The Grand Lodge Of Massachusetts

In October , 1777 , it was voted that a charter be granted to a travelling lodge in the American army , " to make Masons , pass , and raise in this State , or any ofthe United States of America , where no other Grand Master presides . But in any other State where there is a Grand Master constituted by the brethren of these United States , they are to inform him , and receive his sanction . " The language of this vote indicates the independent spirit of

the brethren , and tho want of respect entertained for any Grand Master appointed by a foreign Masonic power , and not elected and constituted by the free choice of the Craft here . In 17 S 0 , a committee was appointed to revise the Constitutions and print them .

In September , 1720 , the Grand Master "laid before the Grand Lodgo a letter dated Philadelphia , August 19 th , 1790 , signed William Smith , Grand Secretary , enclosing a printed list of the several lodges in Pennsylvania , under that jurisdiction , and advising that they had , in that Grand Lodge , thought it expedient to make choice of a Grand Master General for the thirteen United American States ; that they had nominated his Excellency General George Washingtonaud requesting the inion

, op and approbation of this Grand Lodge thereon . " Circular letters were sent to the several lodges under tho jurisdiction , requesting the attendance of the Masters and Wardens at the Grand Lodge for the purpose of considering- this proposition . Bro . Perez Morton was strongly in favour of the project , but the Grand Lodge " Noted , that any determination upon the subject cannot , with the propriety and justice due to the Craft at large , be made

by this Grand Lodge , until a general peace shall happily take place through the continent , " inasmuch as the sentiments of the various Grand Lodges in the United States upon this question could not be made known under the peculiar circumstances of public affairs . If the Grand Lodge had acted favourably upon this recommendation of the brethren iu Pennsylvania , it is easy to contemplate

what a different system of Masonic government we might now be living under . At this time Virginia was the only independent Grand Lodge with an elected Grand Master , with tho exception of Massachusetts . Its independence was established October 3 rd , 1778 . Pennsylvania did not actually assert its independence and form a Grand Lodge upon the American svstem until September 25 th , 1786 . On the 10 th of July , 17 S 2 , it was "Voted that a committee

be appointed to draw resolutions explanatory of the powers and authority of this Grand Lodge , respecting the extent and meaning of its jurisdiction , and of the exercise of any other Masonic authorities within its jurisdiction . " Bros . Perez Morton , Paul Revere , John Warren , James Avery , and John Juteau wore appointed upon the committee . A special meeting of the Grand Lodge was called to receive the report , September 30 , 17 S 2 , when it was read and referred to the next meeting . December 6 , 1782 , in a full Grand Lodge , it was considered .

This interesting report , omitting the formal introduction , is as follows : — " The Commission from the Grand Lodge of Scotland granted to our late Grand Master , Joseph Warren , Esquire , having died with him , and of course his Deputy , whose appointment was derived from his nomination , being no longer in existence , they saw themselves without a head , and without a single Grand

Officer , and of course it was evident that not only the Grand Lodge , but all the particular Lodges under its jurisdiction , must cease to assemble , the brethren be dispersed , the penniless go unassisted , the Craft languish , and ancient Masonry be extinct in this part of the world . " That in consequence of a , summons from the former Grand Wardens to the Masters and Wardens of all the regular constituted Lodges , a Grand Communication was held to consult and advise on some means to preserve the intercourse of the brethren .

"That the Political Head of this country , having- destroyed all connection and correspondence between the subjects of these States and the country from which the Grand Lodge originally derived its commissioned authority ; and the principles ' of the Craft , inculcating on its professors submission to the commands of the civil authority of the country they reside in ; the brethren did assume an elective supremacy , and under it chose a Grand Master aud Grand Officers , and " erected a Grand Lodge with independent powers and prerogatives , to be exercised , however , on principles consistent with and subordinate to the

regulations pointed out in the Constitutions of ancient Masonry . " That the reputation and utility of the Craft , under their jurisdiction , has been most extensively diffused , by tho flourishing state of fourtoen Lodges constituted by their authority , within a shortor period than that in which three ouly received Dispensations under the former Grand Lodge . " That in tho history of our Craft we find that in England

there are two Grand Lodges , independent of each other , in Scotland the same , and in Ireland their Grand Lodge and Grand Master are independent either of England or Scotland . It is clear that the authority of some of their Grand Lodges originated in assumption ; or otherwise they would acknowledge the head from whence they derived . " Your committee are therefore of opinion , that the doings of the present Grand Lodge were dedicated by principles ofthe

clearest necessity , founded in the highest reason , and warranted by precedents of the most approved authority . "And they beg leave to recommend the following resolutions to be adopted by tho Grand Lodge , and engrafted into its Constitutions : — " I . That the brethren of the Grand Lodge , in assuming tho powers and prerogatives of an independent Grand Lodgo , acted from the most laudable motivesand consistently with

, the principles which ought forever to govern Masons , viz .: the benefit of the Craft and the good of mankind , aud are warranted in their proceedings by the practice of Ancient Masons in all parts of the world . " II . That this Grand Lodge he hereafter known and called by the name of ' The Massachusetts Grand Lodge of Ancient Masons ; ' and that it is free and independent in its government and official authority of any other Grand Lodge or Grand Master

in tbe universe . " III . That the power and authority of the said Grand Lodge bo construed to extend throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts , and to any of the United States , where none other is erected , over such Lodges only as this Grand Lodge has constituted , or shall constitute . " IV . That the Grand Master for the time being be desired to call in all Charters which were held under the jurisdiction

of the late Grand Master , Joseph Warren , Esquire , and return the same with an indorsement thereon , expressive of their recognition of the power and authority of this Grand Lodge . " V . That no person or persons ought or can , consistently with the rules of ancient Masonry , use or exercise the powers or prerogatives of an ancient Grand Master or Grand Lodge , to witto give power to erect Lodges of ancient Masonrymake

; , Masons , appoint superior or Grand Officers , receive dues , or do anything which belongs to the powers or prerogatives of an ancient Grand Lodge , within any part of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts , the rightful and appropriated limits to which the authority of this Grand Lodge forever hereafter extends . " This report was signed by Perez Morton , Paul Revere , John Warren , and James Avery . It " was read paragraph by

paragraph , and , after mature deliberation thereon , the same was accepted , aud ordered to be recorded in the Proceedings of the Grand Lodge , " where it now appears , signed by " Jos . Webb , Grand Master . " A majority ofthe members of Saint Andrew ' s Lodge objected to this report , although , at a Grand Lodge held March 8 , 17 S 2 , a petition from its Master , Wardens , and members was presented , " praying that the Grand Lodgo would grant them a Charter by the ' name of Saint Andrew , ' they retaining

their rank and presidency as heretofore in said Grand Lodge , " which was unanimously granted . In 17 G 8 , John Howe was appointed Provincial Grand Master or the "St . John's Grand Lodge . " He held the office until August 1 , 1787 , when he died . After 1775 , this Grand Lodge held no meeting until called together to attend the funeral of Grand Master Rowe . In July , 1790 , the Grand Officers assembled and voted to elect new officers ; but no higher officer than

a Senior Grand Warden was chosen . The Massachusetts Grand Lodge , as early as 17 S 7 , had taken action upon the question of a union , and had appointed a committee to consider it . It is evident that the St . John's Grand Lodge preserved its organization as such for the purpose of completing the contemplated union . It granted no Charters , nor did it assume any of the powers of a Grand Lodge . Iu 1783 , Provincial Grand Master Howe gave a Charter to St . John's Lodge , Boston , for the purpose of uniting the first and second Lodges into . one .