Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Bro. Daniel Coxe—The Father Of Freemasonry In America.
BRO . DANIEL COXE—THE FATHER OF FREEMASONRY IN AMERICA .
BY BRO . CLIFFORD 3 ICCALLA , Editor of " The Keystone , " Philadelphia , U . S . THE life of the earliest Provincial Grand Master of Masons in AmericaBro . Daniel
, Coxe , of New Jersey , has never been written ; we propose to briefly write it . His life Avas an eventful and distinguished one ; he was a leader of men as Avell as Freemasons . Original materials for his full biography are not lacking , although
they have never been carefully collated . We shall endeavour , in these notes , to render the complete task easier for his future biographer . As Philadelphians , Ave feel a natural pride in his career , for it Avas he who , in
the autumn of 1730 , chartered the first Masonic Lodge in our city—Avhich Avas also the earliest Master Masons' Lodge in America . This lodge ( as Bro . Hughan recently discovered ) was No . 79 on the register of the Grand Lodge of England , and Avas designated as " The Hoop , Water Street , " and met on the first Monday of every month . Grand Master Coxe ' s
authority to charter this lodge AA \ IS derived from a Deputation , dated June 5 th , 1730 , from his Grace , Thomas Duke of Norfolk , Grand Master of the Free and Accepted Masons of England . The fact of the existence of a Master Masons' Lodge in
Philadelphia in 1730 , and a Provincial Grand Lodge in the same city in 1732 through the past labours of The Keystone , are now matters of history , ( having been first proved in these columns a year and a Jialf ago , ) and since , they have received the
endorsement of the Library Committee of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania , in their " Memorial Volume , " and also of the accurate and disinterested English Masonic historian , Bro . W . James Hughan . Butwbo was Bro . Daniel Coxe , the Father of
Freemasonry in America ? We shall endeavour to satisfactorily answer this question . Bro . Daniel Coxe Avas an eminent lawyer , the son of Dr . Daniel Coxe , of London , who from the year 1687 to 1690 was the largest landed proprietor , and also the Governor , of the Province of West
Jersey . In 1691 Dr . Coxe sold the territory and government to the West Jersey Society for £ 9 , 000 . He was thus a man of large Avealth , and all authorities agree in attributing to him as well , great activity of intellect and enterprise of
character . And he was distinguished in England , before his arrival in America , having been the physician to both the Queen of King Charles II . and to Queen Anne .
In 1702 , in consequence of commotions and disagreements , the several proprietors of East and West Jersey surrendered its government to Queen Anne , who the same year appointed Ecbvard Hyde , Lord Viscount Cornbury , ( the grandson of the illustrious Earl of Clarendonand a cousin
, to the Queen ) , the first Royal Governor of the United Provinces of East and West Jersey . His title is Avorth giving in full . It Avas : Governor-in-Chief of Her Majesty ' s Province of Nova Oesarea or New Jersey , New York , and all the Territories and
Tracts of Land depending thereon in America , and Vice-Admiral of the Same . " At this point Ave commence the immediate biography of America ' s first Grand Master . In 1702 Bro . Daniel Coxe Avas
recom-, mended to Queen Anne as a member of the Provincial Councils of NeAv Jersey and New York . Certain parties objected , alleging that he had no real property in NeAv Jersey , and also that he encouraged the people in their opposition to the
election law . Lord Cornbury , the next year , appointed him to the command of all the forces in West Jersey , and henceforth he was known as Col . Coxe . He replied to those who opposed him , that he was in a controversy Avith the' Proprietors
concerning certain lands of his father ' s which they unjustly Avithheld from him , and that if he had be en factious , Lord Cornbury would not have entrusted him Avith the
military command of his forces . In 1705 , he Avas successively recommended as a member of the Council by Lord Cornbury to the Board of Trade , then by the Board of Trade to the Queen , and in the same year he was approved , and received his appointment . He continued a member of
the Council for eight years , until 1713 , under the administrations of Governors Ingoldsby and Hunter , although his enemies were activel y intriguing for his
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Bro. Daniel Coxe—The Father Of Freemasonry In America.
BRO . DANIEL COXE—THE FATHER OF FREEMASONRY IN AMERICA .
BY BRO . CLIFFORD 3 ICCALLA , Editor of " The Keystone , " Philadelphia , U . S . THE life of the earliest Provincial Grand Master of Masons in AmericaBro . Daniel
, Coxe , of New Jersey , has never been written ; we propose to briefly write it . His life Avas an eventful and distinguished one ; he was a leader of men as Avell as Freemasons . Original materials for his full biography are not lacking , although
they have never been carefully collated . We shall endeavour , in these notes , to render the complete task easier for his future biographer . As Philadelphians , Ave feel a natural pride in his career , for it Avas he who , in
the autumn of 1730 , chartered the first Masonic Lodge in our city—Avhich Avas also the earliest Master Masons' Lodge in America . This lodge ( as Bro . Hughan recently discovered ) was No . 79 on the register of the Grand Lodge of England , and Avas designated as " The Hoop , Water Street , " and met on the first Monday of every month . Grand Master Coxe ' s
authority to charter this lodge AA \ IS derived from a Deputation , dated June 5 th , 1730 , from his Grace , Thomas Duke of Norfolk , Grand Master of the Free and Accepted Masons of England . The fact of the existence of a Master Masons' Lodge in
Philadelphia in 1730 , and a Provincial Grand Lodge in the same city in 1732 through the past labours of The Keystone , are now matters of history , ( having been first proved in these columns a year and a Jialf ago , ) and since , they have received the
endorsement of the Library Committee of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania , in their " Memorial Volume , " and also of the accurate and disinterested English Masonic historian , Bro . W . James Hughan . Butwbo was Bro . Daniel Coxe , the Father of
Freemasonry in America ? We shall endeavour to satisfactorily answer this question . Bro . Daniel Coxe Avas an eminent lawyer , the son of Dr . Daniel Coxe , of London , who from the year 1687 to 1690 was the largest landed proprietor , and also the Governor , of the Province of West
Jersey . In 1691 Dr . Coxe sold the territory and government to the West Jersey Society for £ 9 , 000 . He was thus a man of large Avealth , and all authorities agree in attributing to him as well , great activity of intellect and enterprise of
character . And he was distinguished in England , before his arrival in America , having been the physician to both the Queen of King Charles II . and to Queen Anne .
In 1702 , in consequence of commotions and disagreements , the several proprietors of East and West Jersey surrendered its government to Queen Anne , who the same year appointed Ecbvard Hyde , Lord Viscount Cornbury , ( the grandson of the illustrious Earl of Clarendonand a cousin
, to the Queen ) , the first Royal Governor of the United Provinces of East and West Jersey . His title is Avorth giving in full . It Avas : Governor-in-Chief of Her Majesty ' s Province of Nova Oesarea or New Jersey , New York , and all the Territories and
Tracts of Land depending thereon in America , and Vice-Admiral of the Same . " At this point Ave commence the immediate biography of America ' s first Grand Master . In 1702 Bro . Daniel Coxe Avas
recom-, mended to Queen Anne as a member of the Provincial Councils of NeAv Jersey and New York . Certain parties objected , alleging that he had no real property in NeAv Jersey , and also that he encouraged the people in their opposition to the
election law . Lord Cornbury , the next year , appointed him to the command of all the forces in West Jersey , and henceforth he was known as Col . Coxe . He replied to those who opposed him , that he was in a controversy Avith the' Proprietors
concerning certain lands of his father ' s which they unjustly Avithheld from him , and that if he had be en factious , Lord Cornbury would not have entrusted him Avith the
military command of his forces . In 1705 , he Avas successively recommended as a member of the Council by Lord Cornbury to the Board of Trade , then by the Board of Trade to the Queen , and in the same year he was approved , and received his appointment . He continued a member of
the Council for eight years , until 1713 , under the administrations of Governors Ingoldsby and Hunter , although his enemies were activel y intriguing for his