Early History Of Freemasonry In America.

tague ' s seal , and both the petition and recorded copy allege that it Avas signed by the G . M ' s command by the D . G . M ., S . G . W ., and J . G . W . Besides , the seal of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Massachusetts had a liberal translation of

the motto upon the Montague arms" Suivez Raison , " rendered , " Follow Reason . " It seems unnecessary to multiply remarks upon the cumulative Aveight of all this testimony—it speaks for itself . If the Grand Lodge of

England was satisfied with Price ' s conduct ; if his official superior neither has nor had any charges to bring against him ; is it becoming in a subordinate in his

OAvn household—in his own Grand Lodge , at this late day to assail his character and official acts ? I now approach the important question of the origin of Freemasonry in Pennsylvania .

I believe that original and trust-Avorthy evidence exists to prove that a Grand Lodge existed in Peunsyh'auia in 1732 , one year before Price ' s first deputation in NBAV England , and the constitution of tlie first Lodge in Boston

( for there Avas no pre-1733 Lodge there ); and that in 1730 , three years before Price ' s deputation , there Avere several subordinate M . M . ' s . Lodges Avorking in Philadelphia . Consequently , Boston is

not the mother of M . asonry in America . Bro . Norton is right , and I was wrong m my previous statement . I am now prepared to exhibit to him , and to the world , evidence to establish the fact that Philadelphia is the mother of

Masonry in America ; and , being a Philade ] phian myself , I the more gladly sacrifice my former opmiou upon the altar of truth . The statement that Boston is the mother of Masonry in America has

been affirmed again and again by many leading Masonic historians . G . M . Bro . J . W . S . Mitchell says : - " We do not hesitate to subscribe to the opinion that Boston is the mother of Masonry in

Early History Of Freemasonry In America.

America . " Bro . Albert G . Mackey says : * " The first Lodge in Pennsylvania Avas established in 1734 , by a Avarrant from the Provincial Grand Lodge of Massachusetts , and of this Lodge Benjamin Franklin Avas the first O if

Master . ' ' Bro . Leon Hyneman says f ( quoting Webb ' s Monitor ) and referring to the Grand Mastership of Montague in 1733 : " Freemasons' Lodges in America date their origin from this period . Upon the application of a number of

Brethren residing in Boston , a warrant was granted by Lord Viscount Montague , Grand Master of Masons in England , dated the 30 th clay of April , 1733 , appointing the R . W . Henry Price , G . M . in North AmericaAvith full power

, and authority to appoint his Deputy , and other Masonic officers necessary for forming a Grand Lodge , and also to constitute Lodges of Free and Accepted Masons as often as occasion should

require . . . The Grand Lodge being thus organized , under the designation of St . John ' s Grand Lodge , proceeded to grant Avarrants for instituting regular Lodges in various parts of America . " Bro . Hyneman , however , it should

be stated , in a subsequently published Avork , J asserted the existence of a Masonic Lodge in Philadelphia in the year 1732 . I am IIOAV prepared to go further than that , and assert , and prove , Avhat -will not onlgratify Bros . Norton and

y Hyneman , but a host of others , including every Pennsylvania !! Mason , viz .: that a Masonic Lodge existed in the city of Philadelphia two years earlier still , in 1730 . On the shelves of the Library

Company of Philadelphia ( an institution of Avhich Bro . Benjamin Franklin was one of the founders and first directors ) there is a bound volume of the " Pennsylvania Gazette "—a newspaper published Aveekly in the city of Philadelphia in the olden time . This volume contains