Mount Tom Lodge
1940
90th Anniversary Special Communication opened at 6 P. M. Attendance 305. Lodge opened on M. M. degree and immediately thereafter an intermission was declared. At 6:30 a dinner was served in the auditorium. The diners were the officers and members of Mt. Tom and their wives, also a large and distinguished group of invited guests. An orchestra furnished music during the dinner. The pupils of Walker's' Dancing School rendered several numbers. Balloons and caps added to the gala occasion. Community singing was interspersed throughout the dinner. At eight o'clock all repaired to the Lodge room. R. Wor. Ronald Astley, D.D.G. Master was received and he introduced about seventy members of his suite. The Most Worshipful Grand Master sent his regrets at not being able to be present. Telegrams of felicitation were received from all the Masters in the district. Bro. Auld gave a pleasing organ recital and Bro. James Scott rendered several vocal solos. The Westinghouse Square Club quartette entertained with several selections. The speakers of the evening were the Very Rev. Bro. Percy T. Edrop, Dean of Christ Church Cathedral and Grand Chaplain of the Grand Lodge and Wor. Raymond H. Cowing, P. M. of Mt. Moriah Lodge of Westfield, Rt. Wor. Bro. Brooks gave an interesting sketch of the history of the Lodge, and the talks of Rt. Wor. Astley and Edwin L. Davis, Past Deputy Grand Master were inspirational. Wor. Bro. George H. Sinclair donated a profusion of gorgeous bouquets for the dining room. Lodge was closed in form.
June 1, 1940
"Sixteen Hundred Years of Masonry."
Lodge opened on Third Degree at 5:15 P.M. Attendance 321. Lodge was called from labor to refreshment and brethren repaired to the auditorium where a very fine dinner was served. An orchestra played and a good community sing was enjoyed. Lodge reconvened. Rt. Wor. Ronald Astley, D. D. G. Master was received and assumed the East. He stated he had designated this occasion as "Sixteen Hundred Years of Masonry" from the fact that the total ages of the twenty who would take part in the conferring of the Third Degree equalled 1603 years, giving an average age of over 80 years per man. The charge was given by a Past Master ninety-three years of age. There were seven over eighty, nine over seventy. One was a young fellow only sixty-four. At the conclusion of the work, Most Worshipful Herbert W. Dean, Past Grand Master, R. W. Roy Perry Miles, Sr. Grand Warden and other distinguished Masons were called upon. This was easily one of the outstanding events of Western Massachusetts Masonry and its conception and planned execution was the product of the agile brain of our beloved Ronald Astley.
Sept. 13, 1940
Official visitation of D.D.G. Master Ronald Astley. After the usual procedure of such a meeting, Bro. John W. Toole ("Jack" to all of us) was escorted to the East and presented with the Joseph Warren Medal for distinguished Masonic service, and letters and telegrams from those who could not be present at the service were read. Bro. Toole accepted the Medal with words of appreciation and a pledge of continued service to Masonry.
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