen. John Sullivan award for the many ways he has served the Lodge.
We also added a new twist this time in
honoring four very special ladies by allowing them to be on the Grand Masters
Suite. The four ladies were Trudie Butler, Gail Chase, Dorothy Rabey, and Helen
Woods. They are widows of past members.
This
brings us up to date in the history of our Lodge. I have tried to cover most of
the interesting parts and people that have come through the pages of our
history.