BIBLE LODGE, A. F. AND A. M.--MARTHA WASHINGTON CHAPTER, ORDER OF THE EASTERN STAR--WEBSTER LODGE, I.0.0.F.--MYSTERY REBEKAH LODGE-- GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC--WOMANS' RELIEF CORPS--SONS OF VETERANS--ADVANCE LODGE, KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS--GRASMERE LODGE, KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS--CALANTHE TEMPLE OF RATHBONE SISTERS--KNIGHTS OF HONOR--GRANITE LODGE, N. E. 0. P.--WASHINGTON COUNCIL, 0. U. A. M.--GOFFSTOWN COUNCIL, 0. U. A. M.--GOOD TEMPLARS--RED MEN--WESLEY WYMAN LOYAL LEGION--GRANGES

BIBLE LODGE No. 27, A. F. AND A. M.

Bible Lodge No. 27, A. F. and A. M., was chartered May, 1816, with the following charter members: Jonathan Gove, John McGaw, Jesse Carr, David L. Morril, Thomas Kennedy, Samuel P. Kidder, Jr., William Fowler of Goffstown and Thomas Raymond of Weare. The first Master was Dr. Jonathan Gove; the second Jesse Carr. For a number of years the lodge was in a very flourishing condition.

On March 4, 1824, a number of its members petitioned the Grand Lodge for a charter for a lodge in Bedford. On September 1, of this year, the Bedford lodge was formally chartered, and was known as Lafayette Lodge No. 41. This lodge fitted up a room over the store of William P. Riddle in Piscataquog Village, the use of which was contributed by Mr. Riddle until the summer of 1845, when the lodge moved its home to Manchester.

By an act of the legislature approved June 2, 1827, Bible Lodge No. 27, in Goffstown, was incorporated. During the Masonic depression the lodge discontinued holding its meetings in the hall and met at the residence of the members; the officers caring for the lodge paraphernalia. By this manner of holding meetings, moving from place to place, the charter was lost, and consequently about 1835 the lodge voted "to dissolve."

On August 10, 1876, a dispensation was granted to James H. Conner, Josiah Laselle and David A. Paige and their associates, to meet as a regular lodge and be known by the name of Bible Lodge No. 93, which dispensation continued until June 28, 1877, when the lodge was constituted, and there was a public installation of the officers in the town hall by the Most Worshipful Grand Master John J. Bell of Exeter, assisted by the officers of the Grand Lodge.

The charter members were as follows: James H. Conner,* Josiah Laselle,* David A. Paige,* Amos H. Merrill,* Charles F. George,* James G. Taggart,* Orrin J. Balch,* James R. Ferson, Jesse E. Junkins,* John K. Richardson,* Wallace Caldwell,* Abel M. Davis,* Charles E. French,* Isaac J. Paige,* Thomas M. Harvell,* Henry H. Johnson,* J. Frank Warren, Benjamin F. Merrill* and Charles H. Hadley.*

* Deceased.

The first place of meeting was in a hall in the attic of the store building of Richards and Junkins, now Green's block. Here the lodge had its home until 1886, when it moved to the old Central Hall in the building where the soldiers' monument now stands, where it remained until 1896 when it removed to its present hall, in the building now owned by A. M. Jenks and Son, which is furnished with some of the finest Masonic paintings to be found in the state.

The first officers were: James H. Conner,* Master; Josiah Laselle,* Senior Warden; David A. Paige,* Junior Warden; Amos H. Merrill,* Treasurer; Charles F. George, Secretary. The Past Masters are: James H. Conner,* Josiah Laselle,* David A. Paige,* Amos H. Merrill,* James G. Taggart,* James R. Ferson, Charles F. George,* Isaac J. Paige,* Otis F. Sumner, DeWitt C. Tolford,* William S. Rowell,* George F. Bartlett, John G. Dodge,* Frank W. Kendall, Henry H. Stark,* James F. Martin, Peter W. Pattee, Arthur C. Spencer, Frederick Hambleton, George A. McQuesten, George L. Eaton, Maurice Hambleton, David M. Hadley, Ralph H. Marden, Ralph E. Wakefield.

* Deceased.

The lodge has a membership of 112, and 10 of its members served in the World War.

MARTHA WASHINGTON CHAPTER, No. 6, ORDER OF THE EASTERN STAR

On the 16th of January, 1891, the following named persons, James H. Conner,* Mary E. Conner,* George W. Colby, Melissa Colby,* Jesse Junkins,* Maria A. Junkins,* DeWitt C. Tolford,* Kate M. Tolford,* George W. Prichard, Clara A. Prichard,* George F. Bartlett, Mary Belle Bartlett, Frank W. Kendall, Annie M. Kendall, John G. Dodge,* Lucy A. Dodge, Nellie F. Junkins, Estelle M. Hoit and Rebecca P. George went to Derry, and Ransford Chapter No. 3 conferred the degrees upon them; and on the 24th day of the same month Robert C. Huntress, Deputy General Grand Patron granted a dispensation to the foregoing named persons, empowering them to receive petitions, elect candidates and confer the degrees of the order, which dispensation was to hold good until a charter was granted.

The following officers were elected: Mary E. Conner,* Worthy Matron; James H. Conner,* Worthy Patron; Melissa Colby,* Associate Matron; Kate W. Tolford,* Secretary; Clara A. Prichard,* Treasurer.

On the 10th day of April a charter was granted, and on the 28th day of the same month the grand officers of the General Grand Chapter were present, and performed the ceremony of constituting and consecrating the Chapter. It has a membership of 175 (January 1, 1921), and has held 409 meetings. The present officers are: Harriet M. Curren, Worthy Matron; Harry F. Colburn, Worthy Patron; Mary Gale Colburn, Associate Matron; Mary Belle Bartlett, Secretary; Lucy A. Dodge, Treasurer. The Chapter has had four secretaries, Kate M. Tolford, Otis F. Sumner, Annie M. Kendall and Mary Belle Bartlett, the last named having served for twenty-seven consecutive years (1921).

WEBSTER LODGE No. 24, I. O. O. F.

Webster Lodge No. 24, I. O. O. F., was instituted March 26, 1877, by Alonzo F. Craig; Most Worthy Grand Master; Henry A. Farrington, Deputy Grand Master; Joel Taylor, Grand Secretary; Robert C. Furnald, Grand Treasurer; Joseph Kidder, Grand Chaplain, and Alfred P. Hendrick, Grand Marshall.

The charter members were: Robinson Brown,* Frank Blaisdell,* Edwin A. Blaisdell, Charles G. Barnard, William U. Carlton,* Nathan J. Currier, Albert L. Emerson, Charles C. Hadley, Kendrick Kendall,* John E. Leizer, Selwin T. Martin,* Calvin Martin,* Henry W. Merrill,* Henry Moore,* Isaac J. Paige,* George W. Paige,* Frank E. Paige, Thaddeus W. Richards,* Norman L. Richards, Edson L. Rand,* Calvin Richards,* John W. Story,* Lewis H. Stark,* William H. Weeks,* Charles A. Whipple* and Franklin H. Woodman.

These withdrew from other lodges, principally from Hillsborough of Manchester, for the purpose of forming the lodge at Goffstown. The first officers were: Robinson Brown,* Noble Grand; Isaac J. Paige, Vice Grand; William U. Carlton,* Secretary; Franklin H. Woodman, Treasurer; Henry W. Merrill,* Warden; Edwin A. Blaisdell, Conductor.

The lodge was instituted and held its meetings for a number of years in the hall in the upper store of Paige's Block. Here it remained until it outgrew the quarters, and then removed to its present lodge room over Parker's store.

Charles H. Lancaster was initiated April 22, 1877, the first initiation after the lodge was instituted, followed by Joseph S. Thompson, Frank T. Moore, Charles H. Gregg, Walter A. Rowell, George A. Colter and Charles Morgrage during the year 1877. The first death to occur in the lodge was Walter A. Rowell, June 10, 1879; he was buried at Dunbarton, the officers of the lodge performing the funeral ceremony.

The lodge has a membership of 198, and an invested fund of upwards of $9,200. January 8, 1918, it celebrated its two thousandth regular meeting, and at this meeting eight of the eleven living original charter members, and six of the first lodge officers were present and answered to the roll call. This lodge has had only seven different members serve as secretary, viz.: William U. Carlton,* Calvin Martin,* S. Leslie Bidwell, Frank Blaisdell,* M. D., George B. Stevens, Fred K. Hazen, and William H. Dow, the last named, having served sixty terms.

The Past Grands are as follows, serving in the order named: Robinson Brown,* Isaac J. Paige,* F. H. Woodman, Charles G. Barnard, William H. Weeks,* Edwin A. Blaisdell, Calvin Martin,* Frank Blaisdell,* Kendrick Kendall,* George W. Paige,* S. T. Martin,* Lewis H. Stark,* Charles H. Gregg, Charles Morgrage, J. Frank Fletcher,* Henry Moore,* L. S. Bidwell, George H. Hoit,* William H. Dow, W. P. Paige, George B. Stevens, Fred K. Hazen, Daniel W. Hoit,* Charles H. McCollom,* Frank E. Paige, William U. Carlton,* Samuel O. Aiken, James E. Dow, J. R. Bucklin,* C. A. Whipple,* George Pattee, F. E. Farley,* John L. Whipple, George P. Hadley, H. W. Loxton, Frank T. Moore,* George W. Colby, A. P. Seeton,* Charles L. Davis, Frank B. Mills,* John H. Brown, Shirley M. Johnson, Frank A. Whipple, Charles B. Carr, J. S. Thompson,* J. A. McFadden, C. C. Avery, James H. Stiles,* George E. Corliss, F. A. Stark, F. A. Carraway, C. F. White, R. M. Gordon, W. T. Ryder, Lewis H. Hoyt, Herbert E. Poore,* Frank W. Kendall, Homer E. Grady, George A. Frachuer, C. E. Phelps, Henry H. Stark,* Maurice C. Pierce, W. C. Moore, W. A. Paige, Willis A. Martin, Leigh F. Woodman, William E. Blaisdell, Fred L. Stark, Ralph White, William H. Beals, William M. Worden, Arthur E. Pattee, Franklin Hadley,* A. F. Mills, R. W. Carlton, William F. Delgetty, R. C. Marden, Arcel N. Blair, F. A. Bartlett, H. M. Smith, J. L. Wentworth, Elmer C. Dow, Ralph H. Hoit, and Arthur B. Kelley.

* Deceased.

MYSTERY REBEKAH LODGE No. 39, I. O. O. F.

Mystery Rebekah Lodge No. 39, I. O. O. F., was instituted March 26, 1891, by Grand Master John W. Bourlet of Concord, and Grand Secretary Joseph Kidder of Manchester, with a membership of 54 charter members.

The first officers were: Fred K. Hazen, Noble Grand; Anna I. Blaisdell,* Vice Grand; Hattie A. Paige, Secretary; Hannah E. Story, Treasurer; Ada N. Stevens, Warden; Effie F. Topliff,* Conductor. The lodge meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month, and from a membership of 54 has grown to 218.

The Past Noble Grands are as follows: Fred K. Hazen, Anna I. Blaisdell,* May M. Barnard, Hattie A. Paige, C. Louise McCollom, Jane H. Paige,* Clara M. Gregg, S. Fannie Carr,* Lois L. Harrington, May F. Sumner, Sarah A. Woodman,* Sarah A. Choate, Lottie P. Dow, Sarah E. Smith, Annie M. Bucklin, M. Serena Hoyt, Helen B. Carr, Laura M. Gould, Olive A. Parker, Mildred G. Stark, Mary E. Paige, Mary L. Straw, Alzira E. Gregg, Edith M. Seeton, Myrtie I. Worden, Mary E. Mills, Maude L. Johnson, Sarah E. Smith, Ethel T. Hart.

GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC

On the 28th of July, 1882, a charter was issued by Martin A. Haynes, Department Commander, for a Grand Army Post in Goffstown. The first meeting after the organization was holden August 5, at which time it was voted to name the post "Capt. Charles Stinson Post," in honor of the late Capt. Charles Stinson of Goffstown, formerly of Dunbarton, a prominent citizen. The members, place of birth, residence at time of joining post, service, date of death, etc., follow:

CHARTER MEMBERS

       

ALHN Hillsborough County