Star in the East

Star in the East is a Freemason lodge in New Bedford, MA, USA. Please message us if you are interested in learning more about us or Freemasonry.

[Star in the East @SITE1823]

Star in the East Lodge is thrilled to congratulate our very own Right Worshipful Peter W. Ham as the new District Deputy Grand Master for the 19 East Masonic District! A well deserved honor for a fantastic Brother. @MassFreemasonry

[Star in the East @SITE1823]

Last night 3 Brothers were passed to the Fellowcraft degree. Our Master Brian Fernandes constructed a winding staircase to help with the night's work. It was a night everyone enjoyed being a part of! @MassFreemasonry

[Star in the East @SITE1823]

The Dartmouth was built right here in @NewBedford_MA. And the Rotch-Jones-Duff House can still be toured. Both sites are short walks from our lodge. @MassFreemasonry

[Dr. Joseph Warren Foundation @DJWFoundation]

After the Dartmouth, the first tea ship to arrive in Boston Harbor, Dr. Joseph Warren along with John Hancock, Samuel Adams, Dr. Thomas Young, and John Scollay organized a meeting that was called the “Body” instead of a Boston town meeting because the Sons of Liberty wanted people from the countryside to attend to decide what to do about the tea on board the three ships that arrived in Boston Harbor. They and thousands of others spent weeks meeting at Old South Meeting House trying to encourage the owner of the Dartmouth, Francis Rotch, to send his tea back to England. But Rotch couldn’t do that without a pass from Governor Thomas Hutchinson, who would not issue that pass until Rotch claimed his cargo with the custom house. It was an endless circle of coercion until on December 16, 1773, Dr. Thomas Young pronounced, “Mr. Rotch is a good man who has done all in his power to gratify the people. We should do no harm to his person and dismiss him.” The Body agreed. Samuel Adams announced, “We have now done all we could for the salvation of our country. Mr. Rotch you are free to go home.”

Josiah Quincy, Jr. rose and made a speech from the gallery. When he was done, a new group of men appeared at the meetinghouse front door. John Hancock proclaimed to the people, “Let every man do what is right in his own eyes.” War whoops emanated from the doors and streets, echoed by the cheering throng inside the meeting house. The moderator tried to bring the meeting to order as the pews and the gallery emptied and thousands of people spilled into the streets and followed the “Mohawks.” They rumbled toward Griffin’s Wharf to witness what was going to happen. One hundred people stayed behind including Joseph, John Hancock, Samuel Adams, Thomas Young,

There were dozens of men already at Griffin’s Wharf when the “Mohawks” and the crowd descended upon it. Under the weak light of the waxing crescent moon, the destroyers of the tea boarded the Dartmouth and then the Eleanor and the Beaver. Each man had a duty to do almost like a military operation. They opened the hatches, jumped into the hold, and tied ropes to the tea chests to hoist them upon deck. For two hours men performed the backbreaking work—hacked open the chests, gathered up the tea and threw it overboard. In all, 342 chests went into the harbor. Not a ship or any other cargo on board was damaged. Within hours of the destruction of the tea, Paul Revere rode to New York and Philadelphia with the news.

[Star in the East @SITE1823]

@freddobson22 Let there be light!

[Star in the East @SITE1823]

Happy Birthday to us!!
Star in the East Lodge received its Charter from Most Worshipful John Dixwell #OTD in 1823!
@MassFreemasonry #Freemasonry

[Star in the East @SITE1823]

Congratulations to our newest Master Mason Rookie Award recipient Jesse Carvalho (right, with previous Rookie Award honoree Ian Harcourt) at Grand Lodge. @MassFreemasonry #Freemasonry

[Star in the East @SITE1823]

Apologies to Jackie and her family for lying to them to get everyone there!

[Star in the East @SITE1823]

Last week Star in the East recognized Jackie Teixeira with the Grand Lady's Award. The longtime partner of Rt. Wor. Charles Katsanos has been supporting his lodges from behind the scenes for over 50 years! Thank you Jackie for all you do! @MassFreemasonry #Freemasonry

[Star in the East @SITE1823]

On Tuesday we will install our 2025-2026 officers. This will be the start of Worshipful Brian Fernandes' 2nd year in the East. Have a great year Worshipful!

[Star in the East @SITE1823]

A great night of Freemasonry as we initiated a new Brother. He now joins 3 other EAs who will all continue their journey to Master Mason together this year. @MassFreemasonry

[Star in the East @SITE1823]

The Summer is over and we are getting back to work today! And doing it the best way possible - making a new Mason tonight in New Bedford! @MassFreemasonry

[Star in the East @SITE1823]

Happy Independence Day!

[Star in the East @SITE1823]

Star in the East will be conferring the Master Mason degree on two Brothers tonight. Any Master Mason is welcome to join us at 7pm tonight.

[Star in the East @SITE1823]

This past Saturday despite the rain Star in the East members volunteered with Mobile Ministries to distribute food and other necessities to men & women in need in @NewBedford_MA. This is #Freemasonry. @MassFreemasonry

[Massachusetts Freemasonry @MassFreemasonry]

Every man has to define who he is. But no man has to do it alone.

[Star in the East @SITE1823]

Star in the East's Men's Health group is back tonight, Tuesday March 18th. Tonight's topic is spiritual health and will be led by Wor. Peter Ham. This is a Masons only event.

[Massachusetts Freemasonry @MassFreemasonry]

Don’t look back and realize you spent your best years searching for something that was in front of you the whole time.

Freemasonry is here. It’s always been here. If you’re ready.

🔗 https://t.co/UPJ44HCUO4

[Massachusetts Freemasonry @MassFreemasonry]

But there’s another layer: Caritas.

From Latin, caritas means charity, selflessness, and goodwill. It’s where we get “charity” in the Masonic sense—not just giving, but embodying a spirit of benevolence.

True love, in Masonry, is active service.

[Star in the East @SITE1823]

Star in the East Lodge was charted in #NewBedford about 17 years before Melville left from here. Some of the homes and gardens he admired were probably owned by our members!

[Jon Mitchell @JonMitchellNB]

The 29th Moby Dick Marathon is underway! It’s an always a thrill for me to read Chapter 6, depicting Ishmael’s stroll through the streets of #NewBedford. @whalingmuseum

[Star in the East @SITE1823]

Congratulations to the #NewBedford @whalingmuseum on another successful #mobydick marathon!