Cambridge: SECRET ORDERS: Masonic History; Grange History.
The East Somerset County Register
1911-12
Compiled and Published by Chatto & Turner
Auburn, Maine
Clarence I. Chatto; Clair E. Turner
page 46-49
SECRET ORDERS.
MASONIC HISTORY.
The Cambridge Lodge, No. 157, of Free and Accepted
Masons, was organized June 7, 1870. A previous attempt had
been made in 1867 to organize a lodge at Cambridge to be
known as Island Lodge. This petition, however, was not
granted by the Grand Lodge, but a second petition, signed by
twenty-two Masons, was granted and the organization took
place June 7, the following officers being appointed: William
A. Herrick, W. M.; John W. Cole, S. W.; J. R. D. Morrill, J.
W. The remaining officers were appointed by the W. M. The
first meeting was held in a small building, which was fitted up
as a temporary lodge room. The hall was constructed under
the supervision of a board of trustees and purchased by the
lodge Sept. 26, 1871. In the great storm of 1874, the hall sus-'
tained considerable damage, it being unroofed and moved
bodily backward for nearly ten feet. Measures were at once
adopted to repair this damage.
The Worshipful Masters since the founding of 'the lodge
have been as follows: William A. Herrick, 1870-71; Andrew
W. Ham, 1872-73; John W. Cole, 1874-75; F. D. R. Morrill ,
1876; Andrew W. Ham, 1877; Horace Ham, 1878; Harry Wat-
son, 1879; John H. Mitchell, 1880; Charles C. Hale, 1881-82;
John W. Cole, 1883-84; John H. Mitchell, 1885; John W. Cole,
1886-87; P. R. Kimball, 1888-89; John W. Cole, 1890-91; An-
drew H. Bailey, 1892-93; J. B. LaBree, 1894-95; Chas. A.
Mitchell, 1896; J. B. LaBree, 1897; Walter H. Ring, 1898-1900;
Melvin Knowles, 1901-04; Fred C. Stafford, 1905-06; Melvin W.
Knowles, 1907; Ora V. Stafford, 1908-09; Dr. John 11. Wilson,
1910; Henry L. Watson, 1911.
The lodge is very prosperous at present, the membership
being about one hundred.
In connection with the lodge of Masons is a flourishing
Chapter of the Eastern Star, known as Oriental Chapter, No.
153, which was constituted in 1910, with 28 charter members.
The membership is now 55. The present officers are: Mrs. F.
J. Hersey, W. M.; Melvin W. Knowles, W. P.; F. J. Hersey,
Sec. The meeting is held on the second Thursday of each
Month.
GRANGE HISTORY.
Cambridge Grange was organized April 13, 1899, with 29
charter members, and has had a remarkably prosperous career,
the membership at present being exactly 200. The organiza-
tion took place in the old church which has since been rebuilt
into a hall for the use of the grange. For some years the
meetings were held in the lower Masonic Hall. The present
hall was dedicated JuLy 6, 1911, and contains an assembly hall
with a seating capacity of 200 people, and a fine dining hall,
which is located above.
J. B. LaBree was the first master of the Grange, and the
other charter officers were: Alonzo Brown, Chaplain; Ora
Quimby, Overseer; Addie Brown, Secretary; Ivis Brown, Lady
Assistant Steward; Florence Wilder, Lecturer. Other mas-
ters have been: Walter Ring, Sanford Bailey, Seth Ham and
Andrew Ham.
(c) 1998
Courtesy of Tina Vickery of Somerset Co, Maine USGenWeb Project
&
The Androscoggin Historical Society
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