THE BUILDER JANUARY 1925

STUDIES OF MASONRY IN THE UNTED STATES
BY BRO. H.L. HAYWOOD, EDITOR
PART V. FIRST GRAND LODGES IN PENNSYLVANIA

AS already stated on page 314 of THE BUILDER for October, the Grand
Lodge of England adopted in 1721 a regulation to the effect that no
lodge could come into existence as duly and regularly constituted
without a warrant from the Grand Master. This new law came into
effect gradually. Such lodges as had existed from time immemorial,
or as had been organized since 1717 and could show otherwise a
clean bill of health were accepted as legitimate or duly
regularized.

"It is evident," writes Gould, in his History, Vol. IV (American
edition), p. 240, "that brethren who had left the old world, and
brought to their new homes a knowledge of the Craft, were as much
within their rights in holding Lodges in Philadelphia, Portsmouth
(New Hampshire), and elsewhere in America, as those who assembled
in like manner in England and Scotland.... The Fraternity there in
Philadelphia must be held to have been as much and as legally a
Grand Lodge as that of 'All England at York.' "

As also previously noted, the old St. John's Lodge at Philadelphia
functioned at one and the same time as a "private" lodge and as a
Grand Lodge. The records of this lodge, as given in Liber B, go
back to February, 1731 (New Style), at about which time, so it is
believed, it first perfected a formal organization, with William
Button as Master. When Button left for Newfoundland William Allen
was elected to take his place. On June 24, the brethren assembled
as a Grand Lodge, and Allen was made Grand Master. It should be
understood that this was a "Grand Lodge" according to the ancient
customs, and not in the sense now used; this means that "Grand
Lodge" was a general assembly of the brethren and that all Masons
were permitted attendance, wherever their membership might be; it
is probable that the officers were more or less nominal, and acted
as such only at the feast on St. John's Day.

The Grand Lodge thus working according to the ancient style was
evidently not very powerful. Until 1757 it never had (so far as we
know) more than three lodges on its roster; and the fourth lodge,
organized under its authority in that year, later withdrew its
allegiance, under circumstances to be described. Its membership was
drawn from a restricted class, and the interest of these men
appears to have waxed and waned with circumstances, as during the
anti-Masonic flurry of 1737 in William Plumstead's Grand
Mastership. During a period of fourteen years no notice of the
Craft had appeared in a Franklin's Gazette; perhaps it was because
the brethren preferred no publicity; but it may be also that
interest had lapsed. If such was the case it took on a new lease of
life in 1752, for in March of that year a movement was put under
way by the Grand Lodge and the First Lodge to erect a Freemason's
Hall to be used exclusively by the brethren. On March 13, 1754, a
subscription list was passed around "with gratifying results",
except that the lodge which met at Tun Tavern held out for a time,
though it joined the enterprise later. A three-story brick building
was erected on what is now Sansom Street, Philadelphia; in this the
brethren assembled until 1782, some of the rooms meanwhile being
used for general public purposes, as when in 1777 a number of
Quakers were incarcerated in it on suspicion of Royalist
sympathies. It was popularly known as "Mason's Lodge" and was the
first specifically Masonic building to be erected in the Colonies.

GRAND LODGE DECAYED

But alas ! As the Revolution approached the original Grand Lodge
and its subordinates became stricken with decay; to some extent, no
doubt, because so many of their members were on the Royalist side,
and because so much of their life was transfused into the veins of
a new set of lodges working under the Ancient Grand Lodge of
England, of which more anon. The last official meeting of the
brethren in Mason's Lodge was on Feb. 25, 1782. The title of the
building had been vested in the trustees of the three lodges; the
survivors, Bros. Shippen and Swift, were empowered by the Assembly
to sell the property in 1785; two-thirds of the money realized was
returned to individual Masons; the other third went to the First
Lodge and by it was turned over, 500 pounds, to the City
Corporation for charitable purposes.

Of the various Grand Masters of this first Grand Lodge the most
important was, next to Franklin, William Allen, closely associated
with Franklin through a long course of years. He was a
Philadelphian by birth, born there Aug. 5, 1704. After studying law
at the Temple in London he returned to practice in the city and was
soon one of its prominent leaders. He purchased the lots on which
Independence Hall was built in his own name and paid for them with
his own money; and while mayor opened that historic building with
a banquet, as we may learn from Franklin's Gazette under date of
Sept. 30, 1736. He served as member of the Assembly and in 1750 was
made Chief Justice of the Province. Being, like so many of his
friends, a confirmed Royalist, he returned to England at the advent
of the Revolution and while there published a book to show how
England might retain the Colonies. He returned to Philadelphia
after the war and died there Sept. 6, 1780. According to Libel B he
must have been Grand Master in 1731, because he is thus referred to
under date of June 24 of that year; we know of a certainty that he
was Grand Master in the following year, and that he appointed
Franklin his Deputy. In 1750 he was appointed Provincial Grand
Master of Pennsylvania by Lord Byron, Grand Master of England.

Of Humphrey Morrey (or Murray), elected Grand Master June 28, 1733,
less is known. He was a merchant of old Quaker stock, and evidently
related to prominent Philadelphia families. He died in August,
1735. Franklin succeeded him in office and by virtue of a
deputation from Henry Price, already referred to, figured as
"Provincial Grand Master for the Province of Pennsylvania." After
Franklin came James Hamilton, elected Grand Master July 3, 1735,
born in Philadelphia in 1710, later residing at Lancaster for a
while, in which town he lived during his incumbency. Hamilton was
a brother-in-law of William Allen. In 1745 he was Mayor of
Philadelphia, and in 1748 was commissioned Lieutenant Governor of
the Province. His death occurred in New York, Aug. 14, 1783.

THOMAS HOPKINSON WAS ELECTED

On July 8, 1736, the Grand Lodge elected Thomas Hopkinson to
succeed Hamilton. Hopkinson was born in London, April 6, 1709,
studied law, and, after coming to Philadelphia, soon forged to the
front, becoming a member of the Provincial Council, first president
of the American Philosophical Society, and the incumbent of other
positions equally important; he was the father of one of the
signers of the Declaration of Independence; his grandson, Joseph.
Hopkinson, was the author of "Hail Columbia." He died Nov. 5, 1751.
The anti-Masonic scare, occasioned by a catastrophe incident to a
mock initiation, came at the end of his administration; he issued
a statement to the public in order to clear the Fraternity of any
guilt in this most unfortunate occurrence and ridiculous
misadventure. The Grand Master for 1737/8 was also prominent in the
larger affairs of the city. William Plumstead (or Plumbstead) was
born in Philadelphia Nov. 7, 1708. He held many offices of public
trust, being Mayor in 1754, and was active in Masonic circles.
Benjamin Franklin appointed him Grand Treasurer in 1749; and he was
one of the Committee elected to build the "Mason's Lodge." His
death occurred in Philadelphia, Aug. 10, 1765. Plumstead was
succeeded by Joseph Shippen, Jr., born Nov. 28, 1706, a grandson of
the first Mayor of Philadelphia under Penn's charter. It was his
misfortune to reach the Grand Mastership in June, 1738, at the time
when the anti-Masonic crusade was so strong that the Craft
apparently lapsed into more or less inactivity. One of his Grand
Wardens was Dr. Thomas Cadwallader, associated with the Bell Letter
episode. He was made Senior Grand Warden under Franklin in 1749 at
the first Grand Lodge held under the Oxnard warrant. Shippen died
at eightyseven years of age.

These thumbnail sketches of the early Grand Masters, included here
to show what manner of men governed the Philadelphia Craft in its
early years, are given as being typical of the brethren who worked
in, or under, the first Grand Lodge; they were, many of them,
prominent in public affairs, belonged to the "best families" and
moved in exclusive circles; and it is probable that all the lodges
then in activity were similarly recruited from the same social
strata. Bro. Sachse believes it was because of this fact that a
great transformation was worked in Philadelphia Masonry, beginning
about 1758, which it is now in order to describe.

"ANCIENT" MASONRY APPEARED ON THE SCENE

The reader will recall that in 1751 a new Grand Lodge sprang up in
England as a rival to the original Grand Lodge organized in 1717.
(See The Study Club, April, 1924, page 111.) The brethren behind
the Grand Lodge of 1751 believed themselves to adhere more closely
to the old working and regulations and therefore fell into the
habit of dubbing themselves "Ancients"; the older Body they
nicknamed "Moderns" it is most probable, as Henry Sadler has
abundantly shown, that a social cleavage was also party responsible
for this "schism," as Gould and others have not very happily
described it, for the Ancients were made up, for the most part and
at least in the beginnings, of Masons drawn from among workmen,
many of them from Ireland; Laurence Dermott, their creative genius,
was an Irish painter, and their Grand Lodge was organized to follow
closely the pattern of the Irish Grand Lodge.

In the middle of the eighteenth century Philadelphia was an
important port to which came many seafaring men, along with
laborers of all description; it was most natural for men of these
classes, not in sympathy with the social exclusiveness of the
"Modern" lodges, to prefer lodges under "Ancient" warrants.
Furthermore, many of the brethren who migrated into Pennsylvania
and its sister colonies were members of, or had been made Masons
in, military lodges; and since it was the Ancient Grand Lodge and
the Grand Lodge of Ireland that had discovered the device of
issuing ambulatory warrants for lodges in the armies and navies, it
naturally followed that these Masons newly come to Philadelphia
were predisposed to favor the Ancient working.

Owing to these causes, and to the fact already mentioned that many
of the leading "Moderns" of the city were Royalist in their
sympathies, Modern Masonry gradually passed into the background so
that by 1793 it had become entirely replaced by its rival. Under
the original Grand Lodge there had been, until the middle of the
century, three "subordinate lodges"--St. John's, warranted in 1731
or previously; Lodge No. 2, warranted by Franklin in 1749; and
Lodge No. 3, warranted some time before 1749. In 1757, probably to
meet the changed social conditions in the city, Lodge No. 4 was
added to the list, opened in due form on July 2 of that year. It
was in this last named lodge that the first definite defection
appeared. A committee from Lodges Nos. 1 and 2 accused its W. M.
and two of his officers with being "Ancients"; this they did not
deny. In the following January they showed their determination to
remain Ancients by calling together a committee for the purpose of
petitioning the Ancient Grand Lodge of England for a warrant. Such
a warrant was issued (Blessington was Grand Master) under date of
June 7, 1758, was given the number 1; and was listed on the Ancient
Grand Lodge list as No. 69. Following the precedent set by the
Ancient Grand Lodge and the Grand Lodge of Ireland, this lodge
vacated the number 1 position, and took for itself number 2,
probably leaving the first number open for a Provincial Grand Lodge
to be organized later. It began work under the new warrant,
received in January, 1759, with forty members, and chose for itself
the official name of "Lodge No. 1 of Ancient Free and Accepted
Masons in the City of Philadelphia, and Province of Pennsylvania."
During the year this lodge divided itself into two sections, under
two sets of officers, except for the treasurer, and met on
different nights---a strange procedure not now possible to explain.

These brethren determined to form a Provincial Grand Lodge. On Feb.
13, 1760, they elected William Ball to be their first Grand Master,
and on the following day asked Grand Lodge at London to issue them
a warrant therefor. This request was complied with in the course of
time, and Grand Lodge issued a warrant July 15, 1761. The
Philadelphia brethren learned of this but, for some reason, the
document failed to arrive. A second warrant was issued but it also
became lost. A third was made under date of June 20, 1764, and this
time reached Philadelphia safely in 1764. William Ball was
installed as Provincial Grand Master with solemn ceremony Feb. 2,
1764.

One of the first official acts of this new Grand Body was to issue
a warrant for the formation of Lodge No. 3, composed of members
drawn from Lodge No. 2. In the following year Grand Lodge warranted
a lodge in Cantwell's Bridge, Delaware, and later, lodges in
Maryland, New Jersey, Virginia, etc. It met with the difficulties
usually incidental to new organizations, but these it surmounted,
and in the course of time it solidly established itself as one of
the Mother Grand Lodges of this country. The Revolution caused it
to sever its official relations with the English parent body, and
in 1786 it was dissolved, and a new Grand Lodge organized in its
place, as remains to be described in later chapters; the present
Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania dates without break in continuity from
that year.

Of the persons prominent in this Ancient Grand Lodge Bro. William
Ball was easily first. He was raised in Lodge No. 2 under the
original Grand Lodge in March 1750/1. He was again raised in the
"Ancient way" in 1759 or 1760, but retained his membership in his
mother lodge until 1763. As Provincial Grand Master he served
continuously from 1761 to 1781, and then again, after Grand Lodge
became independent from England, for the year 1795. He was born on
his father's estate, now included within the city of Philadelphia,
Oct. 6, 1729. He learned the goldsmith trade, and probably followed
it in Philadelphia; but retired in middle life as one of the
richest men in the Colony. He died May 30, 1810, and was buried
with Masonic honors.

NOTES AND REFERENCES

On the general field covered by this article the most important
literary source is Freemasonry in Pennsylvania 1727-1907, Barratt
and Sachse; Philadelphia; 1908, Vol. I. Of almost equal importance
is Old Masonic Lodges of Pennsylvania "Moderns and Ancients"
1730-1801, Julius F. Sachse- Philadelphia; 1912- Vol. I. See also
the following: History of the Ancient and Honorable Fraternity of
Free and Accepted Masons, Stillson, Hughan, etc.; Boston and New
York ; 1891. History of Freemasonry in Rhode Island, Henry W. Rugg;
Providence; 1895. History of Freemasonry, Robert Freke Gould;
Cincinnati and Chicago; Vol. IV. History of Freemasonry in Canada
John Ross Robertson; Toronto; 1900, Vol. I. History of Freemasonry
in Maryland, Edward T. Schultz; Baltimore; 1844, Vol. I.
Freemasonry in Michigan, Jefferson S. Conover; Coldwater; 1897,
Vol. I. Mackey's Revised History of Freemasonry Robert I. Clegg;
Chicago; 1921. Beginnings of Freemasonry in America, Melvin M.
Johnson; New York; 1924. Benjamin Franklin as a Free Mason, Julius
F. Sachse; Philadelphia 1906. History of Freemasonry in the State
of New York Ossian Lang; New York; 1922. History of the Most
Ancient and Honorable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons in New
York from the Earliest Date, Charles T. McClenachan; New York;
1888, Vol. I. History of Lodge No. 61, F. & A. M., Wilkesharre,
Pennsylvania, Oscar Jewell Harvey; Wilkesbarre; 1897. Ars Quatuor
Coronatorum, Vol. III, page 124- Vol. XVII, page 137- Vol. XXVIII,
page 270; Vol. XXIX, page 308. Origin of Masonry in the State of
New Jersey, and the Entire Proceedings of the Grand Lodge, from Its
First Organization, A. L. 5786, Joseph H. Hough; Trenton; 1870.
Concise History of Freemasonry, Robert Freke Gould; New York; 1924.
Militaiy Lodges, Robert Freke Gould; London; 1899. In above
references consult index.

On early Pennsylvania worthies in addition to above see the
following on William Allen:--Pennsylvania: A Primer, Barr Ferree;
New York; 1914, page 84. An Historical Account of the Old State
House of Pennsylvania, Frank M. Etting; Philadelphia; 1891, pages
12, 24, 35, 52, 58, 122, 132, 136, 147, 151. Pennsylvania Archives,
Samuel Hazard; Philadelphia; 1852, page 362. James Hamilton:--
Pennsylvania: A Primer, Barr Ferree; New York; 1914, pages 135,
140, 141. An Historical Account of the Old State House of
Pennsylvania, Frank M. Etting; Philadelphia; 1891, pages 16, 18,
25, 34, 39, 122, 136. Humphrey Morrey:--Pennsylvania: A Primer,
Barr Ferree; New York; 1914, page 37. Thos. Hopkinson:--An
Historical Account of the Old State House of Pennsylvania, Frank M.
Etting; Philadelphia; 1891 pages 25, 126. Wm. Plumstead:-- An
Historical Account of the Old State House of Pennsylvania Frank M.
Etting; Philadelphia; 1891, pages 35, 151. Benjamin Franklin:--
Pennsylvania: A Primer, Barr Ferree; New York 1914, pages 79, 84,
111, 113, 139, 141, 142, 145, 163, 170, 174, 214, 227, 229, 234,
235, 236, 241. An Historical Account of thc Old State House of
Pennsylvania, Frank M. Etting; Philadelphia; 1891, pages 16, 25,
33, 38, 40, 41-44, 49, 53, 65, 81, 85-87 94, 97, 101, 106 109, 118,
119, 124-126, 154. Pennsylvania Archives, Samuel Hazard;
Philadelphia; 1852, pages 294, 295 297, 309, 274, 344, 467, 548,
766, 420. Joseph Shippen:--Pennsylvania Archives, Samuel Hazard;
Philadelphia; 1852, pages 622, 636. An Historical Account of the
Old State House of Pennsylvania, Frank M. Etting; Philadelphia;
1891, pages 7, 65. Much light is thrown on the Shippen family by a
volume of correspondence entitled Letters and Papers Relating
Chiefly to the Provincial History of Pennsylvania, edited by Thomas
Balch; Philadelphia; 1855.

On the general field see THE BUILDER: 1916, page 230; 1917, page
254; 1918, pages 165, 168; 1919, pages 35, 155.

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

What was the regulation adopted in 1721? When was it enforced in
the American Colonies? In what sense was St. John's Lodge a Grand
Lodge? Who was its first Grand Master? What was the first Masonic
building erected in this country? When and by whom was it built?
How was it disposed of?

Give a brief sketch of the career of William Allen. Of Thomas
Morrey. Of James Hamilton. Of Thomas Hopkinson. Of William
Plumstead. Of Joseph Shippen. To what social class did these
brethren belong? What eflfect did this have on the future of
Philadelphia Masonry?

Give sketch of the Ancient Grand Lodge. When was the first Grand
Lodge organized? Why did the Grand Lodge of 1751 come into
existence?

How did Ancient Freemasonry come to be established in Pennsylvania?
Tell what you know about Lodge No. 4. Why did it secede from the
original Grand Lodge? How did it secure its warrant? Tell how the
Ancient Provincial Grand Lodge was organized in Philadelphia. Who
was its first Grand Master? In what states did it warrant lodges?
Give a sketch of William Ball. What light does the history of
Pennsylvania Masonry throw on Masonry of today? How many Grand
Lodges use the word "Ancient" in their title? Do you know what
influence Pennsylvania Ancient Masonry had on the American Ritual?

HOW TO ORGANIZE A STUDY CLUB

A pamphlet on "How to Organize and Maintain a Study Club" will be
furnished free to those asking for it in any quantities up to fifty
or one hundred. For further information address the National
Masonic Research Society, 1950 Railway Exchange, St. Louis, Mo. The
Society answers questions lends books, clippings, etc., free of
charge to clubs. Text books recommended are "Symbolical Masonry"
and "Great Teachings of Masonry," both by H. I,. Haywood, the
former of which should be used in beginning.

