The History Of American Union Lodge, No. 1, Ohio.

latter , known as the Connecticut Line , —because the troops composing it hailed from the province of Connecticut , — had obtained from Bro . Richard Gridley , Deputy Grand Master of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Massachusetts , a warrant , authorising them to meet as a Lodge of

Freemasons at Roxbury , Mass ., by the style and title of American Union Lodge . This warrant , which bears date 15 th February 1776 , —according to the newly published Early History and Transactions of the Grand Lodge of Neiu York , the date is the 13 th , —is a somewhat curious document and is worth reproducing in extenso . It reads thus : —

" John Howe , Grand Master , to Joel Clark , Esq ., greeting ;—By virtne of authority invested in me , I hereby , reposing special trust and confidence in your knowledge and skill of the Ancient Craft , do appoint and constitute yon , the said Joel Clark , Esq ., Master of American Union Lodgo , now erected in Eoxbnry , or wherever your

Body shall remove on the Continent of America , provided it is where no Grand Master is appointed . Yon are to promote in your Lodge the utmost harmony and brotherly love , and to keep up to the Constitutions for the reputation of the Craft . In your makings , you are to be very cautious of the

moral character of such persons , and also of visitors , and such as desire to become members of your Lodge ( such as were not made under it ) . You are to transmit to the Grand Lodge a fair account of the choice of your officers as well present as future . Any matters coming before your Lodge that cannot be adjusted , you are to appeal

to and lay before the Grand Lodge for a decision . You are , as often as the Grand Lodgo meets , to attend with your two Wardens . Of the time and place the Grand Lodge shall meet , you will have pre . vioua notice .

In order to support the Grand Lodge , yonr Lodge is to pay into the hands of the Grand Secretary , each quarterly night , the sum of twelve shillings , lawful money , all of which you will pay due regard to . The Commission to remain in full force and virtue until recalled by me or my successors in office .

Given under my hand , and the hands of the Grand Wardens ( the teal of the Grand Lodge first affixed ) , this the 15 th day of February , Anno Mundi 6776 , of Salvation 1776 . KICHARD GKIDLEY D . G . M . WllLIAM BUKBECK S . G . W . J . G . W .

Per Order of the Graud Master . Recorded , Wm . Hoskins , Grand Secretary . Bro . Moore is quite right in describing this as a " peculiar and unique document . " It is not very formal , yet it was sufficient for all purposes . Moreover , as the same Brother

points out , it gave authority for the Lodge to meet and work anywhere " on the Continent of America , provided it is where no Grand Master is appointed . " Well , the Lodge held its first meeting under the above warrant , the very month in which it was granted , and commenced its labours : the

original members , as quoted by our authority from the minutes being , " Col . Joel Clark , Col . John Park , Thomas Chase Esq ., Ensign Jonathan Heart , Captain Joseph Hoit , Col . Samuel Holden Parsons , Captain Ezekiel Scott , — Whittlesey , and Cotton , Fellow Crafts , and Col . Samuel

Wyllys , Entered Apprentice . " Shortly after this , that por . tion of the army with which the members of American Union Lodge were connected moved to the City oi New York , and here , m the month of April of the same year , we find its officers and members applying to Bro . Dr . Peter

Middleton , Deputy Grand Master of the Province of New York , to confirm this warrant . This , however , it seems , was not done , but a new warrant was granted , under the

name of " Military Union , No . 1 . The following record of this transaction is from the Lodge minutes as quoted from the Early History and Transactions of the Grand Lodge of New York , already alluded to .

" April 23 rd 1776 . — ' At a Lodge or Meeting of the Brethren of the Antient or Honorable Society of Free and Accepted Masons , held by Particular Permission of the Eight Worshipfnl Bro . Middleton , Depnty Grand Master of all Masons in the Province of New York , Joel Clark in the chair , unanimously agreed that a petition be

presented Bro . Middleton , Depnty Grand Master , to confirm the former warrant appointing Joel Clark Master , John Poole Senior Warden j Samuel Wylly Junior Warden ; Samuel Parsons Treasurer

and Jonathan Heart Secretary of a Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons : and that Brother Parsons , Crane and the Secretary wait on the Eight Worshipful Deputy Grand Master , and present the said petition . '"

The result we have already stated , and , under the authority of Dr . Middleton , the Lodge , as we gather , met at " Bro . Vandanham ' s , " June 20 th , when it was voted that Bro . Hull be invited " to deliver something agreeable to the occasion on St . John ' s Day , " which was to be held on

the 24 th of the month , ' at such place as the steward shall provide . " It was at the same time resolved , that the utensils , consisting of " aprons , glasses , candlesticks , Bible , & c . " purchased by American Union should be returned to the said Lodge , and considered as only being lent to the Military Union . Henceforward the Lodge met frequently ,

The History Of American Union Lodge, No. 1, Ohio.

till the 15 th August , just prior to the battle of Long Island , shortly after which it is recorded that in the engagement which took place on the 27 th August , R . W . Joel Clark , Elisha Hopkins , Ozias Bissell , Joseph Jewett , Nathaniel Gore , Avere taken prisoners . On the 13 th September the

Lodge was still further reduced , as Bro . James Chapman and Micajah Glesson were killed , William Cleaveland and John P . Wylly taken prisoners , while the latter misfortune likewise befel Bro . Otho H . Williams , who was taken prisoner at Fort Washington . This record in the minutes

is "Signed : Jonathan Heart Secretary . " A meeting of the Lodge is recorded to have been held in March 1777 , from which date till February 15 th 1779 , no further meetings were convened . On tbe latter date , the Connecticut line being quartered at Reading Conn ., the Lodgo was

called together , and as Bro . Joel Clarke had meanwhile died in captivity , a new election of officers took place , with the following result : —Bro . Samuel Holden Parsons was chosen W . M ., and Bros . Jonathan Heart and Elisha Marshall Senior and Junior Wardens respectively . The last

meeting mentioned in the minute book in possession of the New York Grand Lodge , occurred on the 10 th March following , but we have it on authority of Bro . Moore , that the Lodge met together at Widow Sandford ' s , near Reading Old Meeting House , not only as above , on the 15 th

February , but also on the 24 th of the" same month , and likewis e the 10 th , 17 th , 22 nd , and 25 th March . At the meeting on the 22 nd , " it was determined that the members should dine together on the 25 th , and that the Hon . Rufus Putnam , Mrs . Sanford , her daughter and niece , together

with Mrs . Marshall and Mrs . Heart , ' with the brethren of the Ancient Society , ' be invited to dine with them . " From this time till the 7 th May , the Lodge was in a state of great activity , and Bro . Moore tells us that on one of these festive occasions which marked the brief interval , among the

music performed , the " Dead March " in Saul was followed by the " Country Jig . " On the 7 th May , the Lodge " closed without date , " as the services of the Connecticut line were required elsewhere . On the 24 th June in the same year , we read of it at " Nelson ' s Point" on the Hudson , when a

fresh election of officers took place , and Bro . Jonathan Heart was elected Master . " A procession was then formed , and proceeded to West Point , where , uniting with other brethren , all marched to ' the Red House , ' where * George Washington and family ' joined them . Dr . Hitchcock

delivered an address , dinner was served , and toasts and speeches followed . And now comes a scene worthy of special memory : George Washington wished to retire to his quarters across the river , when the Wardens and a ' crowd of brethren' attended him to his barge , the music playing

1 God Save America . ' On embarking , his departure was announced by three cheers from the shore , answered by three from the barge . " On the 26 th July , the Lodge met at " Robinson House , " which Bro . Moore supposes to have been not far from West Point , and on this occasion the

name of Colonel Rufus Putnam figures among those of the candidates for initiation . This distinguished brother was raised on the 9 th September following , and remained identified with the Lodge to the very close of hia life . In December of the same year , it was " at Morristown , New

Jersey , celebrating the natal day of St . John the Evangelist . General Washington was again a visitor , and was present at the opening of the Lodge , Captain Heart presiding . At this meeting initial steps were taken , relating to the organisation of a Grand Lodge for the United States , a proposition which ultimately failed . "

In the summer of 1780 the Lodge was again on the Hudson , and held its meetings at " Robinson ' s , " and as the regular election of officers had not been held , by reason of the movements of the army , a Lodge waa held for that purpose on the 20 th July , and Captain Heart was again

chosen . " Thereafter , till 1782 , " says Bro . Moore , "there seems to have been no time , place , or opportunity for the Lodge to meet . " But in the New York record already referred to , we find that it was at Newburgh from 1781 to 1783 , and that dnring a portion of the time Col . John Parke

was Master of " Military Union Lodge , " "from which , " says the compiler ( Bro . John G . Barker P . G . Librarian ) " we conclude that the Lodge continued under the authority of the old Provincial Grand Lodge of New York while in

its territorial jurisdiction . " The roll of the Lodge was headed " Members of the Military Union and American Union Lodge . " Be this as it may , Bro . Moore , in continuing his sketch , says , that on the 25 th March 1782 the Lodge was again on the Hudson , and convened at" Connec-