‘James Mitchell Varnum at Collegivm Luminosvm’

    

Click to enlarge.

Collegium Luminosum, the research lodge in the Grand Lodge of Rhode Island, has an evening planned for next month when a local historian will discuss the life of a Revolutionary War general and Rhode Island Mason. The graphic above has the particulars.

The historic brother in question, James Mitchell Varnum, was with St. John’s Lodge 1 in Providence, but his military career naturally took him outside the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. He fought here in New York, both at Long Island and White Plains, for example.

The lodge’s speaker on May 22, Mr. Geake, has authored a biography titled A Man of Uncommon Valor: James Mitchell Varnum, the American Revolution, and the Foundation of the New Republic, which will be published shortly.

The formidable James Royal Case, of ALR fame, in his Fifty Early American Military Freemasons, in 1955, writes:

James Mitchell Varnum

The first convocation of Masons in Ohio (of which there is any record) took place at the funeral of this distinguished brother at Marietta in January 1789. Cut off before his fortieth birthday, resident in the Northwest Territory less than a year, his life career had been a short but notable one. In military, Masonic and civic attainments he had, through sheer merit and unsought preferment, gone beyond his aspirations. The mourners in his funeral procession included a visiting delegation of Indian warriors, officers of the garrison at Fort Harmar, colleagues in the civil government, compatriots of the Society of the Cincinnati, and brethren of the Masonic fraternity. Ahead of the coffin marched four masters of ceremony bearing on mourning cushions appropriate emblems of his connection with the military, the judiciary, the Cincinnati, and the Masons. The latter acted as an occasional lodge for this ceremony, but the following year American Union Lodge was reopened at Marietta, marking the introduction of regular Freemasonry into Ohio.

Varnum was born at Dracut, Massachusetts in 1748 and was sent to Harvard to complete his formal schooling. Among those expelled following some disorder among the students, he transferred to Rhode Island College at Warren, of which Brown University is the present day successor. As a member of the first class to graduate, he took as a topic for his commencement oration the thesis that America should not be independent! He taught school for a year or two while he studied law with the attorney general of the state, following which he began his own law practise in East Greenwich. He was extraordinarily alert mentally, possessed great powers of concentration, and was a fluent and copious speaker. The Revolutionary War called him away from his legal pursuits for a while.

Possessed of a powerful physique, athletically inclined, an advocate of physical fitness and drill discipline, he became in 1774 colonel of the “Kentish Guards,” from whose ranks came many officers of the revolutionary army. Nathaniel Greene was an associate of those days. In 1775, Varnum commanded a regiment of state troops and was given command of the 9th regiment of Continentals in 1776. He served at the Siege of Boston and in the Battles of Long Island and White Plains.

Promoted brigadier general in 1777, he was entrusted with command of forts Mercer and Mifflin on the Delaware, defensive works for Philadelphia. Although he was eventually driven out by the British, he was commended by Washington for holding out as long as he did. His brigade was one of those which spent a miserable winter at Valley Forge, where the commander in chief said he was “the light of the camp,” perhaps with a special signification.

The following year found him fighting in his native state at Newport and for a few months in command of the department. However, his health had given way and, unable to endure the rigors of field duty, he resigned his commission. But there was no rest for the weary. He was sent to the Continental Congress in 1780 and served at intervals until 1787. He was appointed Major General of Rhode Island militia, and elected the head of the state Society of the Cincinnati. His law cases were many and notable in the history of the Rhode Island bar.

He became interested in the Ohio Land Company, was one of the original directors, and appointed to the bench as one of three judges for the territorial government to be established. Hoping to regain his health, improve his fortune, and advance in his profession, he went to Marietta on horseback in June 1789, leaving behind him a childless wife who was to survive him by forty-eight years. He began his new duties hopefully and happily enough but within the year he was dead. About all he had found time to get done was a code of laws.

Although his lungs were weakening, his voice was still strong and his mind was keen. His reputation as a public speaker was considerable and must have preceded him, as he was only in Marietta a week before he was chosen by the citizens and the Cincinnati to deliver the principal address at the first Fourth of July exercises ever held in Ohio. At home he had been much in demand as orator at Masonic gatherings, one notable occasion being the observance of St. John the Evangelist Day at Providence in December 1778. Major General John Sullivan was the guest of honor and dozens of military officers were present as visitors. Varnum was a member of old St. John’s Lodge in Providence, which is numbered among those few in America rounding out their second century of existence.

Read more about Varnum here at the website of the Varnum Armory Museum in East Greenwich, Rhode Island. And the Varnum House Museum is here.

     

‘Founding of Semiquincentennial Lodge 250’

    

UPDATE—A photo from the May 2 festivities shows the Charter of Commemoration with the gavel & block of Semiquincentennial Lodge 250.

Rhode Island might not come to mind immediately when contemplating the Revolutionary War*, but their Grand Lodge has devised the novel way of celebrating America250 by chartering a “lodge of commemoration” to be at labor for the coming year.

From the publicity:

Semiquincentennial Lodge 250

Reflect on the Past

Celebrate the Present

Hope for the Future

Semiquincentennial Lodge 250 is chartered as a commemorative lodge dedicated to the 250th anniversary of America’s Declaration of Independence.

The tenets of Freemasonry have influenced the principles of freedom, equality, justice, and courage that are the foundation of our nation.

Semiquincentennial Lodge 250 celebrates the universality of Freemasonry and the importance of the tenets of our Craft to people throughout the world. It is a lodge that is open to and welcomes, both literally and figuratively, Freemasons wheresoever dispersed.

Semiquincentennial Lodge 250 will be opened officially with the presentation of the charter at the Grand Lodge Annual Meeting on May 18, 2026. All attending the Annual Meeting will receive a copy of this keepsake document.

Semiquincentennial Lodge 250 will be called to recess, but may be called to labor any time during the year at the will and pleasure of its Worshipful Master. The lodge will be officially closed at the Grand Lodge Annual Meeting in May 2027.

Program for May 2

Open Semi-Public

Occasional Grand Lodge

Rick Baccus

Most Worshipful Grand Master

Invocation

Pledge of Allegiance

Prologue and Guiding Principles

Stephen E. Mitchell

Past Grand Master

Reflect on the Past

Raymond A. Geer

Grand Historian

Celebrate the Present

Timothy L. Culhane

Director of Masonic Education

Hope for the Future

Joshua A. Irizarry, Past Master

St. Johns Lodge 1

Providence

Three Voices, One Spirit

Stephen E. Mitchell

Past Grand Master

Formal Presentation of the Petition

to Establish Semiquincentennial Lodge 250 

Gilbert J. Fontes, Jr.

Deputy Grand Master

Introduction of Grand Lodge Officers

and Guests

Benediction

Close Lodge

Rick Baccus

Most Worshipful Grand Master

Petition for charter

May 2, 2026A.D. | 6026A.L.

To the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations:

Bro. Rick Baccus, M∴ W∴ Grand Master

The undersigned, petitioners, being, Free and Accepted Master Masons, having the prosperity of the Fraternity at heart, and willing to exert their best endeavors to promote and diffuse the genuine principles of Masonry, respectfully represent,

That, to Honor the Contributions of Freemasons to the Prosperity of our State and Nation and for other good reasons, they are desirous of forming a Lodge of Commemoration within this jurisdiction, to be named Semiquincentennial Lodge No. 250, F. & A. M.

Therefore, they pray for letters of dispensation, or a warrant of constitution, to empower them to assemble as a legal Lodge, to discharge the duties of Masonry in a regular and constitutional manner, according to the original forms of the order, and the regulations of the Grand Lodge.

Scheduled Events

May 2 - The Founding of Semiquincentennial Lodge 250

May 18 - Grand Lodge Annual with issuing of Charter of Semiquincentennial Lodge 250

August TBA - Grand Lodge Picnic and Flag Ceremony

September 27 (tentative) - Time Capsule and Liberty Tree Planting

September 30 - Collegium Luminosum: Speaker on Rhode Island Masonic History

November 14 - Revolutionary Table Lodge

* In all fairness, it is said Freemasons from St. John’s Lodge in Providence were key to the destruction of the HMS Gaspee on June 10, 1772, a dangerous act of tax rebellion a year and a half before the Boston Tea Party.

     

‘Our craving for remembrance and a tangible blessing for posterity’

    

Grand Lodge of Rhode Island

Next Saturday morning, Rhode Island Freemasons will gather at Freemasons Hall in East Providence (222 Taunton Avenue) to commemorate the centenary of the temple’s cornerstone ceremony, which occurred Saturday, October 25, 1924. Today, the building also is the headquarters of the Grand Lodge, but then it was home only to Rising Sun Lodge 30 which, by then, had been at labor half a century, having been established July 4, 1874. From the publicity:

A Century of Masonic Heritage

The magnificent Temple was built in 1924 for Raising [sic] Sun Lodge No. 31 [sic] and was designed by renowned architect William Gilbert Upham of Norwood, Ma. Who was a member of Orient Lodge and specialized in the design of Masonic Temples.

The original Cornerstone was laid on October 25, 1924, by the Most Worshipful Grand Master, Henry C. Dexter and it was rededicated in 1992 when Grand Lodge took ownership of the property.

The ceremony of rededication is an ancient, solemn and significant event in Freemasonry. It marks the renewal of our commitment to our principles of Truth, Relief and Brotherly Love, and the consecration of our meeting place.

Freemasons Halls:

Temples of Virtue

Freemasons Halls have a long history and are rich in symbolism, they are literally Temples erected to Virtue. These buildings serve not only as the physical place where Masons meet but also as enduring material representations of our ideals.

Grand Lodge of Rhode Island

Many Freemasons have enjoyed the brotherhood fostered within these walls. Here, they have become great leaders, shared knowledge, worked together for common goals, and nurtured their dreams. These buildings are silent witnesses to history, having seen generations of men strive to become better versions of themselves and contribute positively to the world.  

These are only a few reasons why the rededication ceremony will be a very significant event. It is definitely something to witness. The ceremony is open to Freemasons of all degrees and the general public and will begin at 10 a.m. with a procession from Haven Methodist Church on Taunton Ave. to Grand Lodge.

Looking back the hundred years, the occasion’s oration was delivered by W. Bro. Chester W. Barrows, Grand Orator, who also served as an Associate Justice of the state’s Superior Court. Excerpted:

We are laying a cornerstone of a Masonic Temple. Freemasonry as an institution is already old. It will continue to exist while men are social beings. It has certain attributes that do not change, but its character at any given time will be affected markedly by the men who then compose it. We are the Rhode Island Masons today. We shall leave our more or less lasting marks on the organization. What shall our imprint be?

Grand Lodge of Rhode Island

We have placed beneath this stone certain temporal and transient things deemed by us of some importance. There, sealed away from mortal sight and corroding air, they will be preserved long after we have been forgotten. Antiquarians, a half century or more from now, when this temple shall be razed to give way to a more glorious one, will curiously examine these tokens, will try to follow the thoughts that influenced us, and to discover what manner of men and Masons we were. Today’s civilization, with all its wonders, will doubtless seem as curious and quaint to them as our ancestors’ does to us. Our Masonic forbears led a simple life as we see it. Their opportunities were limited, but we know their sterling, though stern, worth. What we are, what our influence is upon the Order, in part, is due to what they were. We glory in their pioneering for institutions adapted to free-born men and dedicated to God and native land.  Ours is not to pioneer, but to preserve those institutions. If our efforts shall appeal to those who follow us, as do our grandfathers’ to us, we may feel that this generation is a not unworthy link in the chain of progress.

Chester Barrows

Why do we have a ceremony at the laying of a cornerstone? Because it is traditional perhaps, but what reason is there for the continuance of tradition? What is there here to talk about? Talk often is only the outward evidence of a vacant mind, the rambling of aimless thought. Such is not for us on this occasion. Nor is the fact that here is our own building a cause for boastfulness. Is not the real reason for this occasion that we are doing something which we hope will be worthy of remembrance; something for which we believe our “Children will rise up and call us blessed.” At man’s best, there is always an aspiration to do or say something worth preserving. The endless struggle to be remembered is traceable through the ages. We hate the thought of being forgotten. A few exceptional individuals successfully perpetrate themselves, but most persons fail to do so.

 

As groups, however, men often can succeed when singly they would fail. Among the lasting and proper accomplishments of a group is the erection of a Masonic Temple. When we lay the cornerstone of such a building, we have taken a step toward satisfying our craving for remembrance, as well as left a tangible blessing for posterity. We are warranted in talking about it.

This is a cornerstone. We shall not presume to tell you of the part that it physically plays in the structure. We only know that it rests upon what has been done. It supports what is to follow. It bears the relation to the building that your life and mine bear to past and future human life. As we prove square and true, so will our descendants.

The following year, W. Barrows would be elevated to Rhode Island’s Supreme Court, where he would serve until his death in 1931 at age 58.

Locate your copy of this Grand Lodge’s 1925 Proceedings to marvel at this wonderful speech in its entirety, as well as to peruse the lengthy list of those “temporal and transient things” deposited inside the “beautiful, neatly engraved copper box, hermetically sealed,” placed inside the cornerstone.

Also, I can’t help but claim to have found on other pages a terrific name for a lodge: What Cheer.

What Cheer Lodge 21 was set to labor in 1857 in Providence. The phrase “What cheer?” is elemental to Rhode Island lore and concerns the arrival of Roger Sherman himself upon the shore of the Seekonk River where he was greeted thusly by local Native Americans. Read more about that here.

    

‘Lodge to star in PBS history program’

    

East Bay Media Group

Historic Washington Lodge 3 in Rhode Island will star in a forthcoming PBS history program, according to local media.

The Warren Times-Gazette reports today how the lodge, which dates to June 24, 1796, will be featured on Rhode Island PBS’ Treasures Inside the Museum next month. The following is copyright © 2024 East Bay Media Group:

By Ethan Hartley

New England is a historical spelunker’s paradise. It’s a place where a day trip to any random corner of the region can result in stumbling upon some type of rare artifact or another that hearkens back to the earliest days of our colonial past, or perhaps even beyond that.

Warren, certainly, has its fair share of transportive treasures—both in objects carried down through generations held within historic walls, to the actual buildings themselves. And coming soon to a PBS station near you, one particular local location, and one particularly special historic artifact, will have its moment in the spotlight.

Washington Lodge No. 3, located at 39 Baker St. in Warren’s downtown historic district, boasts a title of the second oldest continuously operating Freemasons lodge in the United States, first opening up in June of 1796. The building has undergone renovations and although it is not technically a museum, the board of directors that take care of the building have been consistently seeking to share its vibrant history with anyone interested through a variety of open houses and events throughout the year.

John Miranda, a member of the board and the Junior Deacon at the lodge, said that he reached out to Rhode Island PBS last year to see if they were interested in visiting the lodge while they were taping the fifth season of the New England Emmy-nominated series, Treasures Inside the Museum. The show, produced by a collaboration of Ocean State Video and Weathervane Communications, took him up on the invite and visited Warren on December 28, 2023 to shoot the segment featuring the Washington Lodge.

Miranda said that the building’s history will be explored in the segment, along with some of the interesting Egyptian murals, and historical objects from the Freemasons of generations past.

“We explore traditional museum spaces in season five and the unexpected locations where treasures are kept,” said Betty-Jo Cugini, series co-producer and owner of Weathervane Communications. “We are excited to take viewers behind the scenes as exhibits come to life, from ideas shared around a table to an opening-night exhibit where unique treasures and cultures come together.”

One particular item from the lodge is sure to turn some heads and pique some interest among historical buffs: a water pitcher that was owned by George Washington. Miranda said it was given to the lodge by the family of George Washington’s quartermaster, but you’ll have to tune into the show to get the full story.

The show featuring Warren will air on July 19 at 8:30 p.m., July 20 at 12:30 p.m., and July 21 at 7 p.m. Warren will share a show with The Sailing Museum & National Sailing Hall of Fame in Newport.

“They were very excited to do a story about us,” Miranda said. “It’s exciting just to have the lodge featured on PBS and to let people see what’s in the building, because I’m sure there’s always mystery about what’s going on in a Freemasons lodge. At least we can now give them a little peek behind the curtain.”

Episodes of the show will be available to watch on Rhode Island PBS and on the Rhode Island PBS YouTube channel.

     

‘Rhode Island bets on Stand-Up Guys’

    

A still from the video. Click here to view the 30-second spot.

There may be no more effective way to see how a grand lodge views both Freemasonry at large and its own individuality than through its advertising. Yesterday, the Grand Lodge of Rhode Island revealed a 30-second video on Facebook (also to be seen on WPRI television’s website) to summarize for the public its understanding of what it is to be a Freemason in 2024.

According to the message, it’s about being a “stand-up guy.”

“What does it mean to be a stand-up guy?” the video asks. It’s about being a good neighbor, friend, and citizen who exhibits morality, charity, and loyalty is the reply.

I don’t know if this is the opening salvo of a campaign to come, but it’s a more thoughtful message than the insipid and hubristic “Not Just a Man. A Mason.” campaign that won’t go away. This “Stand-Up Guy” approach conveys a yankee simplicity that I’d guess would resonate in the Ocean State—America’s smallest state, home to only about 490,000 men aged 18 to 54.

Another still from the video.

(The Grand Lodge is home to almost 2,800 Masons, according to data published by the Masonic Service Association of North America.)

“Your brothers are waiting,” says this ad in conclusion. I hope their lodges find who they’re looking for.

     

‘MLMA Rhode Island plans’

     

The 2017 Annual Meeting of the Masonic Library and Museum Association is coming into focus. This will take place at the Grand Lodge of Rhode Island during the last weekend of September.

If you are a member of the MLMA, you’ll receive the registration information soon, if you haven’t already. If you are not a member of the MLMA, there is a registration fee of just $80.

Some of the offsite attractions awaiting us are tours of the Providence Athenaeum, John Hay Library (Brown University), Redwood Library and Athenaeum, Newport Tower, and various dinners. The library tours never disappoint. The hosts usually unearth from their archives most rare and amazing Masonic treasures and other historic artifacts. Cannot wait to see what will be revealed to us this time!

Check it out here, and be sure to scroll down to read the abstracts of the fascinating presentations planned. (I’m dying to hear about H.P. Lovecraft!)
     

‘This fall in Rhode Island’

     

Save the date: The Masonic Library and Museum Association will hold its annual meeting, including election of officers, September 27 through October 1 at the Grand Lodge of Rhode Island.