The History of Arundel Lodge

At a regular communication of Arundel Lodge held on October 19, 1869, it was voted that Brothers Seth E. Bryant and H. H. Chadbourne be appointed as a committee to prepare a history of the Lodge. The following account is drawn from their original writings.

In the early part of 1854, there resided in the village of Kennebunkport, York County, Maine, some twenty or more Master Masons, most of whom had first received Masonic light within the walls of that old landmark of Masonry, York Lodge No. 22 in Kennebunk. Because of the distance to that Lodge and the difficulty of attending meetings as often as they desired, these brethren resolved to petition for a charter to form a Lodge in their own village — a place they believed offered a strong field for Masonic work.

As with any new undertaking, there was some opposition at first, though not enough to discourage those leading the effort — among them Hon. Benjamin F. Mason and Capt. George G. Wormwood. On April 17, 1854, they petitioned York Lodge for its consent to apply to the Grand Lodge of Maine for a Charter, Warrant, or Dispensation, as might be deemed proper. This request was granted with full approval, and the application was promptly made. The Grand Lodge, acting favorably upon their petition, issued a Charter dated June 26, 1854, granting all the rights and privileges of a subordinate Lodge of Masons.

The name selected for the new Lodge was “Arundel,” taken from the original name of the town of Kennebunkport prior to 1820. The town had been named in honor of Lord Arundel, an English nobleman — a name that many considered both more fitting and more convenient than the one it bears today.

The Charter lists the following brethren: Ivory Goodwin, John F. Mason, Thomas H. Bell, John H. Bartlett III, Sylvester Brown, Robert T. Nowell, Oliver Smith, Benjamin F. Mason, Thomas Maling, Robert Towne, Charles Goodwin, George W. Nowell, George G. Wormwood, Benjamin Hoff, Samuel Pope, George Smith, and D. P. Jefferds. It bears the signatures of Timothy Chase, Grand Master; Ezra B. French, Senior Grand Warden; Thomas B. Johnson, Junior Grand Warden; and Charles B. Smith, Grand Secretary.

The first meeting of the Lodge was held on October 24, 1854. After the Charter was read and preliminary business completed, the following officers were elected: Charles Goodwin, Worshipful Master; D. P. Jefferds, Senior Warden; Samuel Pope, Junior Warden; B. F. Mason, Treasurer; Ivory Goodwin, Secretary; Woodbury Goodwin, Senior Deacon; James H. Tripp, Junior Deacon; John H. Bartlett III, Senior Steward; William Brooks, Junior Steward; and Thomas Maling, Tyler.

The annual meeting for the election of officers was set for the Tuesday on or before February 22, with regular communications held on the Tuesday on or before the full moon. The first degree work performed by the Lodge was the passing and raising of Brother George A. Webb, who had received his Entered Apprentice degree in York Lodge.

Until 1863, Arundel Lodge met in a hall over S. H. Gould’s store. However, the space proved inadequate due to poor ventilation, and when the proprietor declined to make the needed improvements, the Lodge sought new quarters. Arrangements were made with Capt. Stephen Ward to fit up a hall above the Post Office, resulting in a neat and convenient space that became the Lodge’s new home. This hall was dedicated to Masonic use on March 4 of that year, during the same evening as the officer installation, with assistance from brethren of Dunlap Lodge in Biddeford and York Lodge in Kennebunk acting as a Grand Lodge.

On August 20, 1878, Arundel Lodge moved once more to new quarters in Brown’s Block, in the building where the Colonial Pharmacy now stands. The hall was dedicated by the Grand Lodge of Maine under Most Worshipful Edward P. Burnham, Grand Master.