THE BUILDER February 1925

Studies of Masonry in the United States
By BRO. H. L. Haywood
PART VI BEGINNINGS IN MASSACHUSETTS


A READING of the various books in which some discussion is made of
the beginnings of Masonry in Massachusetts will show that for many
years the subject has lain in much confusion, due partly to a lack
of data, partly to the average writer's habit of accepting without
critical examination things said by a predecessor. If this
confusion has to a large extent been cleared up, so that the
subject now stands forth with comparatively clear outlines it is
principally due to a remarkable book, already frequently quoted in
these studies: The Beginnings of Freemasonry in America, by Bro.
Melvin M. Johnson, P. G. M., Massachusetts. As already stated by
the present writer in a review published in THE BUILDER, October,
1924, page 316, the chief value of this work is that it is based on
original records, and that these records have been subjected to a
critical scrutiny, by virtue of which fact it may be accurately
described as a new departure in writing the history of the Craft in
America.

Bro. Johnson's work covers the period from the traditional
beginnings up to and including 1750. During that period Boston was
the cultural and commercial capital of New England, and one of the
two or three most important cities on the continent. A reader will
find a detailed history of the city from 1630 to 1880 in a
magnificent work in four volumes: The Memorial History of Boston,
edited by Justin winsor; Boston; 1882. The period during which
Freemasonry was organized in Massachusetts is covered in Volume II,
in which, on page 439, is the following succinct description of the
population and general characteristics of the Boston of that time:

"The appearance which Boston in the middle of the eighteenth
century presented to a visitor was one of thrift and substantial
prosperity. It had much the air of some of the best country towns
in England. The marginal lines had not materially changed, as
Price's plan of 1743 shows, and the territory of the little
peninsula sufficed, with but slight changes, until the new movement
in life began early in the present century. The population had
increased chiefly by process of natural laws, unaided by any
extensive immigration or influx from the country. When the
small-pox broke out in 1722, it was estimated that the town
contained about twelve thousand inhabitants. Twenty years later, in
1742, there were about eighteen thousand and the number scarcely
exceeded twenty thousand in 1760. This stationary character of the
population aided no doubt in the preservation of local
characteristics. In the valuation of 1742 there were reported to be
one thousand seven hundred and nineteen houses, and one hundred and
sixty-six warehouses twelve hundred of the population were widows,
a thousand of them being set down as poor; and there were one
thousand five hundred and fourteen negroes in town. Peter Faneuil
had just presented Faneuil Hall to the town; and there were
standing, besides the Town House and Province House, ten
meetinghouses of the prevailing faith, three edifices of the Church
of England, a French, a Quaker, and one Irish or Presbyterian
meeting-house. There was a work-house and an alms-house, a granary
and four school-houses."

THE CALENDAR, OLD STYLE AND NEW

It was in such an environment that Massachusetts Masonry made its
beginnings some time during the first quarter of the eighteenth
century, and in order to understand its course of development that
environment will need to be kept constantly in mind. Also the
reader needs to remember that prior to 1752 the Old Style calendar
was still in use. The general oversight of this fact has caused so
much confusion in Masonic, histories it will be useful here to
quote Bro. Johnson's explanation of Old and New Style calendars:

"Much confusion has arisen over dates from January 1 to March 24,
inclusive, prior to 1753, because to and including the year 1752
the first day of the new year was March 25 instead of January 1.
Consequently old style March 24, 1750, for instance, was the day
before March 25, 1751; and January 1, 1750, was the day after
December 31, 1750, and not the day after December 31, 1749. In many
commentaries on early Masonic matters as well as upon matters of
general history this distinction has been overlooked, with
resultant confusion. Accuracy of dates has been attempted herein,
and for clearness both old and new style have been indicated. For
instance, March 24, 1750/51, means the day before March 25, 1751.
At the time that day was officially known as March 24, 1750."

In going back to the origins of American Masonry Bro. Johnson made
use of eight various sources of information:

1. Official Lists of Lodges.

These lists, often engraved, were issued at various times by the
English and Irish Grand Lodges. The two best books on these lists
were written by Bro. John Lane: Handy Book to the Study of the
Engraved. Printed and Manuscript Lists of Lodges of Ancient Free
and Accepted Masons of England (Moderns and Ancients) from 1723 to
1814 with an Appendix and Valuable Statistical Tables; and Masonic
Records, 1717-1886; the former was first printed, London, 1889; the
latter, London, 1886. A second edition of the Records was published
in London, 1895.

2. The Constitutions.

Under this head are included all the Old Manuscripts, but more
especially the edition prepared by Dr. James Anderson, first
published in London, 1723. It was this book that Benjamin Franklin
brought out in Philadelphia, 1734.

3. Records and Account Books.


Under this head come the record books of the Grand Lodge at London
beginning under date of June 24, 1723; Liber B, Philadelphia,
beginning June 24, 1731; original records of the First Lodge in
Boston, evidently begun in 1738; the original records of the
Masters' Lodge in Boston, with the first record under date of
Dec. 22, 1738; records of St. John's Lodge at Portsmouth, N. H.,
begun Oct. 31, 1739; minute book of Tun Tavern Lodge of
Philadelphia, with the first entry dated June 28, 1749; a journal
written by Benjamin Franklin July 4, 1730; and the record of the
Provincial Grand Lodge of Boston beginning April 13, 1750.

4. Manuscripts of the Period.

In this classification are included the original petition for the
constitution of the First Lodge in Boston; the original petition
for the constitution of the First Lodge in New Hampshire; the
Beteilhe Manuscript; the Baron's Letter; and The Pelham List. The
Beteilhe Manuscript is so called because it was written by Francis
Beteilhe. He was made a Mason in the First Lodge of Boston, July
24, 1734, was made its secretary some time prior to June 23, 1736,
and was "appointed or reappointed Grand Secretary by Provincial
Grand Master Tomlinson on June 24, 1737." Also he was evidently
secretary of the Masters' Lodge, for its records from Jan. 2,
1738/9, to and including Aug. 7, 1739, are in his handwriting. The
Manuscript named for him opens with a copy of the petition for the
constitution of the First Lodge under date of July 30, 1733. Peter
Pelham was made a Mason Nov. 8, 1738, in the First Lodge, of which
he became secretary Dec. 26, 1739, and so remained until Sept. 26,
1744, when his son, Charles, made a Mason in the First Lodge, Sept.
12, 1744, succeeded him. Charles Pelham remained secretary until
July 24, 1754, or afterwards. It is from these two brethren that
the Pelham List takes its name.

5. Newspapers of the Period.

The Boston News-Letter, first published April 17, 1704; The Boston
Gazette, launched Dec. 14, 1719; The New England Courant, first
published Aug. 17, 1721; and The New England Weekly Journal, March
20, 1727, are among the important Massachusetts sources. Benjamin
Franklin and his brother had much to do with these early
journalistic adventures.

6. The Pocket Companion.

The first Pocket Companion was printed in London by E. Rider in
1735. In its first and subsequent editions it was used as a kind of
popular textbook of Freemasonry, and so remained until it was
superseded to a large extent by Preston's Illustrations of Masonry.

7. Preston's Illustrations of Masonry.

The first edition of this famous book was published in London,
1772. For nearly a century it was easily the most popular Masonic
book in existence. Many portions of its historical chapters stand
in need of careful revision, but for all that it is one of the
necessary sources of Masonic history. The Masonic bibliophile will
find it useful to possess himself of Bro. Silas H. Shepherd's
complete bibliography of Preston.

EARLIEST LODGES WERE "ACCORDING TO ANCIENT CUSTOM"

Prior to 1721 it was "legal" or "regular" for a group of Masons,
working by "inherent right", to form themselves into a lodge,
without charter or other official instrument. Such lodges were
known as "time immemorial", "spontaneous", sometimes as
"occasional", and frequently as "St. John's Lodges." After the
Grand Lodge at London adopted its new regulation in 1721, covering
the forming of a lodge, these independent Masonic bodies had to
become regularized. All the extant evidence justifies us in
believing that there were such independent lodges in the American
Colonies prior to 1733, a fact already adverted to in a previous
chapter on the beginnings of Masonry in Pennsylvania.

Such lodges, as well as those that later came into existence, "duly
and regularly constituted" met under conditions very different from
those now obtaining. They were more or less migratory, meeting from
place to place, sometimes in private residences; summons for a
lodge meeting were carried from house to house by the tiler; and
records were usually left with the secretary, who kept them at his
own home. Because of this free and easy way of managing their
affairs, lodges oftentimes kept few or no records of their
activities; and frequently such records as were kept became
destroyed or were lost.

Grand Lodges were in the same case. The Mother Grand Lodge at
London was organized in 1717, but its contemporaneous records were
not kept until on and after June 24, 1723. The first Grand Lodge in
Massachusetts was organized in 1733, but the still existing
contemporaneous records begin of date July 13, 1750. An excellent
description of this state of affairs is found in the Proceedings of
the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, for 1871, page 338:

"Our society conducts its affairs very differently now from what it
did formerly. Prior to 1776 the Grand Lodge of England had no
apartments of its own. Its meetings were held in taverns and halls,
while the Grand Secretary's office followed the calling of that
officer, and the papers, archives and records intrusted to him were
liable to loss, decay and mutilation. They were undoubtedly
preserved as well as possible, considering the fact that they
followed the person of the Grand Secretary, and were subject to
such care and supervision as he bestowed upon his own papers and
documents, in his own office.

"The same was true of the Grand Secretary's office here. It was at
the house of that officer, or at his place of business, as was most
convenient, and the papers and archives were packed away in a box
or trunk, rarely opened. The Provincial Grand Lodge met at the
Bunch of Grapes Tavern, the Royal Exchange, at Concert Hall, or at
such other place as was most convenient, and had no hall or home to
resort to. Under these circumstances, we are indeed fortunate in
finding any of our original papers preserved.

"In the inquiry we are making, it is necessary to keep in mind the
great difference between the systematic manner in which our affairs
are now conducted, and the loose, unmethodical way in which Masonry
was carried on during the last century, especially between 1733 and
1770."

The majority of lodge meetings, as suggested above, were held in
taverns, which were not then what they afterwards became, but were
social, intellectual, political and literary centers to which
members of the best classes were accustomed to repair. A chapter
could be written, if space permitted, on the influence of tavern
life in early Massachusetts Masonry. Some hint of this, along with
valuable information concerning the more prominent taverns of the
period between 1733 and 1750, was given by Bro. Charles W. Moore in
his The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine, 1860, page 131:

"During the period anterior to 1750, it is probable that the Grand
Lodge met about thirty times, sometimes at the Bunch of Grapes
Tavern, and sometimes at the Royal Exchange Tavern. In 1735, 'The
First Lodge' (the present Saint John's) was removed to the Royal
Exchange by leave of the Grand Master; and on the 15th February,
1750, a 'second Lodge' was constituted, to be held at the same
place. On the 7th of March following, the 'third Lodge' was formed,
its meetings to be holden at the White Horse Tavern; but
afterwards, during that year, it was removed to the Bunch of
Grapes.

"The Bunch of Grapes Tavern was 'in King Street, just below the
Town House, 1724'. Its site was that now occupied by the New
England Bank, on the corner of State and Kilby Streets. It was kept
by William Coffin in 1731, and by Col. Joseph Ingersoll in 1764-9.
King Street became known as State Street in 1784.

"The Royal Exchange Tavern stood on the late site of the Columbian
Bank, on the corner of State and Exchange Streets-- now occupied by
the Merchants' Bank building. The quarrel between Benjamin
Woodbridge and Henry Phillips, 1727, resulting in a duel and the
death of the former, occurred here. The event caused a good deal of
excitement at the time. The tavern was then kept by Luke Vardy.
"The White Horse Tavern, 'at the South End, 1724,' was nearly
opposite to where Hayward Place now is. Its landlord in 1760-4 was
Joseph Morton.

"On 'Fryday, April ye 13th, 1750', a quarterly communication of the
Grand Lodge was held at the Royal Exchange Tavern, R. W. Thomas
Oxnard presiding. From this date to that of January 27, 1775,
inclusively, one hundred and fifty-one meetings--regular, special
and festive--took place. The records designate the places where
eighty-five of them were held. Until the summer of 1767, the
quarterly and other business sessions were generally held at the
Royal Exchange; and afterwards, until the breaking out of the
revolutionary war, at the Bunch of Grapes."

THE BRETHREN MADE MUCH OF FEASTS

In consonance with the sociable tavern atmosphere in which they
worked was the great importance attached by our early brethren to
their annual and semiannual feasts, and to their public
processions. Feasts were held on either or both of the St. John's
Days, all plans for the festivities being in the hands of the
stewards. When the great day arrived the brethren, each in his
liveliest costume, gathered at the lodge room or at the home of the
Grand Master or Worshipful Master. The whole day and most of the
night was devoted to the festivities, except for the few hours
necessary for lodge or Grand Lodge business. The public procession
attracted the attention of the entire town, for the brethren went
forth in all the variety of their regalia, preceded by "French
horns", and followed by the dignitaries in carriages.

In the same essay from which quotations were made just above, Bro.
Charles W. Moore gives us a little glimpse into these activities
and at the same time furnishes a record of the feasts celebrated by
Grand Lodge on St. John the Baptist Day and on St. John the
Evangelist Day:

"In 1751, on the 12th of April, 'it was Voted, That the next St.
John's Day should be celebrated out of Town; upon which our Rt.
Wors. Bro. Price made an offer of the use of his House at Manotomy,
[now West Cambridge,] which was accepted.' The record states
further that 'Monday, June ye 24th, 1751, the Brethren went in
Regular Procession to the House of Mr. Richardson in Cambridge,
'Bro. Price's House at Manotomy being Incumber'd by sickness,'
where a Grand Lodge was held for celebrating the day.'

"Within the period now under notice, embracing twenty-four years,
the festival of Saint John the Baptist was celebrated at the Grey
Hound Tavern in Roxbury, in 1752, 1753, 1754, 1755, 1756, 1757,
1758, 1759, 1761, 1764, 1767, 1768 and 1770; at the British Coffee
House in King Street in 1762; at 'The George Tavern on Boston
Neck,' afterwards called 'The King's Arms Tavern,' in 1763, 1769,
1771, 1772 and 1773; and 'at the house of Bro. Gardner at Roxbury,'
in 1765.

"The feast of St. John the Evangelist, during the twenty-four
years, was observed at the Royal Exchange Tavern in 1751, 1758 and
1759- at the Bunch of Grapes Tavern in 1752, 1753, 1762, 1764,
1765, 1767, 1768, 1769, 1770, 1771, 1772 and 1773; at Concert Hall
in 1756, and at the British Coffee House in 1760 and 1761.

"These festivals might have been celebrated, also, in the years
here omitted; but if so, the fact is not recorded."

BOOKS AND REFERENCES

For the general period covered by the present chapter see the
bibliography appended to the Study Club for last October, page 314.
For a description of the Boston of 1700-1750 see The Memorial
History of Boston, Including Suffolk County Massachusetts, edited
by Justin Winsor; Boston, 1882; Vol. II. On the calendar see
Beginnings of Freemasonry in America, Johnson; New York, 1924; page
42. On original sources see Ibid, page 28 flf. On Francis Beteilhe
and the Beteilhe Manuscript see Ibid, page 36, and various
references in index; also Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of
Massachusetts for 1871, page 288. On Charles and Peter Pelham and
the Pelham List see Beginnings of Freemasonry in America, pages
290, 293; also consult index. On Boston newspapers see The Memorial
History of Boston; VoI. II, page 387 flf. On "occasional" or "time
immemorial" lodges see Johnson, page 47; The Freemasons' Magazine,
1844, page 163. On lodge records see Massachusetts Proceedings,
1871, page 338; Johnson, page 372; The History of Freemasonry,
Robert Freke Gould; Philadelphia, 1889, Vol. IV, page 242. On
taverns see The Freemasons' Magazine, Charles W. Moore; 1856, page
162; 1860, page 132. On feasts and processions see Ibid, page 132;
Johnson, pages 137, 187, 223.

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

Why is it so difficult to ascertain the exact facts concerning the
origins of American Masonry? What sets Bro. Johnson's book apart
from most of the studies of that field? Give a description of
social conditions in Boston during the early half of the eighteenth
century. In what way do you suppose, did this environment influence
Freemasonry What is meant by the Old Style calendar? When was the
New Style begun?

What are the various sources for a history of American Masonry? Do
Grand Lodges now publish official lists? If so, where? What is
meant by "the constitutions"? What part do they now play in
Freemasonry? What record and account books does your own lodge
keep? How are these preserved? Is your lodge keeping a history?

What is meant by Masonic Manuscripts? What was the Beteilhe
Manuscript? The Pelham List? Name some early Boston newspapers.
What use have they as sources of Masonic history? What was the
Pocket Companion? Who was William Preston? What book did he write?
When was it published? Have you ever read it?

How did lodges come into existence prior to 1721? What were such
lodges called? How does a lodge now come into existence?

How did early lodges keep their records? Where did they meet? How
did the early Grand Lodges keep their records? Describe one of the
early taverns. What is meant by St. John's Day? What is the date of
St. John the Baptist Day? St. John the Evangelist Day? Why are the
two Saints John the Patrons of Freemasonry? Does your own lodge
hold feasts on either of these days? Do you believe that Freemasons
should indulge in public processions? Who had charge of the social
festivities of early American lodges? How are the social
festivities managed in your own lodge? Do you believe that all such
festivities should be in the hands of the lodge stewards?

