A Standard Distory of Freemasonry in the State of Mew Work ‘Including Lodge, Chapter, Council, Commandery and Scottish Rite Bodies. Bp Peter Ross, LL. D. Author of “istory of Scotia Wodge," “The scot in mera,” ete. * ‘Rew Work and Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company 1899 *DEDICATE THIS HISTORY TO 1M. W:, JOHN STEWART, PAST GRAND MASTER OF MASONS IN "THE STATE OF NEW YORK, [IN TOKEN OF MY ADMIRATION FOR THE ‘MAN, THE BROTHER. *PREFACE. IN the following pages an attempt has been made to tell the history of Free: ‘masonry in New York from its introduction in pre-Revolutionary times to the present day. The aim has been to show that what Henley, the Engl critic and shymester, calls the "Masonic idea” should be ranked as one of the forces which have been at work in the development of the higher life of the common- wealth, To this end the writer has devoted less attention than Masonic historians usually do to describing laws, motions, amendments and events which were only passing in their purpose and their interest, and has preferred to follow out in broad outline the factors ‘hich were mainly concerned in promoting the advancement of the craft. To illustrate this more clearly, he hat introduced considerable biographical and personal matter, believing that such men as Chancellor Livingston, DeWitt Clinton, Morgan Lewis, Stephen Van Rensselaer, John D. Willard, John L. Lewis and other leaders not only imparted their own character to the brethren, but in turn had their own characters molded and developed by the teachings of the institution, ‘The effort has been made to write a veritable history, not a mere summary of volumes of proceedings: to write a volume which would give any reader an idea of the story of Freemasonry in the Empire State, and at the same time be so purely and suf Sciently Masonic as to warrant the attention of the most devoted member of the fra temity, Comparatively litle has been said of the history of the ritual, for it was felt that that subject could not, with any degree of fullness, be properly treated in a work of this kind if, indeed, it were wise to treat it at all in a printed book—and mere details of legislation have been passed by with, at best, but brief mention. Yet no attempt has ben made to ignore any thread which gave the slightest color to the mass, and all events of moment, such as the troubles of 1823 or 1837, the Morgan excitement, and the like, have been fully and carefully considered Wt had been intended to devote more attention than has actually been accorded to Capitular and Chivalric Masonry and to the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite; but the sory of the Blue Lodge is afterall, the foundation for the story of all the others, ‘The men who are active in the hans grades in most cates are men who have made thei nats inthe symbolic degrees, and to tell the story of these bodies fully would have secesitated in these chapters a repetition of considerable matter which had been dis- ‘cued in the history of the Grand Lodge. To write the story of any one of these “developments of symbolic Masonry” fully and properly would require the compass of a‘volume like this, So the effort was here abandoned, although the progress of each i told with a degree of fullness which permits of the telling, in all case, of a complete story. It is to be hoped that each of these organizations will yet take steps to give its history to the world ia full and ample detail. Indeed, the writer knows of no more brilliant opportunity awaiting the Matonic student than that afforded in the rehearsing of the story of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite in this State, Of course, to a certain extent, this has been done by several writers; but it has not been done with the judicial ealmness, the scrupulous regard for truth, the careful and exhaustive exami tion of original sources of information and the consideration of the motives of men, which should characterize a modern history ‘Several acknowledgments are due. From books much has been gained, and éspe- cially from such works as John W. Barker's“ Early History and Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of New York,” and from the four volumes, recording the history of the same Grand Lodge, by the late Charles T. McClenachan. Considerable help has been afforded by the waitings of Enoch T. Carson, of Ohio; Josiah H. Drummond, of Maine, and J. Ross Robertton, of Toronto—all of whom occupy the fist rank among American Masonic To Col. Edward M. L, Ehlers, Grand Secretary, New York, the author is under many obligations; while from W. J. Hughaa, the “Prince of Masonic Historians,” much valuable information has been received, students and witTABLE OF CONTENTS. ‘VOLUME IL. BOOK 1. EARLY HISTORY. CHAPTER I. Introductory, CHAPTER 11 Freemasonry in Europe in 1730, CHAPTER IIL ‘The Coxe, Riggs and Goclet Deputations, CHAPTER IV. George Harrison and Sir John Johnson, CHAPTER V. Two Early Lodges, CHAPTER VL Two Country Lodges, CHAPTER VIL ‘The Last of Harrison's Lodges, CHAPTER V1tt Sir John Johnson's Lodges, CHAPTER IX. ‘The Army and Ancient Lodges, BOOK Il, THE ATHOL PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE. CHAPTER I. ‘The Founders, CHAPTER 1 ‘The Charter and Some of the Early Leaders, CHAPTER UI Ways and Means, CHAPTER IV. ‘The End of the Provincial Grand Lodge, 3 6 ss a ” 2i TABLE OF CONTENTS, BOOK Ill, THE SOVEREIGN GRAND LODGE. (CHAPTER I. ‘Chancellor Livingston, CHAPTER 11 Unifying the Forces, CHAPTER UL ‘The Declaration of Independence, CHAPTER IV, ‘The Saints’ Days, CHAPTER V. Some Lodge Troubles, CHAPTER Vi ‘Some Country Lodges, (CHAPTER VIL (Clandestine Efforts, CHAPTER VILL Charity and Law, CHAPTER 1X CHAPTER X. Constitution in Farce 1800, APPENDIX TO BOOK III CHAPTER 1 Early History of Freemasonry in Central New York, BOOK IV. THE CITY AND THE COUNTRY. CHAPTER 1. Jacob Morton and his Officers, CHAPTER 11 St. Joba's Hall, CHAPTER A Revolt in Albany, CHAPTER IV. De Witt Clinton, 19 tay 130 BH 9 m 85 i 95TABLE OF CONTENTS. CHAPTER ¥, Practical Legislation, CHAPTER VI Candidates, Work and Literature, CHAPTER VII. ‘The Free School, CHAPTER Vil ‘The War of 1812, eee CHAPTER IX, Colored Lodges—The Union of 1813, CHAPTER X. Grand Stewards and Grand Visitors, CHAPTER Xt. Numbering the Lodges—A New Hall—De Witt Clinton's Retirement, CHAPTER Xt Daniel D. Tompkins, CHAPTER XII. ‘The Cx CHAPTER XIV. ‘The City Grand Lodge, CHAPTER XV. ‘The Reception to Lafayette, : CHAPTER XVI Holding the Fort, 7 CHAPTER XVIL ‘The Country Grand Lodge, ‘ CHAPTER XVIIL Grand Master Van Rensselaer, 7 ‘ CHAPTER XIX. The Union, BOOK V. THE MORGAN CRISIS. CHAPTER ‘The Morgan Crisis —The Story of the Disappearance CHAPTER 11. A Crop of Morgans, a3 a4 a 49 257 26 aa 287 25 joa atsiv TABLE OF CONTENTS, CHAPTER UL ‘Thurlow Weed's Story, CHAPTER IV. ‘The Judicial Proceedings, : CHAPTER V, ‘The Masonic Side of the Story, 7 CHAPTER VI. ‘The Political Agitation, : CHAPTER VIL ‘The Anti-Masons, 7 ‘| CHAPTER Vill ‘The End of the Craze, BOOK VI. THE EPOCH OF SCHISM. CHAPTER |. After the Storm, : CHAPTER 1 Counting the Losses, Hee CHAPTER IIL ‘The Atwood Grand Lodge, 7 CHAPTER IV. ‘The Union Negotiations, : CHAPTER V. ‘Teipler Hall, Ete CHAPTER VI . Useful Legislation, eae CHAPTER VII. ‘The Colored Question—The Baltimore Convention—The Representative System, CHAPTER vi, Inception of the Hall and Asylum, 7 CHAPTER 1X, ‘The Schism of 1849, ‘| CHAPTER X. ‘The Philips Grand Lodge, CHAPTER XI. Bufleting the Storm, 319 36 33 34 ate 389 364 x9 ats 307 “ “7 ws 42TABLE OF CONTENTS. CHAPTER XIL Chancellor Walworth, Peete CHAPTER XII Confusion in the Craft, a eeEEeeaeeat CHAPTER XIV. Grand Masters Evans and Lewis, 2 CHAPTER XV. ‘The Dawn of Peace, ete : CHAPTER XVI Useful Legislation—Blisha Kent Kane—Charty and Sectariaism, CHAPTER XVI. ‘The General Grand Lodge Movement—Dr. Salem Town—Grand Secretary Austin, CHAPTER XVILL ‘The Meeting of 1860—A Review, BOOK VII, THE BUILDING OF THE TEMPLE. CHAPTER I. ‘The Civil War, CHAPTER 11, Crane, Paige and Holmes, : i CHAPTER 111, ‘A Succession of Wise Leaders, CHAPTER IV. Minor Matters at Home and Abroad, CHAPTER V. Looking Toward the Hall, CHAPTER Vi. The Comestone, : CHAPTER VIL Financial Worriments, CHAPTER VItL ‘The Detization of the Temple, CHAPTER IX, Altermathof the Dedication, Hee BOOK VIII. STRUGGLING WITH DEBT. CHAPTER 1. Closing Year of a Masonie Century, 4a “8 497 468 a 486 on sor 510 520 37 333 37 40 3st 589vw TABLE OF CONTENTS, CHAPTER I Some Notable Leaders, CHAPTER IIL ‘The Coronation of Robert Mortis, Eee CHAPTER IV. Some Minor Details—The German Lodges, CHAPTER V. Foreign Relations—The Library—Some Notable Deaths, CHAPTER VI. ‘The Hall and Asylum Fund, a CHAPTER VII, Frank R. Lawrence, CHAPTER Vill ‘The Campaign Opened, . CHAPTER 1X. ‘The Vietorious End—The Jubilee ste CHAPTER X. Another Fair—Site for the Asylum, CHAPTER Xt Some Features of Lawrence's Administration, CHAPTER XU ‘The Close of Lawrence's Grand Mastership, CHAPTER XI, ‘The Memory of Robert Burs, BOOK IX. CURRENT HISTORY. CHAPTER | Cornerstone of the Asylum, ‘ CHAPTER 11 ‘The Dedication of the Asylum, : CHAPTER 111, Grand Master Burnhac, : CHAPTER IV, Grand Master Hodge, CHAPTER V. A Year's Changes and Business, 579 sts 389 0s 599 67 617 633 638 6st 667 om 680TABLE OF CONTENTS. CHAPTER VI. Grand Master John Stewart, CHAPTER VI ‘The Albany Temple—The Herkimer Monument—Notable Memories, CHAPTER VIII. Some 1897 Statistics, CHAPTER IX. ‘The 1896 Constitution, BOOK X. THE HOLY ROYAL ARCH. CHAPTER 1 Historical Introduction, CHAPTER 11, The Grand Chapter, : CHAPTER IIL Barly Struggles—Mark Lodges, CHAPTER IV. An Era of Success, CHAPTER V. ‘The Morgan Storm, . CHAPTER VI. ‘Twenty-one Years! Upbuilding, CHAPTER VIL Council of High Priests—The Color Question, CHAPTER VIIL ‘A Review of Thirty Years, BOOK XI. CRYPTIC MASONRY. (CHAPTER I. Royal and Select Masters, BOOK XII. CHIVALRIC MASONRY. CHAPTER 1 Chivatic Masonry, 69 ret 704 m me m3 "7 136 762 169 a 19 79TABLE OF CONTENTS. BOOK XII THE RITE OF MEMPHIS. CHAPTER I. ‘The Rite of Memphis, BOOK XIV. THE ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED SCOTTISH RITE. CHAPTER | ‘The Ineffable Lodge—Early Troubles, CHAPTER 11 The Northern Jurisdiction, CHAPTER 11 ‘The Union—Some Departed Leaders, ory 858ILLUSTRATIONS. John Stewart—Frontispiece. Freemason’ Arms, * Moder,” Hugh Gaine, House ofthe Fist Dutch Governor Sie William Johnson, Fort Niagara, Johnson Hall, Benedict Arnold, Freemasons’ Arms, “ Ancients,” Major Joba Young, Rev. William Walter, D.D., St. Paul's Chapel, New York, about 1800, Robert R. Livingston, Cadwallader Colden, Cort’s White Conduit House, Broadway, New Vork, Burne's Coffee House, New York, ‘Trinity Chareh, New York, 1791, Rev. Abraham Beach, Old Federal Hall, ages from the Bible of St. John's Lodge, No. George Washington, Albany, Interior of St. Paul's Chapel, New York, showing Washington's Pew, John Jacob Astor, ‘The Morton House, New York, Jacob Morton, Broadway, 1835, showing the Washington and Livingston Houses, ‘Tammany Hall, New York, now the "Sun" Office, Gen. Jacob Morton, DeWitt Clinton, Old Jersey" Prison Shi Broadway, New York, showing City Hotel (1830). Washington Hall, 1828, Monigonery’s Tomb, St. Paul's Chapel, Daniel D. Tompkins, * o e “6 6 6 6 8s %° 107 ns 7 14 6 6 cal 186 187 190 194 207 232 245 28 a0x ILLUSTRATIONS. Joseph Brant, the Mohawk Chief, ‘Memorial of John Wells, in St. Paul's Chapel, New York, Landing of Gen, Lafayette at Castle Garden, 1824, Lafayette in 1824, Masonic Hal, Broadway, N.V., 1830, Stephen Van Rensselaer, William Morgan, Thurlow Weed, William Wit, Morgan Lewis, Gen. Morgan Lewis, Alexander H. Robertson, John Jacob Astor, RH Walworth, Joseph D. Evans, Rev. Dr. Salem Town, De. James M. Austin, John W. Simons, Finlay M. King, Robert D. Holmes, Stephen H. Johason, Joba H. Anthon, Ellwood E. Thorne, Joba J. Crane, : Broadway and Grand Street, New York, in 1850, James Gibson, - “Masonic Hall, New York City James W. Husted, J.J. Couch, Edward L. Judson, Charles Rome, Horace S. Taylor, EM. L. Ehlers, Wm. A- Brodie, German Masonic Home at Tappan, Frank R. Lawrence, Jubilee Medal (Reverse), 268 269 a7 29 285 295 ge 320 6 so 399 +3 458 46 am a oe + 495 595 st 313 58 333 52 su se 36 363 365 569 570 sm 599 G2ILLUSTRATIONS. Jubilee Medal (Obverse), John Boyd, . ‘Charles T. ‘MeClenachan, ‘The Burns Statue, Albany, John W. Vrooman, James Ten Eyck, 7 Masonic Home, Utiea, N. ¥., Frederick A. Burnham, John Hodge, John J. Gorman, John Stewart, ‘Monument to General Herkimer, Thomas S. Webb, Albany, 1826, Ezra S. Barnum, Robert Macoy, John A. Mapes, Bookplate of J. J. J- Gourgas, ~s year Little Falls, N. Y., oy 68 639 os 652 668 os on 685 689 ns 755 764 7 ar 858Book I. EARLY HISTORY.STANDARD HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY STATE OF NEW YORK CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTORY JHE task has been assigned to me to write the history of Free- masonry in the State of New York: to present within the com- pass of single volume a resume of over ‘eentury and s hal. The task, even with its limitations of space, is an agreeable one and fives me an opportunity of showing what T have long contended, that Freemasonry has been an important factor inthe history ofthis great commonvcalth—that its actions have been for the good of the community at large, snd that in building up a solid, united brother- hood on a basis of good order, loyalty, char- iy and religion, on a foundation in which the Holy Bible is the chief cornerstone, the fater- sity has exerted sn influence for good which is second to no other organization of men in the Empire State. My purpose wil ead me to show by the lives ofthe many eminent men who have adorned our ranks that the prin- ‘ples of our order, the teachings of our lodge rooms carried into their daly lives and into their other walks of lle, have inspired their ‘endeavor, directed. their ambition, governed their work and that a good Mason must necessarily be a loyal citizen, a peaceful sub- ject and 2 man of exemplary conduct in all the walks and relations of life ‘The story to be told is not one of steady progress or unbroken harmony. It is inter rupted by jealousy, by persecution, by malig- sity, by being made the vietim of unserups- Tout politicians, men who—in the old times as in the new-——place party above country. But even in the darkest hours there will be found to run a degree of constancy to con- vietions and principles which would have been utterly awanting had not the order been based on truth and justice. Tt was once, ap- parently, utterly cast down, broken ike reed in the eyes of its thoughtless and un- Serupulous enemies, but out ofall the fre of malignty and persecution it emerged. with principles unscathed, and gathered renewed ftrength with amazing rapidity until to-day is to0 strong, too poserlul, too prosperous 9 be again the subject of wanton attack or be football for politicians. Te writing the history of Freemasonry in America the historian fas nose of the dif: culties to encounter which beset one who e5-2 HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY IN NEW’ YORK. says the story of the order in older countries He hat nothing to do with such abstruse and disquieting matters as pertain to the question fof the antiquity of the faterity, ts origi, its descent, of its genealogical tre from the time of King Solomon's Temple, He does not require to deal withthe Rite of Misraim, nor the Scots Philosophie ste, nor enter into the ‘question of the authenticity of the old Steet ‘Observance order, oF expose the illegality of the new Rosicrucians or contemplate the im- portance, to Masonry, of the Quatuor Coro- rath, The American historian finds many dif ficult and disturbing questions to take up and diseuss, but none that can be held to approach in importance any ofthe above, around which such an incessant warfare has been waged for ‘over a century and a hall, nd in conection with which so much valuable time has been selessly spent, to say nothing of the amount of paper and ink wasted. This warlare, too, ‘was carried on with the most determined en- ‘ergy, withthe most savage attacks by the = spective champions not only upon one another's historical capability and knowledge. but spon private el and purposes. The wr inally a Scotch Freemason, fn idea—an idea still entertained by many from various causes—that Freemasonry was Scotch in its history and characteristics, with Kilwinning as is starting point. He eame to ‘his conclusion after a course of reading of the now obsolete "Laurie™ history and. of many, many works written in connection with the old dispute between the "Moderns” and the “Ancients,” wherein he saw that the same characteristics came to the front that distia~ guished all the petty ecclesiastical squabbles that mark the record of church history in Scotland, There was the same assumption of tach side being right and the other side being tvrong, the same closeness of reazoning, the fame difaseness of argument, the same dogged disregard of logic, the same decisive assurance that whoever differed from the views held by any particular writer or speaker ‘must be animated by personal or lterior views of the basest oF most time-serving de- scription and so not only have his public char~ acter assailed but be held up to detetation as unworthy of respect, to put it milly, in any of the walks of life. People say, with truth, that theee is not much of the divine sprit of love ina Scotch ecclesiastical squabble. But is there any evidence of Masonic charity in the following extract. from Leon Hyneman's ‘Freemasonry in England:" " ¢ * * a gross deception as well 25 @ moral and legal trong. Such conduct ie unjustifable under any circumstances, especially by a minister of the Gospel. “The ends justify the means’ is an axiom of low politicians, and has often been Used a8 an argument to justify the most hein- fous atrocities and acts of oppression and de- ‘eit in the mame of the lowly Jesus, by the Clerical profession called to preach Hl pure ‘gospel of peace and good-will” Inthe same ‘volume a dozen of two similar extracts might bbe made, all bearing on 2 dispute which ma sons in the present day think very lightly of, litle and really unimportant details inthe old and now happily almost forgotten contention ‘between the " Moderns” and the “Ancients juat_ae the Scoteh-Kilwinning theory of the origin of modern Masonry has long since been abandoned ‘Only what might be called the echoes of the once all-embracing Dermott-Anderson ispate—as it may be ealed—reached Amer ca and although “Ancients” and “Moderns” Aourished here in the shape of lodges holding warrants from the respective Grand Lodges, wwe nowhere find such traces of bitterness ‘existing between them as disfigures the pages fof the story of the fraternity in. England, ‘The lodges, however established, simply went ‘on in their own way in the big country, and about the only outcome of the diference was the refusal to hold Masonic intercourse with cach other. But even this barie, as we will see further on, by a letter from a digntary ofHISTORY OF FREEMASONRY IN NEW YORK. a the “Ancients” in New York, was not attended by the biter spirit which prevailed in Eng- land, and when the time came, years before the union was eflected inthe later country, it willbe scen thatthe barrier was lightly thrown flown. ‘The victorious sword of Brother George Washington proved a8 potent in the healing of Mazonie differences asin the join- ing together of a series of disuited colonies into a galaxy of Free, Sovereign, and United Stats ‘While, however, the historian of Freema- sonry in America generally would have to touch, more of less difusely, according to his temperament,upon the questions of the "Mod femme” and the “Ancients,” and would have to Aiscuss such matters as the priority of the Grand Lodges of Massachusetts and Pennsyl- of George Washington and many other themes which have in the past—and in the present, too,—oeeupied a considerable degree of time, and, it must also bbe confessed, developed in their discussion ‘considerable amount of Masonic ill temper, the historian of the fraternity in the State of New York has litle to. do with early vexed qestions or conundrums, He can accom lish his work to a very great extent with tangible evidences Uefore him inthe shape of documents whose authenticity is unchal- Jenged. Some of the eatlir lodges, itis trac, Ihave disappeared and have left only their ames, standing like tombstones in an old burying place, to show that these names once represented living things; some others of ‘arler lodges which have passed away have let but imperfect records with here and there a blank which speculation and myth have been basy trying to fll up, with the attendant amount of discussion; but as a general rule the record is intelligible and complete, com: Pete enough at all events to enable us to un estand clearly and appreciatively the early struggles of the order, its progress from de- Pendence to independence, its slowly gather- Ing strength, its struggle against political in- trigue and popuiar misunderstanding, and its Internal disputes, until, under the blessings of ‘union and true fraternity, it advanced to the positon in which i stands to-day, one of the recognized potentialities for good in the Em- pire State Within the past quarter of a century a sgeat change has come over the principles of Iistorieal study, bringing about a great im- provement in the methods of historieal wr ing. The historian ofthe present day fhe is to rank as a reputable historian at ail, must ‘examine the facts on which he isto treat eare- fully and critically and base his story on these facts and upon them alone. Mere tradition is not acceptable as an integral factor, although contemporary tration is always weleome as {aside light. But the time has gone when his tory based upon theory, and. upon. theory alone, will be taken seriously, or when the words “itis said” “it i believed." or "some ‘one has sd," or lke indefinite phrases will be deemed satistactory pexs from which some pet theory may hang ot by which some pre- ‘concerted argument may be squared. We ‘must go down to the substructure and build ‘our historical tory from there, and must dem- fonetrate the soundness of each stone as we pas it by on our way to the superstructure Tn Masonic historieal writing the mere fact that one man said a certain thing or upheld a certain theory can no longer be accepted as all sufficient or conclusive tpon the question at issue. We must get atthe facts, if there bbe any, that inspired such a statement or in- duced such a theory, nd must lay these facts honesty and fully before the reader, no mat ter what deduction we may ourselves make from them, We must apply modern historical methods to Masonic history. That has not bbeen done in the past. Every Masonic histori- cal writer of whose writings I have been a st- dent started with some preconceived theory, land wrote co thatthe rough athler of history ‘might become the perfect ashler of his theory. and to this due much ofthe contempt which‘ HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY IN NEW YORK. students of history feo! forall Mason Iitera- ture, Even to the present day this sort of writing Binds its eld in the lit craft, although it has long been all other quarters. In an official or semi ‘official magazine bearing date March, 1897, in an article on the "Grand Scottish Knight of St, Andrew,” Ind the following in the very forctront the key ae it were to several pages which follow A miaculour tradition, something like that eon ected withthe aru of Constantine, balls he neem eos of St_Andrey. Hngus who inthe ith centary reigned over the Pres in Scotland ‘Waid te ave scen na sso om the ight bere $ ate, the Aponte St Andrew. who promived im the wctory abd for an aaured tke ther th ad hm sha there sbould appear over the Pe {ah host in the srs fasion cove 8 be Rad Suteed upon. Hlangus anakened, Toa the ty, saw the promised costar did thanks tothe Aponte for thr victory. aod making thee ferings eth humble devotion, vowed tat from thenclorth well they ol he Sco and Hung, the Pits the igh bore the bate Was foogh betwint them and Athcstane, King of E land as they weve on tei nes 38 prayer Now in all this there i nota word of trth for rather there isnot a word init that can be Distorially proved, and the leading modern historias of Seodand, most of them, like Sir ‘Walter Scot, members of the Masonic rater nity, have long ago abandoned Hungus and ‘Achaive a8 ever having had any existence ot Side of the brains of the early monkish his- torians, The Bishop of Ross might be ac- cepted, with caution, as an authority” upon some points in the life of his sovereign, the hapless Mars, Queen of Scots, ut upon noth- ing elte, Why should Masonic writers stil seek seriously to present as truth, and argue therelzom. legends long exploded and proved to be false, and demonstrated to be childish leven by the dictates of common sense? approach the task before me without any preconceived theories or purposes and with the simple detre to make’ no statements not sssceptible of proof and to enter into no arg- ment that will not at least be found to be based on actual facts. T have no need, lke the present illstriows historian of Masonry in Scotland, to twist and subyert actual history ro a8 to give undue dignity to the Lodge in which T'am honored by being a member, nor. Tike the erudite Gould, have I any occasion t0 make every fact aapt itself to show that the Grand Lodge to which T own allegiance is the oldest organization of the kind in the ‘world, I propose to write history as I find it, to examine as far at possible all available documents, to set down matight in malice, #0 indulge in no theories, and in short, to place before the fraternity in the State of New York ‘contrition to history that will be at once feaulable ad reliable, and which will deal hon- sty and impartially with men and measures and events. HISTORY OF FREBMASONRY IN NEW YORK. of a Lodge warranted by the Grand Lodge of, England in 1720. Thieis recorded only a2 tradition, for no evidence of the existence of this warrant is on record in the archives of the Grand Body in London, and itis stated in the Boston proceedings that the Lodge, if itever existed, must have been short-lived, as the force of puritanie “opposition was set strongly against such organizations, so Mas- fachusetts rests content with claiming her ‘arliest Masonic date at 1733 and with award ing to St. John's Lodge, Boston (No. 126 inthe old. English Grand Lodge), the proud title of “The Mother Lodge of | America.” Mr. R. Freke Gould, in his “History of Free- masonry," speaks of the possible existence of 4 Lodge at Portsmouth, NH, "at even an fatier period than the [English] Grand Lodge era of 1716-17," and there seems par- ticularly strong grounds for believing. that such a Lodge really did exis. Tn the Pennsylvania Gazette of Dec. 38, 1730, i a paragraph reading. as foliows: “As there are several Lodges of Freemasons ‘erected in this province and people have been rich amused in conjectures concerning them, ‘we think the following account of Freema- sonry from London will not be unacceptable to our readers.” This, the editor of that paper, the renowned Benjamin Franklin, sim- ply meant Pennsylvania, would indicate that there were a number of Lodges flourishing there tthe time he wrote, bat then the word “province” may have been used Masonially, and so served to cover a wide stretch of ter tory, Daniel Coxe was appointed "Provin- cial” Grand Master of New York, New Jer sey and Pennsylvania. However, it long ‘made one of the links in the Pennsylvania ‘chain of evidence in support of her claim to priority over Massachusetts. Gould seems to think that the evidence prodaced showed that Masonry existed in Pennsylvania from fa very early period in the history of the Colonies, nd MeClenachan fatty admits the claim made for the priority of the Keystone ‘State. But then, the last-named historian was 4 native of Pennsylvania and therefore more for less an interested party to the contention, and Massachusetts not only asserts her claim to be jst and well founded, but presents an ar- ray of evidence which i really formidable. We hhave no need to express just here an opinion fone way or another, the student of Masonic Ihstory in the State of New York has no im- mediate interest in the discussion and we lady leave it, meanwhile, tothe care of the partisans on cither side ‘Such, at all event, is fair resume of the condition of Masonry in the colonies in 1730, from a historical point of view. They were all iil Lodges, that is they were formed and sustained by civilians, a the fist military war- rant was not issued until 1732, and it seems 2 pity that so much ‘information concerning them should be lost. We say this apart alto: iether from any interest in the question of priority of one jurisdiction over another oF of the antiquity of any particular Lodge. We ‘would have liked to have known exactly what manner of men these early American brethren were, what stations they held in ordinary ie, hhow they performed their Masonic “work” and other points reerring to the craft iteelf rather that its chronological detail. But these early workers have leit no sign. They were all, in 1730, subordinate to the Grand Lodge of England, but as the Lodge at Port- ‘mouth in its petition of 1736 claimed to pos- sess a manuscript copy of the “old charges” as well as that issued by Anderson in connec- tion with the English Grand Lodge, that Lodge, ft had any riteal, and some of the others, may not have been very particular to rmake their work conform to the standard set up by the “father of Masonie History” and his learned ally, Dr. Desagiers Under the circumstances which present themselves, therefore, we can only form an idea of the condition and. principles of the catliest American Lodges by considering the customs of the Lodges in Great Britain aboutHISTORY OF FREEMASONRY IN NEW YORK. 7 the same period. Their groundwork and con- stitution were identical, they were made up to a greater or less degree of men who were inti ated into the fraternity inthe motherland, and it is sae to assume tha their methods in gen- feral were the same, although on account of the distance of the central authority, the weakness of its hold even upon its nearest Subordinate lodges, and other matters not necessary here to specify, we may take it for franted that each American Lodge presented changes and permitted informalities which would not have been at all satisfactory to An- derson and his contreres. ‘At the same time we have no tradition ‘even of such grave infractions of all Masonic Principle and practice as in the case of the Ancient Kilwinning Lodge which permitted its members to make Masons anywhere and at sight and found mo fault with such proceed- ings so long as the requisite money contribs- tion was received in the treasury of the Lodge ‘The question of making Masons at sigh, soit vetally was, while conceded very generally tobe one of the landmarks surrounding the ‘fice ofa Grand Master, has been very spar- ingly exercised by. these functionaries, and more by way of perpetuating the existence of the prerogative than front any other cause But the doctrine even in the case of Grand Masters is not universally received as good Masonic law, and certainly sucha privilege as that assumed by the old members of Kilwia- ing was unwarranted by law, custom or com= son sense. So far as we can ee, the Amer- ican Lodges kept feirly well within the boun- dares of Masonic usage and observed the “landmarks” as they understood them with tigi Bdelity. "We may be sure of thi, for the Aeparture would have called forth some re- ‘monstrance loud enough to have survived to the present day. The very absence of such, Peits the assumption that these Lodges ‘rete all formed just and regular, at least 3c cording to thei ight. That the ritual was “worked” in a loose {ashion, without any reverence, that isto say, for literal rendering is evident. The absence fr scarcity of printed books, the want of au- thorized insteuctos, the lack of appreciation for what is now called “standard” work, is very evident from all the information at hand So long as the brethren preserved the forms and ceremonies, the words and grips, they were content, Even in England outside of @ few, a very few ofcials, such as Anderson and Desaguliers there were but a handful who had fa perlect command ofthe ritual. The Amer- ican brethren of Scottish, English or Irish Ma- sonic birth probably had not very much ex- perience in their own mother Lodges, and While they Drought across the sca a general dea, more of less complete, of the leading features ofthe various degrees, in details they were let pretty much tothe dictates of mem- ‘ory, of imagination, oftheir personal sense of the Stness of things and perhaps ofall three. While we believe that the great Masonic lead- ers ofthe period and the few Masonic students were fully imbued with a sense of the high deals of the faterity we must confess that, to far at our reading goes, the great bulk of the brethren thought more of its temporal blessings than of its spiritual teachings. The goodlellowship of Masonry rather than its Sublimer qualities seems to have animated even the London Lodges and we may be eer- tain that the spirit of good-fllowship was ‘more rampant in the colonies than in the motherland. In writing of Desaguliers, one ‘of the founders of modern Freemasonry and the compiler in whole or in pat ofits earliest recognized ritual, the Rev. Dr. George Oliver says: "He was a grave man in private bie al- ‘most approaching to austerity, but he could relax in the private recesses of a tiled Lodge land in company” with brothers and fellows ‘where the ties of social intercourse are not particularly stringent. * + + In the Lodge he wae jocose and frechearted, sang his song, and had no objection to his share ofthe bottle, although one of the most learned and distin° HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY IN NEW YORK. of a Lodge warranted by the Grand Lodge of England in 1720. This is recorded only tradition, for no evidence of the existence of this warrant is on record in the archiver of the Grand Body in London, and itis stated in the Boston proceedings that the Lodge, if it ever existed, must have been short-lived a8 the force of puritanie opposition was set strongly against such organizations, so Mas- fachosette reste content with claiming b catiest Masonic date as 1733 and with award- to St. John's Lodge, Boston (No. 126 in the old English Grand Lodge), the proud title of “The Mother Lodge of America.” (Mr. R. Freke Gould, in his "History of Free- masonry," speaks ofthe possible existence of 2 Lodge at Portsmouth, N. H., “at even an farler period than the [English] Grand Lodge era of 1716-17," and there seems ps ticularly strong. grounds for believing that stich a Lodge rally did ex In the Pennsylvania Gazette of Dec. 38, 1730, is a parageaph reading as follows: “As there are several Lodges of Freemasons erected in this province and people have been ‘much amused in conjectures concerning them, ‘we think the following account of Freema. sonry from London will not be unacceptable to our readers.” This, if the editor of that pape, the renowned Benjamin Franklin, sim- ply meant Pennsylvania, would indiate that there were a number of Lodges flourishing there at the time he wrote, but then the word “province” may have been used Masonially, and t0 served to cover a wide stretch of tere! tory, as Daniel Coxe was appointed “Provin al” Grand Master of New York, New Jer- sey and Pennsylvania. However, t long made one of the links in the Pennsylvania chain_of evidence in support of her claim to priority over Massachusetts. Gould seems to think that the evidence produced showed that Masonry existed in Pennsylvania from a very early period in the history of the ‘colonies, and MeClenachan fairly admits the claim made for the priority of the Keystone State, But then, the lat-named historian was 4 native of Pennsylvania and therefore more (or less an interested party to the contention, and Massachusetts not only asserts her claim to be just and well founded, but presents ana say of evidence which is realy formidable. We hhave no need to express just here an opinion fone way oF another, the student of Masonic history in the State of New York has no im- mediate interest in the discussion and we alaly lave it, meanwhile, to the eare of the partisans on either side. Such, at all evens, isa fae resume of the condition of Masonry in the colonies in 1730, from a historical point of view. They were all civil Lodges, that is they were formed and sustained by civilians, as the frst military war- ‘ant was not issued tntil 1732, and it seems @ pity that so_much information concerning them should be lost. We say this apart alto- iether from any interest in the question of Priority of one jurisdiction over another or ofthe antiquity of any particular Lodge. We ‘would have liked to have known exactly what ‘manner of men these early American brethren were, what stations they held in ordinary life, hhow they performed their Masonic “work” land other points relerring to the craft itself rather than its. chronological details. But these early workers have left no sign. They were all, a'1730, subordinate to the Grand Lodge of England, but as the Lodge at Ports- ‘mouth in its petition of 1736 claimed to pos: Sess a manuscript copy of the “old charges" as well as that issued by Anderson in connec tion with the English Grand Lodge, that Lodge, if it had any ritual, and some of the others, may not have been very particular to ‘make their work conform to the standard set ‘up by the “father of Masonic History” and his learned ally, De. Desagulirs ‘Under the circumstances which present themselves, therefore, we ean only form an idea of the condition and principles of the ‘earliest American Lodges by considering the ‘customs of the Lodges in Great Britain aboutHISTORY OF FREEMASONRY IN NEW YORK. 1 the same period. Their groundwork and con: tution were identical, they were made up t0 ‘a greater or less degree of men who were inti ated into the fraternity inthe motherland, and itis safe to assume that their methods in gen- feral were the same, although on account of the distance of the central authority, the weakness of its hold even upon its nearest subordinate lodges, and other matters not necessary here to specify, we may take it for granted that each American Lodge presented changes and permitted informalities which would not have been at all satisfactory to An- derson and his conieres. “At the same time we have no tradition ‘even of such grave infractions of all Masonic principle and practice as in the ease of the ‘Ancient Kilwinning Lodge which permitted its members to make Masons anywhere and st sight and found no fault with such proceed- ings so long as the requisite money contrbu- tion was received inthe treasury ofthe Lodge ‘The question of making Masons at sight 0 it virtually was, while conceded very generally to be one of the landmarks surrounding the office of a Grand Master, has been very spat- ingly exercised by these functionaries, and more by way of perpetuating the existence of the prerogative than from any other cause But the doctrine even in the case of Grand Masters is not universally received as good Masonic law, and certainly such a privilege as ‘that assumed by the old members of Kilwine ning was unwarranted by law, custom or com- ‘mon sense. So far a5 we can see, the Amer~ ‘ean Lodges kept fairy well within the boun- dhies of Masonic usage and observed the “undmarks” as they understood them with tip fidelity. We may be sure ofthis for the ‘deyarture would have called forth some re- ‘monstrance loud enough to have survived to the present day. The very absence of such, Dermite the assumption that these Lodges wee all formed just and regula, at last ac- ‘coring to their lights. That the ritual was “worked” in a loose fashion, without any reverence, tha is to say, for literal rendering is evident. The absence fr scarcity of printed books, the want of au- thorized instructors, the lack of appreciation fe wht i Sow ied Tada vor, st from all the information at hand. So long as the bretten preserved the forms and ceremonies, the words and grips, they were content. Even in England outside of a few, a very few officials, such as Anderson and Desaguliers, there were but handful who had a perfect command ofthe ritual. The Amer- jean brethren of Scotish, English or Irish Ma- sonic bith probably had not very much ex- perience in their own mather Lodges, and ‘while they brought across the sea 4 general dea, more or less complete, of the leading features of the various degree, in detals they were let pretty much tothe dictates of mem- ory, of imagination, oftheir personal sense of the fitness of things and perhaps ofall three. While we believe that the great Masonic lead- ‘ers the period and the few Masonic students were fully imbued with a sense of the high ideals of the faterity we must confess that, to far as our reading goes, the great bulk of the brethren thowght more of its temporal blessings than of its spiritual teachings. The goot-lellowship of Masonry rather than its sublimer qualities seems to have animated even the London Lodges and we may be cet- tain that the spirit of good-ellowship was more rampant in the colonies than in the motherland. In writing of Desaguliers, one ‘of the founders of modern Freemasonry and the compiler in whole oF in part of its east recognized ritual, the Rev. Dr. George Olver says: "He was a grave man in private lie, alk ‘most approaching to austerity, but he could felax in the private recesses of a tiled Lodge And in company with brothers and fellows Where the ties of social intercourse are not particularly stringent. * * * Ia the Lodge hhe was jocote and freehearted, sang his song, And had no objection to his share of the bottle, Although one of the most learned and distCHAPTER I. ‘THE COXE, RIGGS AND GOELET DEPUTATIONS. IN 1730 the Grand Lodge of Eng- land issued a. deputation ap- pointing Daniel Coxe, of Tren ton, Provincial Grand Master fof New York, New Jersey and Penns vania. As the document is interesting, not nly on account of its importance in carly ‘American Masonie history, but on account of its being the standard sround which many a Masonic tradition has been woven and many ‘4 Masonic battle fought itis here reproduced jn fl Sie Sobecribcur NORFOLK, 6. M. “Tolland every, our Bight Worship, Worship {al and loving brethren now residing, or who may hereater reside in the Povines of New Yor, New Jerucy and Penatvana, Hie Grace, Thomas, Dake ‘1 Norilt, Fart Marshal and Hereditary Marshal 21 England, Eat of Arundel, Serty, Norfolk and orwien, Baron Mowbray, Howard Seagrave, Bowie of Gower, Fitcas, Waren, Clan, OF seeders, Maluavere, Genytock,Furival Verdon, Lovclot,Strango of Blackmere and. Howard of Caste Rising, ater the Princes ofthe Royal Blood fest Dake, Earl, and Baron of England, Chel of the Free and Acceped Matons of Eng ‘Wheres application hasbeen made unto us by our Re Wortipil ad wellbeloved Brother, Das I cox, of New Jersey, Een ad by several over retire, Fre and Accepted Mason, reding 3 ‘owt to reside inthe snd Province af Now York, New Jersey and. Pesiania tht’ we should be pleased to nominate and appoint 2 Provincial Grand ‘we have nominated, ordained, consittel and 2p ‘uinted, and do by theee Presents, nominate, o {hin consitte and appoint our Re Worst Brother the ssid’ Daiel'Cox, Provinial Grand DMawer‘of the said Provinces New York, New in with fal Power and Author: sppoint his Dep. Crand Master Wardens, forthe pace of to years fom St Jobs the Bapist. now next ensuing ‘doherty ordain thatthe Dretiven who do now Fe Side, or may heer reside nal or any of the sid Provinces hal and they are heteby empomered cre othr year onthe Kean of St. Joi the B have the power of somiesting and appointing hit ‘Dep Grand Master and Grand Wardens. And we do hereby empower cur said Provincial Grand Mas tee, and the Grand Maser, Deputy Grand Master in'our pace and stead to conta the Brethren {yee and Accepted Masons) ow teding. of ‘rho shal heer reside im those parts ito one ‘rote regular Lodge of Lodges as he shal ie 1 ad a tense ocean thal quire He he {aid Danse! Cox andthe Provincial Grand Mester, Deputy Grand Master and Grand Wardens forthe time beg, taking special eare tha alld every Imember af any Lodge or Lodges so to be con ne, have or shall be made regular Mason, ‘hat they do cause al and every the repua tions contained inthe printed. Book of Const Hons, except so fata they have been altered by the Grand: Lodge a thle qarely meetings. (0 ‘be kepe and observed, and alan al sec oer ale Teetacios at sal fom tine to tie be tans ited to him or them by us. oF Nuh? Backer Esqe, our Deputy Grand Master oF the Grand Master or his Dopaty forthe time bing and hat the sl Daniel Con, our Provineal Grand Maser Master fr the me being, oF bi Deputy, do tendHISTORY OF FRERMASONRY IN NEW YORK, n to us or oar Deputy Grand Master, and 10 the Grand Maver of England or his Deputy fr the tise beings analy an acount In writing ofthe umber of Lodges o consuted, wth the ames together wih such otber matters snd hinge at he for they shall think ft to be commancated lor the Benet ofthe Craft And ls we il that our sad Provincial Grand Slavin andthe Maser forthe time being or hs Deputy, do annan- Iy ease the brethren to keep the fest of St John the Eeangelist and die together on that da. oF (Gn cae any acdent should happen fo preven their Sing together on that day) on anyother day near tise time az the Provincial Grand Marte forthe time being shal judge most ft a8 done hee and St that tine moe prtalry aed at all Quarely Communications, he d recommend General Chae ‘The original of this document is in the archives ofthe Grand Lodge of England. In ‘tthe name of the appointee is spelled without the nal "e" which he afected and which we wil use on the principle that a man isthe best, inige of the spelling of his own name Several things are made clear to us by this warant Ta the frst place it makes it evident that there were Free and Accepted Masons ‘in the territory covered by the document in 1730; that they were numerous enough to give rise to the hope of the establishment of fone oF more Lodges, and that no regula ‘warranted Lodge then existed in North Amer fea so far as records of the English Grand Lodge had knowledge. It also. shows the keen desire for regularity in Masonie matters and the division of the Masonie year into two distinct parts in which the officers were to be selected on the day of St. John the Baptist, June 24, and the brethren to feast together on the day of St. John the Evangelist, December 27, Tt specified that regular annual returns, rot only of the names of Lodges, but of the ‘names of the individeal brethren were to be ‘made tothe Grand Lodge. But what will ap- peal to brethren in these passing days most Significantly was the prominence given 0 charity. Tt virtually closes the instructions sgiven in the warrant, the arch as it were ofthe ‘whole fabric of the constitution, the lst, yet the greatest and grandest ofthe objets to be brought about by the iessance of the docs: esdes being prominent in his time in Ms sonic circles, Daniel Coxe was most timable citizen, and appears to have been held in general esteem, not only in London but by hig fellow colonists in New Jersey and Penn- sylvania, New York does not seem to have ‘been at any time his home. We find that he lived for several years at Bristol, then a pleas- ant village, on the Delaware, and some 20 miles from Philadelphia. Then he moved across the river to Burlington, N. J. (where is remains Bally were iaterred), and latterly st Trenton, N. J, the last change being neces- sary by his oficial position ‘From a sketch ofthe career of thie worthy, written by the late Clifford P. MeCalla of Philadelphia, and some details fornished in Gould's ‘History of Freemasonry and other sources the following data have been gathered. Daniel Coxe was born at London i 1673 and was the son of a noted physician of the same name who had been medical attendant tothe1” HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY IN NEW YORK. ‘Queen of Chatles I. and to other ladies of the reigning family. Dr. Coxe, who aquired ‘much wealth, became possessed of large tracts (of landin West Jersey and elsewhere in Amer- fea, and from 1687 to 1699 was Governor of that province. When he crossed the Atlantic his son accompanied him and seems to have smade his permanent home here. In 1703 young Coxe was appointed Colonel of the military forces in New Jersey. and in 1705 hhe became a member of the Provincial Coun- ci, At that time he appears to have been ‘vite 8 sport, 30 much so that a litle Quak- ferese desribes him in a letter in 1707 a8 “a fine, launting gentleman, said to be worth 2 good deal of money.” The occasion which {alld forth this comment was the Colonel’ marriage. He had paid court to Sarah Eek- ley, the daughter of a Quaker merchant in Philadelphia, and one of the stictest of that sect. The lady’ father refuted, it would seem, to give his consent, and the result was an clopement, the young couple being married at Ininight in a clump of woods, the ofciating clergyman being the Chaplain of Lord Corn- bury, then Governor of New York and New Jersey, possibly the most dstepatable of all the fora ofcias in that section of the Col- conics, In spite of what might be called its Clandestine beginning the marriage thus sol- femnized “between two and three in the morn- ing, om the Jersey side, tnder a tee, by Bee- Tight” seems to have been & happy one, and alter life's battle was over the husband was Inid by the side of the wife in the chancel of St. Mary's Church, Burlington, where she had Iain awaiting him for fourteen years. On her marriage she renounced Quakerism, at least wwe infer so from a remark in the letter of the ‘young lady already quoted in which she said, “They have since proselytedher—and decked ther in fines” In 1716 Col, Coxe was again a member of the: New Jersey Assembly and its Speaker [A year ltr he returned to England and made fa prolonged stay. His purpose seems to have been the prosecution of a claim which he in- Iherited from his father to the owmership of @ very considerable section of the then existing colonies and a great deal of what was then n= known territory. In support of this claim he issued in 1722 a work entitled "A Description of the English Province of Carolana." The work, which is now rare, proved of Hite prac- tical use, frit did not seem to hep his eause to any extent, but itis notable in American literature fom the fct that init appeared, for the Bist ime in type suggestion and plan for the tnion ofall the Colones, Te was during the course ofthis sojourn in London that Coxe became acquainted with Freemasonry, and we find his name enrolled ‘on the list of members of Lodge No. 8, whieh met at “the Devil Tavern,” within Temple Tar, and which was constituted 1722. Prob- ably this was his mother Lodge, and as his name stood eighteenth on the rel ina total of 28, we may safely credit him with membership bout 1726, Tia 1728 Col, Coxe was back in the Colonies, for on April 28 he wrote to some of his En- ssh friends from Trenton. Soon alter he rust have returned to London, for ii ai 9 assume that it was at his personal request and 236 a result of his own application that the deputation already. printed, appointing. him Provincial Grand Master, was issued His ‘oven testimony isto the effect that the docs tment wae delivered to him in person. That he did not return to the Colonies at once is evident from the fact that on Jan. 29, 1731, the attended a meeting of the Grand Lodge of England. when he responded to a toast in his honor as “Provincial Grand Master of North America" ‘The news of his -appointment ‘reached the Colonies before him, for there are several evidences of his having lingered in London during at least the early spring of 1731, but probably the summer of that year sw him safely ensconsed in his New Jersey Fhome, In 1734 he was appointed an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of New JerseyHISTORY OF FREEMASONRY IN NEW YORK. 18 land held that ofce until his death April 25, 1739. ‘As tothe use which Col, Coxe made of his patent ltl, if anything, is definitely known. ‘On the surface in fact there is actually noth- ing to place on record beyond dispute, yet it is impossible to think (although Gould throws ‘out a hint to that effet) that one evidently s0 zealous in the craft, so appreciative ashe must Ihave been of the honor conferred in his ap- pointment—an honor that hat kept his mem ‘ory fresh and green to this day—should have tought so lightly of the matter on his return to America af 10 leave the document lying dormant in his pocket or desk. Tt is to be regreted that the destruction of hie family residence by fire, in 1777. duting the Revo Intionary war, and when it was the ome of his grandson, doubtless involved the loss of all his personal papers, letters and Masonic manuscripts or documents, the very material ‘hich the Matonic historian would have leaned in the hope of finding at least some fins of historic teuth, and from which we ‘might have had some definite information re- garding his doings as Provincial Grand Master ‘Under these circumstances we have to gath= r our information at second hand and to ftudy what the indications show rather than what absolute facts might demonstrate, This iba aificulty under which all students of carly Masonic history labor, and while itis never satisfactory it cannot be avoided if we are to Avoid a eeries of hiatses. Even carly oficial faonie records were slovenly kept—when they were kept at all—due possibly to a preju- ‘Soe im early times against puting on paper tue slightest real Masonic information. Any ‘one who has investigated early Lodge min- ‘wes must be sadly aware of the truth ofall this, and it is painfl to say that Grand Lodges ‘ere no better inthis regard than their subor Gates, Fortunately for the historian of the ‘rent days this condition of things has im- broved and Masonie records are now as faith fully and honestly and flly kept as those of any institution in the world Ina leter written Nov. 17, 1754, by Henry Bell, of Derry Township, Lancaster County, Penn. to Dr. Thomas Cadwalader, then an ‘eminent physician of Philadelphia and a mem- ber of St. John’s Lodge in that city. occurs the following passage: “As you well know, Tas one of the originators of the frst Ma- sonic Lodge in Philadelphia. A party of us tused to meet at the Tun Tavern in Water Street, and sometimes opened a Lodge there ‘Once in the fall of 1730 we formed 8 design fof obtaining a charter for a regular Lodge, and made application to the Grand Lodge of England for one, but before receiving it we Ineard that Daniel Coxe of New Jersey had ‘been appointed by the Grand Lodge as Pro- vineial Grand Master of New York, New Jer sey and Pennsylvania, We, thetefore, nade application to him and our request war ranted.” Tin the Pennsylvania Gazette, No, 108, date ‘Dec. 38,1730, is am article on Freemasonry — prestimably written by Benjamin Franklin— fn which this passage, already quoted, occurs: ‘As there are several Lodges of Freemasoas ‘erected in this Province and people have lately been much amused with conjecture concern: ing them, we think the following. account of Freemasonry from London will not be unac- ceptable to our feaders”" Then follows the extract which is without any value in this work, and the point of what has been quoted lies in the fact that there existed. several Lodges in or near Pennsylvania in 1730, In 1884 Me. Cliford P. MeCalla discovered in the room of the Historieal Society of Phila- delphia a mansacript volume, purporting to bbe the Secretary's ledger of St. John’s Lodge and which gives the names of the members ia connection with Snancial transactions Irom Jone 24, 1730, until 1737, showing that it as ‘actualy in existence and a work onthe earlier (ate, In commenting on this question, in an4 HISTORY OF FREBMASONRY IN NEW article published in 1875, W. J. Hughan, of Truro, after quoting the above authorities, presented the following addtional evidence, And from the whole drew an emphatic com clusion. Bro. Cadwalader was a distingised physician ip Phiadeiphia, and’ member of the Provineal Grand Lodge inthe eer 1755 50 the leer ay Sry be taken as an impertan Unk in the chain ol eidence. All these felerences, however, do not feonec ny particular Lodge with the intodve- thom of Freemasonry into Amery though the eter ff Bo, Belt tod cera exten confroatory of the tet that Bro. Coxe did costae oe Lodge, ‘ot morn Pifadelpia as Provincial Grand {er and 30 la nothing’ has transpived ato the i crceping the newspaper extracts of 170, sed the ‘ther documents eren mentioned. We now have ‘he peaare to 24d ite to the sock of ilorma: ‘on Ta Jane ofthis year, we beete the fortente bporche as itlebook fo whieh ira lat of Lodgee Snder the ‘Grand Lodges of Eaglend and Ireland fer A. Dy 73s one year carer than any preserved by the Grand Lodge of England, excepting that of 17, alteady alladedto."We obtained st (rom ‘he important and extensine ira of Bros Spencer, Great Queen Steer London, a glad wee wet Ive if when we dacovered its contents We had never heard of another such copy. Dt singular to Slate, Some boxes have sine then been opened, Trend inthe petence of RW Brow the Honor thie Judge Townshend, LL- D. and PD. GM {nd our good end avd Brother Jnmes H. Nesom ‘I Dublin, and to! soother copy has termed Ups fopy of the London edition of the sxe "Com bation" or 38 “The fst elton, Dubin, has the fllowing for ‘A porket Companion for Free-Maton, cont TE" The History of Masonry. The Charges of « Freemason, ke IIL General Regaltons for the ate of the Tdges te and sbout the City of Dublin IV, The maneer of sonsitating 8 New Lodge ‘cording to the antent sage of Ms V. A Short Charge tobe given to a new ad: ited Brother, york. VIL A collection f the songs of Masons, bith and" pilogues spoken at the ‘Testers in Debi sad Condon for the éatertsinment of Freemason VILL A Lim of the warranted Lodges in Treland Great Bran, France, Spin, Germany East and Wer Indien, Approved of and Recommended by the Grand Lede. ‘Deus nobis Sol and Seton Dublin: Printed by E- Hide, and sold at the Printing Ofice in George's Lane: Jones in Cae tdon Stet; and J- Penne a the Hersues in St Pairk Street, MCCXX AW. (Pie igh pecs). Te is dedered "To the Bstiren apd Fellows of the most anient and Right Worsifal SOCIETY ofthe Free and Accepted MASONS, by you loving Brother tnd tow obotint servant W filam Smith, and conse of prelace, 2 pps and 39 ‘cto, with an emblem rte From tis tine it wl be lost inthe Library of the Masonic Temple, Philadelphia, se we hare fowwarded the precious lite book ior that_pur pesethe Breen ofthe Grd Lodge of Pen {plvania having 2 pela nterst ints presres ‘on and Masonic students in Amerie can ekanae ‘The lst of Lodger commences with thse une the Grand Lodge ofIcand. numbered to 37 and then fllons "A List of the Warranted Late In Gres Beale, France hs." numbered to ep ‘The English Lodges then do not beat thot proper bt spy consective nasbere ser those 6 Tree land 60 that to obtain the covert umber ofthe English Lodges 2+ on the Repser ofthe Grand Lodge, we have to dedact 3p trom the Saree nt. “Thus page 7,116 The Hoop, on Water beet in Pidgin: aris tof Lodges than ha been known ttl of Tn order to tet the age of the Ladge, we must consult a ist of Lodges with the pares consis tion atache, which are absent rom the Dubin "Compasion’> “Inthe London eon ofthe same boo evidently published Iter or Inthe sme yar by "E, Ride. in Blackmore tet, nar Cae Mar ‘et, MDCCXXXY," (etre, p16)" the Novy (G6 Tesh Ea) i nsec withthe ame of te Lodge omited. and so, als in the "Freemason? Companion” for #796 Ththe engraved liste of 17967 a the No, 79HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY IN NEW YORK 6 ts intred Lodge in tite St. Mari’s Lane, London, and so haa the Freemasoay Pocket Com: patton of 7a of date A.D. 173 When we come Serosr an engraved it of 17501735 Sil doubt exp agree withthe Dublin Int of te "fie flowing i taken from am eet “ccoding to shee seniority and com: ation, embers 1 to 126, the lst ated AD, Snag aed we have added the dates of constiaion, toto ar we cam trace the meecerse™ | goth i toy Norio A.D. aya oh 408 London, AD, Ht top Benes! Bo oR He Linc, A Due 8 IN London, A:Dy me 744 Pat Ma London AD SPS 13 Londow BB OR ig London, A. Da aren, 97 HS Bary St Edmonds, A. Dy ea a a 8 116 Philadelphia, pt Pl 1p Maccesbe o & & 18 Bory St Edmonds, A. . aie ip London, A.D, te London Deut 8 Ts the Dabiin “Companion” of 1735, the only Lodge metione, an Americ, ie the one t Pi gh: No. relly 79. nthe London eition ‘ol i7ag no Lodge whatever is reistred for Ameria ‘No.9 formerly credited to Philadelphia, i blank, Th ie editon of 138 (Camp) no Americas ‘Nov 1s6re sto" No. a6 So, ls, inthe engraved ‘yearn more later conaitution, Taso wih the Lodge at Boston, opened i173. which tok the pouiton formerly octaped by 4 Lodge of 1734 204 Tollowed by Lovger of th ‘vith oters ter similar “The Lodge at Phisdelphia was doubles wate ranted aswell as conitied inthe later part of "rari? of in ether words, Neatly thre years lore any oie Lodge bs been proved to be ia histnee othe Concent of Ameren The Reg ‘ter of tse connects he Lodge atthe Hoop, Water $trect" wth the numerous brethren esting In PA ‘sephia, A.D, 179y mentioned by the "Gazete {2g and 1752 and. prover that whatever Bro. Henry Pie my tare done in 734 tat the Rey> under Lodge of England, and therelore, according tothe evidence a present submited, Pala tthe Premier Masonic City, and Peansylvan the Bt Masonic State of America Further than this we need not go, as we hhave no desire in this place to discuss the somewhat tangled skein of early Pennsylvania Masonic story. But the evidence seem clear enough to show that in. 1730 Freemaronry hhad its exponents in the Keystone State. The authenticity of the Bell leter has been im= pugned, although its authenticity has been vouched for by a committee of the Grand Lodge of the State, One of the main pointe urged agains its authenticity i that it epeake of only one Lodge as existing, while the Pennsylvania Gazette, quoted above, speaks fof several Lodges. But we think this dis- ferepancy could easily be explained. The ‘other points raised are more important, but wwe need not enter into. that controversy. Even were the letter pronounced on all sides 4 forgery, the statement in the Pennsylvania Gazette and the evidence adduced by Hughan ‘would prove the point we desire to mak that under the time covered by Col. Coxe's ‘deputation the fraternity held meetings and had more than one Lodge in the territory ‘covered by his appointment. We eannot con ceive that Benjamin Franklin, its editor, and 4 few months later a member of the craft, ‘would have veriten several when he meant fone or that he would have made the stat ‘met inthe terms he did ifthe craft was only represented by a few scattered brethren1s HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY LN NEW ‘There is practically no evidence on recor to show that Coxe made any use of his patent to {natitute a Lodge in New Jersey, the very State in which he mainly had his home and with ‘which his personal interests were most closely identied. The frst Lodge in that State of ‘which we have record was at Newark in 1761 (warrant from New York) altiough there are some slight grounds for thinking that one was warranted before that at Elizabethtown. Tit did, however, it had ceased to exist long ‘fore 1761. unsatisfactory is the Coxe record State of New York is concerned. Brother C. T. MeClenachan, in his "History ‘of Freemasonry in New York” (Vol. 1, Page 122) makes the following suggestions as to the reason for this: "Is it not logical to sup- pose that thie great central entrepit—in its ‘early days alive to every charitable and hue ‘mane undertaking, leading in society and church Hle—was $0 well provided and pos- sessed with all authority necessary for Ma tonic communication, having duly warranted Lodges, that it was unnecessary for any local provincial authority to grant dispensations to New York? Is it not certain that, had not [New York—this half-way house between Phil> audelphia and Boston—been properly and thor- ‘oughly provided with Masonie authority one fof the other (Coxe in Pennsylvania or Price jn Massachusetts) ofthe two popular Masonic powers traveling across its teritory would have halted and granted Masonic communion to this benighted, though thrifty, imermediate province or State?” Tt is impossible to endorse the above, al though itis Dut fae to present it as the out ‘come of many years’ study on the part of an earnest student of New York's Masonic history. But there is no evidence that Coxe ever resided in New York or even passed ‘through it, and asto the assumption that Coxe land Price would natorally land at this port and proceed to their respective des- Tinations, Philadelphia or Boston, it seems voRK. just as likely that they landed direct at these places without passing through New York Besides it i not to be imagined that New ‘York, prior to 1730, possessed “duly war- ranted Lodges," and that they could possibly Ihave vanished so completely as to leave 0 sign. Besides i any did, we may be certain they would have the same regard for consti- tuted authority which (according to the Bell letter) animated the brethren in Philadelphia, and would have weleomed in some way the direct representative of 2 Grand Lodge. We ‘may therelore dismiss the McClenackan sup- positions without further notice by remarking that many a sage bt of Masonic history in the past has been based on a similarly unsub- ftantial foundation, Ifwe are to seek the early history of Freemasonry in New York we are convinced there is nothing, not even a tradi tion, to carry us back beyond 1731, the date when Coxe returned with his patent. There may have been, doubtless there were, Free ‘masons in the colony, some in New York City land elsewhere within the bounds of the com ‘monwealth, but we have no evidence whatever ‘to show that they were organized into Lodges, for even into a Lodge. ‘Therefore the record leit by Coxe in New York is a blank, and we fear must so rems to far as actual historical information is con- ‘cerned, ut there are indications that he did, atleast, accomplish something. In the ealy annals of Masonry in New York ‘the names are preserved of five Lodges, Trin- ity, Temple, Union, King Solomon and Hi- ram, of whom litle if anything, is known be- yond their names and that they were in exist fence before 1769. The warrant of Union Lodge, No. 1 (Albany, now No. 3), dates {rom 1737 (to assume its descent from Lodge No. 74, Irish register, of which we will speak farther on), and that of St, John's, No.2 (Neve York), now No.1, from 1757. There is noth- ing on record, however, to show that Union Lodge claimed the premier numerical desig nation before 1765, and the first bylaws,HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY IN NEW YORK printed in 1773, simply designate it as “Union Lodge.” These by-laws, according to their title page were “aproved of by me, John Johnson, Provincial Grand Master.” In the "Masonic Chronicle” of July, 18, R.W. John G, Barker, printed the following letter tothe same dignitary, as it appeared in the New York Gazette and Weekly Mercury of Dee. 23,1771 To the Most Worshifal Sit John Johnton, nigh Grand: Master of the Province of New "We, the Master, Wardens and Brethren of Teis- fay Linge take tis ety opportunity foe Inte you Sir upon your acesion one ofthe most ‘eeted stations in Masonry The ststction that Sppeared in eve countenance st you istalltion Sir erly expreive of ther approbation in the ap Frintmet of » prion whose trues and abiioer commend hit asa ory competitor for the ‘mow dntngustedoffce” We cannot doubt Sibu {Bat under the direction of 2 enema of you im party and talents, we shall enjoy every ime Sane privilege which hae bees ivolbly seared fo by pour worthy predecessor, hove conduct sre shall ever reece spon with venerson abd c= “We thankyou, Sit. ou have given an el tet rmony of your regaed forthe were ofthe Lodges In tis cy by suplying the remoteness of Your trates enon to expect everything in Bs power ‘Sst an conduct to the bonowr of Masoary ith Sincerity. Sir, we wish you every desirable app ‘ew aod 4 continuation of the alecton of thre rer whom you now happily preside st Provincial Mane. JOHN DAVAN, Mase New York 27th Oct 7 Trinity Lodge, No. Sir John replied inthe following terms “To the Maser, Ofcers and Mer Lodge, No. tBretivens “most sincerely thik ime attentive to your righe-at a Lodge, whch rough the justice and impart of my predees toe, you have hitherto enjoyed. The stsaction thick my choiee of Depaty afords, I consider in carmest thatthe Order wil be wel governed in tee all my personal eadenors to prescrve the Tecan of those bodies over whom sal have the sof Teinity onour topside and to manifest my het wishes for the hapines of your Lodge. JOHN JOHNSON. ‘The assumption of the premier numerical ‘number by Trinity and. its acknowledgment by the Provincial Grand Master under that Aesignation point conclusively tothe existence of the Lodge inthe city as fa, we take it, as 1731, for Lodges did not spring into exit- fence’ then as quickly as they do now. An- other important bit of evidence bearing on this point has also been unearthed by an old New York oficial, to whose antiquarian taste the city is indebted for the preservation of much fof its old annals that would otherwise have been lost—D. T. Valentine. In his “Manual of the Corporation ofthe City of New York’ for 1865 is the following advertisement copied from the New York Gazette of Jan. 22, 1739: Bretven of the Ancient and Honorable Society of Free and. Accepted Masons ate desited (0 ake Inotce thatthe Lodge fr the tare wil be el at ‘Wednesay of trey month By order the Grand Mater CHARLES WOOD, Secretary In the same paper on September 24, that year, the Lodge inserted another advertise- ‘ment in the following terms All members ofthe Lodge of Free snd Accepted isons are dened to meet om Wednesday next the tweniysath nny a the Montgomery Tavern In‘ Gay of New York, a 6 ooo fn the er noon By order of the Grand Maser. ‘CHARLES WOOD, Secretary. [Now the warrant of Masonic authority had passed from the hands of Co. Coxe some years before the fist of these two notices had ap- peared, and ere the insertion ofthe second he had passed tothe Grand Lodge on High. His actual successor inthe possesion of dept tion, however, only arrived in New York, May 21, 1738 (his warrant was dated Nov. 15,1737) and we would judge from the words, forthe future,” inthe fst advertisement that the Lodge had been in the habit of meeting for a considerable time more than merely16 HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY IN NEW YORK. year or two. Besides in the New York Ga- zette of Nov. 28, 1737, we find the following tuncomplimentary letter regarding the fra terity addressed to the editor, William Brad ford Me. Bradlord: There being a new and unseat sect ot soiety of Persons of ate appened ou? ‘ative Country, and trom thence spend into some tothe World, bat Franc, Tey 208 ‘ther Places they have been suppressed” All eter in the Word have pub ithe thor Principles and Practices and when they tect act open ther Meeting hosre Door forall {hat will come in and sce and hear them, Bt his Society tiled FREE MASONS meet with thet ‘tnd 2 Goard atthe ouside to prevent to take thee Ast admitanee, shch Oath ina follows vi AB, Hereby solemnly Vow and Swear ia the Presence of Almighty God and tis Right Wor. ‘ipl Assembly, tat Till Hall and C ever Reveal the Secrets or Secreey of Masonry tht shal be revened uot me, anes to trae and lawl Brother, ater dee examination, Fellows ell met furthermore Promise and Vow, that I wil not Write them Pine them, Mark them Catve the, ‘Engrave them or cause them tobe Weiten, Prt ‘i, Masked or Engraved om Wood o Stone, 80 the Visible Character or impression ofa leer may Appear, whereby it maybe wnlawily obtained ‘Ail hie under o less enaty tanto ave my Tavost eu my Tongue taken Irom the Roo! of my ‘Mouth, my Heart ek’ om under my Te Breast, then tobe honed ia the Sands ofthe Seu the L ‘of Cable Rope fom Shore mhere he Tide bs and flows twice in'24 Hout» my Body to be burnt 10 ‘Aiken and be seater epon the Fae ofthe Earth, fh tht there sll be no more Remembrance of ie mong Aaron 'So hep me, Godl™ In the Proceedings of the Lodge Quatuor Coronati (No. 2076. English Register), Vol- ‘ume 10, is an article on Kirkwall Kilwinning, No. 38 (Scotland). Tn an extract from the minutes of that Lodge reference is made, under date of 1759, 10 “Royal Arch King Solomon's Lodge, No. 2, New York.” Fot- lowing this entry up I received from one of, the members ofthat Lodge a copy ofa warrant which had been presented in Kirkwall by a visitor and, fortunately, was preserved in the record. ‘The warrant reads a8 follows: ‘And the Darkness comprehended it nota the East place fall of light where teem sence sd ‘We, the Maser and Wardens ofthe Royle Arch King Solomon's Lodge, No. a inthe Cay af New ‘York, ador'd wit all ther Honours a ace In due form, Do hereby declare, ceriy and test {oll men enlightened and spread om the face ofthe fats, tha the bearer hereol. Rober Beynon, hath Cat and ater prot and dae tyal we bave given ite i ‘hese resent ‘Given oder our bands and ihe seal of our Lodge the City of New York in North Americ the 2th day of May 759, and in Masonry S730 JOHN DAVAN, Mase. JOHN MARSHALL, Sene. Warden THOMAS HULL, June Warden JOHN THOMPSON, D. Secretary In this cate we must suppose that Royal Arch is simply 2 distinguishing name, such are “Keystone” and “Acacia” at the present day, and had no connection with any part of ts work of tual. Now it is possible that this "No, 2” held a warrant issued by some at thority prior to that which brought into ex- istence the Lodge, orginally No. 2, nd which ‘we now hail with pride a8 St. John's, No. 1. Tt would seem that that much is clear, for it the only way in which we can account forthe imilarity of numbers atthe same time in the fame city. Te seems, therelore, reasonable to infer that both Trinity Lodge, No. 1, and Royal Arch King Solomon's Lodge, No. 2, were warranted by one of Harrison's pred cestors. That predecessor was either Coxe oF in immediate secessor, Riggs, for Goelet seems to have done nothing. In this view weHISTORY OF FREEMASONRY IN NEW are strengthened by the fact that Freemasonry, as an organized body, can be traced, 35 we hhave seen, to Jan 22,1739, in an advertisement which by its wording showed that the craft even then had a past. Additional ground for adopting this theory may be found inthe fact that Royal Arch King Solomon's certainly was not chartered the same year that this Bryson diploma or certificate was issued, and also in the fact that its Master, John Davan, is, in all probability, the same who in 1771 signed the congrattlatory letter to. Sir John Johnston as Master of Trinity Lodge, No. t, Already printed. By that time King Solomon's hhad surely passed out of existence and St John's, No. 2, reigned in its stead, numer- iealy ‘Te seems a plausible supposition, puting all there stray bits of evidence together, tht Free- masonry did obtain a foothold in New York daring the existence of Col. Coxe’s deputa- tion, thatthe brethren were organized into at least one Lodge, and that that Lodge a5- sumed the fonctions of a Grand Lodge, 20 [ar at least as to confer the higher degrees. In ‘commenting upon Coxe’s management of his important office, McClenachan (History, Vol "page 122) wrote Regarding Brother Coxe, however, one pint is erin he was careless wot inate inthe die ‘lng of his Masonic dai or tome extent record rine tammctons woul have bean found tn more {han one place and county. The home gorerament exe be deste of onal o transcripts per ‘ining to Brother Cones admiration, other than That of hs appointment snd the honor of drinking Deheabh This emark was called forth by eter which the Grand Lodge of New Jersey received ‘Seerary ofthe Grand Lodge of England ome enauires about Coxe cation trom Brother Cont rand Wardens seiter dd erepor the congrest= lag of Masons into Lodges. He did not ans {87 account of having consited Lodges, and does ft indeed appear fo have eaished any- At ‘he prod when he was appointed it waa rare thing york. 19 fran repr ob mae yh Proving Gnd ‘rte rom Benga bt 1 nd nore rom ay ore ‘ign counry. The names of members belonging 10 {lodge abroad, I imagine, were ever sent home ‘nul the year then the yee of regeton ‘is cabled th was done for the baronet {ating fndr trom the daay expen tte ‘Grand Lodge, ete All that an be artived at from this is that Col. Coxe was no better and no worse than his contemporary Provincial Grand. Master, and, therefore, s0 far as the records of the mother Lodge go, his negligence is not to be "utterly condemned, seeing that he acted in a= cordance with the prevailing system or meth- fod, rather than according to a stit interpre tation of the words and instructions of his warrant. At the same tine, as Brother Freke Gould has pointed out in his History of Free- masonry (Vol. III page 427) there were some special and unusual features in Coxe’ com: rission which would show that, rom the Sst, he was expected to actin a diferent manner ese, 28 limited to two years from June 124, 1730, ‘after which time’ the brethren ‘in all or any ofthe three colonies aforesaid were ‘empowered every other year on the feast of ‘St. John the Baptist to elect a Provincial Grand Master’ tho, withthe concurrence of his Deputy and) Wardens, might establi Lodges at his discretion. Aa account ing of the number of Lodges 30 constituted with the mames ofthe members was to be fur- ished annually, but there is no allusion what- ever to the payment of a fee for registration for for any other purpose, The deputation was granted, it may be added, on the petition of Coxe himself ‘and several other brethren fesiding and about to reside’ inthe Provinces ‘over which his authority was to extend.” Tt seems to us thatthe fact that others were interested in the securing of this document 25 well as Coxe himself isthe best evidence that it was not permitted to become simply @20 HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY IN NEW YORK. piece of waste paper after its arrival on the Scene ofits proposed operations, In view of all that has been written it appears indeed very probable that fora time at least alter his final return to America Coxe carried out the spirit of his commission and not only “con: ‘gregated,” at least, St. John's Lodge, Phil Adelphia, but also Trinity Lodge, No. 1, New ‘York, and Royal Arch King Solomon's, No. 2 AAs already stated Capt. Richard Riggs af- rived in 1738 with a fresh deputation in his pocket entitling him to act_as Provincial Grand Matter for New York, Absolutely nothing seems to be known of this man's per sonal “history, and regarding his Masonic career an equal silence prevails. A’ month ater his arrival (June 26, 1738) the following appeared in the New York Gazete, so itis possible his advent may have stirred up the brethren or they may have been indulging in 8 celebration or holding a meeting on the pre- ceding festival of St. John the Baptist: A-SONG FOR THE FREE MASONS. Rejoyee Oye Masont! and Castaway Cae Since Beaty for Masoney now doth declare; “The Aisne e made, the Fir are your Friends, ‘Then debe all the Spite, whersoeer tend For Wisdom to Beauty rach Homage wil pay ‘Thar naught but a Foo! dst rare to bey. ‘Then Slander be silent, for their Colors we wear [And the Honour of Matone isle ther care ete the Question may be put, How the Hos cour of the Ladies, or the Fair (or its ll one) al, to thie Capioas Question may be found inthe f= Towing Vereen trned in favour of the Ladies Fa [A PARODY OF THE SAME VERSES FOR Reioyce O ye Lats! and Cast anay Cae Since Slsonry for Beauty now dot declare “The Alance made, Masons are your fiends, ‘They debe al the site Wheresoever tend For Sere to Beauty such Homage mil pay “Then Sander be let, for their Aprons we wear ‘And the Honour of Lie isi inthe are Note again, that there is herein «erect cece, the Queerest and slyest Quer inthe Ar of Reson: Ing. For the Honour of the Freemasons ll be Sal in the secrecy af the Ladies (since very ome Snows how they cam keep atere) and the Han fur of the Far thet might ron rome Rik among. fhe Freemasons, wil be screened and Sate y the ‘Secrecy of the Society. since sone of their Sat ‘es, and a fdamental rate of thee ater, tht Lhom pew ham nel eg pita de ae Po hone Mp pm? if apes Aon ‘hey thal not reve what paceth sont secret in there Ladgee. tSpectaane ade om tenes ic "Hor, in Ane Poet) Thee "Ye fends tht ae admited to this sight fortese Laughing”HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY IN NEW YORK. a |All this may have seemed very humorous to the readers of the Gazette, but it is only Useful tous to prove that people then outside the mystic circle knew absolutely nothing of its aims and purposes, however much or litle those inside may have been. In 1751 another deputation was issued 10 New York, this time by William, filth Lord Byron. The holder ofthis patent was Francis Goelet, a member of a family of Huguenot origin which gave to New York a succession of representative merchants and is still ranged Among the leaders inthe socal circles of the city. Of the details of Grand Master Goelet's ‘administration nothing has come down to us, ‘even his papers now in the possession of the family contain nothing referring to it, but he probably kept the eralt well together and Drought i more before the public gaze than i Ina hitherto been. At least we judge so fom the tenor of the following extract from the New York Mercury of July 2, 1753 Sunday, the 24h tine, Being the Ansiversary ofthe Festal of Se. Jobe the Baptist, he Ancient Wesshiptal Soity of Free snd Acc semble at Spring. Gat "bing propels clothed, made + ‘eur procession in de form tothe King’s Arms Tavern on Broad Sire, near the Long Bridge, where an clegantentertsiment was provided, and {Hoe droking ir Majer beat and ever Toya font the ay wen conladed ia the most social way. and tothe emite satiation of all he Until the close of his term of ofce we have no farther particulars of Goele’s Masonic work, But we fancy that i he did not extend the domain ofthe faterity he maintained the prosperity of the existing ctcle, and preserved, ftrengthened even, the good feeling among the brethren. In the New York Mercury of Now. 19, 1783, appeared the following “eard:” “The members ofthe Provincial Grand Loder of ree and Accepted Masons, a New York, ae de: fied to mest at the King’ Arms Tavern on Wedsenay the teh day of December om bases i importnce” By order of the Grand Master 1H GAINE, Seeeary. ‘The business of importance relerred to was tandoubtedly the consideration of arrange- ments for the reception and installation of the holder of a new deputation, A mony Francis Goelet, as became his office, took a prominent part, and himself installed and proclaimed his successor, after which his rname appears no more inthe annals of Free- rmaronry in New York.CHAPTER IV. GEORGE HARRISON AND SIR JOHN JOHNSON. ITH the advent in December, 1753, of George Harrison as the bearer of a commission ap. pointing him Provincial Grand Master of New York, the history of Free- ‘masonry in the State is to a certain extent lifted out of the mist of surmise and con- jecture and placed in a region of actual fact We feel the ground gradually become more secure under our feet and realy obtain 2 cor- rect understanding of the general outine of events although in many instances too many infact for historical exactitude, the details of what might be termed minor matters are still shadowy, uncertain and disappointing ‘So fat the Masonic research into the carly history of New York has failed to give us any information regarding the personal career of George Harrison, and we know far less, in fact, of his private life than we do of that of Col Coxe. Ii George Harrison's life story, so far as details go, is to remain forever a blank, the incidents we have of his Masonic career show that he wat a man of considerable energy, of devotion to is office in the fraternity, and in consequence, to its principles, tenets and pro- fessions, and he has left his mark not only ‘upon the craft in the commonwealth to which the was accredited, but in the neighboring State of Connecticut, while one of his war: rants gives to Zion Lodge, Detroit, the di tinction of standing atthe head of the bodies ‘now owing allegiance to the Grand Lodge of ‘Michigan. He achieved a wonderful amount ‘of success during the eighteen yeats in which he held sway, and it should be remembered that while 2t the beginning of his tenure of office he had the field practically to himsell he soon had to encounter more of les violent and stubborn opposition. ‘The great schism Which led to the formation of the "Grand Lodge of England according to the old con- stitutions” had its starting point inthe very year his ‘commission was signed, and long before his oficial carer terminated there were not only Lodges of “ancients” in his balliwck, ‘bat Lodges ‘working under Massachusetts warrants, a5 well as others emanating from Scotland and Ireland. But the point should be clearly kept in mind, for the sake of sub- sequent important proceedings, that the Provincial Grand Lodge of which he was the Inead was the only one existing in New York. ‘The new interest in the Order commenced almost as soon at he was inducted into his high office. The proceedings in connection therewith took place on Dee. 26, 1753 (al- though his commission was dated June 9 the same year) and in the New York Mercury of, December 31 following, we find the following account ofthe proceedings, the frst occasion fon record when such ceremonies were re- ported in an American newspaperHISTORY OF FREBMASONRY IN NEW YORK. 3s Ireland, Grand Master of England, appointed George Harrion, Enq, to be Proviedal’ Grand Maver was slemly polished. we hea to the ‘veil ststaction ofall the brethren presen, er Shieh, being the festa of St Jobe the Evangel Is service at Tenity Charen. ‘The ender i which Uhey proceeded was a lllowe? First walked the caring 2 drawn sword then for Stewards with white maces, flowed ty the Teese wer and” Secretary. who bofe eich a. et Aamask cushion "ow which “lay sgt Bible and "a Book of ‘Constation, ater ese fame the Grand Warden and Warden then ime ‘the “Grand “Master hime bewing a teancheon and ‘ther badges of his ofc, followed by the vest of the brotherhood ecordig to thst spective ranks~Alatrs: Fellows Crate tnd ‘Pet tees tothe numberof fig, all clothed with te els, aprons white gloves and stockings The ‘ole ceremony was concluded with the woe Se forum, ander + ecarge of gone rom some vse {in the arbor, and made « getel appearance We ‘ear they afterwards conferred generous donation of feen pounds trom the public stock of the 20" ‘Sey to be expended tn loling the poor children Telonine to oar chart seo, and made and Some pate contribution for the tlt of diet [toners Tn te evening, by the parccularrequert Of the brethren, comedy called "The Conca Loves” ws presented at the Theatre in. Nase street to avery crowded andience "Serra! pieet ‘of vocal music i praise of the fsterty were pet formed between the act. An eplogue, rable to the occasion, was pronounced bys. Hallam, th ihe graces of gestre and propriety of slocton nd met with universal 4nd loud aphose Query. Whether the petormance of public and private aes of Denefcence. uch as feeding the nary and clothing the naked be most correspond ent tothe glover of Chitin, or othe ta tion ot the Prince of Darknet ‘This sage query by the worthy editor prob- ably meant nothing in particular. Very’ pos- sibly lke some of his modern brethren, he felt impelled, forthe sake of his idea ofthe fitness of things, or for the sake of placating a sub- ‘scrber who might be opposed to Freemason to write briel comment illustrative of mater which he didnot understand We might infer from the foregoing report ‘thatthe fity brethren, and the Stewards and ‘other ofcils, making an allowance for neces sary absences, represented a Masonic popula ton of, perhaps, 75, and it seems reasonable to suppose that they were divided into two lodges. If only one, that one was certainly Trinity, No.1, if two, we might find its name among the records of Temple, Union, Roya ‘Arch King Solomon, or Hiram, the four Lodges belonging to this deputation of which ro trace seems to remain, Very probably i ‘would be found to be Royal Arch King Solo- son's Lodge ‘Bro, John G. Barker, in his invaluable rec- ‘ord of the Proceedings of the New York Grand Lodge, gives the following list of Lodges as having been warranted under Har- ‘St, John’s, No, 2, Provincial English Reg istry, No. 272) (now No. 1), New York City, Dee. 71797 ‘St, Job's Independent Royal Arch, No. 8, Provincial (now No, 2), New York City, Dee 15, 1760. ‘St John’s, No. 1, Fairfield, Conn. 1762. Zion, No.1, Detroit (English Registry, 48), April 24, 1764, Union, No. 1, City of Albany (now Mount Vernon, No. 3), Feb. 2, St. Job's, No.1, Norwall, Conn. (now No. 6, Grand Lodge of Connecticut), May 23, 176s ‘St John's, No.1, Stratford, Conn. (now No. 8, Grand Lodge of Connecticut), April 22, 1766. St Patrick's, No.8, Johnstown, N.Y. (now 'No. City of Albany (now No.8), ‘March 1768 ‘King David's, City of New York, Feb. 17, 765. Solomon's, No. 1, Poughkeepsie, N.Y, April 18,1771 “Two meetings of the Provincial Grand Lodge, at least, were held in 1754, called by notice in the newspapers. signed by “H. Gaine, Secretary.” One met on June 190 “the house of Mr. Edward Willett in the Broad-. HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY IN NEW YORK way,” for special business, and the other on December 27 “at the house of Edward Wil- let, at the Province Arms," on “business of Importance.” What the nature ofthe business \was we have unfortunately no means of know- ing, but as the meetings were called so near to the saint's day itis sale to presume it was in connection with the festivities or ceremanials ofthese old landmarks. While, however, nothing is known of the private or public life of George Harrison, we are in possession of good deat of information regarding his immediate successor, Sir John Johnson. He was born in 1742, In the cam- Daign of1755 he saw active service a8 a soldier and acquitted himself bravely. Later, he went to England, but of his doings there litte known beyond the fact that he was knighted bby George IIT, in 1765, at St. James’ Palace. ‘This shows, at leas, that he was held in con- siderable esteem. It was likely in or about the same year that he was “raised to the degree of ‘2 Master Mason in the Royal Lodge at St ica before the close of 1767, and “being ex- amined” was admitted as a visitor 10 St. Patrick's Lodge at. Johnstown, beside father's residence. He was not installed, how ‘ever, in his high Masonie ofc until 1771. On the death of his father, in 1774, he succeeded tothe family property. as well as to the heredi- tary ttle and quickly took up the position in the affairs of the colony which so long had bicen eld by Sir William Johnson. He won the same mastery over the Indians and wielded the same influence in thei councils. But th time had arrived in the affairs of the cout tay when men were compzlled to declare open= ly their position between the home interest and thote of the Colonies. On his part there ‘was no doubt, no hesitation, no wavering. He became a Tory of the Tories, mustered h Indian allies tothe ai ofthe cause of his roy taster and winder his leadership these dusky warriors commited many terrible ravages in the Mohawk Valley and throughout the cen- tral and northern parts of the State. In Au ‘ust, 1777 he Ind siege to Fort Stanwix and Aefeated Herkimer, but in 1780 he was hirsell defeated at Fox's Mill by Gen. Van Rensselaer, land soon alter his property in the State was confiscated. We have no desire here, and in fact itis foreign to the purpose of this work to follow Sir John’s career in the Revolution- ary war, or to record his battles in the State fof New York or in Canada, but we may sum It up by stating that when peace was declared the was practically a ruined man, having lost everything, not alone for his devotion to mon- lrchical interests but forthe obsoxious and Cruel methods he had employed in his efor to perpetuate those interests. Then, too, he ‘was by no means 40 amiable a personage as his father, and sought to maintain his power by fear rather than by persuasion and had fewer teal friends on either side. On the conclusion of hostilities he paid a visit to England which lasted fora few months, In 1784 he crossed the Atiantic again and setled in Montreal. He twas appointed Superintendent General of In- Gian Affairs in Trish North America and Colonel ofthe batalions of rlta in the east- fem townshipe of Lower Canada. Sir John twas alo a member of the Legislative Council, and long before his death, in 1830. he had ‘exained mvach of his old prestige and acquired {bnew fortune for that which he had lost with ‘the cause for which he had fought. It could hardly be expected. in view of the string career briefly outlined above that Sir John could devote much time to. Mason bat he dl what he could. Ax will be seen from what follows he warranted directly at least two Lodges, andl very possibly performed the saine constitutional ofce for others whose recorls have been swept away. But the i tereste of the crat were attended to as we coud he under the circumstances by his Deputy Grand Master, Dr. Peter Middleton. ‘This xcalous Freemason was a native of Ein«HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY IN NEW YORK. » Dburgh, Scotland, and after being educated for the medical profession at the famous univer sity in his native city, came to this country about 1730, setting in New York. Here he oon acquired local eminence as a medical ‘man, and at a teacher of medicine, and he is credited with having, in 1750, been the frst to make s dissection ofa human body before a class of students. He believed that medial study should be thorough and that a perfect knowledge of the construction of the body was a frst requisite, All through his long, career Dr, Middleton took a deep intrest ia the training of young men for his profes and he was the author of several medical works land casays which were held in high esteem in his day, although. naturally, long since for- gotten. In 1767 he established a medical school in New York, which soon became merged in King’s College (as Columbia Uni- versity was fist called), and he was one of the Governors of that institution from 1770 till 1780, He was an enthusiastic Scotsman, t00, and was one of the original members of the St Andrew's Society, and its President for three years, 1767-68-69. Dr. Middleton's sympathies in the confict were undoubtedly fn the side ofthe home government, bt prob- ably he was not outspoken on the matter and. his professional services were at the disposal fof Continental and Tory alike. So he seems to have been unmolested by the varying tide of war, and he died in 1781, in New York, be fore the cash of arms had ceated We know litle directly of Dr. Middleton's labors a8 Deputy Grand Master, but that little is to his credit, and will be found detailed further on, He strove to maintain the purity ofthe inatiution in his own domain, and pos- bly succeeded in maintaining its interests a5 thoroughly as was posible inthe clecum- stances of the time.CHAPTER V. TWO EARLY LODGES. JE may now, instead of following the general tide of Masonic bis- tory in the State, take up the story. in succession of the various Lodges in the list given at the close of the preceding chapter, carrying. them on in deual up to the close of this division of ‘our work, the termination of the deputation tem in 1781 ‘Of the early history of St. John's, No. 2, during this period very litle, comparatively, can be placed on record. There are evidences that it started on its career with the expected Vigor of youth, and we know that its gather ings were litle disturbed even daring that momentous struggle in the history of the ‘world when the colonists threw off the yoke Of a sovereign and became a nation of sover~ clgna with the ballot box a the sole represent ative ofthe crown, the scepter and other em- ‘lems of monarchieal rue, when the People displaced the King, and in time the Union of the States became 4 new factor in the history of the world, a factor that has been felt for {good in every quarter ofthe globe ‘McClenachan says, "Four Lodges during theie earlier life scemed to be bound by close ‘and commendable ties, to-wit: St. John’s, Trinity, Union and King Solomon's. They joined in the festival of the 27th December, 4767, irom which happy occasion a continued interchange of Masonic courtesies between the first three followed for a eeries of years” Tt sccm likely that all four existed before Har~ rison's day, had, infact, been called into being bby some one of his predecessors, but that ow ing to looseness of supervision had existed simply as irresponsible bodies, much as did the “four old Lodges” in London prior to the organization of the Grand Lodge there, and as several Lodges did exist alter that land~ imatk-like event, The frst meeting place of ‘St John’s was in Ann Street, and doubtless i sustained a serious loss, especially in its early records, when the building was destroyed by fire in March, 1770. In November of the same year the stricture was rebuilt and the Masons ‘once more in possession, so that the Lodge, for rather its members, must have been, na fially, in more or less comfortable circum= ances, The fist officers of whom there is record were: Jonathan Hampton, Master William Butler, Senior Warden; Isaac Heron Warden, These were in office in 1770 when the Lodge room was reopened aftr the losses by the fire had been restored a far as possible, and itis to be noted that the Bible used on that occasion was a gift (rom the Master. [Brother Hampton lite thought then that his sift was to become histori, that it was to be- ome virtually a national heirloom, that on its pages the hand ofthe frst President ofthis ‘country was to be laid when taking the oath ‘of fealty to the Constitution in the achieving. ‘of which his genius and fidelity had been the leading instruments In 1772 the Lodge adopted a code of by- laws. The previous regulations had been de-