Philadelphia, The Premier Masonic City Of America.—No. Ii.

PHILADELPHIA , THE PREMIER MASONIC CITY OF AMERICA . —No . II .

BY BRO . WILLIAM JAMES HUGHAN . I HAVE no desire to " enjoy the last word " on the question of "The Mother City of American Freemasonry" and will endeavour to say nothing that will open up any "fresh bones of contention , " in makin" -my

adieus to " PIULADRLPHOS' aud Bro . R . F . GOULD S . G . D * Bro . Gould has ably grasped the whole subject , and , as the presiding judge , has skilfull y presented the various

reasons pro and con affecting the position of the City of Philadelphia Masonically for 1730-1 , and illustrated the argument with most valuable notes and Lists of Lodges .

I should be quite content to let the matter rest , as lucidly arranged and considered in his three most interesting articles , were it not for the fact that in No . 308 my remarkhad regard only to the first of the trio .

1 . The reference b y Bro . Gould to ' an early edition of " Masonry Dissected" is a good one , and I hope will lead to some being discovered with Lists of Lodges 1731-2-3 .

The first edition 1730 had none . Others issued in 1730 to 1734 may have had , but they have not come across my path .

2 . The "Dublin " Companion 1735 is mainly a copy of the Engraved List of 1734 , ( reproduced by me , as also the " Dublin " one ) and so is PicarcTs 1735 . The first has 79

credited to Philadelphia , the second has the No . vacant , and in the third it is duly credited to a London Lodge . Evidently it is well to note the fact of more than one edition of the Engraved Lists being occasionally issued in the same

year . 3 . It is also curious to note that No . 79 is vacant in Dr . Rawlinson ' s List of 1733 , . probably a copy of the authorised List ; just as it is unfilled in the Engraved List of 1734 .

4 . Bro . Gould thinks it very likely that a Lodge did exist as No . 78 before the London one he has traced , but does not accept the Philadelphia claimant as the one . He , however , has furnished some capital suggestions in favour

of OTO-NO . 79 , and one especially , which not only is new to me , but to every one else . I refer to the Engraved signs of the Inns or Taverns . The Dublin List speaks of the " Boo ]) , " in Water Street , Philadelphia ( U . S . A . ) Bro .

Gould hits the " nail on the head " in remarking that " the Tun may have been so pictured in an official list as to have been taken for a Hoop" Apparently , the Irish Editor did so . At all events , no "Hoop" in Water Street

appears to have been known in Philadelphia , ! in 1730-2 , but the " Tun " was , and in that tavern the Prov . G . Lodge of Pennsylvania assembled 26 th June 1732 ! ( Pennsylvania Gazette , No . 187 , A . p . 1732 . ) Such unexpected

confirmatory evidence , though but of a negative character , is surely sufficient to induce us all to believe as likely that the Dublin Editor copied from an Engraved List of the G . L . of England , in which No . 79 appeared , and credited it to the " Tun , " Philadelphia .

5 . As Bro . Gould states that some of my conclusions are of a discrepant character , I fear my meaning has not been put quite clearly . Last century it mattered not generally whether the G . M . issued ( or granted ) the

Warrant , or the Prov . G . M . did ( as in the case of Boston in 1733 , and many others , even at " home " ) , so tongas it was granted by one or other of those authorities . Either

was a legal Warrant , and so 79 , whether granted by the G . M . or the Prov . G . M ., would be of similar force or authority .

That Bro . Cadwalladcr ' s letter establishes the fact that

no English Warrant was scut or received , -is not proved-, though I confess ifc is not clear on the subject . I' do not wish to lay an undue stress on this point , but only desire to exhibit the view , that whether it was received or not ,

or Coxe granted a Warrant as Prov . G . M ., it matters not , as the legalit y of the beginning of tlie Civift in Philadelphia under either , hypothesis is assured , nnd the probability is that No . 79 represented the first Lodge in America . 6 . I attach much iroportnnr-e to Bro . Gould ' .-- admission

Philadelphia, The Premier Masonic City Of America.—No. Ii.

of the bona fide character ( to say the least ) of the Dublin Register , and particularly am I impressed with the ingenious suggestion of his as to the " Hoop" being mistaken

for a " Tun , " which says volumes in favour of the view that the compiler had an early list of Lodges before him , engraved , with the " Signs " of the Taverns , by order of the Grand Lodge of England .

i . I am most willing to admit that , considering the extraordinary attention , time , and patience which Bro . Gould has devoted to the intricate details ( numerically and generally ' ) of our " Old Lodges" he has the best right of any to speak positively and authoritatively on the subject , and

that in the department he has selected in which to exhibit his accuracy of research and fidelity to truth , he has no equal . For him , then , to admit , that " the balance of argument is perhaps , in favour of the view espoused by Bro . Hughan "

though he introduces several weighty points against my theory , disposes me to believe that it is , so far , the most likely explanation of the puzzle , and that whatever may be the faults of my advocacy , the facts , so far known , tend in favour of my client !

I have to thank the Editor of the "FREEMASONS CHRONICLE " for the careful reproduction of my MSS ., and hope that the subject has proved as interesting to its readers as it has to myself .

Christmas Entertainments.

CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS .

WE have latterly had—it would be almost impossible to say we have been latterly enjoying—such variable weather , that whether or not this present Christmastide will be an old fashioned one with plenty of snow on the ground—and in London at all events , the attendant comforts—or whether or not it will be wet and muggy , as has too often been the case for many yenrs past , it is , at the

moment of writing , quite impossible to say . For this reason , it would be obviously premature to formulate an opinion as to how thoso who cater for the outdoor amusement of the public will fare , and whether the excellent provision they have been announcing , for some timo past , for the chief among the Christmas holidays will have a fair opportunity of being appreciated . Even those who provide indoor

amusement will find tho Treasury fuller or less fall according as tho weather is more or less fine . Still , as there is no knowing tho changes whioh a single period of twenty-four hours may bring forth , it will not be out of place to give a rough sketch of the various entertainments which are promised us . Pantomimes , of course , as peculiar to Christmas , claim our first

attention , and we think it matter for general satisfaction , that ifc will find a home at so many of our theatres . " Old Drury " promisos to present to us " Mother Goose , " by the veteran Blanchard , the music being especially composed by F . Wallerstein . The cast in the opening part will include Miss Kate Santley , Miss Emma D'Auban , Miss Marian D'Auban , and Messrs . John D'Auban ,

James Fawn , Charles Enss , Julian Girard , & c . The principal dancers are Mdlle . Palladino and the Misses Percival and Clara Fisher , and the Clowns Fred Evans , the Little Rowella , and Little Bertie Coote ; scenery by William Telbin , Henry Cuthbert , and Henry Emden . "Valentino and Orson , " by Mr . F . C . Barnand , is the title of the pantomime at Covent Garden ; it will have the benefit of Bro . F . B .

Chatterton's large experience as stage manager , while the ballet and general pantomimic effects will be arranged by Mr . Cormack . Mr . William Beverley will prepare the scenery ; Mr . Karl Meyder provides the music ; and among the artists engaged are the Yokes Family , Mr . F . Barsby , H . Payne and 0 . Laurie as clowns , & c . Costumes by Mrs . S . May and Miss Fisher . The above will be presented for the

first time on Boxing-night , but at the Surrey and Grecian a sort of grand pnblic rehearsal has been arranged for Christmas Eve . At the former the pantomime , by Mr . F . W . Green , is entitled " Hop-o-my Thumb , " and was to be produced under the joint auspices of Messrs . George Conquest and Holland . Turning to the East of London , we find the Bros . Douglass who , at the Standard , by all accounts are likely to

have well sustained their reputation , and the same may bo said of tho fair proprietress of tho Britannia . The first representation of the Crystal Palace Pantomime " Aladdin , " by tho Brothers Grimm , took place on Thursday , the leading characters being enacted by Mr . Aynsloy Cook , Mr . W . Randall , Miss Hudspeth ( Mrs . E . Phelps ) , Miss Edith Bruce , and music by Mr . Oscar Barrett , Harlequinade by Mr .

\ V . Orkins . On Boxing Day at the Alexandra Palace will be performed " Pnss iu Boots , " written by Mr . Frank Stainforth , with music by XV . Corri and ballets by John Lauri ; principal characters by Miss Julia St . Ledger , Miss Clyfforde , Miss Caroline Parkes ; Messrs . Bayner , Lauri , the Great Decona , & c . At tho Gaiety was a ; ivcn yesterday the new Christmas burlesque of the" Forty Thieves '"

by Mr . Reece ; principal artists , Misses Farreu , Vaughan , Gilchrist , Messrs . Terry , Royce , Dallas , & o . At several of the theatres , such as the Haymarket , the Lyceum , & c , the present programme will be continued ; while at the Royal Princess ' s will be produced on Boxiug Night " The Fool ' s Revenge . " At Her Majesty ' s , Haverley ' s American

United Mastodon Minstrels will re-appear on Monday . Yesterday was fixed for the re-opening of the Mohawks at the Agricultural Hall , with a grand special programme suitable to the occasion , afternoon performances being given at three p . m . on Boxing Day and the day following . The Christy ' s , at St . James ' s Hall , open also with a special programme , and at the Royal Aquarium will take place a "Stu .