Innovations: What Are They?

expresses himself freely that he would not interfere with the opening a Board of Installed Masters provided that Ss . are not used which are not essential to the instruction of the candidate . That will be welcome and popular news to a very large number of earnest men in Victoria . Under such

circumstances we regret to have expressed the opinion that the Brother has shown no special inclination to elevate our Order . If he but follow these principles , as he pledges himself to do by this full explanation of his views t 0 us , he will

find throughout the territory a loyal and grateful following , and will remove , as it were , in one word the prejudice which has looked upon any verbal alteration of Ritual as a mopt heinous offence . It is this that we have worked so

assiduously for m the past , and if we can assist Bro . Templeman in making these views widely known and understood our mission will be well accomplished . Our readers will be pleased to know that these mutual explanations are deemed satisfactory

by Bro . Templeman , whilst we feel that a great end has been accomplished by the interview , an interview , we may add , which has taken place whilst Bro . Templeman is in indifferent health , from which all our readers will wish him speedy recovery . — " Masonry . " ******************

The Freemasons Lodge Of 1754.

THE FREEMASONS LODGE OF 1754 .

PROUD , the historian , writing about old Philadelphia , said . " Fair Philadelphia nex ; is rising seen Betwixt two rivers plac'd , two miles between . '' The original topography of Philadelphia describes it as

a plain , nearl y level , with numerous creeks and runs emptying into the Delaware river on the east and the Schuylkill on the west .

Among these many creeks was one that was of more importance than any of the others , being known prior to 1754 as Dock creek . It was the most interesting of all the Delaware tributaries within the limits of Philadelphia .

Philadelphia of the early primitive Quakers was built quite as much with reference to this stream as to Perm ' s plans . The creek ' s ' name was given it in place of the Indian name , " Coocanocen , " as being more descriptive , it being used as a dock or quay for small craft . Boat yards and tan

yards lined its shores ; on it was the first landing place of William Penn in Philadelphia , and the first tavern in this city was located at its mouth . In those days it was thought

a good thing for the well-to-do merchant , the wealthy and leading men of the city , to build their mansions on both sides of the slopes of this creek , their gardens and lawns running down to its green banks .

One of its branches rose near Fifth and Market Streets , another near Fifth and Walnut Streets , the two uniting about where the Girard Bank stands and within a stone ' s throw of the present "Keystone" office , 237 Dock Street . Here tire creek widened into a cove , receiving another small branch ,

which ran into it , south of "Society Hill . " Owing to the gradual filling up of the creek from the refuse of the tan yards and the drainage of the constantly growing city , it

became known as the " swamp . " As early as 1 784 it was arched over and bridged at a number of streets ; and at present there is nothing to show of this the centre of old Philadelphia except the course of the present Dock Street .

The principal houses were built south of Market Street . The " Governor ' s house " was located on the south side of Dock creek , near Second and Spruce Streets , where the

Mayor , Edward Shippen , formerly lived in grand style . He had a great and famous orchard , and tame deer had free range in the dense forests extending back to the then wild Schuylkill river .

Near the banks of this Dock creek the Freemasons of Philadelphia—after having many lodging places in taverns , viz : The Tun , or FIoop , at the corner of Wilcox ' s or Tun Alley and Water Street ; one block eastward . Indian TCino

Hotel , High or Market Street , and Biddle ' s Alley , now Bank Street ; one block north , the Royal Standard Tavern , on High or Market Street , near Second Street—in 1753 determined to build a Lodge of their own .

Many of those connected with the Fraternity were then the leaders in city affairs as well as living within the circle of the aristocracy . The want of a suitable place of meeting and for the holding of public and social affairs had been felt for a long time as a great drawback to the latter lively set .

The Freemasons Lodge Of 1754.

On 12 th March 1752 , at a meeting of the Grand and first Lodges , a committee was appointed , fully authorised " to look out for a suitable lot whereon to erect a building for the accommodation of such Lodges , Philadelphia Assembly ( dancing ) and other uses and to take deed of such property

in their names for the use and behalf of the Grand and first Lodges and to do such other things for the completing of the building and letting it out when finished . " On 13 th March 1754 , a number of Brethren , being ' " ' willing'to promote the laudable undertaking , " and thinking

it would " not only tend to the establishing of our particular Society on a lasting foundation and enable us further to extend our charity to the distressed among Masons but also to be of general service to the inhabitants of the city who have frequent occasion for a building of the kind proposed

to be erected , " agreed to " advance and pay to Messrs . Samuel Mifflin and John Swift towards defraying the expenses thereof the sums annexed to our respective names on demand ; saving to us , our heirs , executors , administrators and assigns the right of being fully ' repaid ' by the persons who shall

from time to time have the said building in trust as aforesaid in the manner directed by the Minutes inserted in the Minute book of the first Lodge on the 12 th of March 1752 , viz ., out of the Erst moneys arising from the said building after all expenses are paid in proportion to the several sums lent . "

There were , as far as we can learn from the original subscription list now in the Library of Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania , forty subscribers to this fund , which amounted to £ 605 , about $ 3 , 475 .

Among these names we find Samuel Mifflin , J ohn Swift , Alexander Plamilton , William Plumstead , William Franklin , William Allen , Thomas Bonde and Benjamin Franklin , of the 1732 Lodge .

The building was of the style of architecture of buildings of that day , it was of brick , three storeys high [ it is to be regretted that no picture or any description of it whatever can be found , but judging from the buildings still standing on the opposite side of the street , which we

understand were of nearly the same style of architecture , some idea of the Lodge building can be ' -had ] . ¦¦ ¦ - .- , .- ¦ The site selected was on Norris ' , afterwards known as " Lodge " Alley , being almost on the banks of Dock creek . Norris' Alley was the second small street running west from

Second Street to Dock creek , north of Walnut Street ,, and was subsequently known as Lodge Alley . In this building were housed the Grand Lodge and the three Lodges ( St . John Lodge , No . 2 and Tun Lodge ) , existing at that time , all working in harmony with the Grand Lodge of 1732 .

One of the reasons assigned for the erection of the Freemasons' Lodge ( by which name the building was then known ) was its use by the City Dancing Assembly , which was established in 174 8 , and in 1757 they became tenants- of the building and were wont to hold their grand balls and concerts for many years .

It may be well to note that the struggles or dissensions that had for years existed in England between " Moderns " ( the Grand Lodge of England of 1719 ) and the new or rival Grand Lodge then coming into life , and self-styled ' . ' Ancients , " had reached America , and Lodges of the " Ancients "

soon appeared m Philadelphia and formed the present Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania . From the time of the warranting of present Lodge No . 2 , in 1757 and subsequently to that of the present Lodge No . 3 ' , their Lodges were held in the Freemasons' Lodge , owned by their opponents ; in fact ,

they were so much accustomed to meet in the " Lodgei" that one of the Lodges ( " Ancients " ) appointed a committee to ascertain to whom the building belonged , the " Moderns " having , as it were , fallen asleep . This no doubt caused the final disposal of the property .

During the Revolutionary War it became necessary for the city to make use of the building for public purposes . The jails of the city being full , it was found necessary to use the " Lodge" for the place of confinement for a number of Quakers who were suspected as being spies for the British

commanders . By resolution of Congress twenty-three persons were arrested on 9 th September 1777 , and taken as prisoners to the Freemasons " Lodge . " They petitioned

from the " Lodge " to the Assembly . After a confinement of several days they were removed by order of the Assembly to safe quarters in Virginia . On 6 th August 17 S 2 , a claim for rent was read in Grand