Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Reviews.
REVIEWS .
All Books intended for Beview should be addressed to the Editor of Tho Freemason ' s Chronicle , 23 Great Queen Street , W . C . Tlic Grand Lodge of the mod Ancient and Honourable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons , Pennsylvania . Its early History and
Constitutions from A . L . 5730 , A . D . 1730 , its Minutes and Proceedings . List of Lodges from earliest date to December 27 , 1880 . Part III . Compiled and published by tho Library Committee of tho Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania . Philadelphia : Sherman and Co . Printers , 1880 .
THK period of time over which tho Minutes contained in the Part before ns extend is five years and a half , namely , from the Quarterly Communication in June 1799 to that in December 1804 , the R . W . Bro . Jonathan Bayard Smith being Grand Master for the earlier portion , and R . W . Bro . Israal Israel during the latter . Tho earliest minute contains extracts from tho Report of tho Charity Committee
announcing , in the first place , that the said Committee had received on behalf of Grand Lodge five perpetnal shares in the Philadelphia Dispensary in return for a donation of fifty guineas to the funds of that Institution ; and in the next , that when the G . Master and Dep . G . Master had called on Mrs . Dean , widow of a Bro . Dean , to present to hor the sum of twenty-five dollars which had been voted her out of
the funds of Grand Lodge , the lady , while expressing her grateful sense of the kindness evinced towards her , declined to accept the grant on the ground that she was in better circumstances , and " that sho had no doubt but the brethren had many objects which stood in greater need of it than sho did . " Such an act of honourable selfdenial as this deserves to have been recorded . Two other matters of
interest are noted : one , that Bro . S . Benge had presented G . Lodge with two purple sashes for the G . and Dep . G . Masters respectively , together with " an apron of white satin for the R . W . G . M ., seven leather aprons for the R . W . D . G . M ., S . W ., J . W ., Secretary , Treasurer , S . D ,, and J . D ., all the aprons trimmed with broad purple ribbon and gold lace , and hangings of broad purple trimmed with gold lace for
the jewels of the above-mentioned eight officers . For this handsome gift a vote of thanks was unanimously passed to the donor . The other matter concerned Grand Lodge premises , the room where it had previously been held being no longer available . Consequently a Committee was appointed to prepare a scheme whereby a Hall shonld be erected . On St . John ' s Day , 24 th June , this Committee presented
a Report , in which they recommended a scheme for the formation of a " Pennsylvania Freemasons' Hall Association" with a view to " raising by subscription and chances the sum of six thousand dollars for the purpose of procuring by purchase , or otherwise erecting a building to be denominated a Freemasons' Lodge . " Tho plan , full particulars of which are furnished , was read a first time , and after
two failures to secure the requisite attendance of members , a second time at an extra Communication on the 11 th July , the further consideration of its details being postponed . The regular September Quarterly Communication was not held owing to an epidemic of yellow fever in the city , and the consequent removal into the country of a considerable number of the inhabitants , but at a special meeting
on the 13 th November , the Committee for finding temporary quarters reported , that in compliance with the request of such Committee , His Excellency T . Mifflin , Governor of the State , had granted to Grand Lodge the Secretaries' Chamber in the State House till snch time as its use for state purposes might be required . The thanks of Grand Lodge were voted to His Excellency , and steps were ordered
to be taken so as to have the Chamber furnished and made ready for the reception of Grand Lodge . At tho December meeting communications were read from the Grand Lodges of Upper Canada , Lower Canada , and North Carolina . These show that in Upper Canada there were fourteen Lodges , and in Lower Canada sixteen Lodges ; Brother W . Jarvis being G . Master of the former , and H . R . H . Prince Edward ,
afterwards Duke of Kent , G . Master of the latter . Bro . J . B . Smith was then re-elected G . Master , Bro . Israel Dep . G . Master , and other brethren G . Wardens , Treasurer , and Secretary , the last entry iu the minutes of these meetings being the very singular notification that certain brethren had been excluded from Lodge No . 80 , one for a period of " 80 years , " and two others for " 40 years . " So quaint a
notice wonld seem to suggest that the inhabitants of Pennsylvania , or at all events the members of this particular Lodge , must have been remarkable for their longevity . The minutes of tho next two meetings , held on the 26 th and 27 th December , describe the measures taken by tho brethren of Pennsylvania to pay honour to the memory of tho illustrious Washington
who had departed this life a short time before . That held on the former of the above was an extra Communication , summoned for the purpose of enabling Grand Lodge to comply with tho invitation of the State Congress to take part in the funeral obsequies , vulgarly known as " Washington ' s sham funeral , " which had been ordered by the State . But for all tho unreality of tho proceedings there can be no
question as to the reality of the sorrow that was felt by all classes of the community , and especially by the Freemasons who had lost in G . Washington not only a beloved fellow-citizen and revered leader , but also tho most distinguished member of the Masonic Craft in the United States . Were evidence of the truth of this statement necessary , we have but to refer to tho address delivered in Grand Lod « -e on the solemn occasion by the R . W . Grand Master , in which , after
noticing the deceased General's connection with the Craft , Bro . Smith went on to say : — "The Old as well as tho New World reveres this name : he was indeed an illustrious Brother , Citizen , and Chief , in peace aud in war , in council and action pre-eminent . Tho Masons of Pennsylvania have exulted that the name of Washington stood enrolled , on their list of Brethren , and they will cherish the remembrance of his virtues and services as a rich legacy for their omulona example . If devotion oE
Reviews.
time and talents to ameliorate the state of man be a virtue ; if obeying the oalls of his country in times of the greatest difficulty and danger at every risk be a Masonic duty , of that virtue may Masonry boast that this our Washington has exhibited an instance beyond former example brilliant ; and for tho exercise of this duty will our Washing , ton ever stand conspicuous in tho foremost ranks . Are a love of
order and sacred regard to the laws of the social compact character , istic of Masons ? For his exemplary adherence to theso Masonic virtues through all tho vicissitudes and variogated difficulties of a Revolutionary War , has our Washington received the plaudits of thirteon Sovereign States . " At the latter of the two meetings the Grand Master and other
principal Grand Officers wero installed , and the subordinate Grand Officers appointed and invested , and this important duty having been fulfilled , resolutions were passed to the effect that the Grand Lodge , room should bo put in mourning , and tho members of Grand Lod ge should wear black crape on the left arm and over tho emblems on their aprons for six months . We may add here , before dismissing these
references to General Washington , that a special communication was held on the 3 rd February 1800 , when it was resolved that a Masonic procession shonld be held on the 22 nd of that month—that being the day recommended by the President and Congress of the United States to be set apart as a day of publio mourning for the deceased General . Particulars of the procession aro given under a later date .
But though Grand Lodge was thus mournfully engaged in adding its tribute of respect to that paid by the whole of the United States to the memory of their late chief , they were not unmindful of the ordinary business of the day . In the minutes of the 27 th December mention is made of the near likelihood that the " modern " G . Lodge of South Carolina , the onlv one at the time in the States that was
held under a foreign jurisdiction would be amalgamated with the " ancient" Grand Lodge of that State , and ithat , too , without auy departure from , or infringement of , ancient landmarks on the part of the latter ; and a hearty wish is expressed that the union of the two may be speedily accomplished . Reference is also made to certain resolutions transmitted by the said ancient Grand Lodge of South
Carolina , advocating yet again the establishment of a superintending G . Lodge for the whole of the States , and inviting the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania to join in the preparation of plans to that end . In a note it is added that in the year 1799 , Grand Lodge and the Lodges in Philadelphia , with the exception of two which had made no returns , had expended in charity over 1492 dollars , nearly one half of which
was thus disbursed by the French Lodge , " L'Amenitie , " No . 73 . In the minutes of the 3 rd February 1800 , is an entry to the effect that a certain brother had ascertained that " the African Lodge , held in or near this city , was visited by members of some of our Lodges , " and a committee of inquiry was appointed , to obtain further particulars and report .
In the minutes of the 3 rd March , a question affecting the status of Past Masters who had obtained that degree under a foreige jurisdiction and had become members of Lodges in the jurisdiction of Pennsylvania since the adoption of its then existing rules and regulations , was submitted . A long discussion ensued , and in the end the Deputy Grand Master , acting as Grand Master , was requested to give
his decision , which he did to the following effect : " That , agreeably to the first article of the said Rules and Regulations , all Past Masters who at the time of adopting the said regulations were actually members of Lodges under this jurisdiction were members of G . Lodge ; but that since the adoption of those Rules and Regulations no P . M ., however or wherever made , who was not a P . M ., and also a regular member
of some Lodge under this jurisdiction at that time , is a member of this G . Lodge unless he shall have served a regular time as Master of a Lodge under said jurisdiction . " Nearly the whole of the rest of tbe minutes of this meeting relates to the proposal made by South Cato * lina to establish a Superintending or Supreme Grand Lodge for the whole of the United States . We may content ourselves , however ,
with noting that the idea was not favourably received by Pennsylvania , and that as a well-known fact nothing ever came of this or any other proposal of a similar character . Among tho records of an Extra Communication , held on 21 st April , is a resolution condemnatory of an apparently common practice at the time of lending the jewels and aprons of Lodges for theatrical
purposes . The resolution reads thus : "That this R . W . G . L . disapprove of the conduct of the aforesaid Masters , inasmuch as the nso to which these emblems of our Order are applied is degrading to the dignity of the Craft , and has a manifest tendency to render it trifling and ridiculous in the eyes of the public and all sensible Masons , and that any such application of these ornaments be considered as meeting
the severe disapprobation of this body . " At the meeting of the 24 th June was road a letter received from tho Lodge St . John , Les Frcres Unis , No . 77 , Port D'Espagne , Trinidad , holding under tho Grand Lodgo of Pennsylvania , stating that ib had given Bro . Delaunay > who had been deputed some time previously to visit the Lodge , the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars , ono part in payment of its dues to
G . Lodge , aud thoothor part as a " voluntary contribution to assist in Ihe purchase or building of a placo suitable for the meetings of the R . W . G . Lodge . " Thanks were voted for this gift , and the sum of ono hundred dollars was ordered to be invested in some public stock in the name of Grand Lodge , and in due course to be applied to the pnrposo for which it was given .
At the September meeting a statement of accounts for tho period from 27 th December 1797 to 29 th Juno 1800 was snbmitted by the Acconnts' Committee , from which it appears that the receipts were 925 . 59 dollars , and the expenditure 406 . 6 a - dollars , leaving a balance of 518 . 97 * dollars . A further statement for the period from 28 th December 1798 to 5 th July 1800 was also submitted , to the effect
that the Committee of Accounts , hearing that Bro . McElwee Grand Treasurer was about leaving for Europe , had called upon him to settle his acconnts . Bro . McElwee accordingly attended the Committee , and some progress in the matter was made . He had , however , in spite of an assurance that he was not at once about to leave , sailed for Europe before another meeting , as appointed , conld be
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Reviews.
REVIEWS .
All Books intended for Beview should be addressed to the Editor of Tho Freemason ' s Chronicle , 23 Great Queen Street , W . C . Tlic Grand Lodge of the mod Ancient and Honourable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons , Pennsylvania . Its early History and
Constitutions from A . L . 5730 , A . D . 1730 , its Minutes and Proceedings . List of Lodges from earliest date to December 27 , 1880 . Part III . Compiled and published by tho Library Committee of tho Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania . Philadelphia : Sherman and Co . Printers , 1880 .
THK period of time over which tho Minutes contained in the Part before ns extend is five years and a half , namely , from the Quarterly Communication in June 1799 to that in December 1804 , the R . W . Bro . Jonathan Bayard Smith being Grand Master for the earlier portion , and R . W . Bro . Israal Israel during the latter . Tho earliest minute contains extracts from tho Report of tho Charity Committee
announcing , in the first place , that the said Committee had received on behalf of Grand Lodge five perpetnal shares in the Philadelphia Dispensary in return for a donation of fifty guineas to the funds of that Institution ; and in the next , that when the G . Master and Dep . G . Master had called on Mrs . Dean , widow of a Bro . Dean , to present to hor the sum of twenty-five dollars which had been voted her out of
the funds of Grand Lodge , the lady , while expressing her grateful sense of the kindness evinced towards her , declined to accept the grant on the ground that she was in better circumstances , and " that sho had no doubt but the brethren had many objects which stood in greater need of it than sho did . " Such an act of honourable selfdenial as this deserves to have been recorded . Two other matters of
interest are noted : one , that Bro . S . Benge had presented G . Lodge with two purple sashes for the G . and Dep . G . Masters respectively , together with " an apron of white satin for the R . W . G . M ., seven leather aprons for the R . W . D . G . M ., S . W ., J . W ., Secretary , Treasurer , S . D ,, and J . D ., all the aprons trimmed with broad purple ribbon and gold lace , and hangings of broad purple trimmed with gold lace for
the jewels of the above-mentioned eight officers . For this handsome gift a vote of thanks was unanimously passed to the donor . The other matter concerned Grand Lodge premises , the room where it had previously been held being no longer available . Consequently a Committee was appointed to prepare a scheme whereby a Hall shonld be erected . On St . John ' s Day , 24 th June , this Committee presented
a Report , in which they recommended a scheme for the formation of a " Pennsylvania Freemasons' Hall Association" with a view to " raising by subscription and chances the sum of six thousand dollars for the purpose of procuring by purchase , or otherwise erecting a building to be denominated a Freemasons' Lodge . " Tho plan , full particulars of which are furnished , was read a first time , and after
two failures to secure the requisite attendance of members , a second time at an extra Communication on the 11 th July , the further consideration of its details being postponed . The regular September Quarterly Communication was not held owing to an epidemic of yellow fever in the city , and the consequent removal into the country of a considerable number of the inhabitants , but at a special meeting
on the 13 th November , the Committee for finding temporary quarters reported , that in compliance with the request of such Committee , His Excellency T . Mifflin , Governor of the State , had granted to Grand Lodge the Secretaries' Chamber in the State House till snch time as its use for state purposes might be required . The thanks of Grand Lodge were voted to His Excellency , and steps were ordered
to be taken so as to have the Chamber furnished and made ready for the reception of Grand Lodge . At tho December meeting communications were read from the Grand Lodges of Upper Canada , Lower Canada , and North Carolina . These show that in Upper Canada there were fourteen Lodges , and in Lower Canada sixteen Lodges ; Brother W . Jarvis being G . Master of the former , and H . R . H . Prince Edward ,
afterwards Duke of Kent , G . Master of the latter . Bro . J . B . Smith was then re-elected G . Master , Bro . Israel Dep . G . Master , and other brethren G . Wardens , Treasurer , and Secretary , the last entry iu the minutes of these meetings being the very singular notification that certain brethren had been excluded from Lodge No . 80 , one for a period of " 80 years , " and two others for " 40 years . " So quaint a
notice wonld seem to suggest that the inhabitants of Pennsylvania , or at all events the members of this particular Lodge , must have been remarkable for their longevity . The minutes of tho next two meetings , held on the 26 th and 27 th December , describe the measures taken by tho brethren of Pennsylvania to pay honour to the memory of tho illustrious Washington
who had departed this life a short time before . That held on the former of the above was an extra Communication , summoned for the purpose of enabling Grand Lodge to comply with tho invitation of the State Congress to take part in the funeral obsequies , vulgarly known as " Washington ' s sham funeral , " which had been ordered by the State . But for all tho unreality of tho proceedings there can be no
question as to the reality of the sorrow that was felt by all classes of the community , and especially by the Freemasons who had lost in G . Washington not only a beloved fellow-citizen and revered leader , but also tho most distinguished member of the Masonic Craft in the United States . Were evidence of the truth of this statement necessary , we have but to refer to tho address delivered in Grand Lod « -e on the solemn occasion by the R . W . Grand Master , in which , after
noticing the deceased General's connection with the Craft , Bro . Smith went on to say : — "The Old as well as tho New World reveres this name : he was indeed an illustrious Brother , Citizen , and Chief , in peace aud in war , in council and action pre-eminent . Tho Masons of Pennsylvania have exulted that the name of Washington stood enrolled , on their list of Brethren , and they will cherish the remembrance of his virtues and services as a rich legacy for their omulona example . If devotion oE
Reviews.
time and talents to ameliorate the state of man be a virtue ; if obeying the oalls of his country in times of the greatest difficulty and danger at every risk be a Masonic duty , of that virtue may Masonry boast that this our Washington has exhibited an instance beyond former example brilliant ; and for tho exercise of this duty will our Washing , ton ever stand conspicuous in tho foremost ranks . Are a love of
order and sacred regard to the laws of the social compact character , istic of Masons ? For his exemplary adherence to theso Masonic virtues through all tho vicissitudes and variogated difficulties of a Revolutionary War , has our Washington received the plaudits of thirteon Sovereign States . " At the latter of the two meetings the Grand Master and other
principal Grand Officers wero installed , and the subordinate Grand Officers appointed and invested , and this important duty having been fulfilled , resolutions were passed to the effect that the Grand Lodge , room should bo put in mourning , and tho members of Grand Lod ge should wear black crape on the left arm and over tho emblems on their aprons for six months . We may add here , before dismissing these
references to General Washington , that a special communication was held on the 3 rd February 1800 , when it was resolved that a Masonic procession shonld be held on the 22 nd of that month—that being the day recommended by the President and Congress of the United States to be set apart as a day of publio mourning for the deceased General . Particulars of the procession aro given under a later date .
But though Grand Lodge was thus mournfully engaged in adding its tribute of respect to that paid by the whole of the United States to the memory of their late chief , they were not unmindful of the ordinary business of the day . In the minutes of the 27 th December mention is made of the near likelihood that the " modern " G . Lodge of South Carolina , the onlv one at the time in the States that was
held under a foreign jurisdiction would be amalgamated with the " ancient" Grand Lodge of that State , and ithat , too , without auy departure from , or infringement of , ancient landmarks on the part of the latter ; and a hearty wish is expressed that the union of the two may be speedily accomplished . Reference is also made to certain resolutions transmitted by the said ancient Grand Lodge of South
Carolina , advocating yet again the establishment of a superintending G . Lodge for the whole of the States , and inviting the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania to join in the preparation of plans to that end . In a note it is added that in the year 1799 , Grand Lodge and the Lodges in Philadelphia , with the exception of two which had made no returns , had expended in charity over 1492 dollars , nearly one half of which
was thus disbursed by the French Lodge , " L'Amenitie , " No . 73 . In the minutes of the 3 rd February 1800 , is an entry to the effect that a certain brother had ascertained that " the African Lodge , held in or near this city , was visited by members of some of our Lodges , " and a committee of inquiry was appointed , to obtain further particulars and report .
In the minutes of the 3 rd March , a question affecting the status of Past Masters who had obtained that degree under a foreige jurisdiction and had become members of Lodges in the jurisdiction of Pennsylvania since the adoption of its then existing rules and regulations , was submitted . A long discussion ensued , and in the end the Deputy Grand Master , acting as Grand Master , was requested to give
his decision , which he did to the following effect : " That , agreeably to the first article of the said Rules and Regulations , all Past Masters who at the time of adopting the said regulations were actually members of Lodges under this jurisdiction were members of G . Lodge ; but that since the adoption of those Rules and Regulations no P . M ., however or wherever made , who was not a P . M ., and also a regular member
of some Lodge under this jurisdiction at that time , is a member of this G . Lodge unless he shall have served a regular time as Master of a Lodge under said jurisdiction . " Nearly the whole of the rest of tbe minutes of this meeting relates to the proposal made by South Cato * lina to establish a Superintending or Supreme Grand Lodge for the whole of the United States . We may content ourselves , however ,
with noting that the idea was not favourably received by Pennsylvania , and that as a well-known fact nothing ever came of this or any other proposal of a similar character . Among tho records of an Extra Communication , held on 21 st April , is a resolution condemnatory of an apparently common practice at the time of lending the jewels and aprons of Lodges for theatrical
purposes . The resolution reads thus : "That this R . W . G . L . disapprove of the conduct of the aforesaid Masters , inasmuch as the nso to which these emblems of our Order are applied is degrading to the dignity of the Craft , and has a manifest tendency to render it trifling and ridiculous in the eyes of the public and all sensible Masons , and that any such application of these ornaments be considered as meeting
the severe disapprobation of this body . " At the meeting of the 24 th June was road a letter received from tho Lodge St . John , Les Frcres Unis , No . 77 , Port D'Espagne , Trinidad , holding under tho Grand Lodgo of Pennsylvania , stating that ib had given Bro . Delaunay > who had been deputed some time previously to visit the Lodge , the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars , ono part in payment of its dues to
G . Lodge , aud thoothor part as a " voluntary contribution to assist in Ihe purchase or building of a placo suitable for the meetings of the R . W . G . Lodge . " Thanks were voted for this gift , and the sum of ono hundred dollars was ordered to be invested in some public stock in the name of Grand Lodge , and in due course to be applied to the pnrposo for which it was given .
At the September meeting a statement of accounts for tho period from 27 th December 1797 to 29 th Juno 1800 was snbmitted by the Acconnts' Committee , from which it appears that the receipts were 925 . 59 dollars , and the expenditure 406 . 6 a - dollars , leaving a balance of 518 . 97 * dollars . A further statement for the period from 28 th December 1798 to 5 th July 1800 was also submitted , to the effect
that the Committee of Accounts , hearing that Bro . McElwee Grand Treasurer was about leaving for Europe , had called upon him to settle his acconnts . Bro . McElwee accordingly attended the Committee , and some progress in the matter was made . He had , however , in spite of an assurance that he was not at once about to leave , sailed for Europe before another meeting , as appointed , conld be