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��THE GRANITE MONTHLY,
��strained to vote for Concord in prefer- ence to Hopkinton as the permanent seat of the State government of New Hampshire.
We have already spoken of John Harris as a Freemason. He gave great diligence to the welfare of the local Masonic element. In 1S03, on the loth of January, a preliminary meeting of the Palladian Society was held at his home. A constitution had been framed and adopted, and John Harris became the first treasurer. In 1807, Trinity Chapter was formed in Hopkinton. In the priority of chap- ters in the State, Trinity was the sec- ond. John Harris was its founder. In 1S24, he was its treasurer. He was also founder of the Tyrian Council, and of the Mount Horeb Command- ery of Knights Templars. He was Grand Master of the Grand Lodge, Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter at its formation in 1819, and first (jrand Master of the Grand En- campment of Knights Templars of New Hampshire at its formation in 1826.
John Harris' career as a party poli- tician seems to exhibit little promi- nence. Being a Federalist, or Whig, he sustained the disadvantage of re- siding in a town where the opposing political party had a strong majority. He was frequently the incumbent of minor offices, such as moderator, se- lectman, or member of a special com- mittee of the town, but in those days a Whig could not expect to be sent to the General Court of New Hampshire from Hopkinton. The more notable civil offices that John Harris held were the gifts of executive appointment. In this fact, too, we find illustration of a principle that often obtains in Ameri- can politics. The appointing power is often more non-partisan than the elec- tive. It is noticeable that John Harris was not in a single instance appointed to higher civil office by dignitaries of his own party. Fle was appointed postmaster under the administration of James Madison ; probate judge under the gubernatorial regimes of William
��Plumer and Levi Woodbury • solicit- or under that of Plumer; associate justice under that of Woodbury. It must be that John Harris was selected for these offices on account of his abil- ity and integrity. The cause of his deposition from the most important ju- dicial office he ever held, was purely partisan. In 1832, when Samuel Dins- more was governor of New Hampshire, Charles F. Gove was the Democratic leader of the House of Representatives. In the legislature of that year, there was presented a resolution asking for the removal of Judge Harris from office. The resolution was referred to the judiciary committee, which re- ported in opposition to the removal. Gove then appealed to the house, and the Judge was ousted. A member of that legislature, now living, says, " It was a violent action that did not com- mand my vote."
It remains for us to speak of John Harris as a churchman. In religious matters, as in other affairs, he was prominent. In 1803, an organization of the Episcopal Church, under the superintendency of the Rev. Samuel Meade, was. effected in Hopkinton. It was known as "Christ's Church, "and worshipped in the old county court house. John Harris was one of the subscribers to the ecclesiastical consti- tution. In 1S26, the Rev. Moses B. Chase became the clergyman of the church and founded a new parish, which was incorporated in 1S27 as '■St. Andrew's Church." John Har- ris and William Little were its first wardens.
A man like John Harris could hardly fail of continued prominence in any church to which he might give his religious sympathies and support. However, in the Episcopal church at Hopkinton, his assistance was once in special demand. In the early struggling days of this church, the regular services of a clergyman were not always attainable. Laymen were often required to supply the desk. Prayers were often read at public wor- ship by John Harris and John O. Bal-
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