Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Reviews.
REVIEWS .
All Books intended for Review should be addressed to the Editor of The Freemason ' s Chronicle , 23 Great Queen Street , W . C . The Grand Lodge of the . most Ancient and Honourable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons , Pennsylvania . Its early History and
Constitutions from A . L . 5730 , A . D . 1730 , its Minutes and Proceedings . List of Lodges from earliest date to December 27 , 1880 . Part III . Compiled and published by the Library Committee of tho Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania . Philadelphia : Sherman and Co . Printers , 1880 .
At the close of onr last week ' s notice of these minutes and proceediugs we stated that on St . John the Baptist's Day 1801 , the G . Lodgo passed a series of resolutions for the purchase of a tenement and lot of ground near the south west corner of Ninth and Arch Streets , for the purpose of erecting on it a building suitable for holding their meetings . Many brethren , however , appear to have objected to these
resolutions being carried into effect , owing to its remote situation , and in June of the following year it was resolved to purchase of a "William Hunter , described as an " Arch Master , " a certain " three storey brick-built messnago and lot of ground situate on the south side of Filbert-street , between Eighth and Ninth Streets " for the sum of three thousand dollars , while other resolutions were passed
for having the house conveyed in fee simple to Bro . J . B . Smith and others in trust for Grand Lodge . It may be as well to add that , when the building had been made suitable for Masonio purposes , it was solemnly dedicated to Freemasonry by Bro . Jonathan Bayard Smith , in the presence of the Grand Officers and tho representatives of twenty - four Lodges , that auspicions event being the last which ocenrred in
tho Grand Mastership of that distinguished brother . Here the brethren continued to meet until 24 th June 1811 , when they migrated to their new and more commodious premises in Chestnutstreet , and the Filbert-street-building was sold for 4500 dollars , or the one-half of its original cost . On 9 th March 1819 , the first Chestnut Hall was destroyed by fire , and Grand Lodge re-occupied their old
quarters , while the new or second Chestnut-street Hall was being built . The new Temple was ready for occupation by 1 st March 1820 , and siuce then the history of the old " Pennsylvania Freemasons ' Hall " in Filbert-street is entirely without interest , all Masonic work in it having ceased since that date . On the 30 th January 1880 , the last meeting of the Rosicrucian Society was held within its walls , and
the day following orders were issued for its demolition . A photograph of the old building is one of the illustrations which embellish this present Part III . of the Grand Lodge Records . Having noted all that is important in connection with the purchase and dedication of the Hall , let us now glance at what took placo in the interim between thoso events . On tho 7 th December 1801 Bro .
Jonathan B . Smith was again elected R . W . Grand Master , Bro . James Milnor being chosen Deputy Grand Master , and Bros . John W . Van Cleve ^ and E . Ferguson G . Senior and Junior Wardens respectively . At this meeting a letter from Bro . Smith was read , in which he announced that he had received , through Bro . Duplessis , the representative of several Lodges in San Domingo , under the jurisdiction of
Grand Lodge , a request that a Provincial Grand Master should be appointed to preside over Masonry in that island , there being already six Lodges in working order , while applications for the grant of warrants for two more had been made . Bro . Smith stated that he believed it came within his Province , as Grand Master , to grant the prayer of the petition on his own authority ; but he thought it preferable
to submit the matter to tho judgment of Grand Lodge . On the 21 st of the same month , tho Committee appointed to inquire into and consider tho matter reported that they thought it advisable a Provincial Grand Master for the island of San Domingo , with tho rank of a Deputy Grand Master , should be appointed , and they expressed their opinion that the making of such appointment was a prerogative of
the Grand Master . They accordingly requested him to confer the office on such brother as he might think proper . On the 1 st March 1802 the petition for a warrant for a new Lodge at new Orloans was submitted and granted . On the 7 th June 1802 it was agreed that the Committee of Purchase and Building should write to Bro . John McEIwee , formerly Grand Treasurer , who would seem to have
returned from Europe and taken up his quarters at Baltimore , requesting him to pay his debt to Grand Lodge , nnder penalty of having his conduct notified to the different Grand Lodges . On the 24 th June Bro . Israel announced that he had in his possession two large china bowls , the property of Grand Lodge , and also sundry jewels , aprons , & c , which he had found in the hands of their former Grand
Treasnrer , Bro . McEIwee , and requesting to be informed to whom he should deliver them . It was thereupon ordered that he should hand them over to the Grand Treasurer for the use of Grand Lodge . The Quarterly Communication of September 1802 was not held , owing to tho presence of yellow fever in the city . On the 6 th December , after the election of Bro . Israel as Grand Master , in succession to
Bro . Smith , it was resolved to hold a procession of the Brotherhood , in accordance with Grand Lodge Rules , on the anniversary of St . John ' s Day next , the day fixed for the dedication of the new Hall . A unanimous vote of thanks was afterwards passed to Bro . Francis for having accorded permission to Grand Lodge and the snbordinatf Lodges to meet in his room , and this compliment was enhanced at a later meeting by a further resolution to the effect that he should bo
allowed to pass the chair , and be presented with an apron and jewel . In the minutes of tho meeting on the 13 th December a series of charges was submitted against Lodge No . 46 by one of its members , and ordered to be referred to a Committee . The charges aro those of a brother who , whatever may have been his Masonic merits , was almost totally ignorant of his mother tongue . Charge I . was that the Lodge did not keep " Regelar minnets of there Proceeding . " In Charge II . it is objected that the Bye Laws had not been " even
Reviews.
agreed to by the liodey" Thirdly , it was alleged that the Pr «< sattt members which only cousistes of 5 or 6 holds all the propertia of the sd . Lodge , " and yet had petitioned Grand Lodge for the remission of their dues . This " pmpertia was purtichased by the members while at Churchtovvn , and sinco the Ilemoavell has not attended the Lod ge , since nor do the mean to attond . " Fourthly , he finds " there conduct
as Mu ' soiis in my opponion was an-Missonck , " and by no means camming up to the Rules of Masonery . " Tho brother closed his petition with the following explanation : " It is altogether for the Sake and Love I have for Masonery that causes mee to brig this forroward and through no spite of any inveduel of tho Body . " We have seen tho letters of many illiterate people , but rarely one which contained so
many and such marvellous mistakes . The same day the Committee on Correspondence reported that among tho various Communications they had received were resolutions from the Grand Lodges of Massa - chusetts , Virginia , and New Hampshire , to the effect that in their opinion the establishment of a superintending Grand Lodge for the whole of North America would be neither expedient nor wise . They
further announced receipt of resolutions from the Grand Lodge of Maryland , that ( 1 ) " a person rejected in a Lodge shall not be accepted or initiated in any other Lodge without the consent of the Lodge to which he first applied , " and ( 2 ) that no Lodge should initiate any person or persons applying for that purpose , " when there is a Lodge of Masons held nearer to his or their residence than the one
to which he or they apply , without the consent of that Lodge , except seamen . " Then is recorded an important regulation of the Grand Lodge of Virginia , " that no Master of a Lodge nor regular Past Master without his own consent previously obtained , can be called to account and tried for misconduct before any other tribunal than the Grand Lodge , or a Committee appointed by them or by the Grand
Master , " such regulation , however , being at variance with the views of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania , which at this very meeting had ruled that , as the Master of a Lodge was only a member of Grand Lodge ex officio , when he ceased from any circumstances to be Master , his connection with Grand Lodge likewise ceased , and the Lodge had full power over a delinquent W . M . to deal with him as they thought
proper . Among other announcements may be mentioned that in Virginia the Grand Master appoints his Deputy , while in North Carolina a brother acting as representative of two or more Lodges , has the power to vote in respect of esich and every of the Lodges he represents . On the 27 th December , tho Hall , as wo have said , was formally dedicated , and the Grand Master delivered an address
appropriate to the occasion , after which Bro . Israel was installed as Grand Master by Bro . Duplessis , and after cordial votes of thanks to all who had taken part in the eventful ceremony of the day had been passed , a similar vote , supplemented by the presentation of a Past Grand Master's gold jewel , was ordered to bo recorded on the minutes in recognition of the valuable services rendered by Bro . J . B . Smith
during the term of his Grand Mastership . At the meeting on 3 rd January 1803 , the subordinate G . Officers were appointed and invested , while ou the 7 th March the question of tho establishment of a Supreme Grand Lodge cropped up once more , owing to a communication received from North Carolina to the effect that the G . Lodges of North and South Carolina had acceded to the
proposition . Pennsylvania , however , retained its old opinion as to the unwisdom and inexpediency of having a central G . Lodge , but ex . pressed no objection to a convention of delegates being held for the purpose of " forming a more intimate union , and establishing a regular and more permanent intercourse between the said G . Lodges . " The Building Committee then made report as to the difficulties by
which thoy had found themselves surrounded in the erection of the new Temple , especially as to their not having met with that private support iu the shape of subscriptions from individual brethren . They recommended , therefore , that Grand Lodgo should recommend to all the subordinate Lodges meeting in the Hall to appropriate and pay to them not less than five or more than ten dollars ont of each
initiation fee ; that the price of a warrant should be raised to fifty dollars , and that twenty otit of such amount should be paid to the same end , and that each Lodge using the Hall should pay a rent of forty dollars , while each Chapter and Encampment should pay twenty dollars . These and other propositions for raising the necessary ways and means—the Committee were in debt to the extent of 1500
dollars—were submitted to G . Lodge , and with other measures were accepted . On 5 th June , the rare event occurred of the G . Secretary being absent and the minutes of the previous Quarterly Communication , the Minute Book likewise being an absentee , could not , of course , be read . An interesting communication from the Grand Lodge of England , " Ancients , " was presented , from which it
appeared that that Grand Lodge , without one shilling of debt , had a clear ascertained income of over £ 500 a-year , principally from the British Funds , and that such income was not wasted in ostentation , but religiously devoted to tho purposes of Masonic benevolence , being distributed monthly by a Committee of Masters of Lodges . Two other communications were
readone from tbe Grand Lodge of Ireland giving a list of Grand Officers for the current year , and announcing that they had established two Masonic Schools , while the other was from " Brother John Mitchell K ; H ; P . H . S ., Sovereign Grand Inspector-General of tho Thirty-third and Grand Commander in tho United States of America . At the 5 th September , another communication from the Gran d Lodge
of England , " Ancients , " was read , cautioning tho brethren of Pensylvania against any people who may happen to present certain certificates described . A report from the Committee to which the letter from Bro . John Mitchell 33 was referred , was to the effect that as G . L . had " no jurisdiction above Royal Arches , " it could not conceive that any degree above that was founded in Ancient Masonry . Later on , he
a letter was read from Bro . Smith Past Grand Master in which requested the acceptance by Grand Lodge of a painting of Solomon s Tcmplo which ho bad purchased , and which he thought Grand Lodge would like to possess . A vote of thanks was cordially passed to Bro-Smith for his gift , and it was agreed that tho picture should be suitably framed . This painting is now in the possession of the Grand
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Reviews.
REVIEWS .
All Books intended for Review should be addressed to the Editor of The Freemason ' s Chronicle , 23 Great Queen Street , W . C . The Grand Lodge of the . most Ancient and Honourable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons , Pennsylvania . Its early History and
Constitutions from A . L . 5730 , A . D . 1730 , its Minutes and Proceedings . List of Lodges from earliest date to December 27 , 1880 . Part III . Compiled and published by the Library Committee of tho Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania . Philadelphia : Sherman and Co . Printers , 1880 .
At the close of onr last week ' s notice of these minutes and proceediugs we stated that on St . John the Baptist's Day 1801 , the G . Lodgo passed a series of resolutions for the purchase of a tenement and lot of ground near the south west corner of Ninth and Arch Streets , for the purpose of erecting on it a building suitable for holding their meetings . Many brethren , however , appear to have objected to these
resolutions being carried into effect , owing to its remote situation , and in June of the following year it was resolved to purchase of a "William Hunter , described as an " Arch Master , " a certain " three storey brick-built messnago and lot of ground situate on the south side of Filbert-street , between Eighth and Ninth Streets " for the sum of three thousand dollars , while other resolutions were passed
for having the house conveyed in fee simple to Bro . J . B . Smith and others in trust for Grand Lodge . It may be as well to add that , when the building had been made suitable for Masonio purposes , it was solemnly dedicated to Freemasonry by Bro . Jonathan Bayard Smith , in the presence of the Grand Officers and tho representatives of twenty - four Lodges , that auspicions event being the last which ocenrred in
tho Grand Mastership of that distinguished brother . Here the brethren continued to meet until 24 th June 1811 , when they migrated to their new and more commodious premises in Chestnutstreet , and the Filbert-street-building was sold for 4500 dollars , or the one-half of its original cost . On 9 th March 1819 , the first Chestnut Hall was destroyed by fire , and Grand Lodge re-occupied their old
quarters , while the new or second Chestnut-street Hall was being built . The new Temple was ready for occupation by 1 st March 1820 , and siuce then the history of the old " Pennsylvania Freemasons ' Hall " in Filbert-street is entirely without interest , all Masonic work in it having ceased since that date . On the 30 th January 1880 , the last meeting of the Rosicrucian Society was held within its walls , and
the day following orders were issued for its demolition . A photograph of the old building is one of the illustrations which embellish this present Part III . of the Grand Lodge Records . Having noted all that is important in connection with the purchase and dedication of the Hall , let us now glance at what took placo in the interim between thoso events . On tho 7 th December 1801 Bro .
Jonathan B . Smith was again elected R . W . Grand Master , Bro . James Milnor being chosen Deputy Grand Master , and Bros . John W . Van Cleve ^ and E . Ferguson G . Senior and Junior Wardens respectively . At this meeting a letter from Bro . Smith was read , in which he announced that he had received , through Bro . Duplessis , the representative of several Lodges in San Domingo , under the jurisdiction of
Grand Lodge , a request that a Provincial Grand Master should be appointed to preside over Masonry in that island , there being already six Lodges in working order , while applications for the grant of warrants for two more had been made . Bro . Smith stated that he believed it came within his Province , as Grand Master , to grant the prayer of the petition on his own authority ; but he thought it preferable
to submit the matter to tho judgment of Grand Lodge . On the 21 st of the same month , tho Committee appointed to inquire into and consider tho matter reported that they thought it advisable a Provincial Grand Master for the island of San Domingo , with tho rank of a Deputy Grand Master , should be appointed , and they expressed their opinion that the making of such appointment was a prerogative of
the Grand Master . They accordingly requested him to confer the office on such brother as he might think proper . On the 1 st March 1802 the petition for a warrant for a new Lodge at new Orloans was submitted and granted . On the 7 th June 1802 it was agreed that the Committee of Purchase and Building should write to Bro . John McEIwee , formerly Grand Treasurer , who would seem to have
returned from Europe and taken up his quarters at Baltimore , requesting him to pay his debt to Grand Lodge , nnder penalty of having his conduct notified to the different Grand Lodges . On the 24 th June Bro . Israel announced that he had in his possession two large china bowls , the property of Grand Lodge , and also sundry jewels , aprons , & c , which he had found in the hands of their former Grand
Treasnrer , Bro . McEIwee , and requesting to be informed to whom he should deliver them . It was thereupon ordered that he should hand them over to the Grand Treasurer for the use of Grand Lodge . The Quarterly Communication of September 1802 was not held , owing to tho presence of yellow fever in the city . On the 6 th December , after the election of Bro . Israel as Grand Master , in succession to
Bro . Smith , it was resolved to hold a procession of the Brotherhood , in accordance with Grand Lodge Rules , on the anniversary of St . John ' s Day next , the day fixed for the dedication of the new Hall . A unanimous vote of thanks was afterwards passed to Bro . Francis for having accorded permission to Grand Lodge and the snbordinatf Lodges to meet in his room , and this compliment was enhanced at a later meeting by a further resolution to the effect that he should bo
allowed to pass the chair , and be presented with an apron and jewel . In the minutes of tho meeting on the 13 th December a series of charges was submitted against Lodge No . 46 by one of its members , and ordered to be referred to a Committee . The charges aro those of a brother who , whatever may have been his Masonic merits , was almost totally ignorant of his mother tongue . Charge I . was that the Lodge did not keep " Regelar minnets of there Proceeding . " In Charge II . it is objected that the Bye Laws had not been " even
Reviews.
agreed to by the liodey" Thirdly , it was alleged that the Pr «< sattt members which only cousistes of 5 or 6 holds all the propertia of the sd . Lodge , " and yet had petitioned Grand Lodge for the remission of their dues . This " pmpertia was purtichased by the members while at Churchtovvn , and sinco the Ilemoavell has not attended the Lod ge , since nor do the mean to attond . " Fourthly , he finds " there conduct
as Mu ' soiis in my opponion was an-Missonck , " and by no means camming up to the Rules of Masonery . " Tho brother closed his petition with the following explanation : " It is altogether for the Sake and Love I have for Masonery that causes mee to brig this forroward and through no spite of any inveduel of tho Body . " We have seen tho letters of many illiterate people , but rarely one which contained so
many and such marvellous mistakes . The same day the Committee on Correspondence reported that among tho various Communications they had received were resolutions from the Grand Lodges of Massa - chusetts , Virginia , and New Hampshire , to the effect that in their opinion the establishment of a superintending Grand Lodge for the whole of North America would be neither expedient nor wise . They
further announced receipt of resolutions from the Grand Lodge of Maryland , that ( 1 ) " a person rejected in a Lodge shall not be accepted or initiated in any other Lodge without the consent of the Lodge to which he first applied , " and ( 2 ) that no Lodge should initiate any person or persons applying for that purpose , " when there is a Lodge of Masons held nearer to his or their residence than the one
to which he or they apply , without the consent of that Lodge , except seamen . " Then is recorded an important regulation of the Grand Lodge of Virginia , " that no Master of a Lodge nor regular Past Master without his own consent previously obtained , can be called to account and tried for misconduct before any other tribunal than the Grand Lodge , or a Committee appointed by them or by the Grand
Master , " such regulation , however , being at variance with the views of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania , which at this very meeting had ruled that , as the Master of a Lodge was only a member of Grand Lodge ex officio , when he ceased from any circumstances to be Master , his connection with Grand Lodge likewise ceased , and the Lodge had full power over a delinquent W . M . to deal with him as they thought
proper . Among other announcements may be mentioned that in Virginia the Grand Master appoints his Deputy , while in North Carolina a brother acting as representative of two or more Lodges , has the power to vote in respect of esich and every of the Lodges he represents . On the 27 th December , tho Hall , as wo have said , was formally dedicated , and the Grand Master delivered an address
appropriate to the occasion , after which Bro . Israel was installed as Grand Master by Bro . Duplessis , and after cordial votes of thanks to all who had taken part in the eventful ceremony of the day had been passed , a similar vote , supplemented by the presentation of a Past Grand Master's gold jewel , was ordered to bo recorded on the minutes in recognition of the valuable services rendered by Bro . J . B . Smith
during the term of his Grand Mastership . At the meeting on 3 rd January 1803 , the subordinate G . Officers were appointed and invested , while ou the 7 th March the question of tho establishment of a Supreme Grand Lodge cropped up once more , owing to a communication received from North Carolina to the effect that the G . Lodges of North and South Carolina had acceded to the
proposition . Pennsylvania , however , retained its old opinion as to the unwisdom and inexpediency of having a central G . Lodge , but ex . pressed no objection to a convention of delegates being held for the purpose of " forming a more intimate union , and establishing a regular and more permanent intercourse between the said G . Lodges . " The Building Committee then made report as to the difficulties by
which thoy had found themselves surrounded in the erection of the new Temple , especially as to their not having met with that private support iu the shape of subscriptions from individual brethren . They recommended , therefore , that Grand Lodgo should recommend to all the subordinate Lodges meeting in the Hall to appropriate and pay to them not less than five or more than ten dollars ont of each
initiation fee ; that the price of a warrant should be raised to fifty dollars , and that twenty otit of such amount should be paid to the same end , and that each Lodge using the Hall should pay a rent of forty dollars , while each Chapter and Encampment should pay twenty dollars . These and other propositions for raising the necessary ways and means—the Committee were in debt to the extent of 1500
dollars—were submitted to G . Lodge , and with other measures were accepted . On 5 th June , the rare event occurred of the G . Secretary being absent and the minutes of the previous Quarterly Communication , the Minute Book likewise being an absentee , could not , of course , be read . An interesting communication from the Grand Lodge of England , " Ancients , " was presented , from which it
appeared that that Grand Lodge , without one shilling of debt , had a clear ascertained income of over £ 500 a-year , principally from the British Funds , and that such income was not wasted in ostentation , but religiously devoted to tho purposes of Masonic benevolence , being distributed monthly by a Committee of Masters of Lodges . Two other communications were
readone from tbe Grand Lodge of Ireland giving a list of Grand Officers for the current year , and announcing that they had established two Masonic Schools , while the other was from " Brother John Mitchell K ; H ; P . H . S ., Sovereign Grand Inspector-General of tho Thirty-third and Grand Commander in tho United States of America . At the 5 th September , another communication from the Gran d Lodge
of England , " Ancients , " was read , cautioning tho brethren of Pensylvania against any people who may happen to present certain certificates described . A report from the Committee to which the letter from Bro . John Mitchell 33 was referred , was to the effect that as G . L . had " no jurisdiction above Royal Arches , " it could not conceive that any degree above that was founded in Ancient Masonry . Later on , he
a letter was read from Bro . Smith Past Grand Master in which requested the acceptance by Grand Lodge of a painting of Solomon s Tcmplo which ho bad purchased , and which he thought Grand Lodge would like to possess . A vote of thanks was cordially passed to Bro-Smith for his gift , and it was agreed that tho picture should be suitably framed . This painting is now in the possession of the Grand