                EARLY MASONRY IN THE COLONIES

The first lodge meeting of Free Masons in Pennsylvania must have 
been opened prior to 1730; as Daniel Cox received a deputation at 
that time constituting him as Grand Master of New York, 
Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, therefore there must have been 
sufficient numbers of Masons to have formed at least one lodge in 
each of those States, or there would have been no reason to have 
a Grand Master. From an old ledger discovered in 1908, it shows 
that there was a lodge established in Philadelphia about the 
later part of 1730, or first part of 1731. It met on the first 
monday of each month and had thirteen members. This ledger 
entitled "Libre B" was the Secretary's ledger, and entries date 
from June 24, 1731 til June 24, 1738, and shows a list of 50 
members. "Libre B" indicates that there was a "Libre A" an even 
older ledger used by an older lodge.
It was in "Libre B", that it mentions Benjamin Franklin. It shows 
that Franklin was charged on June 24, 1731. "To the remainder of 
your L3. entered is L2". Franklin had apparently paid the sum of 
L1, five months before or some time during that period, as he was 
also charged with five months dues, which would indicate he had 
been made a Mason in February 1731, ( the first degree ). Oddly 
the last entries in "Libre B" were made by Franklin, it consists 
of a report drawn up on June 5, 1731, by a committee of the 
members, and was in his own handwriting. NOTE; Feb 1731 under the 
old calendar was the birthdate of George Washington, under the 
new calendar it would be February 1732. It may be assumed that 
they were using the new calendar, but there is no proof. however 
if it were so then we could say that Benjamin Franklin was made a 
Mason one year before George Washington was born. From the 
Philadelphia Gazette,  dated June 27, 1734, "Monday last a Grand 
Lodge of the Ancient and Honorable  Society of Free Masons in 
this Province, was held at the Sun Tavern, in Water Street, when 
Benjamin Franklin, being elected Grand nsuing year, appointed Mr. 
John Crap to be his deputy; and James Hamilton,Esq., and Thomas 
Hopkins, Gent. to be his wardens. After which a very elegant 
entertainment was provided and the Proprietor (Thomas Penn) the 
Governor, and several other persons of distinction honored  the 
Society with their presence." Franklin went on to serve a second 
term as Grand Master, and by that time the Meeting was held in 
the "Royal Standard  on Market street near second. During his 
diplomatic career, Franklin while in France, joined the "Lodge of 
the nine Muses" in which LaLander and other literary celebrities 
were members. Franklin took an active part in the initiation of 
Voltaire, and at his death, Franklin served as S.W. of the lodge 
of sorrow held to celebrate his memory. Oddly when we speak of 
early Masonry in the Colonies, we always get conflicting 
statements as to who was first, or when was the first lodge 
meeting. Masons for some reason always interested in the first of 
anything and everything. Yet here is a first which  very few pay 
any attention too, and it can be validated.
  "In 1715, John Moore, Collector for the port of Philadelphia, 
in a letter to a friend, mentions having spent some evenings with 
his Masonic Brethren" Although this reference may be located in 
the Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, 1882, page 
152, there is no mention of it being a Lodge meeting. With the 
end of the War for Independence, there was that desire to be 
independent from England in other ways, and thus on September 
25,1786, in Lodge No.25 which met in a little room in Vidall's 
alley, near Second and Chestnut Streets in Philadelphia. Lodges 
Nos. 2, 3, 5, 9, 12, 14, 18, 33, 44, and 45 met. They disolved 
the Provincial Grand Lodge, and formed the "Independent Grand 
Lodge of Pennsylvania and Masonic Jurisdiction  there unto 
belonging". Although they had formed their Grand Lodge of 
Pennsylvania, there had only been eleven Lodges at this meeting, 
not present were some seventeen lodges which held warrants under 
the old provincial Grand Lodge, to which they were still very 
much attached.
Five months passed, and in February of 1787 the Independent Grand 
Lodge wrote letters and notified all lodges outstanding to return 
their warrant and they would be issued new Charters under the new 
Grand Lodge. As an example; Alexandria Lodge 39 received their 
letter on February 23, 1787, requesting the return of the warrant 
issued February 3, 1783, and a new charter would be issued 
placing them under the Independent Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. 
Unlike some of the other lodges. The Alexandria Lodge 39 did not 
reply but hesitated. The Revolutionary War now at an end, the 
Grand Lodge of Virginia was once more in session; and at a 
meeting of the Lodge 39 they decided that rather than go with 
Pennsylvania it would request membership with the Grand Lodge of 
Virginia. A Committee consisting of Robert McCrea, William 
Hunter, and John Allison approched General Washington to 
ascertain if it was agreeable to him to be named in the Charter 
as Master of the newly proposed lodge. Washington gave his 
consent to the use of his name, and a Letter was sent on October 
25, 1787 to the Grand Lodge of Virginia requesting to be admitted 
and that a charter naming George Washington as its Charter Master 
be granted at the next regular communication of the Grand Lodge 
in Richmond. The Petiton of the lodge was granted,the number was 
changed to 22, and dated April 28, 1788, and signed by Edmund 
Randolph Esq. Grand Master and William Waddell, Grand Secretary.
What may have happened to the other sixteen lodges under the 
Provincial Grand Lodge? What did they do? How did they respond to 
the request for the return of their warrants? I can only say, 
There must have been other lodges like our Alexandria Lodge which 
were outside the Pennsylvania jurisdiction, at the time of the 
establishment of the Independent Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania.

