Freemasonry In Pennsylvania, 1730.1808.

have been started in 1731 or thereabouts , doubtless in ' response to the wishes " of tho several other Brethren " residing iu those parts . * How * this was brought about we do not know , but as Bro . William Allen was the Provincial Grand Master , and other men of the standing of

Benjamin Franklin took part therein , I quite think , with Bro . MacCalla , that " their character guarantees tho character of their Masonic proceedings , " and tho careful perusal of the weighty evidence supplied by Bro . Meyer strengthens such a belief . Besides which , this same

Brother , Chief Justice Wm . Allen , was appointed Prov . Grand Master in 1749 by Lord Byron , Grand Master of England , so that the Province clearly was on good terms with the home authorities , and if Chief Justice Allen had acted improperly in 1731 , ho would not havo been so honoured by Lord Byron in 1749 .

There may , of course , havo been Lodges in New York and New Jersey by virtue of Coxe ' s deputation , but as to that there is no evidence whatever . Bro . Coxo was recognised as Provincial Grand Master by the Grand Lodge of England in its Books of Records and Constitutions , hence

any Lodges he founded were legal ones , whether he transmitted the fees or not , for if the legality of Lodges in America be dependent upon tho fees being paid at headquarters , so far as tho last century is concerned , I fear there are few that can stand such a test .

According to the evidence of the late Bro . John Hervey , Grand Secretary , the "first money received from a Lodge in America was on the 8 fch of March 1754 , Royal Exchange , Borongh of Norfolk , Virginia ; "f though , as we know , several were constituted years before then . The

existence of the Ledger of 1731-8 , and the fact of Coxe ' s appointment , appear to me to suggest regularity and respectability , whatever may be the difficulties attending inquiries as to their Masonic character at the present time .

There roust have been very many Freemasons in America in 1734 , to have induced Bro . Franklin to reprint the Constitutions of 1723 in that year . The volume however before me is brimful of other valuable matter which cannot fail to interest the Masonic student . The

Table of Masonic Lodges in Pennsylvania , 1730 to 1880 ( a period of one hundred and fifty years ) , prepared by Bro . Meyer , is a most valuable compilation , and several of the notes are particularly interesting ancl curious . Tho oldest Lodge on the present Roll is No . 2 , Philadelphia ,

granted by the "Atholl" Grand Lodge as No . 69 , by Warrant dated 7 th June 1758 , the No . 1 being for a Provincial Grand Lodge Warrant of 15 th June 1761 ( lost in transit , and another granted of date 20 th June 1764 ) . The first mentioned was the premier

"Atholl" Lodge granted for any part of the United States—the first for any part of America being for the Provincial Grand Lodge and two subordinate Lodges , in Nova Scotia . J There are 555 Lodges described in the list . I do not find any record , however , of No . 177

on the roll of the Grand Lodge of Scotland , " St . John , Philadelphia , " 1773 ( circa ) , and erased in 1816 , and I have failed to trace it in any way . The " Proceedings " printed extend from 1779 to 1808 , and various documents are given from the year 1730 , one being a subscription list

for the first Masonic Hall in America , 13 th March 1754 . The extracts from the " Royal Arch Lodge , " No . 3 , Philadelphia , are inserted from 1767 to 1780 , and the " Ahiman Rezon" of 1783 is carefully reprinted , the frontispiece being also reproduced , which is similar to the English edition of 1764 .

The plates , which are all good , comprise portraits of Bros . Daniel Coxe , Provincial Grand Master , 1730 , & c , Benjamin Franklin , Provincial Grand Master , 1734 and 1749 , the Rev . William Smith , D . D ., Grand Secretary ; and John Thomson , Grand Master , 1861-2 ( and late Grand

Secretary ) . The facsimile of letter from Bro . George Washington , which is in possession of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania ( of 27 th December 1796 ) , is a valuable relic indeed , and certainly is the unique attraction of the volume . I am quite certain that the completion of this extensive undertaking by Bro . Meyer , and his Brethren of

Freemasonry In Pennsylvania, 1730.1808.

tlio G ' ommiteo ( Bros . Muckh ' , Dr . Wyckoff , Reynolds , Young , Knight find Dr . Egle ) will be most warmly appreciated , ami be welcomed wherever Freemasonry is studied and valued as it deserves ( o be . The members

composing tho Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania owe a l asting debt of gratitude to this Committee , for the thorough ancl able manner in which the work has been neeomplished . — Kri / xloiir ,

Good And True.

GOOD AND TRUE .

IT has been said that Freemasonry is not a religions Institution . In a distinctive souse , as an organized body , this may be true ; but when wo study well and thoroughly the principles and lessons imparted within our sacred walls , wo find that thoy embody tho very essence of

all religion . Ifc was onco said by an eminent clivino that tho essence of any religion , worthy tho namo is , " To bo right ancl do right ; " ancl I hero affirm that tho comprehensive whole of Freemasonry teaches its votaries " to bo

good and true men . " A member of this grand old Order , who has been twenty-four hours within its precincts , ancl failed to seo that this is the acme of its teachings , must indeed bo dull of comprehension .

Tho very first stop , when properly understood , is ono of the grandest ancl most impressive lessons ever presented to the mind of man . We aro thero taught that before we can reach the sublimity and perfection of Freemasonry , we must become , as it were , a little child , to be led by other hands and heo-in life anew— " to become a new creature . "

Wo must there , before wo enter the gate of the sacred temple , leave behind us every habiliment that wonld hinder us in our upward courso to the good man and tho true . We are there to he divested of the vices and superfluities , thus far accumulated in life , and be received within tho

ranks , alone , for what good thero is in us . This first lesson of Masonry—this first principle—is the first step in the Christian religion , tho highest type of religion proclaimed throughout tho intelligent work ! to-day . But the grandeur and the beanfcy of the manner in which we

impart this lesson , must bo apparent to every one , when we consider that religious sects and denominations embody the lesson in language , written or spoken , which always has been , and of necessity always must be , a source of

various interpretations , while we clothe it in the sublime habiliments of symbolism , which stands a silent monument of truth to be read and comprehended by men of all religions , by men everywhere , and by men in all ages .

The great London divine said , " The world never has been able to receive spiritual instruction , except through symbolical teaching . " The Great Teacher , the founder of the Christian religion , taught in parables and symbols . So Masonry is a system of morals , or " religion , " veiled in

allegory and impressed in symbols . From the youngest Entered Apprentice to the Grand Master in the East , the Masonic traveller sees truth everywhere clothed in beanfcy , symmetry and grandeur , and by applying these to his every-day life , he is enabled to rise to that station , than

which none can go higher , that of a " good man and true . " The candidate , in passing through tho labyrinths of initiation , has opened up to him a vast field of research and knowledge . His guide points out to him here the croppings of a mine , buried deep beneath the surface ,

containing an inexhaustible supply of precious truths awaiting development by the earnest , thoughtful philosopher ; there a boundless , unexplored region of lakes , and rivers , and mountains , and forests , many portions of which have never yet been trod by the foot of man , offering a rich

reward to the daring explorer . Yonder , a beautiful woodland , through which quietly flows tho softly murmuring brook , in whose leafy bowers the feathery songster warbles forth his sweetest lay , and whose shady dell . 3 invite him to sweet repose . Research , and a desire to do

good , shonld be the motive of every man who knocks at our door for admittance . But all good men are not Masons , and ifc is equally true that not all Masons are good men . Nor is the grandeur and excellency of Masonry any the less

real in its purposes because some in its ranks havo neglected its precepts , and trailed its banner in the dust . This should only increase the zeal of those who have the good of Masonry at heart , ancl cause them to be moro vigilant at the outer gate of the temple . And here allow