HISTORY

By *Rt. Wor. Elliot J. Gillard, Historian

 

Although the name "Cosmopolitan" is only a few years old, the lodge itself covers a span of ninety years. This came about upon the merger of three lodges; Loyalty - Realty - Zerubbabel.

 

The members thought that this name would be unwieldy, and upon the suggestion of Wor. Nicholas Spear, it was voted to use the name "Cosmopolitan".

 

A short history of the three lodges comprising "Cosmopolitan", was written for our 75th Anniversary.

 

Loyalty Lodge had its beginning in the Jamaica Plain section of Boston and came about because its mother lodge, Eliot (now Eliot-Hyde Park) members thought that they were getting too large and decided to form other lodges, whose names would begin with each letter in Eliot Lodge's name.

 

The first one to be formed was Loyalty, using the 'L' in Eliot. Unfortunately. masonry fell into a decline and this great vision was never fulfilled.

 

On April 27, 1920 a petition was made to the Grand Lodge for dispensation to establish this new lodge, which was granted by Most Wor. Arthur D. Prince, who appointed as the first Master and Wardens; Wor. James Keltie, Master, Bro. James D. Robertson, Sr. Warden and Bro. Curtis Chipman, Jr. Warden.

 

On September 27, 1920, this lodge was opened under dispensation by Rt. Wor. George T. Wylie. Loyalty Lodge continued to meet in the apartments of Eliot Lodge for many years. In 1963 it was voted to move to the Masonic Apartments at 45 Fairmount Avenue, Hyde Park.

Meetings continued their until 1978, when it was voted to move to our present location at 925 Pleasant Street, Stoughton.

Realty Lodge came into being in 1955, the result of a petition to the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts to form a new lodge, who's members would be limited to those engaged in or affiliated with the real estate profession.

 

This petition was granted by Most Wor. Whitfield W. Johnson, who appointed as its first Master, Wor. Robert W.S. Cox, Wor. Errol G. Hopkins as Sr. Warden and Rt. Wor. Kenneth Skolfield Jr., Warden.

 

The lodge opened under dispensation on March 29, 1955. Realty Lodge held their meetings in the Grand Lodge Building in Boston.

 

As a result of meetings between committees of Lodge and Realty Lodge, concerning the idea of merging these two lodges, a petition was requested and granted by the Grand Lodge.

 

On June 27, 1983 a special communication of the Grand Lodge was convened in the Stoughton Masonic Apartments presided over by Rt. Wor. Melvin E. Niemi, Deputy Grand Master, for the purpose of uniting these two lodges under the name 'Loyalty-Realty Lodge'. Wor. Louis Stone was elected to serve as the first Master of this lodge with Bro. Thomas P. Williams as Senior Warden and Bro. Robert J. Hannaford as Junior Warden.

 

Zerubbabel Lodge was formed by a group of Masons who thought the time had come to create a new lodge in the Dorchester, Roxbury and Mattapan Districts of Boston. They presented a petition to Most Wor. Roger A. Keith.

 

This petition being accepted, a dispensation was granted on March 7, 1950. On March 28, 1950, this fine lodge was instituted under dispensation with the Grand Master appointing Rt. Wor. Peter A. Day as Master, Rt.Wor. Joseph A. Sneed as Sr. Warden and Wor. Harry L. Rose as Jr. Warden.

 

This lodge met on River Street in Dorchester for many years until a fire destroyed the building and they moved to the Quincy Masonic Lodge Building, where they continued to meet for many years until moving to Stoughton into the same building with Loyalty-Realty.

 

In late 1990, committees from Zerubbabel and Loyalty-Realty began meetings concerning a merger, and upon agreement petitioned Grand Lodge to allow this merger and to change the name to "Cosmopolitan Lodge".

 

This petition was presented to the Grand Lodge, and dispensation was granted by Most Wor. Edgar W. Darling, who also agreed to unite the lodges and install the first line of officers of Cosmopolitan Lodge.

 

On June 24, 1991, Most Wor. Edgar W. Darling and a corp of officers from Grand Lodge convened a special communication in the lodge apartments in Stoughton for this purpose.

 

After having installed the newly elected master, the Grand Masters voice failed, and he turned the reins over to his Deputy Grand Master, Rt. Wor. Richard J. Stewart, who proceeded to finish the job.

 

Installed as the first senior officers of Cosmopolitan Lodge were Rt. Wor. Elliot J. Gillard as Master, Wor. Bernard A. Schnaper as Sr. Warden and Rt.Wor. Seymore M. Ross as Jr. Warden.

 

This fine lodge has continued to grow, and in the last few years have raised fifty candidates and also have had many members of other lodges affiliate with us.

 

"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity". Psalm 133.

We believe this reading is appropriate to the brethren of Cosmopolitan Lodge, as they have come together to build a very active and viable lodge.

 

There have been many members of Cosmopolitan Lodge who have distinguished themselves in Masonry and would take many pages to mention them all. But, we think we would be remiss in not mentioning some.

 

Beginning with Most Wor. Curtis Chipman, who was the first Jr. Warden of Loyalty Lodge, who went on to become Grand Master of Masons in Massachusetts in 1932-1934. He was also made an honorary member of the Grand Lodge of Ireland and Scotland.

 

Rt. Wor. Peter A. Day, who was the first Master of Zerubbabel Lodge while under dispensation, moved on to become Senior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge and one of the greatest orators of his time.

 

Wor. (Judge) Frankland W.L. Miles, who was the Most Worthy Grand Patron of the Order of the Eastern Star.

Wor. Franklin E. Kartun, one of our affiliated members from Everett C. Benton Lodge, became Master of that lodge twelve times, ten of those years consecutively, so far.

Cosmopolitan Lodge has also been honored by having seventeen District Deputy Grand Masters appointed by Grand Lodge down through the years. We also have the honor to have many holders of the Joseph Warren Distinguished Service Medal.

The choice of the name, "Cosmopolitan", is very appropriate for this lodge, as its members come from almost every religious persuasion, several countries and ethnic groups and every phase of the business world.

 

Maybe we should conclude with a quote from Wor. Frankland W. L. Miles, that "this is the finest Blue Lodge in the commonwealth".