The History of
FIDELITY LODGE A.F. & A.M.
MELROSE, MASSACHUSETTS

The first regular meeting of Fidelity Lodge was held on Tuesday evening, November 19, 1918, at which time a Dispensation from the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge was presented and Fidelity Lodge was organized "Under Dispensation."

Rt. Wor. Charles Sewall Norris, District Deputy Grand Master of the Seventh Masonic District, and the father of our own Past Masters, Edward Norris and Carl B. Norris, was consulted concerning the formation of a new Masonic Lodge in Melrose. He was favorable to it.

The first meeting of the petitioners was held on September 17, 1918, and fifty-five signatures were obtained for a petition to the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge for a new Masonic lodge in Melrose. At this meeting, Merton D. Williams suggested the name "Fidelity Lodge" as there was no other Masonic Lodge in Massachusetts by that name. He further observed that the word "Fidelity" embodied all the most fundamental principles of Masonry. The selection of the meeting night is more a mystery. At the time there were nine lodges in the Seventh District and there was no Lodge of Instruction.

Cyrus Lodge of Stoneham met on the third Tuesday, Brother Williams suggested that Fidelity Lodge meet on the Tuesday before the third Wednesday, "because there would be no conflict with other lodges in the Seventh Masonic District except King Cyrus." He reasoned that at least one month per year the two lodges would meet on different Tuesdays thus making it possible for the interchange of fraternal visits.

This first meeting was closed with this prayer by the Chaplain, Leon B. Smith, "Our Father, we are grateful for the fellowship of this evening, and for the harmony which has been so manifest, and we ask the blessing upon all that has been done and pray that we may show our fidelity to Thee and to each other throughout our lives. Amen."

A blow that staggered and saddened the Lodge was the untimely death of our first Worshipful Master, Rt. Wor. Charles S. Norris. He died on March 26, 1919, the same day that his wife had predeceased him by about six hours.

The Senior Warden, Wor. Theodore H. Tufts, finished out Bro. Norris' term, and it was expected that he would then be elected Master for a full term of his own. However, he announced that because of health he would not do so. At the tenth regular meeting, the nominating committee brought in the names of Bro. Merton D. Williams as Worshipful Master, Bro. Julian C. Woodman as Senior Warden, Bro. G. Henry Warren as Junior Warden, Bro. F. Sears Stetson as Secretary and Bro. Reuben W. Huntress as Treasurer. These were the officers elected when the Lodge was constituted on October 14, 1919.

In his Master's report, Wor. Merton D. Williams wrote, "While it might be said in starting Fidelity Lodge I made office for myself, it is also true that only at the hands of its members have I served as Worshipful Master."

In early days the Annual Meeting was held in December, which usually started with the annual reports of the Secretary, Treasurer and Master. The Lodge then recessed for dinner and later reassembled in the Lodge Room for a "Roll Call." A typical December notice contained a note, "We want every member accounted for in person if possible, but surely by letter, postal, cable, or telegram." These roll calls continued through 1924. Records from 1925 and beyond mention entertainment but not a roll call until 1929 when a roll call of all Charter Members was made.

Fidelity Lodge held their Installation of Officers on New Year's Eve for several years. On December 31, 1925, the installation was followed by New Year's celebration with attendance of 411.

In 1927 the officers changed their dress from business suits to tuxedos.

In Wor. Arthur E. Goodwin's annual report on September 16, 1930, he wrote ..."now a lodge of approximately 500 members, and that we are approaching the time when it will be necessary to give some thought to how much larger we want to grow." Membership started to drop off shortly after this because of the Great Depression.

During and after World War II, membership started to climb again reaching a peak 636 in 1959.

One Master wrote in his annual report, "The greatest asset of Fidelity Lodge is what is often called the 'Fidelity Spirit.' This is an expression of good fellowship and kindly feeling which seems to be in the heart of every member and permeates the atmosphere of all our meetings."