Rural Lodge A.F. & A.M.

[[[p align=center]]][[[em]]]The old Lodge with the young Spirit.[[[/em]]] [[[/p]]][[[p align=left]]]This lodge [[[a target=”_blank” href=”http://www.boston.com/metrodesk/2013/09/30/two-alarm-fire-hits-building-hancock-street-quincy/BUMHDsC7oZ1tsGOGJKm5EO/story.html”]]]has been temporarily displaced[[[/a]]] from its home in Quincy due to a fire. [[[/p]]][[[p align=left]]]Rural Lodge was chartered on June 8, A.D. 1801, A.L. 5801 in Randolph as the 34th lodge in Massachusetts. In 1803, Rural Lodge's petition to move to Quincy was granted, and the Lodge has been a fixture in the community ever since. [[[br /]]][[[br /]]]On September 19, A.D. 1804, A.D. 5804, Rural Lodge received its first visit from a presiding Grand Master, M.W. Isaiah Thomas, for the purpose of Consecrating the Lodge and installing its officers. Following the ceremony, a large banquet was served with many guests. The record states that:[[[br /]]][[[em]]]The Grand Lodge was honored with the company of John Adams, Esq., late President of the United States; and the Honorable John Quincy Adams.[[[/em]]] (Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts 1792-1815, p. 249) [[[br /]]][[[br /]]]In the book [[[em]]]Stalwart Builders[[[/em]]], the official history of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts between 1733-1978, the author, M.W. Thomas Sherrard Roy, noted, "Neither John Quincy Adams nor his hosts had any reason to anticipate the virulent attacks he would one day make upon the Craft" (p. 83). In 1834 Adams unsuccessfully ran for Governor of Massachusetts as the Anti-Masonic Party candidate, although his membership in the party may have had more to do with his animosity towards Andrew Jackson than his feelings about the Fraternity. Jackson, an active Mason and Past Grand Master of Tennessee, defeated Adams for President in 1828. [[[br /]]][[[br /]]]Today, Rural Lodge is a diverse group comprised primarily of men from Quincy, or those who live or work there now. There are also a number of Brothers from Dorchester, Milton, Braintree, and other towns throughout the South Shore. [[[br /]]][[[br /]]]The Lodge takes an active role in making Quincy a better community. We have partnered with the Quincy Public Schools and in recent years we have donated a wheelchair accessible school bus, defibrillators and EpiPens for every school, and numerous smaller gifts to help individual students. We have supported the Quincy Medical System/Marie Curry Breast Cancer walk for several years, we hold several MYCHIP events each year, and recently began a program to support Cradles to Crayons (cradlestocrayons.org).[[[br /]]][[[br /]]]Rural Lodge isn't all serious though, and we like to have a good time. In the last few years we've had specialists give scotch, beer, wine, and brandy tastings. We have taken trips to the Newport Mansions, the Cape Cod Dinner Train, Mohegan Sun, and the Museum of Science. Our annual summer BBQ at the Squantum Yacht Club ensures the Lodge gets together during a time when we are not meeting. [[[br /]]][[[br /]]]Rural Lodge has 24/7 Answering Service: 781.534.9554. If you are interested in learning more about Rural Lodge or what we have scheduled, contact our Masonic Ambassador, or leave a message for us.[[[/p]]]