Tuesday, March 16, 2010

My Visit to T.S. Webb #43

Last Night I had the privilege to visit Thomas Smith Webb #43, which meets in the Scottish Rite Cathedral in Cranston, RI for their visitation for the Most Worshipful Grand Master Richard Ault. Thomas Smith Webb was Grand Master of Rhode Island in 1813-1814 and is most known for authoring The Freemasons Monitor and his contributions to the York Rite.

The building itself is very impressive, there is the Scottish Site Cathedral on one side of the street and a Shriners Center opposite where the brothers retired afterwards for a drink and fraternal bonding.


The foyer to the lodge is filled with artifacts and memorabilia and really brings the history of the lodge to light. Photos, gavels, aprons, pins and much more, you will find items two hundred years old next to items from the last decade.


In fact there is a museum in the building with some of the best Masonic items in the state and is a much see if you visit the lodge. Below is a case of older gavels that really takes ones breathe away.


Because it is used for Scottish Rite, the lodge is laid out differently then other lodges I have visited. All the seats are in the North and are stadium style which gives it a much different feel from the smaller lodges I have been in.


The visit had a great turnout and it was something to see a lot of those seats filled with brothers, I can only imagine how it would have been fifty years ago when every seat was filled.



Additional links:
Thomas Smith Webb Wikipedia article
Scottish Rite - Valley of Providence
Webbs Masonic Monitor