THE BUILDER JULY 1915


THE ESTABLISHMENT AND EARLY FREEMASONRY IN AMERICA

BY BRO. MELVIN M. JOHNSON, G. M. OF MASONS IN MASS.

CHAPTER II Part 1

IN previous issues the writer has pointed out that Massachusetts is
entitled to precedence as the founder of Masonry in America whether
determined upon the first presence of Masons, or upon the first
meetings of Lodges, or upon the first exercise of authority from
the Grand Lodge of England. Attention has also been called to the
beginnings of Masonry in Pennsylvania and to the acknowledgment at
the time by Franklin and his associates in Philadelphia of the
precedence of Massachusetts.

Within the next few years after Henry Price organized the
Provincial Grand Lodge in Boston on June 30, 1733, regular Masonry
was established in other colonies. With this spread of the
institution this article will not attempt to deal except so far as
it was fostered by, and emanated from, Price and his successors and
tends to the historical establishment of their positions and
authority for many years as Provincial Grand Masters for North
America (with certain definite exceptions.)

1734

Reference has already been made to the extension by Grand Master
Craufurd of Price's authority over all North America, and his
immediate exercise of that authority by granting the petition of
Benjamin Franklin and his associates.

1735-1738

In 1735-6 Price chartered a Lodge in Portsmouth, N. H. The original
petition for this Charter, dated Feb. 9, 1735-6, is still
preserved. On June 28, 1736, a petition was forwarded for the
appointment of Brother Tomlinson to succeed Brother Price as
Provincial Grand Master. I can find no copy of that petition. The
Commission to Brother Tomlinson issued under date of Dec. 7, 1736,
and arrived in Boston April 20, 1737. On St. John the Baptist's day
in 1737, occurred the first public procession of the fraternity in
America, Governor Belcher being in the line. The Masonry of South
Carolina sprung from Massachusetts in 1735 Nova Scotia and the West
Indies in 1738.

1738-1740

In 1738 Pennsylvania Masonry ceased utterly, being revived until
1749.

During the year 1738, Provincial Grand Master Tomlinson went to
England by way of Antigua where he stopped long enough to establish 
Masonry. On 31, 1739, he attended a meeting of the Grand Lodge of
England.

This year also, on December 27, marked the beginning of the record
pra of the First Lodge in Boston so far as it has been preserved.
It is singular that the keeping of formal records did not sooner
occur to these bodies founded in the early part of the eighteenth
century, but such seems to be the case with all of them, both
English and American. Careful as Franklin was about keeping a
record of his personal affairs, he caused no record to be kept of
the affairs of his Lodge save a financial record. Or at least if
any were kept it has disappeared as effectually as Franklin's
Commission.

Brother Tomlinson died in 1740 and the Provincial Grand Lodge was
held by Thomas Oxnard as Deputy Grand Master until March 6, 1744,
when he received his Commission as "Provincial Grand Master for
North America in the Room of Our Bro. Robt. Tomlinson, Esq.,
Deceased."

In 1740 a Deputation was granted from Massachusetts for a Lodge at
Annapolis and Bro. Erasmus James Phillips was appointed to act in
Nova Scotia.

1741

Again it was publicly proclaimed that Massachusetts was the Mother
of Masonry in America; For instance, on Oct. 23, 1741, Bro. Peter
Pelham, Secretary of the First Lodge in Boston, in an address of
congratulation to Gov. Wm. Shirley, made public claim that the
First Lodge in Boston was the Mother Lodge of America.

Governor Shirley was Belcher's successor. The Masonic
correspondence between these officials and the First Lodge in
Boston is so interesting historically that I quote from the records
of that Lodge as follows:--
Wednesday, September 23, 1741.

(At a regular meeting of the First Lodge in Boston, held)
Wednesday, Sept. 23, 1741, our Rt. Worshipful Master recommended to
the Brethren, that it was his opinion, some perticular order should
be observed in toasting the health of our Rt. W: Bro: the Honble
Mr. Belcher: and that a Committee might be appointed as soon as
possable to wait upon him, with acknowledgments from the Lodge, of
his past favours, and to return our thanks, etc.

Voted, that next after the G: M: the late Governor of this
Province, is to be toasted in the following manner, viz: To our Rt.
W: Bro: the Honble Mr. Belcher, Late Governour of N. E., with
3-3-3--9.

Voted, that Our Rt. W: Bro. T. Oxnard, D. G. M., Brors. Phillips,
Rowe, Price, Hallowell, Forbes, McDaniel and Pelham, be a Committee
to form a speech, and wait upon the Honble Mr. Belcher in behalf of
this Society, and to make report of their proceeding the next
Lodge.

On Fryday Septemr 25, 1741, the Committee appointed by this Lodge
waited upon the Honble Mr. Belcher, etc., and made the following
Speech:

Thrice Worthy Brother.

We being a Committee by the Mother Lodge of N. England held in
Boston to wait on You, take this Opportunity to Acknowledge the
many favours You have always shewed (when in Power) to Masonry in
General, but in a More Especial manner to the Brethn of this Lodge,
of which we shall ever retain a most grateful Remembrance.

As we have had your Protection when in the most Exhalted Station
here, so we think it is Incumbent on us to make this
Acknowledgment, having no other nleans to testify our Gratitude but
this; And to wish for Your Future Health and Prosperity which is
the Sincere desire of Us, and those in whose behalf We appear, and
permit us to assure You we shall ever remain 

Honoured Sir
Your most Affectionate Brethn & Humble Servants.
Peter Pelham, Secr.
In behalf of the Committee.

To which, we receiv'd the following Answer: Worthy Brothers.

I take very kindly this mark of your Respect. It is now Thirty
Seven years since I was admitted into the Ancient and Honble
Society of Free and accepted Masons, to whom I have been a faithful
Brother, & a well-wisher to the Art of Masonry.

I shall ever maintain a strict friendship for the whole Fraternity;
& always be glad when it may fall in my power to do them any
Services.

J. Belcher.

Wednesday, October the 14th, 1741. Being Lodge Night, (it was)
Voted, that a Committee be appointed to wait on his Excellency
Governour Shirly to Congratulate him on his Advancement to the
Governmt of this Province &c when it was propos'd, and agree'd that
the following persons should form sd Committee, to act in behalf of
this Society; Viz; Our Rt. W. Brors Thos. Oxnard, Forbes, Overing,
Price, Hallowell, Jenkins, McDaniel, Phillips, Johonnot and Pelham,
and to make report of their proceedings next Lodge Night.

On Fryday October the 23d, 1741. The Committee appointed by this
Lodge, waited upon his Excellency Willian1 Shirly Esqr and
presented him with the following Address:

May it please your Excellency,

We being a Committee appointed by the Ancient and honble Society of
Free and accepted Masons of the MOTHER, LODGE of AMERICA held in
Boston, presume to wait upon you with the utmost Sincerity, to
congratulate your Advancement to the Government of this Province,
and to assure your Excellency that our Desire is that your
Adminstration may be successful and easy.

We have had hitherto the Honour of His Majesty's Governor being one
of our ancient Society, who was ever a well-wisher & faithful
Brother to the Royal Art of Masonry.

And as it has been the Custom for men in the most exhalted Station
to have had the Door of our Society's Constitutions always opened
to them (when desired) we think it our Duty to acquaint your
Excellency with that Custom, and assure you, that we shall
chearfully attend your Excellency's Pleasure therein; and as we are
conscious that our Society are loyal and faithful Subjects to His
Majesty, so we may reasonably hope for your Excellency's Favour and
Protection, which is the Request of

Your Excellency's 
most obedient humble Servants,
Peter Pelham, Secr. 
in behalf of the Society.

To which His Excellency was pleas'd to return the following Answer:

Gentlemen:

I Return the Ancient and honourable Society my Thanks for their
Address, and Invitation of me to the Mother Lodge of Free and
Accepted Masons of America; And they may rest assur'd that their
Loyalty and Fidelity to his Majesty will always recommend the
Society to my Favour and Protection.

W. SHIRLEY.

Voted, that the above Address to His Excellency Wm. Shirley Esqr.
&c. with his Excellency's Answer, be printed in one of the Publick
papers next Monday.

Wednesday, May the 25th, 1743. Being Lodge Night the following
Brethren met.

The Rt. Worshipl Bro: H: Price M pro: 
Bro: Benj: Franklin of Phila. etc.

Wednesday Augst 10th 1743. Being Lodge Night, Voted, that Bror.
Jenkins, Charles, Hall, H: McDaniel, Phillips, & Price, take a
proper opertunity to wait on Bro: Belcher, (our Late Governor,)
with an Invitation from the Brethren, to give us the favour of his
Company, at such time as he shall please to appoint.


Thursday Feby 9th, 1743. (o. s.) 

Being appointed for the Entertainment of the Honble Mr. Belcher
(according to vote,) who attended with about Forty of the Brethren
in Open Lodge; and a Handsome Supper was prepar'd, after which we
took leave of Our Hond Brother in the most solemn manner. (He soon
after sailed for England.)

Wednesday, Augst 26th, 1747. Being Lodge Night, Voted, That Our Rt.
W: Bro Oxnard G. M., Brors Brockwell, Aston, Pelham, T. McDaniel
and Secray be a Committee in behalf of the Lodge to Send a Letter
of Congratulation to Our Honble Bror Belcher, upon his Advancement
to, and Safe Arrival at his Government of the Jerseys.

Wednesday Sepr 9th 1747. Being Lodge Night. The Committee appointed
to form a Letter of Congratulation to His Excellency Our Bro
Belcher presented the same to the Lodge, which was to the
acceptance of the Lodge. Voted therefore that the Secretary do
forward the same as soon as may be, and the Commee have the Thanks
of the Lodge for the same. It is as follows, Vizt

Thrice Worthy Brother !

It was with the greatest pleasure and the utmost Satisfaction We
recd the News of your Safe Arrival at your Government of the
Jerseys; And from a Just Sence of the distinguishing marks of your
Esteem shewn to the Antient & Honble Society of Free and Accepted
Masons when you fill'd the Chair of Government in this Province,
(which upon all Occasions we doubt not but you would still
Continue,) We cannot but hope the sincere and hearty
Congratulations of Our Lodge on your present happy Accession may
meet with favourable acceptance.

You have sufflciently distinguish'd your adherence to Our THREE
GRAND PRINCIPLES in your Firm attachment to his Majesty's Person
and Government with (with Joy we find) has preferr'd you to a
second Commission (an uncommon Instance of Royal Favour) and as the
weight of so great a Charge must be attended with many concerns, so
we heartily wish a happy Concurrence of everything that may Render
your Administration Satisfactory to your Prince, Advantageous to
your People, and Easy to your Self; so that full of Days and full
of honour (which but little Survives our Actions) you may finally
meet with a reward of that Honour and Happiness which will be as
Eternal as Inconceivable.

By Order of the Rt Worshipful the Provincial GRAND MASTER of North
America, and the Rt Worshipful Master, Wards and Fellows of the
LODGE held in Boston N England Sepr ye 3. in the Year of Masonry
5747 Annoque Domini 1747.

Chas. Pelham Secr. 

(Reply to the above letter.)


Wednesday Novr. 11th, 1747. Being Lodge Night. Our Rt Worshl Bro:
Oxnard G: M: presented to the Lodge, a letter from His Excellency
our Bror Belcher at the Jerseys, in Answer to the Congratulatory
one sent him from the Lodge, which was most kindly Recd. and
Order'd to be read by the Secretary, and is as follows, Vizt.

Rt. Worshl Brothers !

I have with much pleasure Receiv'd your respestful Congratulation
of my Safe Arrival to this Government, dated from your Lodge in
Boston ye 3 of Last Month. From the Testimonials I carry'd with me
to London from your Lodge I was Receiv'd by the Rt HONOURABLE the
GRAND MASTER; and at the Lodges where I attended as a WORTHY
BROTHER; I shall always with great Alacrity show Respect and
Kindness to any one that may fall in my way, who is a BROTHER of
the Society of FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS; and I am the more
Gratified in the Kings Repeated Grace and Favour as it does me
double Honor in Clearing my Character from all Imputation, & setts
me at the head of this fine Province, and may also Reflect some
honour on the Society of FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS; that the King
has so Publickly justified the Conduct of a Brother in his
Adminstration of the Government of two of His Majesty's Provinces
in New England for Eleven Years together.

I am much Oblig'd to the Brothers of your Lodge for their kind
Wishes of my Welfare and Prosperity in the Arduous affairs of
Government, but above all that they extend them to my Obtaining a
reward of hor and happiness that shall be Eternal. I have been
receiv'd by the Good People here with uncommon marks of Respect and
kindess, which I shall return by all such Acts of Goodness in my
Power, as may most of all contribute to their Interest, & to their
quiet & Satisfaction.

May you Rt. WORSHL BROTHERS, and all and every one of your Lodge
live long in much health and Ease, and in such other Circumstances
of Life as you would wish for your Selves, and when this Life must
be Exchang'd for One that will have no end, May you all be happy
thro the Mercy of God in Jesus Christ Our only Lord and Saviour,
Amen.

From Kingswood House in the City of Burlington (New Jersey) this
Sixth day of Octobr in the year of Masonry 5747. Annoq. Domini
1747.

signed J. BELCHER.

To the Rt. Worshl Thos Oxnard Esqr. Provincial Grand Master of No.
America

The Rt Worsl Master, Wards & Fellows of the Lodge of the Ancient
and Honble Society of Free an Accepted Masons in Boston.

1743-1749


Meanwhile Franklin was again visiting his Masonic Brethren in
Boston. On May 25, 1743, he and Price attended the meeting of the
First Lodge in Boston. Governor Belcher dined with the Brethren of
the First Lodge Feb. 9, 1744, and soon after sailed for England
bearing the tidings of Masonry in America and a letter from the
Lodge which he read in person to the Grand Lodge held at the Devil
Tavern, Temple Bar, London Sept. 26, 1744.

Of the Master's Lodge in Boston, Price was Master from its
Constitution on Jan. 2, 1738, until his resignation in 1744. In
1746 Oxnard constituted a Lodge in Newfoundland.

In 1749 Franklin revived Masonry in Pennsylvania and, with full
knowledge of the facts and the proper course of procedure, came
again to Massachusetts for authority. In response, Thomas Oxnard,
successor of Price, and duly commissioned Provincial Grand Master
for North America, granted the rights and privileges for which
Franklin petitioned. Thus, for the second time, Benjamin Franklin,
leading Mason of Pennsylvania's earliest Masonic days, recognized
the authority of Massachusetts and his need to apply to
Massachusetts for authority to conduct Masonry in Pennsylvania. His
authority under his Massachusetts commission was instantly
recognized at home. In the same year Price accepted another
election as Master of the Masters' Lodge in Boston, and a Lodge was
chartered by Oxnard in Newport, R. I.

1750-1754 

The Second Lodge in Boston was established Feb. 17, 1750, and Price
accepted the chair, although he was retiring from business. He
remained active in Boston's affairs, joining the Boston Episcopal
Charitable Society the same year. August 12, 1750, Charters were
granted from Boston to Brethren in Maryland and Connecticut, and,
the preceding month, in Nova Scotia. October 7, 1751, another
proclamation of the precedence of Massachusetts was made in a
request to the Grand Master of England that all Deputations for any
part of North America should be asked from Oxnard and his
successors, "which some Lodges have not observ'd" though "Masonry
in British America has wholly Originated from us."

In 1750 P. G. M. Oxnard also visited England. On April 10, 1752,
Pennsylvania sent tangible evidence of her loyalty to Massachusetts
as the fountain head, for Brother McDaniel appeared for the Lodge
at Philadelphia, and paid for its constitution thirty-one pounds
and ten shillings.

On Oct. 13, 1752, Lord Colville had gone to England, and on October
12 of the following year a letter was voted to be sent to him
there. January 12, 1753, a Charter went from Boston to New London,
Conn. On Feb. 4, 1754, we find Oxnard again acting officially as
Provincial Grand Master of North America in a Charter granted by
him to Middletown, Conn., and on July 12 Henry Price again assumed
the East of the Grand Lodge after Oxnard's death.


1754

When Oxnard died, the Provincial Grand Lodge in Boston, on Oct. 11,
1754, voted that a petition be sent to the Grand Master of England
for the appointment of his successor, also to be Grand Master of
North America. Its last paragraph is as follows:

"And Whereas Masonry Originated Here anno 5733, and in the year
following Our then G. M. Price received order from G. M. Craufurd
to Establish Masonry in all North America in Pursuance of which the
Several Lodges hereafter mentioned have received Constitutions from
us. We therefore Crave due Precedency, & that in order thereunto
Our GM Elect, may in his Deputation be stiled GM of all North
America, and your Petitioners as in duty Bound shall ever Pray."

This petition set out also the dates of the constitution of Lodges
in other colonies subordinate to Price, including Pennsylvania, as
follows:

5734 Philadelphia.
35 New Hampshire & South Carolina.
38 Antigua and Annapolis in Nova Scotia.
46 Newfoundland.
49 Rhode Island.
50 Hallifax in Nova Scotia.
50 Annapolis in Maryland.
53 New London in Connecticut.
54 Middletown in Connecticut.
52 New Haven in Connecticut.

The petition was signed by the following Brethren as a Committee,
viz.:

Hugh McDaniel.
Benjamin Hallowell.
Chas. Brockwell. 
James Forbes. 
Robert Jenkins. 
William Coffin. 
Henry Leddell.

Is it conceivable that this petition did not truly represent the
facts ? Henry Price was in the chair and not one word of suspicion
has ever attached to him. Bro. Benjamin Franklin was present. The
Brethren at that meeting and those who formed the Committee which
drafted the petition were well acquainted with the history of
Masonry in those times.

Of those who signed it:

McDaniel was made or admitted Jan. 30, 1735, and rose to D. G. M.
in 1737 and was the accredited representative of Philadelphia to
the Provincial Grand Lodge in Boston.

Hallowell was made or admitted Jan. 23, 1735, and rose to D. G. M.
in 1753.
Brockwell was a clergyman made or admitted Jan. 28, 1746, and rose
to S. G. W. in 1753.

Forbes was made or admitted Nov. 20, 1735, and rose to D. G. M. in
1756.

Jenkins was made or admitted July 25, 1739, and rose to D. G. M. in
1757.

Coffin was made or admitted Aug. 8, 1744, and rose to S. G. W. in
1758.

Leddell was made or admitted Oct. 11, 1749, and rose to M. of the
First Lodge in 1752 and of the Masters' Lodge in 1755.

They were all close associates of Henry Price and so constant in
attendance upon Masonic functions that their names appear literally
hundreds of times in the first volume of the printed Proceedings.
Among those voting in favor of the resolution was apparently
Benjamin Franklin himself. Of the others voting, Rowe was made or
admitted July 23, 1740, and had been Master of the First Lodge in
1748; Leverett passed F. C. Oct. 11, 1749, having been made abroad,
Junior Warden of the same in 1750; Williams made or admitted May
29, 1746, Junior Warden of the Master's Lodge in 1750; Byard, made
or admitted May 11, 1748, Senior Warden of the First Lodge in 1750;
Erving, Junior Warden of the same in 1753; Pelham, made or admitted
Nov. 8, 1738, Junior Warden of the First Lodge in Boston in 1750;
Tyler, made or admitted Feb. 11, 1749, Junior Warden of the Third
Lodge in Boston in 1752; Gridley, made or admitted Jan. 22, 1745,
was also present at the Grand Lodge, and while at this meeting was
elected for nomination as Provincial Grand Master of North America.
Ezekiel Price was Junior Warden of the Third Lodge in Boston in
1752; Stowe had been present at the Grand Lodge as early as 1753,
though I have not his official Masonic record; and Holbrook was
Junior Warden of the Second Lodge in Boston in 1752. Many of them
rose to great public prominence and to exalted Masonic station.
Will anyone contend that these brethren did not speak the truth, or
that they did not know the facts about which they were talking? If
so, they also discredit the intelligence of Benjamin Franklin, who
was present and participated in the Proceedings of that meeting of
Oct. 11, 1754, and who wrote the letters quoted heretofore.

No court in the world would decline to believe the evidence of the
men named with their personal knowledge of the facts.

So desperate in argument has one Pennsylvania partisan become,
however, that he not only ascribes Franklin's acts to unworthy
political motives, but also quotes with apparent approval the words
of a forgotten scurrilous writer of 1764 who calls Franklin "false
and insidious," an "ungrateful incendiary," of no consideration, a
vilifier, and other equally polite appellations. The impartial
verdict of history has settled the integl ity of Franklin. It is to
be regretted that any writer, to bolstel a weak position, finds it
necessary to republish such a maudlin attack. There is equal
contemporaneous evidence to discredit Washington and Lincoln and
indeed every great man our country has known. Even our learned
Brother in Philadelphia, who would have it believed that these
Brethren had testified to what was not true, will hardly accuse
Franklin of being prejudiced against Pennsylvania and in favor of
Massachusetts. Nor can he so belittle the intelligence of Franklin
as to have anyone believe Franklin did not know all there was to be
known about the then Masonry in Philadelphia, or that Franklin
would have remained present and yet non-protesting in the face of
the solemnly declared claims of Massachusetts, if he did not know
them to be in absolute accord with the facts. Franklin's letters of
1734 show that the knowledge came then to him and his participation
in the meeting of 1754 shows that after twenty years of Masonic
experience as the leading Mason of Pennsylvania, he still
recognized that "Masonry Originated Here (i.e. Boston), anno 5733
and in the year following Our G. M. Price received orders from G.
M. Craufurd to establish Masonry in all North America."

1755-1767

Explicit and first-hand testimony of one who knew whereof he spoke
is the letter of Aug. 6, 1755, written by Henry Price himself to
the Grand Secretary of Grand Lodge of England, desiring a
Deputation pointing the noted Gridley as Provincial Grand Master.
It is as follows:

Worthy & Dear Bro:--It was with the utmost pleasure I saw a Letter
from you to the Honble Peter Leigh Esq. with his Deputation
appointing him Grand Master of South Carolina the last year and
whom I have had the pleasure of Seeing in our Lodges in Boston.

I would Inform you that as I rec'd my Deputation from the Right
Honble Lord Montague in April 1733 Signed by Thos. Batson Esq.
D.G.M. George Rook James Moor Smith Esq. G.W., made out by Bro.
Reed late Grand Secretary for North America, which I held four
Years and Constituted several Lodges, and was succeeded in the
office by Bro: Tomlinson, and after him Bro: Oxnard who Dying it
Reverted back to me again according to the Constitutions. Now with
my consent all the Brethren in North America have made Choice of
our Bro. Jeremy Gridley Esq. Counsellor at Law to be Grand Master
for Three Years, and then the Brethren to have power to Continue
him or apply for a new Grand Master, and as our numbers of
Gentlemen increase here and we are the oldest (or first
Constituted) Regular Lodge in America, We have made application to
the Grand Master of England for our said Bro. Gridley, which
application and Three Guineas we sent per Capt. John Phillips last
Dec to our Rev. Bro. Entick Minster at Stepney desiring him to
forward the affair, but we are surprised that we have not yet Rec'd
the Deputation, nor a line from Bro Entick, whose Receipt we have
for the Three Guineas p'd to him by the said Capt. John Phillips
who using the London Trade may be now found at the new England
Coffee House at Change Time.


I Therefore beg the favour of you to make enquiry after the Money,
and application Transmitted as aforesaid to Bro. Entick and as much
as in you lies forw'd the affair, which I shall acknowledge as a
great favour and will be a service to Masonry in These parts.

Masonry has had as great Success in America since my Settling here
as in any part of the World (except England.) Here is not less than
Forty Lodges sprung from my First Lodge in Boston. Therefore we
desire that our Deputation may be made out for all North America or
over all North America. I shall be glad of a few Lines from you
even though you should have made out and forwarded our Deputation
before this Reaches you; as I shall have sundry things to
Communicate to you from Time to Time and cannot do it but by Letter
to you, most of my old acquaintances of Masons being either Dead or
Remov'd from London. I have some remote thoughts of once more
seeing Lodon with all my Brethren in the Grand Lodge after Twenty
Two years absence, In the mean Time I am

Sir! Your most affect and faithful Bro. and Humble Serv't
(Endorsed)
Boston New England
Copy of a letter
August 6, 1755.
Desiring J. Gridley's Dep.

