The Lodge Of St. Andrew, Boston, U.S.A.

The Lodge of St . Andrew , Boston , U . S . A .

ONE of the most remarkable Lodges in the United States of America , with its thousands of Lodges , and nearly a million of members , is that of SI . Andrew , of Boston , Massachusetts . Precisely when it originated is not know , but the founders assembled in the noted " Green Dragon Tavern , " Boston ,

from 1752 , and possibly before . Probably the brethren were originally " made" in Scotland , but wherever they hailed from , their Alasonic origin , or they themselves , do not appear to have suited the members of the St . John ' s Lodge , of the same City , which was the first authorized

for any part of America ( so far as we know ) by the Premier Grand Lodge of England , which was in the year

1733-N o t w i t h s tanding their repeated application , " they were refused admittance into the regular

Lodges in Boston , " and having had the advantage of a visit , in 1754 , from a Brother James Logan ,

P . M ., and a member of the Grand Lodge of Scotland , the brethren decided to

petition that venerable Body for a Charter . This they did accordingly , and the application was agreed in open Grand

Lodge , 21 st Ma j r , 1759 , was noted in the books of that

Grand Lodge , 30 th Nov ., 1756 , and yet did not reach Boston until 1760 . The assemblies of the Lodge went on

( warrant or no warrant ) , in the interim ; but finally the regularity as well as the Masonic character of

the petitioners was admitted . The " St . John ' s Grand Lodge " ( Boston ) , objected to this invasion of their preserves ; but at that

time the very restricted regulations as to Masonic Jurisdiction and lawful Territory did not prevail , hence the brethren of Lodge St . Andrew disregarded all such objections , and were privileged to receive as members some of the wisest and best of that great country . In 1764 , the brethren purchased the old historic Tavern ,

with the remainder of the Estate , thus obtaining a very valuable property , and gave them such a status , that nothing could shake their foundations as a Craft Institution which had come to stay . New buildings were subsequently erected . In 1761 , the St . John ' s Grand Lodge prohibited all who acknowledged their rule from visiting the " so called Scotts '

THE BANNER OF LODGE ST . ANDREW .

Masons m Boston , not being regularly constituted in the opinion of this Grand Lodge . " This interdict was duly reported to the Grand Lodge of Scotland . Lord Aberdour , who signed the Charter , had retired from the chair ; but the Earl of Elgin and Kincardin , the then M . W . G . M ., replied to the effect that he did not dispute the authority of the R . W .

Bro . Jeremiah Gridley , in all North America , over all Lodges ,. " who held of the Grand Lodge of England , " and in like manner he claimed the jurisdiction of the R . W . Bro . Colonel John Young , over these Lodges chartered by the Grand Lodge of Scotland in the same Territory . " These

Commissions , when rightly understood " ( he declared ) " can not clash or interfere with each other . " In 1766 , the " olive

branch" was held out to the original Grand Lodge and its members , but their overtures were most

coldly and unkindly declined ; the " bad spirit" being all on the one side . All attempts to promote Masonic intercourse between the two

organizations having failed , the Lodge of St . Andrew , with the assistance of three Military Lodges then in the City , petitioned

the Grand Lodge of Scotland for the appointment of the revered GeneraL Joseph Warren as

Prov . Grand Master The prayer was answered as desired ,, and the Prov . Grand Lodge was constituted at the old "Green Dragon " in 1769 .

The "Tyrian" " Lodge , Gloucester , and the celebrated " Massachusetts . Lodge , " Boston , were formed in the

following year , and still another in 1772 at Newbury Port . In 1777 the brethren

struck out for themselves by establishing their own Massachusetts Grand Lodge , " free and independent in its government and official authority of any other Grand Lodge , or Grand Master in the universe , " being the first of its kind so constituted . The Lodge of St . Andrew did not see matters in the same light , and renewed its allegiance to

its Mother Grand Lodge . In 1792 , the St . John ' s Grand Lodge and that of the " Alassachusetts" united , the support of the " St . Andrew "' not being obtained until 1809 , and then only after consultation with the Scottish Authorities , iso ' all things should be done " decently and in order . " From thatytime unanimity has prevailed , and at the present time , the United Grand Lodges