Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Freemasonry In The United States During And After The Revolution.
Sublime Lodge of Perfection , according to the rites recommended by the King of Prussia , extending the Masonic degrees to 33 , was constituted in the new Grand Lodge room in Black Horse Alley , and at the banquet Which followed at the City Tavern , the occasion was
dignified with thirteen toasts , the first being in honour of the King of Prussia , and the second of Bro . George Washington . The new room in Black Horse Alley could not have been occupied for a long time , for in the year following the meetings were again held in the Old Masonic
Hall , built by the modern Masons in Lodge Alley . This branch of the Order , however , declined very rapidly , and in 1785 , an Act was passed by the Assembly of Pennsylvania , ordering the sale of the Masonic Hall . The revenue from the rents and profits was to be given ,
twothirds to subscribers and one-third to the first Lodge , and two-thirds of the proceeds of the sale were paid to subscribers then living , and one-third to the first Lodge for charitable purposes . The sale was effected in 1792 , the first Lodge handing over its share to the City
Corporation in 1793 , to form a fund for the purchase of fuel for the poor . In December 1786 , the Grand Lodge of Ancient York Masons , which had rented the Masonic Hall for some time , resumed its meetings in Vidells Alley , where they had been held before the outbreak of the Revolution .
As might , perhaps , have been foreseen , a severance from England of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania , when once the Independence of the United States was established , was soon determined open . A special meeting of Grand Lodge , with subordinate Lodges , was held
in September 1783 , when it was " Resolved , that it is improper that the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania should remain any longer under the authority of any foreign Grand Lodge . " At a convention subsequently held , it was unanimousl y resolved that the heretofore Provincial Grand
Lodge of Pennsylvania should be determined , and the Lodges under its jurisdiction should form themselves into a Grand Lodge , to be called " The Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania and Masonic jurisdiction thereunto belonging , " and to be holden in Philadelphia . When Franklin died in
1790 , the Masonic Lodges took no part in the funeral procession , he being a modern Mason , but an address of respect had , some years previously , been presented to him . But , when General Washington died , in December 1799 ,
Congress requested the society of Freemasons to attend as mourners , and this request was complied with , Lodge L'Amenite No . 73 , holding also a Lodge of sorrow in honour of the deceased brother . The Craft were also
present on the occasion of the funeral solemnity , on 22 nd January 1800 , Grand Lodge being present , and the following Blue Lodges , L'Amenite , No . 73 ; -Philadelphia Lodge , No . 72 ; Orange Lodge , No . 71 ; Concordia Lodge , No . 67 ;
Washington Lodge , No . 59 ; Harmony Lodge , No . 52 ; Lodge No . 19 ; Lodge No . 9 ; Lodge No . 3 and Lodge No . 2 ; between three and four hundred Masons being in the parade .
As regards Military Lodges during the Revolution , these were held under direction of officers of regiments , the ceremonies being made as complete as could be under the circumstances . It is known that before the war , brothers of the 17 th Regiment British were granted a warrant to
work as a Lodge by the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania , and this was designated Lodge No . 18 . The present Lodge , No . 19 , or Montgomery Lodge , was established by warrant granted in May 1779 , to the " First Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteer Artillery . " This Lodge travelled with
the Pennsylvania line during the war , aud in 1784 its warrant was surrendered to Grand Lodge , a new one , under which it is still worked , being issued in place thereof in 1786 . Other warrants for travelling Lodges were issued
by the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania , not only to Pennsylvanian lodges , but to those of other states , among them being warrant No . 29 to North Carolina Regiment Continental Army ; Warrant No . 27 to Maryland Regiment ditto ; Warrant No . 36 to New Jersey Brigade ditto .
The subject of Royal Arch Masonry appears to have caused some difficulty to the Order in Pennsylvania . According to " Ahiman Rezon , " the first Royal Arch Chapter in America of which any account exists was held
in Philadelphia before 1758 . This chapter worked under the warrant of Lodge No . 3 , and had communication with a military chapter working under a warrant granted by the Grand Lodge of England . In 1795 , one Molan , attempted to form an independent Royal Arch Chapter
Freemasonry In The United States During And After The Revolution.
under the warrants of Lodges No . 5 , 19 , 52 and 67 , and a Maryland and Georgia Lodge . But the Grand Lodge stepped in and suspended these Lodges , further declaring that Molan ought not to be received as a Mason by any of
the Lodges under its jurisdiction . The suspended Lodges were afterwards restored , and it was resolved to erect a Grand Royal Arch Chapter , under the authority of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania . This was the first Chapter established in the United States . In 1798 it was decreed
that no warrant for a chapter should be granted by the Grand Chapter , except to be worked under the warrant of a regular subsisting Lodge . Innovations , however , were meditated in other parts of the Union . In 1797 , a convention of several chapters in the northern States was
held at Boston , delegates from Massachusets , New Hampshire , Rhode Island , Connecticut , Vermont and New York attending . By this convention it was declared , in opposition to the Pennsylvania precedent , that " no Grand Lodge had any authority to exercise any authority over any
convention or Chapter of Royal Arch Masons , and co-operation was invited to assist in the opening of a Grand Chapter at Hartford , towards the end of January of the ensuing year . This was done , and a Grand Chapter
erected , having authority over the above States . The Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania protested against this action , but in vain . The innovation spread , causing much inconvenience to the Royal Arch Masons of Pennsylvania , with whom it became a subject of great complaint .
Many A Mickle Makes A Muckle.
MANY A MICKLE MAKES A MUCKLE .
A GOOD tale needs no varnishing . Plunge we , therefore , at once , in the manner prescribed by Horace , ¦ in medias res . Last year an excellent plan was devised , by our esteemed Bro . Constable , for the purpose of augmenting the funds of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution .
Its very simplicity no doubt commended it to the members of the Craft , and a marked success was the gratifying result . Bro . Constable had printed and circulated among the brethren , some two thousand shilling tickets , each of which entitled its owner to take part in a ballot or drawing
for certain Life Governorships to the Institution , the number of such being determined by the amount realised by their sale . By this means Bro . Constable was enabled to hand in , as steward of the anniversary festival , held on 28 th January 1874 , the highly respectable sum of £ 100 .
The same plan is proposed this year , on behalf of the Girls' School . Four thousand tickets have already been distributed , every two hundred and ten of which—or ten guinea ' s worth—representing a Life Governorship or two Life Subscriberships , at the option of the winner . Thus—to
deal with even figures for the better exemplification of the scheme—if between the date of issue and the 28 th April next , the day fixed for the ballot , 4 , 200 tickets shall have been sold , the proceeds will represent two hundred guineas , or the value of twenty Life Governorships . The holders of
these 4 , 200 tickets will then assist at the ballot for the 20 prizes , and the names of the twenty winners will be forwarded to the Secretary of the Institution , for the purpose of enrolment among the Life Governors . By this means two hundred guineas—without any deduction whatever , be it remarked—will be added to the funds of the school .
These figures represent , we believe , approximately , the amount of success which has thus far attended the project , but there is no limit whatever to the sum proposed to be raised in this manner . There is ample time between
now and the day fixed for the ballot to increase the number of tickets twofold or threefold , in which case the two hundred guineas wo have spoken of would be increased to four hundred or six hundred guineas and the number of Life Governorhsips from twenty to forty or sixty .
We have said the plan is simple ; it possesses also these further advantages . There are many Masons who can ill afford a contribution of one guinea , or even of half-aguinea , and yet have the heart to contribute , out of their limited means , some smaller sum . There are many , again ,
who , possessing this will , would yet hesitate to put their names down for such trifling contributions in a subscription list filled with donations varying from one to ten or even more guineas . Bro . Constable ' s scheme just meets the case of these brethren . According to the number of tickets they can afford to purchase , by so many shillings will they have increased the funds of the Institution ,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Freemasonry In The United States During And After The Revolution.
Sublime Lodge of Perfection , according to the rites recommended by the King of Prussia , extending the Masonic degrees to 33 , was constituted in the new Grand Lodge room in Black Horse Alley , and at the banquet Which followed at the City Tavern , the occasion was
dignified with thirteen toasts , the first being in honour of the King of Prussia , and the second of Bro . George Washington . The new room in Black Horse Alley could not have been occupied for a long time , for in the year following the meetings were again held in the Old Masonic
Hall , built by the modern Masons in Lodge Alley . This branch of the Order , however , declined very rapidly , and in 1785 , an Act was passed by the Assembly of Pennsylvania , ordering the sale of the Masonic Hall . The revenue from the rents and profits was to be given ,
twothirds to subscribers and one-third to the first Lodge , and two-thirds of the proceeds of the sale were paid to subscribers then living , and one-third to the first Lodge for charitable purposes . The sale was effected in 1792 , the first Lodge handing over its share to the City
Corporation in 1793 , to form a fund for the purchase of fuel for the poor . In December 1786 , the Grand Lodge of Ancient York Masons , which had rented the Masonic Hall for some time , resumed its meetings in Vidells Alley , where they had been held before the outbreak of the Revolution .
As might , perhaps , have been foreseen , a severance from England of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania , when once the Independence of the United States was established , was soon determined open . A special meeting of Grand Lodge , with subordinate Lodges , was held
in September 1783 , when it was " Resolved , that it is improper that the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania should remain any longer under the authority of any foreign Grand Lodge . " At a convention subsequently held , it was unanimousl y resolved that the heretofore Provincial Grand
Lodge of Pennsylvania should be determined , and the Lodges under its jurisdiction should form themselves into a Grand Lodge , to be called " The Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania and Masonic jurisdiction thereunto belonging , " and to be holden in Philadelphia . When Franklin died in
1790 , the Masonic Lodges took no part in the funeral procession , he being a modern Mason , but an address of respect had , some years previously , been presented to him . But , when General Washington died , in December 1799 ,
Congress requested the society of Freemasons to attend as mourners , and this request was complied with , Lodge L'Amenite No . 73 , holding also a Lodge of sorrow in honour of the deceased brother . The Craft were also
present on the occasion of the funeral solemnity , on 22 nd January 1800 , Grand Lodge being present , and the following Blue Lodges , L'Amenite , No . 73 ; -Philadelphia Lodge , No . 72 ; Orange Lodge , No . 71 ; Concordia Lodge , No . 67 ;
Washington Lodge , No . 59 ; Harmony Lodge , No . 52 ; Lodge No . 19 ; Lodge No . 9 ; Lodge No . 3 and Lodge No . 2 ; between three and four hundred Masons being in the parade .
As regards Military Lodges during the Revolution , these were held under direction of officers of regiments , the ceremonies being made as complete as could be under the circumstances . It is known that before the war , brothers of the 17 th Regiment British were granted a warrant to
work as a Lodge by the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania , and this was designated Lodge No . 18 . The present Lodge , No . 19 , or Montgomery Lodge , was established by warrant granted in May 1779 , to the " First Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteer Artillery . " This Lodge travelled with
the Pennsylvania line during the war , aud in 1784 its warrant was surrendered to Grand Lodge , a new one , under which it is still worked , being issued in place thereof in 1786 . Other warrants for travelling Lodges were issued
by the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania , not only to Pennsylvanian lodges , but to those of other states , among them being warrant No . 29 to North Carolina Regiment Continental Army ; Warrant No . 27 to Maryland Regiment ditto ; Warrant No . 36 to New Jersey Brigade ditto .
The subject of Royal Arch Masonry appears to have caused some difficulty to the Order in Pennsylvania . According to " Ahiman Rezon , " the first Royal Arch Chapter in America of which any account exists was held
in Philadelphia before 1758 . This chapter worked under the warrant of Lodge No . 3 , and had communication with a military chapter working under a warrant granted by the Grand Lodge of England . In 1795 , one Molan , attempted to form an independent Royal Arch Chapter
Freemasonry In The United States During And After The Revolution.
under the warrants of Lodges No . 5 , 19 , 52 and 67 , and a Maryland and Georgia Lodge . But the Grand Lodge stepped in and suspended these Lodges , further declaring that Molan ought not to be received as a Mason by any of
the Lodges under its jurisdiction . The suspended Lodges were afterwards restored , and it was resolved to erect a Grand Royal Arch Chapter , under the authority of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania . This was the first Chapter established in the United States . In 1798 it was decreed
that no warrant for a chapter should be granted by the Grand Chapter , except to be worked under the warrant of a regular subsisting Lodge . Innovations , however , were meditated in other parts of the Union . In 1797 , a convention of several chapters in the northern States was
held at Boston , delegates from Massachusets , New Hampshire , Rhode Island , Connecticut , Vermont and New York attending . By this convention it was declared , in opposition to the Pennsylvania precedent , that " no Grand Lodge had any authority to exercise any authority over any
convention or Chapter of Royal Arch Masons , and co-operation was invited to assist in the opening of a Grand Chapter at Hartford , towards the end of January of the ensuing year . This was done , and a Grand Chapter
erected , having authority over the above States . The Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania protested against this action , but in vain . The innovation spread , causing much inconvenience to the Royal Arch Masons of Pennsylvania , with whom it became a subject of great complaint .
Many A Mickle Makes A Muckle.
MANY A MICKLE MAKES A MUCKLE .
A GOOD tale needs no varnishing . Plunge we , therefore , at once , in the manner prescribed by Horace , ¦ in medias res . Last year an excellent plan was devised , by our esteemed Bro . Constable , for the purpose of augmenting the funds of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution .
Its very simplicity no doubt commended it to the members of the Craft , and a marked success was the gratifying result . Bro . Constable had printed and circulated among the brethren , some two thousand shilling tickets , each of which entitled its owner to take part in a ballot or drawing
for certain Life Governorships to the Institution , the number of such being determined by the amount realised by their sale . By this means Bro . Constable was enabled to hand in , as steward of the anniversary festival , held on 28 th January 1874 , the highly respectable sum of £ 100 .
The same plan is proposed this year , on behalf of the Girls' School . Four thousand tickets have already been distributed , every two hundred and ten of which—or ten guinea ' s worth—representing a Life Governorship or two Life Subscriberships , at the option of the winner . Thus—to
deal with even figures for the better exemplification of the scheme—if between the date of issue and the 28 th April next , the day fixed for the ballot , 4 , 200 tickets shall have been sold , the proceeds will represent two hundred guineas , or the value of twenty Life Governorships . The holders of
these 4 , 200 tickets will then assist at the ballot for the 20 prizes , and the names of the twenty winners will be forwarded to the Secretary of the Institution , for the purpose of enrolment among the Life Governors . By this means two hundred guineas—without any deduction whatever , be it remarked—will be added to the funds of the school .
These figures represent , we believe , approximately , the amount of success which has thus far attended the project , but there is no limit whatever to the sum proposed to be raised in this manner . There is ample time between
now and the day fixed for the ballot to increase the number of tickets twofold or threefold , in which case the two hundred guineas wo have spoken of would be increased to four hundred or six hundred guineas and the number of Life Governorhsips from twenty to forty or sixty .
We have said the plan is simple ; it possesses also these further advantages . There are many Masons who can ill afford a contribution of one guinea , or even of half-aguinea , and yet have the heart to contribute , out of their limited means , some smaller sum . There are many , again ,
who , possessing this will , would yet hesitate to put their names down for such trifling contributions in a subscription list filled with donations varying from one to ten or even more guineas . Bro . Constable ' s scheme just meets the case of these brethren . According to the number of tickets they can afford to purchase , by so many shillings will they have increased the funds of the Institution ,