Rise And Early Progress Of Freemasonry In The State Of New York, Chronologically Arranged.

RISE AND EARLY PROGRESS OF FREEMASONRY IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK , CHRONOLOGICALLY ARRANGED .

OUR knoAvn anxiety to promote , as far as in us lies , the study of Masonic History induces us to lay before our readers the following interesting chronological table of Freemasonry in the State of NOAV York from its earliest knoAvn introduction down to 1776 , the year Avhen the War

of Independence broke out . It is compiled from the prefatory chapter to the Early History of the Grand State of New York , a lengthened revieAV of which has appeared so recently in these columns . The writer or editor of this prefatory chapter is " John G . Barker , P . G . Librarian , " and the materials he has collected are derived from

authentic sources . We may add , that all the Masonic Lodges existing in this State during this period owed their allegiance to the Grand Lodge ( Moderns ) of England . Elsewhere , in what were then our North American Colonies ,

the Grand Lodge " Ancients " established and maintained its footing , and the Masonic History of this State , from 1781 , so long as its dependence on England lasted , belongs to the so-called " Ancients . " But in New York , anterior to the war , no " Ancient" Masonry existed , so far as we knoAV . With these brief remarks , we submit the Table , as

IOIIOAVS : — A . D . 1730—5 June . Deputation issued by the Duke of Norfolk G . M ., appointing E . W . Bro . Daniel Cox of New Jersey to be Prorincial Grand Master of the Provinces of " New York , New Jersey , and Pensilvania " for a term of two years , commenc

rag on St . John the Baptist ' s day ( 24 th June ) next ensuing . No records relating to New York . 1733—30 April . Warrant granted by Viscount Montagu G . M ., appointing R . W . Bro . Henry Price Provincial Grand Master in North America .

„ —30 July . A Grand Lodgo opened at Boston , Mass ., by R . W . Bro . Henry Price D . G . M ., Bro . Andrew Belcher appointed D . G . M ., and Bros . Thomas Kenelly and John Qnann Grand

Wardens . This known as tho St . John a Grand Lodge . 1737—IB November . Deputation granted by the Earl of Darnley G . M ., to R . W . Bro . Captain Richard Riggs as Provincial Grand Master of New York .

1739—22 January . New York Gazette contains announcement , issued " by order of tho Grand Master , " and signed , " Charles Wood , Secretary , " to the effect that the Lodge for tho future will be held at the Montgomerie-Arms Tavern on the first and

third Wednesday of every month . „ —24 September . Same journal contains a somewhat similar announcement , that the Lodge will meet on Wednesday , the twenty-sixth inst ,, at the same place , at 6 o'clock in the afternoon .

1751—Patent issued by Lord Byron G . M ., appointing B . W . Francis Geolet Provincial Grand Master of New York . 1753—9 June . Deputation granted by Lord Carysfort , G . M ., appointing R . W . Bro . George Harison Provincial Grand Master of New York .

„ —2 July . Announcement in Nexo York Mercury that on Mon . day , tho 25 th June , was held the celebration of St . John the Baptist ' s day by regular procession in due form from Spring Garden "to the King ' s Arms Tavern in Broad Street , near the

Long Bridge , " where an elegant entertainment was provided . ,, —19 November . Notice , in same journal , summoning mem bers to attend a Provincial Grand Lodge to be held at the King ' s Arms Tavern , on 19 th December , on business of im . portance .

j , —26 December . R . W . Bro . George Harison installed and proclaimed Provincial Grand Master of New York by his prede . ceasor , R . W . Bro . Francis Geolet . „ —31 December . Notice , in New York Mercury , of celebration of St . John the Evangelist's day , when the P . G . Lodgo attended Trinity Church .

1754—10 June . Summons iu New York Mercury for members of Provincial Grand Lodgo to meet at the house of Mr . Edward Willett , Broadway , on 19 th Jane " on special business , " issued " by order of the Grand Maater , " and signed , "H . Gaino , Secretary . " „ —9 December . Similar summons , in same journal , to meet on 27 th December at 9 a . m . " on business of importance . "

1 / 55—17 December . A similar notice in same journal convening Provincial Grand Lodge . 1756—28 June . Notice in New York Mercury of death and funeral

v / ith Masonic honours of Bro . Alexander Lightfbot , innkeeper . 1757—7 December . St . John's Lodge , No . 2 Prov . [ English Registry , No . 272 ] [ now No . 1 ] warranted by R . W . Bro Harison .

1753—23 December . Summons in New York Mercury to members of Temple Lodge , City of New York , and also to " all strange brethren who can conveniently , " to attend and celebrate St .

Rise And Early Progress Of Freemasonry In The State Of New York, Chronologically Arranged.

John ' s day ( 27 th of tho month ) at the Fountain Tavern , issued by order of the Master , and signed " John Armstrong , Secretary . " 1758—* Temple Lodgo , City of New York .

1760—15 December . St . John ' s Ind . Royal Aroh , No . 8 ProT ( now No . 2 ) , New York City . Warranted by R . W . Bro . Harison . 1762—St . John ' s No . 1 , Fairfield , Conn . Ditto . 1764—24 April . Zion No . 1 , Detroit ( English Registry 448 ) Ditto .

1765—2 February . Union No . 1 , City of Albany ( now Mount Vernon No . 3 ) . Ditto . „ —23 May . St . John ' s No . 1 , Norwalk , Conn , ( now No . 6 , Grand Lodge of Conn . ) Ditto . 1766—22 April . St . John ' s No . 1 , Stratford , Conn , ( now No . 8 , Grand Lodge of Conn . ) Ditto .

„ —23 May . St . Patrick's No . 8 , Johnstown , N . Y . ( now No . 4 ) , Ditto . 1767 —* Trinity Lodge , City of New York . „ —* Union Lodge , City of Now York . „ —* King Solomon Lodge , City of New York .

„ —22 June . Notice in New York Mercury requesting brethren who are disposed to celebrate St . John the Baptist ' s day " in conjunction with the members of Trinity Lodge , at their Lodge Hall , " to give " timely notice to Mr . John Marshall , at the Masons' Arms , at tho Upper End of Queen Street . "

„ —28 December . Announcement in same journal that the brethren of the St . John's , Trinity , Union , and King Solomon's Lodges propose to celebrate St . John ' s day at Mr . John James , Vintner's , at the Masons' Arms . Sojourners , members of the

fraternity , invited to join . 1768—2 January . Announcement in the Nexo York Gazette and the Weekly Mercury that several Lodges attended Divine Service in Trinity Church on St . John ' s day , when a collection , including £ 100 from Hiram Lodge alone , was made for the poor of the city .

„ —5 March . Masters' No . 2 , City of Albany ( now No . 6 ) Ditto . 1769—17 February . King David ' s , City of New York . Ditto . „ —* Hiram Lodge , City of New York .

1771—18 April . Solomon's No . 1 , Poughkeepsie , Now York . Ditto * „ —Installation of R . W . Bro . Sir John Johnson , Kt ., as Provincial Grand Master of New York appointed in succession to R . W . Bro . George Harison under a commission issued in 1767 by Lord Blany G . M . He appoints Dr . Peter Middleton D . G . M .

1773—3 July . Tho P . G . M . confirms Warrant granted in 1765 , by R . W . Bro . Harison to Union Lodge No . 1 , City of Albany . 1774—21 June . Issues dispensation to form a Lodge at Shenectady . „ —14 September . Grants Warrant to same under the title of St . George's Lodge No . 1 of Shenectady .

1775—24 July . Warrants St . John ' s Regimental Lodge No . 1 , attached to the United States Battalion . 1776—April . Warrant issaed to Military Union Lodge . Most of the above facts were noticed in the Keview to

which reference has already been made . We present them , however , a second time , in the above form , in the hope they will convey to our readers a clearer and more connected idea of the rise and early progress of Ereemasonry in the State of New York .

We gather from the " Portsmouth Times and Naval Gazette that the brethren of the Carnarvon Lodge , No . 804 , at Havant , will be honoured with another visit from the Provincial Officers next Monday , the R . W . P . G . Master ( Bro . W . W . B . Beach , M . P . ) having consented to dedicate

the new Lodge Room on that date . It will be remembered that Bro . Beach laid tho foundation stone some months since . Notices havo been issued to the members of the A arions Lodges in this district , and it is anticipated there Avill be a laree attendance of members of the Craft .

Bro . H . Wright announces a grand vocal and instrumental concert , to take place on Monday evening , 2 nd October , at Exeter Hall , on which occasion Bros . Wilford Morgan and Chaplin Henry will lend their valuable services .

The fifteen sections -will be worked at the Israel Lodge of Instruction , on Sunday evening , the 24 th inst ., at the Rising Sun , Green Street , Bethnal Green . Bro . Webb will conduct the work .