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Correspondence.
CORRESPONDENCE .
We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions 0 / our Correspondents . All Letters must bear the name ani address of the Writer , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications .
— : o : — ST . JOHN'S LODGE , PHILADELPHIA . To tlie Editor of the FREEMASON ' S Crii"oxrcr , K . DEAR SIR A NP BROTHER , —lam very glad you have reproduced from the Keystone the records relating to this Lodge . I do not think they were necdsd to establish the fact of there having been meetings of the brethren in Philadelphia before 1733 , because I think the contemporary evidence previously adduced in support of this is
sufficiently strong of itself without further testimony from other sources . Still these records , as confirmatory of the fact , must possess a very great value , and it seems to me the point which has now to be settled is , as to the trustworthiness of the newly . discovered minutes or accounts . I do not wish any of your readers to imagine thafc 1 am disposed to cast doubts on the Keystone itself , whioh has submitted
its discovery in perfect good faith . But is the Keystone justified in accepting the records , aud if so , what aro the grounds of tho justification ? It has so frequently happened that even experts havo been deceived in similar circumstances that I must ask your forgiveness for suggesting that what is wanted now is some corroborative evidence of the undoubted value of these new discoveries as records of the years to which they appear to relate " . The inventive powers of
man are great , and it has again and again happened that worthy people of great ability have been imposed upon by others who possessed far greater ability . 'but considerably less of tho other qualityworth . In short , it is known that archives , like family portraits , have been manufactured and passed off on the unwary as genuine old
original records . If it can be established that what the Keystone so fully describes are genuine , then the brethren ifc so worthily represents are to be congratulated . Faithfully and fraternaYly yours , "Q . "
THE ST . JOHN'S LODGE LEDGER OF A . D . 1731 We reproduce the following interesting letter from the Keystone : —
To the Editor of the Keystone . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER . —The greafc value to the Masonic Fra ternifcy in America of the recently discovered Account Book 0 one of fche several Lodges established in the city of Philndelphi about 1730-31 , cannot be too highly estimated . We have for some years knownwithout a shadow of a doubtthe
, , following : Thafc Daniel Coxe , of New Jersey , was by his own application and that of " several other Brethren residing and about to reside "in New York , New Jersey and Pennsylvania , appointed , on June 5 , 1730 , Provincial Grand Master of New York , New Jersey and Pennsylvania . By this preamble to the Deputation the fact is established , not by any evidence particularly in this country , bufc
by the highest Masonic authority , fche Archives of the Grand Lodge of England , whose Grand Master granted the Deputation , and where the copy was on file in 1863 . It is safe to infer that Coxe acted under the powers granted him within a short time after he had received the Deputation , allowing the usual delay of several months for transmission to this country , and we may safely conclude that
the Lodge Sfc . John ' s , whose accounts we have examined , was established late in the fall of 1730 , and thafc William Allen , Button , Thompson , Harfc , Nicholson , Emerson , Hart Boude and Pringle , were Masons prior to ifcs formation , and that Benjamin Franklin was the first initiate , as he is charged with an entrance fee . It has been admitted by Bro . Norton and othersthafc there was
, no doubt of the existence of a Lodge in Philadelphia , but they seem to question its legality , or thafc ifc was in correspondence or com . munication wifch Provincial Grand Master Coxe . Thafc this Lodge of which tbe account book has been discovered , was a lawful assemblage of Masons , duly formed into a Lodge as fully and legally as any Masonic Lodge afc thafc day , cannot be to
our mind questioned . We think Bro . Norton and others do not bring to mind the state of Masonry from its organisation in 1717 to fche date in question . There were no warrants in those days to attest its lawful origin . It will be interesting to know when the first warrants were issued to Masonic bodies-not deputations to individuals or Provincial Grand Lodges , but to Lodgesand the
, power and authority granted in these first warrants . But for evidence as to the legality of this Lodge under discussion , let us turn to the Coxe deputation . * First , Coxe was authorized to constitute the Brethren ( Free and Accepted Masons ) , now residing , & cinto one or more regular Lodge
, or Lodges , as heshall think fit , or as often as occasion may require . This was authority to open Lodges at any time and place he saw fit , and as often as occasion required . The records of the Grand Lodo-e of England , 29 th January 1731 , show thafc Coxe visited the Grand Lodge , and was greeted as Provincial Grand Master of North
Correspondence.
America . Again , we examine the Deputation and find that ifc was to continue for the period of two years from the Feast of Sfc . John tha Baptist , next ensuing after 5 th June 1730 . In strict accordance with this authority , we find , by the first printed record we have , that on St . John ' s Day 1732 , the Graud Lodge met , and Wm . Allen was elected Grand Master , William Pringle Deputy Master , and Thomas
Boude and Benjamin Franklin Wardens . Through the discovery of the account book we aro not at a loss to know to what Lodge these Brethren belonged , for in the book we find their accounts , with the dues , & c . Allen ' s is the second , Pringle ' s tho ninth , Boudo ' s the eight , and Franklin's the tenth account , as therein written . Again , that this was a regular Lodgo is evident from the faot that
Franklin reprinted Anderson's Constitution of 1723 . If there had not been a sufficient number of Masons hero at that time , 1734 , Franklin would not have risked the publication of a work that would have been of interest only to Free and Accepted Masons . Again , further recognition is found ou the appointment in 1749 , by Thomas Byron , of Benjamin Franklin Provincial Grand Master of
Pennsylvania , and in 1750 William Allen presented his commission from the Grand Lodge of England , appointing him Provincial Grand Master . We find further , from the PennsyZ-ucwua Gazette , that several of tho members whose accounts are recorded were called by election to be Grand Masters of the Provincial Grand Lodge .
The library of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania has the original subscription list of 1754 ( March 13 ) , for a fund to build a Masonic Hall by the members of the Grand and first Lodges . Among the subscribers we note the names of William Allen , No . 2 on the list j Thomas Harfc , No . 4 ; Thomas Boude , No . 8 ; Benjamin Franklin , No . 9 ; James Hamilton , No . 32 ; William Plumstead , No . 38 ; Thomas Bond ,
No . 35 ; and Thomas Cadwallader , No . 56 , in the account book and ledger . At the Grand Anniversary and General Communication held in the Lodge-room , Philadelphia , 24 th June 1755 , we again find the names of Allen , Franklin , Bond , Plumstead , members of the Grand Lodge , Hamilton , Boude and Cadwallader . At this meeting , Bro . William
Smith , D . D ., delivered the annual sermon before one hundred and thirty Brethren . Bro . Wm . Smith was Grand Secretary for a number of years . The discovery of the minutes of this Lodge would be of the greatest value to the Craft . We have heard of chests of old books and papers , some Masonio it is said , whioh the owner , an old man ( we cannot
learn his name ) , will nofc have touched . Death will remove the obstruction some time , and we can then learn if there is anything of value to thia Grand Lodge . There are wanted to complete the history of Masonry in this country the minntes from 1730 , " Moderns ; " fche possession by the Grand Lodge of the Bell letter , whioh is still in existence we believe ; yet
that is of no great consequence now , since the old account book has been found ; the minutes of Lodge No . 3 , from 1758 to 1769 ; aud the minutes of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania , " Ancients , " prior to 29 th July 1779 . Brethren coming across any old Masonio writings will confer a favour on the Library Committee of the Grand Lodge , and the Grand Lodge itself , if they will at once notify any of the committee or the
Grand Lodge Officers . Anything bearing marks of antiquity may be of the greatest value . In reply to many letters , I would say that a personal examination of the St . John's Lodge account book satisfies me that it is one of tho -mnnt-, vnlnnble contributions to the nast bisfcorv of Masonrv in this
city . It furnishes us with the names of the early or firsfc members . Ifc may be the means of finding other important papers , among the descendants of these first members .
the suburbs of London , just long enough to hear the minutes read , and then leave the Master and his Officers to get through the work while we enjoyed ourselves in the open country . This arrangement had continued so long thafc ifc was almost looked upon as an institution , when , to our amazement , our new Master expressed his determination to put a stop to it . Wo resented the innovation and , as I have
al-SUMMER FREEMASONRY . To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —The commencement of the holiday season reminds me of a little trouble land a few others , lovers of nature , occasioned our worthy W . M . last summer . Ifc had been fche custom of many of our members , whether good or bad I will not now argue , to attend our Lodge meetings , which are held in a deli ghtful parfc of
ready said , some little trouble resulted . Since then I and my'friends have had time for reflection , and we have come to the conclusion that our new W . M . was right in the main , although we think perhaps he will be able to adopt a happy medium during the cominc season by giving us an hour or two in the fresh air away from the duties of the Ledge and the pleasures of the banquet table . My reason in
writing to you , Sir , is , nofc so much to record our grievances or our reconcilation as it is to ask you if you can suggest a way in which we may perform our dnties and yet have time to enjoy ourselves in the fresh air . We do not wish to curtail onr Lodge work , that we know should be done thoroughly and with due regard to decency , bnt
are we justified in curtailing the usual speeches ? For instance , is ifc bad taste or does ifc show any disrespect to ignore all complimentary toasts except perhaps " The Queen and the Craft " " The W . M . " and " Tho Visitors . " If we have official sanction for this course of proceeding we think our W . M . will adopt ifc , and we shall be happy , I am , yours , & c . RUSTIC us .
Fraternally , CHARLES E . METER , P . M . 295 , Chairman Library Com . G . L . of Pa .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Correspondence.
CORRESPONDENCE .
We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions 0 / our Correspondents . All Letters must bear the name ani address of the Writer , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications .
— : o : — ST . JOHN'S LODGE , PHILADELPHIA . To tlie Editor of the FREEMASON ' S Crii"oxrcr , K . DEAR SIR A NP BROTHER , —lam very glad you have reproduced from the Keystone the records relating to this Lodge . I do not think they were necdsd to establish the fact of there having been meetings of the brethren in Philadelphia before 1733 , because I think the contemporary evidence previously adduced in support of this is
sufficiently strong of itself without further testimony from other sources . Still these records , as confirmatory of the fact , must possess a very great value , and it seems to me the point which has now to be settled is , as to the trustworthiness of the newly . discovered minutes or accounts . I do not wish any of your readers to imagine thafc 1 am disposed to cast doubts on the Keystone itself , whioh has submitted
its discovery in perfect good faith . But is the Keystone justified in accepting the records , aud if so , what aro the grounds of tho justification ? It has so frequently happened that even experts havo been deceived in similar circumstances that I must ask your forgiveness for suggesting that what is wanted now is some corroborative evidence of the undoubted value of these new discoveries as records of the years to which they appear to relate " . The inventive powers of
man are great , and it has again and again happened that worthy people of great ability have been imposed upon by others who possessed far greater ability . 'but considerably less of tho other qualityworth . In short , it is known that archives , like family portraits , have been manufactured and passed off on the unwary as genuine old
original records . If it can be established that what the Keystone so fully describes are genuine , then the brethren ifc so worthily represents are to be congratulated . Faithfully and fraternaYly yours , "Q . "
THE ST . JOHN'S LODGE LEDGER OF A . D . 1731 We reproduce the following interesting letter from the Keystone : —
To the Editor of the Keystone . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER . —The greafc value to the Masonic Fra ternifcy in America of the recently discovered Account Book 0 one of fche several Lodges established in the city of Philndelphi about 1730-31 , cannot be too highly estimated . We have for some years knownwithout a shadow of a doubtthe
, , following : Thafc Daniel Coxe , of New Jersey , was by his own application and that of " several other Brethren residing and about to reside "in New York , New Jersey and Pennsylvania , appointed , on June 5 , 1730 , Provincial Grand Master of New York , New Jersey and Pennsylvania . By this preamble to the Deputation the fact is established , not by any evidence particularly in this country , bufc
by the highest Masonic authority , fche Archives of the Grand Lodge of England , whose Grand Master granted the Deputation , and where the copy was on file in 1863 . It is safe to infer that Coxe acted under the powers granted him within a short time after he had received the Deputation , allowing the usual delay of several months for transmission to this country , and we may safely conclude that
the Lodge Sfc . John ' s , whose accounts we have examined , was established late in the fall of 1730 , and thafc William Allen , Button , Thompson , Harfc , Nicholson , Emerson , Hart Boude and Pringle , were Masons prior to ifcs formation , and that Benjamin Franklin was the first initiate , as he is charged with an entrance fee . It has been admitted by Bro . Norton and othersthafc there was
, no doubt of the existence of a Lodge in Philadelphia , but they seem to question its legality , or thafc ifc was in correspondence or com . munication wifch Provincial Grand Master Coxe . Thafc this Lodge of which tbe account book has been discovered , was a lawful assemblage of Masons , duly formed into a Lodge as fully and legally as any Masonic Lodge afc thafc day , cannot be to
our mind questioned . We think Bro . Norton and others do not bring to mind the state of Masonry from its organisation in 1717 to fche date in question . There were no warrants in those days to attest its lawful origin . It will be interesting to know when the first warrants were issued to Masonic bodies-not deputations to individuals or Provincial Grand Lodges , but to Lodgesand the
, power and authority granted in these first warrants . But for evidence as to the legality of this Lodge under discussion , let us turn to the Coxe deputation . * First , Coxe was authorized to constitute the Brethren ( Free and Accepted Masons ) , now residing , & cinto one or more regular Lodge
, or Lodges , as heshall think fit , or as often as occasion may require . This was authority to open Lodges at any time and place he saw fit , and as often as occasion required . The records of the Grand Lodo-e of England , 29 th January 1731 , show thafc Coxe visited the Grand Lodge , and was greeted as Provincial Grand Master of North
Correspondence.
America . Again , we examine the Deputation and find that ifc was to continue for the period of two years from the Feast of Sfc . John tha Baptist , next ensuing after 5 th June 1730 . In strict accordance with this authority , we find , by the first printed record we have , that on St . John ' s Day 1732 , the Graud Lodge met , and Wm . Allen was elected Grand Master , William Pringle Deputy Master , and Thomas
Boude and Benjamin Franklin Wardens . Through the discovery of the account book we aro not at a loss to know to what Lodge these Brethren belonged , for in the book we find their accounts , with the dues , & c . Allen ' s is the second , Pringle ' s tho ninth , Boudo ' s the eight , and Franklin's the tenth account , as therein written . Again , that this was a regular Lodgo is evident from the faot that
Franklin reprinted Anderson's Constitution of 1723 . If there had not been a sufficient number of Masons hero at that time , 1734 , Franklin would not have risked the publication of a work that would have been of interest only to Free and Accepted Masons . Again , further recognition is found ou the appointment in 1749 , by Thomas Byron , of Benjamin Franklin Provincial Grand Master of
Pennsylvania , and in 1750 William Allen presented his commission from the Grand Lodge of England , appointing him Provincial Grand Master . We find further , from the PennsyZ-ucwua Gazette , that several of tho members whose accounts are recorded were called by election to be Grand Masters of the Provincial Grand Lodge .
The library of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania has the original subscription list of 1754 ( March 13 ) , for a fund to build a Masonic Hall by the members of the Grand and first Lodges . Among the subscribers we note the names of William Allen , No . 2 on the list j Thomas Harfc , No . 4 ; Thomas Boude , No . 8 ; Benjamin Franklin , No . 9 ; James Hamilton , No . 32 ; William Plumstead , No . 38 ; Thomas Bond ,
No . 35 ; and Thomas Cadwallader , No . 56 , in the account book and ledger . At the Grand Anniversary and General Communication held in the Lodge-room , Philadelphia , 24 th June 1755 , we again find the names of Allen , Franklin , Bond , Plumstead , members of the Grand Lodge , Hamilton , Boude and Cadwallader . At this meeting , Bro . William
Smith , D . D ., delivered the annual sermon before one hundred and thirty Brethren . Bro . Wm . Smith was Grand Secretary for a number of years . The discovery of the minutes of this Lodge would be of the greatest value to the Craft . We have heard of chests of old books and papers , some Masonio it is said , whioh the owner , an old man ( we cannot
learn his name ) , will nofc have touched . Death will remove the obstruction some time , and we can then learn if there is anything of value to thia Grand Lodge . There are wanted to complete the history of Masonry in this country the minntes from 1730 , " Moderns ; " fche possession by the Grand Lodge of the Bell letter , whioh is still in existence we believe ; yet
that is of no great consequence now , since the old account book has been found ; the minutes of Lodge No . 3 , from 1758 to 1769 ; aud the minutes of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania , " Ancients , " prior to 29 th July 1779 . Brethren coming across any old Masonio writings will confer a favour on the Library Committee of the Grand Lodge , and the Grand Lodge itself , if they will at once notify any of the committee or the
Grand Lodge Officers . Anything bearing marks of antiquity may be of the greatest value . In reply to many letters , I would say that a personal examination of the St . John's Lodge account book satisfies me that it is one of tho -mnnt-, vnlnnble contributions to the nast bisfcorv of Masonrv in this
city . It furnishes us with the names of the early or firsfc members . Ifc may be the means of finding other important papers , among the descendants of these first members .
the suburbs of London , just long enough to hear the minutes read , and then leave the Master and his Officers to get through the work while we enjoyed ourselves in the open country . This arrangement had continued so long thafc ifc was almost looked upon as an institution , when , to our amazement , our new Master expressed his determination to put a stop to it . Wo resented the innovation and , as I have
al-SUMMER FREEMASONRY . To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —The commencement of the holiday season reminds me of a little trouble land a few others , lovers of nature , occasioned our worthy W . M . last summer . Ifc had been fche custom of many of our members , whether good or bad I will not now argue , to attend our Lodge meetings , which are held in a deli ghtful parfc of
ready said , some little trouble resulted . Since then I and my'friends have had time for reflection , and we have come to the conclusion that our new W . M . was right in the main , although we think perhaps he will be able to adopt a happy medium during the cominc season by giving us an hour or two in the fresh air away from the duties of the Ledge and the pleasures of the banquet table . My reason in
writing to you , Sir , is , nofc so much to record our grievances or our reconcilation as it is to ask you if you can suggest a way in which we may perform our dnties and yet have time to enjoy ourselves in the fresh air . We do not wish to curtail onr Lodge work , that we know should be done thoroughly and with due regard to decency , bnt
are we justified in curtailing the usual speeches ? For instance , is ifc bad taste or does ifc show any disrespect to ignore all complimentary toasts except perhaps " The Queen and the Craft " " The W . M . " and " Tho Visitors . " If we have official sanction for this course of proceeding we think our W . M . will adopt ifc , and we shall be happy , I am , yours , & c . RUSTIC us .
Fraternally , CHARLES E . METER , P . M . 295 , Chairman Library Com . G . L . of Pa .