"In the Forefront,
   Spreading Light"

THE BROKEN COLUMN

by William F. Milz
Presented June 15, 1985, SiIas H. Shepherd Lodge of Research No. 1843
          from June 1993 Wisconsin Masonic Journal

The symbol used to represent the ritualistic death of one of the traditional
leaders of the Craft, as all Master Masons are aware, is the broken column.
Among the Hebrews and other ancient peoples, this symbol was used to signify 
the untimely death of a prince or noble.

This symbol came to Freemasonry as a probable creation of one Jeremy Cross.
Brother Folger wrote in 1879, that Cross based his drawing on the monument
erected in Trinity Churchyard in memory of Commodore Lawrence, who fell in the
War of 1812. If we think upon the symbolism that the broken column represented
to the ancient Hebrews, namely the untimely death of a prince or noble, I
believe this monument can also be considered to represent another brother.

During Brother Cross's time, we know that the festive board which our present
Table Lodge ceremony so feebly represents, was an important part of a lodge's
regular activities.  Our Brethren regularly enjoyed the fellowship which good
food and good spirits bring after their formal meeting. Among the formal 
toasts presented, one often was raised to the memory of Joseph Warren.  
Unfortunately, the lapse of time and the ruthless hand of ignorance have 
together caused the memory of this "Prince of our Craft" to be unknown among 
many of our Brethren today.

A short summary of Joseph Warren's life will reveal many characteristics of a
princely or noble manner in the best tradition of these terms in America. The
son of a farmer, Brother Warren was educated at Harvard and became a 
physician. History describes him as handsome and charming.  We could easily 
imagine him making a profitable practice among the Bostonian aristocracy. We 
also know that he had keen intelligence, and was one of the first Boston 
physicians to regularly vaccinate for small pox.  But Brother Warren instead, 
devoted much of his practice to the poor of Boston who were largely ignored 
by the more financially prosperous physicians.  These acts of charity left 
him often debt ridden, with a substantial family of his own. As early as 1767, 
Joseph Warren began to become interested in politics, and started to become 
increasingly involved with many of the patriotic leaders of Boston.

Although the legendary "Ts" entered in the Lodge minutes of St. Andrew's Lodge
on the night of the famous Tea Party have been seriously challenged by recent
Masonic scholars, we find at least two members of that lodge mentioned in a
street ballad that appeared the day after the Tea Party:

"Our Warren is there and bold Revere
With hands to do and words to cheer
For liberty and laws."


Act of Open Defiance

Three months later, on March 5, 1775, Brother Warren was selected to give the
oration commemorating the 5th anniversary of the Boston Massacre.  He
demonstrated his courage before a packed assembly which included over forty
British officers dressed in full uniform (with swords and pistols) who sat in
the first two rows before the speaker's stand.  During his speech, which was
hailed as a clear explanation of American concerns, the officers constantly
interrupted him with hoots and jeers.  At one point, as Brother Warren was
referring to the five martyrs slain in the massacre, a young British officer
held up five musket balls in the palm of his hand.  Without stopping or even
pausing, Brother Warren calmly covered the young officer's hand with his own
handkerchief, and continued his oration.

Diplomat, Fighter, Doctor

During the period leading up to Concord and Lexington, Brother Warren 
frequently met with the British commander, General Gage, and counselled 
moderation and reconciliation. As chairman of the Committee of Safety, he 
demonstrated diplomacy in arranging for safe evacuation of Patriots from 
Boston, and Loyalists from the countryside into the British lines during the 
period following the outbreak of hostilities.

It was Brother Warren who gave Brother Paul Revere his insturctions to ride 
and warn the countryside.  The following morning he was attending a woman 
giving birth, and upon hearing news of the firing at Lexington, called his 
assistant and hurried to join the fighting.  He was involved in the thick of 
the fighting along the road, and in West Cambridge, had the piece holding his 
wig in place shot off from over his ear by a British musket ball. Brother 
Warren laughed and shaking his head, returned to rallying the militia. 
Following the battle, he attended to the wounded, American and British alike.  
Using his authority as Chairman of Safety, he ordered the American commander 
to insure that humane and hospitable treatment be given to the British 
wounded taken prisoner.

Political Activist

During the period following the battle, Brother Jqseph Warren was fully 
occupied with administration of the siege army which rapidly assembled, 
continuing his negotiations with General Gage and taking part in the planning 
of the Council of War.  He took time to compose an account of the Battle, 
which was sent to England and became one of the first pieces of American 
propaganda. In the absence of Hancock and Adams, he also assumed the position 
of President of the Massachusetts Assembly, and as such became the defacto 
governor for the entire Colony not in British hands.

Towards Rebellion

By June of 1775, it became evident that some action was necessary to preserve
the morale of the militia assembled in siege lines around Boston.  Reluctantly,
Brother Warren agreed to ordering the construction of a fort on Breed's Hill,
which would overlook the city across the Mystic River.  The fort was built
during the night and upon daybreak the British awoke to find a strong 
American position where open hills were at nightfall the day before.

Although counciled by many friends to stay in the rear, Brother Warren 
insisted upon joining the forces he had ordered to defend the position. Upon 
arrival, he set aside his position of Major General, and insisted on serving 
as a private under Brother Israel Putnam. During the battle, as the defender's 
ammunition ran low, Brother Warren led a spirited group of defenders at the 
fort's exit to cover the retreat of the rest of the garrison.

Fighting for Freedom

Out of ammunition and bayonets, the rear guard held off the advancing British
with fists and stones.  Brother Warren, with a bayonet wound in his arm,
stubbornly refused to retreat, undoubtedly saving several lives by his 
delaying action. The astonished British hesitated for a moment and then formed 
ranks and fired a massive volley into Brother Warren's group. He was struck 
behind the ear as he was calling encouragement to his retreating countrymen, 
and fell without another sound.

Brother Joseph Warren; physician, statesman, and Grand Master of Masons of
North America, was 34 years and 6 days old when he died on Bunker Hill.

Brother Warren's body was buried in a shallow grave where he fell. His Masonic
Brethren reburied him with full honors the following April and erected a
monument over his grave.  Although the monument they chose was not a broken
column, I believe that the untimely loss of this early Masonic leader fits 
well with the words we associate with this symbol.

It is the author's hope that the next time that you see this portion of our
ceremonies, it might have an additional meaning for you; and that at the next
Table Lodge that you attend, one Brother will rise and renew the old tradition
by proposing a toast to our forgotten Masonic martyr and Patriot, the Right
Worshipful Brother Joseph Warren.

Bibliography

"The Broken Column," February, 1956, The Short Talk Bulletin, published by The
Masonic Service Association of the United States, Washington, D.C.

Cross, Jeremy, The True Masonic Chart or Hieroglyphic Monitor, 1820 (Reprint 
by the Texas Lodge of Research).

Mackey, Albert G., Encyclopedia of Freemasonry, Vol. I and II, "Broken Column,"
and "Warren, General Joseph," 1966.

Fleming, Thomas J. "Now We Are Enemies, the Story of Bunker Hill," St. 
Martin's Press, 1960.

Frothingham, R., Life and Times of Joseph Warren, 1971.


