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In 1893, Major
R. E. Dart was Junior Warden, but at the next election he
was not advanced nor re-elected. This enraged his father,
Captain Barney Dart, and he left the Lodge room asking that
his name be stricken from the roll of members. This was
promptly done. Some years afterwards, Capt. Barney lay on
his death bed afflicted with cancer. He sent for me and
stated that he had repented a hundred times of his
precipitate action, that |
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was anxious to be restored to membership in Ocean Lodge and
by them buried. He was ready to make any apology and asked
me to convey his most humble apologies to the Lodge and I
promised that I would do my best. There was but a short time
in which to act. The Grand Master was telegraphed, the Lodge
met and restored him to membership. Just whether it was
legal, I do not know, but Captain Barney had his desire--a
Masonic funeral.
While on the Darts, Uncle
Billy (W.R) was a great friend of mine. I was very fond of
his sterling qualities. It might literally be said that
Uncle Billy wore no man's collar. He had been a Marine
Engineer and such apparel was useless down in the hold. He
never wore one; however at the marriage of his
brother-in-law Charley Gray, through some means never yet
divulged, his daughters got a collar on him. He didn't enjoy
the wedding on account of that collar. Long before he
reached home, he pulled it off and never again wore a
collar.
I cannot refrain from
mentioning a member of Ocean Lodge, though [he was] at no
time active in its affairs. At his death he had been for
nearly sixty years a Mason, having been raised in an Ohio
Lodge. Columbia Downing, a Union soldier and brevetted
Major, came to Brunswick in the seventies as agent of the
Standard Oil Company. He soon began on a small scale the
handling of Naval Stores and at his death he left a
business, one of the largest of it's kind, and surely none
better organized. Year after year, the Downing men were the
same. He had the facility of selecting men who were
absolutely loyal to him and there was never any need of a
change. The thousands of operators in the woods who made the
rosin and spirits that he handled were most loyal. They
swore by Major Downing. When any dispute arose and the Major
made the decision, it was final; for no one ever thought of
questioning or appealing from this decision.
He knew the vast business
which he had built up from A to Z. No ordinary man could
have built up such confidence to so large a number of
people. He was a man without guile. He never appeared in any
other light than that which he really was. He was as plain
as an old shoe, honest as the days are long. His heart was
filled with the milk of human kindness. So had no enemies,
hence none to punish; everyone was his friend.
A rich king bad been
conquered by Alexander and when placed on his funeral pyre
for execution, he was heard to cry out, Oh, Diogenes,
Diogenes". Alexander hearing it, asked the reason. He
was told that the old King after showing Diogenes all his
wealth, asked him if he was not the happiest man on earth.
Diogenes replied that [no] man could be rightly judged until
after death. The old King was pardoned by Alexander.
I will mention none of the
living, though my mind is filled with many of their
unselfish acts for Freemasonry and Ocean Lodge. When 1957 is
reached and the story of 100 years of Masonry in Brunswick
is told, many other names will be mentioned and many others
will then not be forgotten.
Editor: This is the entire
text of the history as received from my predecessor in
office. It appears to have been written after 1928 and
before 1936. A great misfortune to Ocean Lodge is that 1957
came and went, and no one thought to take up the task of
updating this work. More, the minutes relating to some
important events in Masonic local history were lost.
Research continues, and hope remains that this period will
become documented.
R.L. Fahs April 2004
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