GREENFIELD — Paul Revere may be best known for his midnight ride warning Boston-area colonists of a British attack. But he also, in 1795, signed the charter on which the Republican Lodge operates to this day.
On Saturday, beneath a tent outside the Republican Lodge on Munson Street, Masons and their guests celebrated the 225th anniversary of the Republican Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons — the first lodge to be chartered by Revere.
“Two hundred and twenty-five years have passed, and each master has passed that charter … transmitting it to their successors,” said Grand Master of Masons in Massachusetts Richard Maggio. “I sincerely hope that tradition continues.”
In celebration of the anniversary — as the Masons have done several times since Revere was grand master — a time capsule was buried on the lodge’s property. And through a proclamation she read at the celebration, Mayor Roxann Wedegartner declared Oct. 24 to be “Republican Lodge Day” in Greenfield.
“My husband, brother Richard, was born and raised in South Texas, where we met at the age of 14,” she said. “I claim he was raised there; he claims he was raised in the home of the lodge.”
She thanked the Masons for their service to Greenfield and the greater Franklin County community — from distributing American flags downtown, to offering scholarships to students across Franklin County.
“I want to also mention that you are still doing your blood drives, and we all greatly appreciate that now, more than ever,” Wedegartner added.
Maggio made a plea to the Masons of the Republican Lodge to invite more brothers into the fraternity. In 2010, the lodge had 136 members, he said. Today, the lodge has 103.
“That number is leveling off, and I think it can turn in the other direction with your help,” he said. “Today, I challenge all of my brothers at the Republican Lodge to continue this legacy and find just one new member to join this great fraternity. Just one.”
Keynote speaker Ralph Semb offered a brief history of the lodge, recalling its original site on Main Street and how he first learned about Masonry there through his father.
“Masonry has served me well and I owe it nothing,” Semb said. “What we learn in Masonry is that we can make a man a better person. They certainly made me a much better person. For the Republican Lodge, I thank you for all you’ve done — not only Franklin County, not only Greenfield, but Massachusetts.”
Mary Byrne can be reached at mbyrne@recorder.com or 413-930-4429. Twitter: @MaryEByrne