Bro. Paul Revere, The Patriot Freemason.

BRO . PAUL REVERE , THE PATRIOT FREEMASON .

REPRINTED FROM THE KEYSTONE . BRO . PAUL REVERE was one of the most conspicuous of America ' s Revolutionary patriots , and one of the most distinguished of American Freemasons . His life was full of romance , and hia fame is recorded both in history and poetry . The Craft also has enrolled his name among those who have attained its highest honours . We do not know of any more interesting subject to whieh

we can now invite onr readers' attention than the Masonio and patriotic achievements of this hero . His Masonio career first demands notice . At the age of forty-two years , Lieut .-Col . Bro . Paul Revere was elected Junior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts . This was the foundation of the independent Grand Lodge of that jurisdiction , on 8 th March 1777 ,

when the Brethren met at the " Green Dragon Inn . " and elected Bro . Joseph Webb Grand Master , this being the earliest independent Grand Lodge founded in the United States . * The records that remain to us prove that Bro . Revere was from this time forward an active Freemason for at least twenty . three years of his life . He served as Junior Grand Warden in 1777-8 . Senior Grand Warden in

1779-82 , Depnty Grand Master in 1782-4 , and also in 1790-1 , and Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts from 1794 to 1797 . In 1776 it is said he engraved the seal of American Union Lodge , No . 1 , of Marietta , Ohio ( then an Army Lodge ) . f In 1797 , while Grand Master , he officially addressed a letter to Ex-President , Bro . Gen . George Washington , on the occasion of his retirement from

pnblic life , in which he used the following memorable language : — " Though as citizens they lose you in the active labours of political life , they hope as Masons to find yon in the pleasing sphere of fraternal engagement . From the cares of State and the fatigue of public business , our Institution opens a recess , affording all the relief of tranquillity , the harmony of peace , and the refreshment of

pleasure . . . It is our earnest prayer that when yonr light shall be no more visible in this earthly Temple , you may be raised to the All Perject Lodge above , be seated on the right of the Supreme Architect of the Universe , and receive the refreshment your labours "have merited . " To this address Washington returned a most fraternal reply on

12 th June 1797 , in the conrse of which he said : — " In that retirement which declining years induces me to seek , . . . my attachment to the Society of which we are members will dispose me always to contribute my best endeavours to promote the hononr and interest of tbe Craft . ";)* On 11 th January 1800 , Bro . Paul Revere P . G . M ., in connection

with Bros . Warren and Josiab Bartlett P . G . M . ' s , addressed a letter of condolence to the widow of our then deceased Brother , George Washington , in which he said : — " The Grand Lodge of the Commonwealth of Massaobusetts have deeply participated in the general grief of their fellow . citizpns on the melancboly occasion of tbe death of tbeir beloved

Washington . ... To their expressions of sympathy on this solemn dispensation , the Grand Lodge have subjoined an order , that a Oolden Urn be prepared as a deposit for a lock of hair , an invaluable relique of the Hero and the Patriot , whom their wishes wonld immortalise ; and that it be preserved with the jewels and regalia of the Society . " § To this request Mrs . Martha Washington replied , through Mr .

Lear , inclosing a lock of Washington s hair . In Mr . Lear s reply he says : — "In complying with this request , by sending the lock of hair which you will find enclosed , Mrs . Washington begs me to assure you tbat she views with gratitude the tributes of respect and affection paid to the memory of ber dear deceased busb'snd ; and receives

witb a feeling heart the expressions of sympathy contained in yonr letter . " Thus was Bro . Revere instrumental , in connection with Bros . Warren and Bartlett , in securing for tbe Grand Lodge of Massachusetts a most valued relic of Washington , and one that is to this day ceremoniously delivered by each of its Grand Masters to bis

successor in office , as a precious charge , to be sacredly guarded as long as time shall endure . In 1782 Bro . Revere was one of a committee of six , appointed by the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts , to report a declaration of reasons on whir-b it justified its independency , at tbat time and during the preceding five years . Their paper is a terse , broad and sound

one . || In 1787 he was a member of the Committee appointed to bring about a union witb the outstanding Prov . Grand Lodge of Massachusettee . This union was perfected in 1792 . Thus much for the Masonic life of Paul Revere , a Brother who was " first among his equals , " in every sphere of life in which be laboured . Let us turn to his no less brilliant , and more romantic secular

bistnry . Paul Revere was a Boston boy , born on New Tear ' s day 1735 , and be died in the same city on 10 th May 1818 . ^ He was of Hngnenot descent , and , like Bro . Philip Syng , Grand Master of Masons of Pennsylvania in 1741 , was by trade a gold and silversmith . At the

beginning of the Revolutionary War , he was one of the four engravers then in America . By his own efforts he learned the art of copper-plate engraving . The following were some of his notable works : In 1766 , a popular print , emblematic of the repeal of tbe Stamp Act ; in 1770 , a print of the " Boston Masacre , " while in 1776 , he engraved the plates , made the press , and printed the bills of'

Bro. Paul Revere, The Patriot Freemason.

the paper money ordered by tbe Massachusetts Provincial Congress . He was sent by that body to Philadelphia , to visit the powder-mill * here , and learnt the art of making powder ; and on his return he "et up a powder mill with complete success . As early as 1756 , when he was but twenty . one years of age , he was a Lieutenant of Artillery , and stationed at Fort Edward , near Lake George . He was a mem .

ber of the famous " Boston Tea Party , " that planned the destruction of the Tea in Boston harbour . That which perhaps has given him greatest fame is known as " Paul Revere ' s Ride , " rendered immortal by Lonufellow's verses , under that title , in his " Tales of a Wayside Inn , " the concluding lines of which are as follow t " So through the night rode Paul Revere ;

And so through the night went bis cry of alarm To every Middlesex village and farm , — A cry of defiance and not of fear ; A voice in the darkness , a knock at tbe door , And a word that shall echo for evermore ! For , borne on the night wind of the Past ,

Through all onr history to the last , In the hour of darkness and peril and need , Tbe people will waken and listen to hear The hurrying hoof-beats of that steed , And the midnight message of Paul Revere . " These are tbe interesting historical facts of this ride : On 18 th A pril

1775 , the day before the battle of Lexington , Gen . Warren , learning of the intended approach of the British , under Gen . Gage , too Con . cord and Lexington , despatched Bro . Paul Revere to the latter town , via Charlestown , to warn the patriots of the enemy ' s approach . The historian , Bancroft , thus notes the memorable rising of the signal light in the tower of the North Church , Cambridge :

" Revere stopped only to engage a friend to raise the concerted signals , and five minutes before the sentinels received the order to prevent it , two friends rowed him past the Summerset man-of-war across Charles River . AU was still and suited the hour . The sbi p was winding with tbe young flood ; the waning moon just peeped above a clear horizon : while from a couple of lanterns in the tower

of tbe North Church , the beacon streamed to the neibghourvng towns , as fast as light could travel . A little beyond Charlestown Neck , Revere was intercepted by two British officers on horseback ; bnt being himself well mounted , he turned suddenly , and leading one of them into a clay pond , escaped from tho other by the road to Med .

ford . As he passed on he waked the Captain of the Minnte Men of tbat town , and continued to rouse almost every house on tbe way to Lexington . " * Longfellow thus chronicles in poetry , tbe stirring incident of tb « beacon-light : Revere

" Said to hia friends , ' If the British march By land or sea from the town to-night , Hang a lantern aloft in the belfry arch Of the North Church tower as a signal light , —

One , if by land , and two , if by sea ; And I on the opposite shore will be , Ready to ride and spread the alarm Through every Middlesex village and farm , For the country folk to be up and to arm . ' "

Elias Phinney gives the following picturesque account of Revere s arrival at Lexington : " Col . Paul Revere passed over the ferry to Charlestown , and rode with all speed to Lexington , where he arrived a little after midnight . The family of Mr . Clark had retired to rest . On the arrival of Revere he was hailed by the guard and stopped . He

desired to be admitted to tho house . Munroe , not knowing him , nor the object of his errand , refused to let him pass , stating that the family had just retired to rest , and bad desired that they might not be disturbed by any noise about the house . ' Noise , ' said Revere , ' You'll soon have a noise that will disturb you , all . The British troops are on their march , and will soon be among you . ' He

passed without further ceremony .+ At tbe close of tbe Revolutionary War , Bro . Paul Revere was engaged in bnsiness in casting cannon and Chunh bells ; and in 1795 be assisted at the laying of the Corner-stone of the Boston Slate House . He afterwards established the extensive copper-rolling

works at Canton , Massachusetts , which business is still prosecuted by the " Revere Copper Company . " % A late number of the Boston Advertiser states that the card of the once famous firm of " Paul Revere & Son , " issued in 1800 , was recently placed in its possession . It is a good specimen of conventional design and engraving , with the text : —

PAUL REVERE & SON , at their Bell and Cannon Foundry , at the North purl of Boston , Cast Bells and Brass Cannons of all S zes , and all kinds of Composition Work , Manufactured Sheets , Bolts , Spikes , Nails , & c . from Malleable Copper and Cold Rolled . N . B . —Cash for old Brass and Copper .