Dublin Core
Title
Centennial Monograph: Royal Arcanum
Description
The Royal Arcanum was a fraternal organization whose core purpose, like a number of other similar societies, was to provide its members with safe insurance at minimum cost. It was founded in Boston in 1877 and still operates as of 2020 (but not in Maynard). The Assabet Council was started in 1883.
Creator
Birger Koski
Date
1966-02
Identifier
2019.252
Document Item Type Metadata
Text
Again the following is from the Lincoln Library of Essential Information: "A Fraternal, Mutual assessment, Beneficiary and Benevolent Society, founded in Boston, June 23, 1877 by Darius Wilson. The object of the organization is to provide its members with safe insurance at minimum cost. Local bodies of the order, known as councils, are under the jurisdiction of a Supreme Council. The motto is: 'Mercy, Virtue and Charity'"
Assabet Council 740, Royal Arcanum, was instituted Mar. 13, 1883, six years after the founding of the order, with seven members. An article in the paper for March 20, 1903, the Twentieth Anniversary program indicates that membership was up to eighty-three with two of the charter members still with them, John Joyce and Dr. F.V(U). Rich.
Dances (called assemblies), concerts, entertainments were the social outlets of this organization. It must have had clubrooms in one of the halls in town but we have no record where. Larger affairs were held anyway in Masonic Hall or Cooperative Hall.
The 20th Anniversary program brought out that $45,000 in death benefits had been paid out in that period; An earlier note for August 4, 1899 makes mention
of Mrs. McGrail receiving $3,000 due the policy of the late H.H. McGrail.
Names of members active either as officers or on committees at the turn of the century are: Dr. W.B. Currier, M.H. Garfield, Alex Veitch, F.R. Connor, P.J. Sullivan, Regent Dr. Dan Goodenow, James F. Sweeney, O.S. Fowler, George Lawton, Aquilla Reynard, James Carney, George E. Hart, James Goodson.
Dec. 22, 1916, the officers were P.J. Sullivan, Fred Axford, Dr. Dan Goodenoy, John Sunderland, Thomas Deane, Emanuel Taylor, George Hart, George Murphy, William Lord, Orrin Fowler, Thomas Sweeney, James Coughlin.
By 1920, apparently the society had weakened in membership that discussions were underway to consolidate with South Acton or some other Lodge. In April, 1920 the Assabet Council became part of the Rawson Council of Hudson with Horrace C. Williams, W.L. Kelt and G.A. Richardson present from Maynard.
The above material vas gleaned from the Maynard News, Aug. 4, 1899 - Jan. I9, 1900 - Jan. 30, 1903 - March 13 & 20, I903 - June 24, 1904 - Dec. 22, 1916 - Jan. 30, 1920 - April 9, 192O.
Read at the Feb. I966 Meeting
Maynard Historical Society
B.R.KOSKI
Assabet Council 740, Royal Arcanum, was instituted Mar. 13, 1883, six years after the founding of the order, with seven members. An article in the paper for March 20, 1903, the Twentieth Anniversary program indicates that membership was up to eighty-three with two of the charter members still with them, John Joyce and Dr. F.V(U). Rich.
Dances (called assemblies), concerts, entertainments were the social outlets of this organization. It must have had clubrooms in one of the halls in town but we have no record where. Larger affairs were held anyway in Masonic Hall or Cooperative Hall.
The 20th Anniversary program brought out that $45,000 in death benefits had been paid out in that period; An earlier note for August 4, 1899 makes mention
of Mrs. McGrail receiving $3,000 due the policy of the late H.H. McGrail.
Names of members active either as officers or on committees at the turn of the century are: Dr. W.B. Currier, M.H. Garfield, Alex Veitch, F.R. Connor, P.J. Sullivan, Regent Dr. Dan Goodenow, James F. Sweeney, O.S. Fowler, George Lawton, Aquilla Reynard, James Carney, George E. Hart, James Goodson.
Dec. 22, 1916, the officers were P.J. Sullivan, Fred Axford, Dr. Dan Goodenoy, John Sunderland, Thomas Deane, Emanuel Taylor, George Hart, George Murphy, William Lord, Orrin Fowler, Thomas Sweeney, James Coughlin.
By 1920, apparently the society had weakened in membership that discussions were underway to consolidate with South Acton or some other Lodge. In April, 1920 the Assabet Council became part of the Rawson Council of Hudson with Horrace C. Williams, W.L. Kelt and G.A. Richardson present from Maynard.
The above material vas gleaned from the Maynard News, Aug. 4, 1899 - Jan. I9, 1900 - Jan. 30, 1903 - March 13 & 20, I903 - June 24, 1904 - Dec. 22, 1916 - Jan. 30, 1920 - April 9, 192O.
Read at the Feb. I966 Meeting
Maynard Historical Society
B.R.KOSKI