Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Reviews.
REVIEWS .
All Boots intended for Beview should be addressed to the Editor of The Freemason ' s Chronicle , 67 Barbican , E . C . Early History and Transactions of the Grand Lodje of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of New York , 1781—1815 . Published by authority of the Grand Lodgo . Granted to Kane Lodge , No . 434 , June 1874 . Parts I ., II ., III ., IV . New York : Masonio and Miscellaneous Publishers , No . 2 Bleeoker . atreefc . D . Sickles and Co ., Managers . 1876 .
( Continued from page 86 . ) IT were well if , occasionally , a few notes of exp ' anation were voucheafed us . In the minutes of 7 th September 1785 occurs tho following entry : " A letter from Parr Lodge in Nova Scotia , including a warrant which had been granted by this Grand Lodge to Bro . MCCUEN , together with a letter from Bro MCCUEV , were presented and read . "
It may not , of course , at this distance of time , be possible to throw any light on the matter referred to , but a bare record like this seems hardly satisfactory . We judge the McCnen referred to is the same who was chosen the first Provincial Deputy Grand Master under the Atholl Grand Warrant of 1781 , and who had presided as Grand Master at the constitution thereunder of Provincial Grand Lodgo , and the
election of Bros . Walter , Brownrigg , and Beardsley as Grand Master and Wardens respectively . What , again , was the nature of tho warrant thus included in Bro . McCnen ' s letter ? Any information on such points would obviously possess some value . At the same meeting , we are told , " a letter from the Grand Master at Boston to PASCHAL N . SMITH , enclosing the proceedings of the Convention at
Boston , " was read , but nothing is said which enables us to judge of the contents of the letter . It is manifestly desirable that somo insight into entries of this kind shou'd , if possible , be afforded . At an emergency communication on 7 th December , a resolution was passed , " That ifc is also the wish of the Grand Lodge that each Lodge harmonise the day" —St . John's Day— "by dining in their senarate
Lodges , and sending Deputations to each other , and that the different Lodges meet at Capes Tavern , to begin tho Procession at 11 o'clock , the Grand Deacons to be a Committee to arrange tho Procession . " A band of music was also to be provided for the occasion . A memorial from certain brethren at Perth Amboy in New Jersey , for a warrant from the Grand Lodgo , was referred to a committee at
the meeting of the 2 lst , who reported that such prayer could not be granted . At the meeting of 7 th June 1786 , a warrant is issued for the Constitution of " St . Simon and St . Jnde's Lodge . " It was further resolved that on St . John the Baptist ' s day , instead of having a procession , the brethren should meet and celebrate the festival " at Brother COKKE ' S in Broadway . " At
the Grand Stewards Lodge on tho 21 st of tho month a Bro . Morris " made application that tho fraternity would attend his benefit play in their Masonic Clothing , " but the Lodge resolved this conld not be done , though the members expressed their readiness , " in their privote capacity , " to give him "their countenance and support . " Resolution of Lodge 169 , A . Y . M ., to be known henceforth by tho name of
Saint Andrew ' s Lodge , No . 169 , was confirmed unanimously . Differences having , this year , unfortunately , arisen between the Master and members of Lodge No . 8 , they having dismissed the former from his chair , complaint was made to Grand Stewards' Lodge , and in Sept . ember ifc was annonnced in Grand Lodge that a Committee had " waited on the officers and members , and brought about a perfect
reconciliation , mutual concession being made , satisfactory to the honour and dignity of this Lo ^ ge . " Later wo find Lodge 210 informing Grand Stewards' Lodge it had " voted that no dues should be paid to the Grand Lodge of this State in consequence of receipt of letters from the Grand Lodge of England "—Ancients— " requesting them to pay up their dues . " On this being referred to Grand Lodge
itself , it was at once voted that " no Lodgo can exist in this State but under the jurisdiction of this Grand Lodge . " At an emergency meeting held on 23 rd Decemberit was resolved " that next Grand Lodge be appointed for all the Lodges in the State to give in their Respective Warrants or Constitutions , or copies of them properly authenticated , that the Rank and Precedency of the whole may be then determined . " This , however , was not done till tbe summer of 1789 . Meanwhile , a
Committee of nine was appointed " to consider the propriety of holding the Grand Lodge under the present warrant , and the proper measures to effect a change if ifc should be thought constitutional and expedient , and report their opinion , with the reasons on which it is founded , to the Grand Lodge at their next Quarterly communication . " On the 6 th June 1787 , this committee delivered their report , which was read , accepted , and confirmed , and was to the following effect : —
"That the Grand Lodge of this State is established , according to the antient and universal usages of Masonry , upon a constitution formed by the representatives of the regular Lodges , convened under a legal warrant from the Grand Lodge of England , dated the fifth day of September , in the year of Masonry five thousand seven bundred and eighty-one , the Most Noble Prince JOHN the Third , Duke of
Atholl , being the then Grand Master . And your Committee further beg leave to report , that , in their opinion , nothing is necessary or essential in the future proceeding of the GrandLodge upon the subject matter referred to them but that a Committee be appointed to prepare a draft of the style of Warrant to be hereafter granted by the Grand Lodge , conformable to the said Constitution . All of which is , nevertheless , most respectfully submitted to the wisdom of the Most
Worshipful Grand Lodge . " Witness our hands , this sixth day of June , 5787 . " ( Signed ) " W . COCK , " SAMUEL KERH , "PETER MCDOUGALL , "WHITE MATLACK , "ROBEBT COCSS , "
Reviews.
For some time hence the proceedings offer no special feature . A petition was granted for the constitution of Holland L ndge on tho 5 th September 1787 , on condition " that their Records be kept in English for the inspection of the Grand Lodge . " After a consider , able delay Lodge No . 210 acknowledges tho supremacy of the State Grand Lodge , sentence of suspension and a threat to strike it from
the rolls having , however , been thought , necessary before ifc would bring itself to such acknowledgment . With these exceptions there is little to note of general interest till tho beginning of 1789 , when a resolution is taken that a Committee of one member from eaoh of the Lodges in the City of New York meet in Holland Lodge Room the first Saturday in April for the purpose of determining thoir rank and
nrocedeney . They met accordingly , and at the Grand Lodge of 3 rd June of that year their report was delivered and confirmed with only a single dissentient . The Lodges thus represented wero as follow , namely , " No . 212 , " or , as ifc was afterwards named , " St . Patrick's 212 , " warranted by the Grand Lodge of England , on 1 st Nov . 1780 , and rewarranted by tho State Grand Lodge on 21 sfc
October 1788 ; " Sfc . John ' s No . 4 , " warranted bv the Prov . Grand Lodge of New York on the 5 th February 1783 ; " St . John ' s 210 , " by GrandLodge of England , 20 th February 1779 ; "Tnd Royal Arch 8 , " by Prov . Grand Lodge of New York , on 15 th December 1760 ; " St . Andrew ' s 169 , " originally hold in tho Citv of Boston , in the Province of Mass'ichusetts . by Grand Lodge of England , 13 th Jnly
1771 ; " St . John ' s No . 2 , " bv Prov . Grand Lodgo of New York , 7 th December 1757 ; " No . 5 , " bv Prov . Grand Lodge of Now York , 10 th March 1783 ; and " Holland Lodge , " by Grand Lodge of State of Now York , 20 th Sep t ember 1787 . Their rank was determined in strict accordance with the dates of issue of their respective war .
rants , the positions assigned them being in the following order ( 1 ) " St . John ' s Lodge No . 2 " ; ( 2 ) "Tnd . Royal Arch 8 " ; ( 3 ) " Sfc . An . drew ' s 169 "; ( 4 ) "St . John ' s 210 "; ( 5 ) "No . 212 "; ( 6 ) "Sfc . John's No . 4 "; ( 7 ) "No . 5 "; and ( 8 ) "Holland Lodge . " It was then ordered that tho several Lodges surrender their warrants and
that new ones be prepared and issued to them by the Grand Secretary , that of No . 210 being , at its own request mado out and addressed under the style of "Temple Lodge . " Hardly , however , was this important arrangement completed when dissensions arose in No . 210 , tho result being the dissolution of the Lodge , and the issue of a new warrant to that one of tho dissentient parties
whose vews found the greatest amount of favour in Grand Lodge . Towards the close of this vear an attempt was made to compel all members elected to the office of Master nr Warden to pass an examination previous to their installation into office . The attempt , however , wis a failure , Bro . Vandenbroek's motion , which was to the following effect being rejected : —
"Thafc every Master Mason , being or having been a Master , Past Master or Warden , elected or re-elected , to preside in any Lodge shall hereinafter , previous to his installation , be examined by the Grand Officers , or by some skillful person or persons appointed by them , if he is sufficiently acquainted with Masonry , and if he is possessed of the required abilities to fill the chair , and that on his
producing a certificate of his having passed a regular and strict examination , and found to be qualified , he can bo installed into his office , and not before . " We think the New York Grand Lodge exercised a sound discretion when it rejected this proposal . Ifc would have been tan . tamount to an official acknowledgment that incompetent men
had been elected to fill these important offices . Moreover , an examination , while securing a certain standard of knowledge as regards ritual , & c , would by no means have secured tbe other qualifications for office , which , in the opinion of many , are even more essential still . A W . M . or a Warden must not only possess a knowledge of his duties , he must show that he posesses prudence , forbearance ,
firmness , tact , and similar essentials , and no examinational test would prove this . A discreet Lodge will elect fit men to rule it , though ifc is within tho experience of nearly every Mason that fit rulers are not invariably chosen . We have known a member elected to fill the chair of his Lodge who was incapable of fulfilling a single duty with , out some one by to prompt him . This , we imagine , was quite an
exceptional case , but the fact is thoroughly well established that a great many brethren would never have achieved any official distinction whatever had they been compelled to undergo a previous exanimation in Masonry . Yefc some of them have proved valuable officers in their day . In June 1790 , certain resolutions passed by the Grand Lodge of
Georgia were communicated , their object being the constitution of a federal or Supreme Grand Lodge for the whole of the United States , " the frequent innovation in the mode of work , and the authorities set up in some States under warrants from other States , " being among the reasons assigned for such a step . The project is referred to a Committee of the Grand Officers , who report favourably , and
Grand Lodge of New York expresses its readiness to send delegates whenever time and place have been fixed f r holding the necessary Convention . However , as our readers are aware , no such scheme of a Central Grand Lodge met with general favour , and there are now , we suppose as many Grand Lodges as there are States in the Union . At a Grand Lodge of Emergency , held on 22 nd October 1791 , an
important letter was communicated from brethreu residing in the territory west of the River Ohio , whither certain members of the " Military Union Lodge , " formerly nnder the jurisdiction of the Provincial Grand Lodge of New York , had migrated , and where , acting nnder the original warrant , they had reopened the Lodge under the name of the American Union Lodge No . 1 , electing their own officers , and establishing for themselves a regular code of Bye-laws . Copies
of the original Warrant and the Bye-laws , together with a list of officers , are forwarded , and a request is made for recognition as an Independent Lodge . The letter was ordered to be entered on the minntes , and instruction issued to the Grand Secretary to draft a reply , and report the same . This , then , is the origin of the Grand Lodge of Ohio , now one of the most nourishing Grand Lodges in the United States ,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Reviews.
REVIEWS .
All Boots intended for Beview should be addressed to the Editor of The Freemason ' s Chronicle , 67 Barbican , E . C . Early History and Transactions of the Grand Lodje of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of New York , 1781—1815 . Published by authority of the Grand Lodgo . Granted to Kane Lodge , No . 434 , June 1874 . Parts I ., II ., III ., IV . New York : Masonio and Miscellaneous Publishers , No . 2 Bleeoker . atreefc . D . Sickles and Co ., Managers . 1876 .
( Continued from page 86 . ) IT were well if , occasionally , a few notes of exp ' anation were voucheafed us . In the minutes of 7 th September 1785 occurs tho following entry : " A letter from Parr Lodge in Nova Scotia , including a warrant which had been granted by this Grand Lodge to Bro . MCCUEN , together with a letter from Bro MCCUEV , were presented and read . "
It may not , of course , at this distance of time , be possible to throw any light on the matter referred to , but a bare record like this seems hardly satisfactory . We judge the McCnen referred to is the same who was chosen the first Provincial Deputy Grand Master under the Atholl Grand Warrant of 1781 , and who had presided as Grand Master at the constitution thereunder of Provincial Grand Lodgo , and the
election of Bros . Walter , Brownrigg , and Beardsley as Grand Master and Wardens respectively . What , again , was the nature of tho warrant thus included in Bro . McCnen ' s letter ? Any information on such points would obviously possess some value . At the same meeting , we are told , " a letter from the Grand Master at Boston to PASCHAL N . SMITH , enclosing the proceedings of the Convention at
Boston , " was read , but nothing is said which enables us to judge of the contents of the letter . It is manifestly desirable that somo insight into entries of this kind shou'd , if possible , be afforded . At an emergency communication on 7 th December , a resolution was passed , " That ifc is also the wish of the Grand Lodge that each Lodge harmonise the day" —St . John's Day— "by dining in their senarate
Lodges , and sending Deputations to each other , and that the different Lodges meet at Capes Tavern , to begin tho Procession at 11 o'clock , the Grand Deacons to be a Committee to arrange tho Procession . " A band of music was also to be provided for the occasion . A memorial from certain brethren at Perth Amboy in New Jersey , for a warrant from the Grand Lodgo , was referred to a committee at
the meeting of the 2 lst , who reported that such prayer could not be granted . At the meeting of 7 th June 1786 , a warrant is issued for the Constitution of " St . Simon and St . Jnde's Lodge . " It was further resolved that on St . John the Baptist ' s day , instead of having a procession , the brethren should meet and celebrate the festival " at Brother COKKE ' S in Broadway . " At
the Grand Stewards Lodge on tho 21 st of tho month a Bro . Morris " made application that tho fraternity would attend his benefit play in their Masonic Clothing , " but the Lodge resolved this conld not be done , though the members expressed their readiness , " in their privote capacity , " to give him "their countenance and support . " Resolution of Lodge 169 , A . Y . M ., to be known henceforth by tho name of
Saint Andrew ' s Lodge , No . 169 , was confirmed unanimously . Differences having , this year , unfortunately , arisen between the Master and members of Lodge No . 8 , they having dismissed the former from his chair , complaint was made to Grand Stewards' Lodge , and in Sept . ember ifc was annonnced in Grand Lodge that a Committee had " waited on the officers and members , and brought about a perfect
reconciliation , mutual concession being made , satisfactory to the honour and dignity of this Lo ^ ge . " Later wo find Lodge 210 informing Grand Stewards' Lodge it had " voted that no dues should be paid to the Grand Lodge of this State in consequence of receipt of letters from the Grand Lodge of England "—Ancients— " requesting them to pay up their dues . " On this being referred to Grand Lodge
itself , it was at once voted that " no Lodgo can exist in this State but under the jurisdiction of this Grand Lodge . " At an emergency meeting held on 23 rd Decemberit was resolved " that next Grand Lodge be appointed for all the Lodges in the State to give in their Respective Warrants or Constitutions , or copies of them properly authenticated , that the Rank and Precedency of the whole may be then determined . " This , however , was not done till tbe summer of 1789 . Meanwhile , a
Committee of nine was appointed " to consider the propriety of holding the Grand Lodge under the present warrant , and the proper measures to effect a change if ifc should be thought constitutional and expedient , and report their opinion , with the reasons on which it is founded , to the Grand Lodge at their next Quarterly communication . " On the 6 th June 1787 , this committee delivered their report , which was read , accepted , and confirmed , and was to the following effect : —
"That the Grand Lodge of this State is established , according to the antient and universal usages of Masonry , upon a constitution formed by the representatives of the regular Lodges , convened under a legal warrant from the Grand Lodge of England , dated the fifth day of September , in the year of Masonry five thousand seven bundred and eighty-one , the Most Noble Prince JOHN the Third , Duke of
Atholl , being the then Grand Master . And your Committee further beg leave to report , that , in their opinion , nothing is necessary or essential in the future proceeding of the GrandLodge upon the subject matter referred to them but that a Committee be appointed to prepare a draft of the style of Warrant to be hereafter granted by the Grand Lodge , conformable to the said Constitution . All of which is , nevertheless , most respectfully submitted to the wisdom of the Most
Worshipful Grand Lodge . " Witness our hands , this sixth day of June , 5787 . " ( Signed ) " W . COCK , " SAMUEL KERH , "PETER MCDOUGALL , "WHITE MATLACK , "ROBEBT COCSS , "
Reviews.
For some time hence the proceedings offer no special feature . A petition was granted for the constitution of Holland L ndge on tho 5 th September 1787 , on condition " that their Records be kept in English for the inspection of the Grand Lodge . " After a consider , able delay Lodge No . 210 acknowledges tho supremacy of the State Grand Lodge , sentence of suspension and a threat to strike it from
the rolls having , however , been thought , necessary before ifc would bring itself to such acknowledgment . With these exceptions there is little to note of general interest till tho beginning of 1789 , when a resolution is taken that a Committee of one member from eaoh of the Lodges in the City of New York meet in Holland Lodge Room the first Saturday in April for the purpose of determining thoir rank and
nrocedeney . They met accordingly , and at the Grand Lodge of 3 rd June of that year their report was delivered and confirmed with only a single dissentient . The Lodges thus represented wero as follow , namely , " No . 212 , " or , as ifc was afterwards named , " St . Patrick's 212 , " warranted by the Grand Lodge of England , on 1 st Nov . 1780 , and rewarranted by tho State Grand Lodge on 21 sfc
October 1788 ; " Sfc . John ' s No . 4 , " warranted bv the Prov . Grand Lodge of New York on the 5 th February 1783 ; " St . John ' s 210 , " by GrandLodge of England , 20 th February 1779 ; "Tnd Royal Arch 8 , " by Prov . Grand Lodge of New York , on 15 th December 1760 ; " St . Andrew ' s 169 , " originally hold in tho Citv of Boston , in the Province of Mass'ichusetts . by Grand Lodge of England , 13 th Jnly
1771 ; " St . John ' s No . 2 , " bv Prov . Grand Lodgo of New York , 7 th December 1757 ; " No . 5 , " bv Prov . Grand Lodge of Now York , 10 th March 1783 ; and " Holland Lodge , " by Grand Lodge of State of Now York , 20 th Sep t ember 1787 . Their rank was determined in strict accordance with the dates of issue of their respective war .
rants , the positions assigned them being in the following order ( 1 ) " St . John ' s Lodge No . 2 " ; ( 2 ) "Tnd . Royal Arch 8 " ; ( 3 ) " Sfc . An . drew ' s 169 "; ( 4 ) "St . John ' s 210 "; ( 5 ) "No . 212 "; ( 6 ) "Sfc . John's No . 4 "; ( 7 ) "No . 5 "; and ( 8 ) "Holland Lodge . " It was then ordered that tho several Lodges surrender their warrants and
that new ones be prepared and issued to them by the Grand Secretary , that of No . 210 being , at its own request mado out and addressed under the style of "Temple Lodge . " Hardly , however , was this important arrangement completed when dissensions arose in No . 210 , tho result being the dissolution of the Lodge , and the issue of a new warrant to that one of tho dissentient parties
whose vews found the greatest amount of favour in Grand Lodge . Towards the close of this vear an attempt was made to compel all members elected to the office of Master nr Warden to pass an examination previous to their installation into office . The attempt , however , wis a failure , Bro . Vandenbroek's motion , which was to the following effect being rejected : —
"Thafc every Master Mason , being or having been a Master , Past Master or Warden , elected or re-elected , to preside in any Lodge shall hereinafter , previous to his installation , be examined by the Grand Officers , or by some skillful person or persons appointed by them , if he is sufficiently acquainted with Masonry , and if he is possessed of the required abilities to fill the chair , and that on his
producing a certificate of his having passed a regular and strict examination , and found to be qualified , he can bo installed into his office , and not before . " We think the New York Grand Lodge exercised a sound discretion when it rejected this proposal . Ifc would have been tan . tamount to an official acknowledgment that incompetent men
had been elected to fill these important offices . Moreover , an examination , while securing a certain standard of knowledge as regards ritual , & c , would by no means have secured tbe other qualifications for office , which , in the opinion of many , are even more essential still . A W . M . or a Warden must not only possess a knowledge of his duties , he must show that he posesses prudence , forbearance ,
firmness , tact , and similar essentials , and no examinational test would prove this . A discreet Lodge will elect fit men to rule it , though ifc is within tho experience of nearly every Mason that fit rulers are not invariably chosen . We have known a member elected to fill the chair of his Lodge who was incapable of fulfilling a single duty with , out some one by to prompt him . This , we imagine , was quite an
exceptional case , but the fact is thoroughly well established that a great many brethren would never have achieved any official distinction whatever had they been compelled to undergo a previous exanimation in Masonry . Yefc some of them have proved valuable officers in their day . In June 1790 , certain resolutions passed by the Grand Lodge of
Georgia were communicated , their object being the constitution of a federal or Supreme Grand Lodge for the whole of the United States , " the frequent innovation in the mode of work , and the authorities set up in some States under warrants from other States , " being among the reasons assigned for such a step . The project is referred to a Committee of the Grand Officers , who report favourably , and
Grand Lodge of New York expresses its readiness to send delegates whenever time and place have been fixed f r holding the necessary Convention . However , as our readers are aware , no such scheme of a Central Grand Lodge met with general favour , and there are now , we suppose as many Grand Lodges as there are States in the Union . At a Grand Lodge of Emergency , held on 22 nd October 1791 , an
important letter was communicated from brethreu residing in the territory west of the River Ohio , whither certain members of the " Military Union Lodge , " formerly nnder the jurisdiction of the Provincial Grand Lodge of New York , had migrated , and where , acting nnder the original warrant , they had reopened the Lodge under the name of the American Union Lodge No . 1 , electing their own officers , and establishing for themselves a regular code of Bye-laws . Copies
of the original Warrant and the Bye-laws , together with a list of officers , are forwarded , and a request is made for recognition as an Independent Lodge . The letter was ordered to be entered on the minntes , and instruction issued to the Grand Secretary to draft a reply , and report the same . This , then , is the origin of the Grand Lodge of Ohio , now one of the most nourishing Grand Lodges in the United States ,