Rhode Island's Masonic Centenary.

approved by Saint John ' s Lodge , Newport , 14 th March 1791 , and by Saint John ' s Lodge , Providence , 6 th April 1791 .

The "plan" under which this Graud Lodge was organized included several uniquo features . It really established an alliance between tho two Lodges that formed its constituency , special care being taken for an equal division of tho offices and honours . Tho Grand Master

was to bo selected alternately from each Lodgo , and the placo of meeting alternately at Newport aud Providence . It designated Saint John tho Baptist's Day as the time for holding tho Annual Communication of tho Grand Lodgo , except when that day fell on Saturday or Sunday , in

which caso tho Lodge at tho placo of meeting should designate tho date . Acting under this form of constitution , tho brethren who had been elected by their respective Lodges as Grand Officers mot at tho State House in Newport , 27 th Juno 1791 , Moses Sexias , Master of Saint John ' s

Lodgo , Newport , installing tho Grand Officers . There wero but eighteen members present . Tho entire- constituency of tho Grand Lodge numbered two hundred and twenty-five , divided equally between the two Lodges , the membership of Saint John ' s Lodge , of Newport , being ono

hundred and thirteen , and that of Saint John ' s Lodge , of Providence , ono hundred and twelve . Christopher Champlin , of Newport , was elected first Grand Master . Ho was for sixteen years a member of the Rhode Island Legislature . Ho was President of the Bank of Rhode Island from the

date of its institution m 1795 , until tho time of his death , 25 th April 1805 . Jabez Bowen , of Providence , was elected Deputy Grand Master , and succeeded Champlin in 1794 . Moses Sexias , a prominent merchant of Newport , was Grand Master from 1802 to 1809 . He was a worthy

representative of the early Craftsmen of his native town , as is shown by his having been selected by King David ' s Lodge , of which body he was then tho head , to present an address to President Washington on tho occasion of his

visit to that city , 17 th August 1790 . Numbered in that original band of less than a score of souls were other strong men , including Poleg Clarke , David Tillinghast , George Dean , Benjamin Bowen , John Carlisle , and Robert Auchinuit .

Tho subject of a National Grand Lodge remained a live question in this jurisdiction , but no decided action was taken until 24 th Juno 1823 , when in adopting a report of a committee , a resolution was passed declaring tho inexpediency of attempting to establish a National Grand Lodge .

During tho first few years of its history this Grand Lodge held its communications annually , mooting alternately afc tho State Honse in Newport and tho Sfcato House in Providence . During tho first decade of its existence

four subordinate Lodges wero organised : Washington , No . 3 , Warren , 1796 ; Mt . Vernon , No . 4 , Providence , 1799 ; Washington , No . 5 , South Kingstown , 1799 ; and Sfc . Albans , No . 6 , Bristol 1800 . Tho seventh annual

meeting was held 24 th June 1798 , in tho now Masonic Hall in tho third story of tho Market Buiiding ou Market Square , this upper story having been added to tho building by St . John ' s Lodgo of Providence , and tho

apartments thus provided for Masonic uso having been dedicated by tho Grand Lodge , 27 th December 1797 , this being tho first occasion of tho dedication of a Masonic Hall in Rhode Island .

Tho next ton years witnessed tho growth of fcho Craft by the addition of seven new Lodges : Friendship , No . 7 , Gloucester , 1803 ; Mount Moriah , No . 8 , Smithfleld , 1804 ; Harmony , No . 9 , Pawfcuxefc , 1808 ; Union , No . 10

-fawtucket , 1808 ; King Solomon , No . 11 , East Greenwich , 1810 : Manchester , No . 12 , Anthony , 1810 , and Morning Star , No . 13 , Woonsockct , 1810 . These thirteen Lodges had an aggregate membership of a lifcfclo over seven hundred .

Tho quality of tho membership , both in tho Grand Lod go and in fcho local organisations , vvas probably never better or more reliable than during the first quarter of her hundred years which come under our review to-day . One name belonging to thafc era stands out in clearer , stronger

iigtif . than all tho others—fcho namo of Thomas Smith Webb , known and honoured throughout the Masonic y ?^ - Ho was a y ° g ma « when he came fco this city in

Law , bufc he at onco made his influence in Masonic affairs tolfc , not in one department alone , but in all branches . Ho was an organiser and a ritualist . Ho waa au enthusiast m hia endeavours to arrange and adopt Masonic ideas ,

Rhode Island's Masonic Centenary.

symbols aud teachings , and the results ho produced can bo scon in what is known as the " Webb work . " In 1810 ho was elected , and in 1812 re-elected Deputy Grand Master , and hold tho offico of Grand Master iu 1813 and 1814 , declining a re-election in lbl 5 . He died suddenly iu Cleveland , Ohio , in July 1819 .

Notwithstanding tho progress mado ami tho general harmony thafc prevailed , there aro some uuploasui t uvents aud occasions noted in tho records of I hat early peri . d . In 1818 , St . John ' s Lodge , Newport , expelled certain members who , iu alliance with others declared tlom-telves

a Lodge independent of tho Grand Lodge , and possessing themselves of the charter , records and other p > opsrty of the Lodge , mado a bold effort to sustain themselves in such a position . Tho Grand Lodgo issued printed warning

against them as clandestine Masons . They in turn brought libel suits against the Grand Master aid Grand Secretary , which wero finally decided in favour of legitimate Masonry .

There was occasional friction in tho movements of tho Craft , sometimes differences of opinion and even dissension , notwithstanding which a steady prosperity marked thn onward way of tho Fraternity in this State until about 1829 , when a bitter feeling against Freemasonry was aroused by

tho abdnctiou and murder of William Morgan , for having betrayed , ifc was said , Masonic secrets . This feeling was encouraged by artful politicians , and soon became almost a crusade against the Masonic Institution . Political anti-Masonry raged fiercely in this State . Anti-Masonic

conventions were held , and parties formed to prevent fcho election of Masons to office . Newspapers aud periodicals , filled with attacks on the institution , were scattered broalcast . The General Assembly of this State invo-fcigated the matter , and , by a committee , recommended in 1832 the

discontinuance of tho Masonic organization . In response to this demand the Grand Lodge passed resolutions that the movement was purely political , and that ifc was the duty of tho Craft to adhere to tho institution through evil as well as good report . Two years later , in 1834 , under a

strong pressure of public opinion , the Grand Lodge voted to surrender its civil charter , and recommended subordinate Lodges to do tho same . The civil charter , surrendered 17 th March 1834 , was restored by act of the General Assembly passed 4 th April 1861 , the renewed charter being received and accepted 27 th May 1861 .

This crusade lasted for several years , subjecting tho Fraternity to a very trying ordeal , out of which , however , they omenred with honour to themselves . Tho number of those

in the State who openly renounced Masonry during tho years of excitement was comparatively few—only twelve apostates , according to the record , but of theso four were clergymen . The effects of this crusttde lasted many yeaiv .

No new Lodges wero established in this State from 1824 to 1856 . Tho whole number of Masons in tho State , as reported to tho Grand Lodgo at its session iu 1 . 830 , was 2 , 866 ; this number was reduced by the returns of 1850 to 1 , 150 , aud only increased to 1 , 517 by tho returns of 1860 .

lhe last twonty-fivo or thirty years covered by tho review thafc wo are prompted to tako to-day , presents an almost uninterrupted way of advancement . There havo

been largo accessions of numerical and material style , better facilities for tlio rendering of Masonic work , and many other results that justify tho congratulations which accord with fcho spirit of this anniversary occasion .

Bufc thcro is ono namo enrolled anion ? tho names of

thoso who havo shown conspicuous ability and fidelity in this latter period , thafc should bo spoken ou this occasion . Ifc is that of Thomas Arthur Doyle , a native of Providence , born 15 th March 1827 , identified in most important ways with public interests , and called to service as tho chief

magistrate of tho city of his birth for a period of eighteen years . He entered fcho Grand Lodge in 1859 , served as Grand Secretary nearly four years , was elected Grand

Master in 1865 , and continued in . thafc oflico until 1872 . Tho Grand Lodge has boon convened four hundred and fifty-four times , including its Special Communications , somo of which have beon notable as connected wifch the

laying of tho corner-stones of public buildings , & c , or tbe rendering of somo other important service . Ono such occasion occurred 3 rd October 18 . 1 . 4 , when Thomas Smith Webb called tho Grand Lodge together , and marched

at their head to I ox Point , and sot the Graft to work in building a fort for the defence of the harbour of Providence . Another occasion whero the speculative and operative clomonta in Freemasonry wero brought into exercise