The Grand Lodge Of Massachusetts, U. S.

some authority and power , not only to control and govern the Craft , but also to establish new Lodges in the Provinces . They Avere Deputy Grand Lodges , convened by the power and authority of the Provincial Grand Master as the Deputy of the

Grand Master . They possessed no sovereign power . The subordinate Lodges were returned to England , registered in the Grand Lodge there , and classified , as belonging to a certain district or province . Preston says , " A Provincial Grand Master is the immediate representative of the Grand Master in that District over which he is

limited to preside , and being invested with the power and honour of a Deputy Grand Mastei * , may constitute Lodges , and ranks in all public assemblies immediately after Past Deputy Grand Masters . He must , in person , or by deputy ,

attend the quarterly meetings of the Masters and Wardens of the Lodges in his district , and transmit to the Grand Lodge , once in every year , the proceedings of those meetings . " This was written by Preston in 1727 . In 1737 , upon the same

subject he says : " The authority granted by patent to a Provincial Grand Master was limited to one year ; bufc the office is now permanent , and the sole appointment of the Grand Master . " In Scotland this office was created in , and the

first nomination made abroad in 1747 . In November , 1757 , E . W . Col . John Young Avas appointed Provincial Grand Master over all the Lodges in America holding of the Grand Lodge

of Scotland , lire commissions were issued to continue in force until recalled . More recentl y tho Eegulafcions of the Grand Lodge provide thafc Provincial Grand Lodges shall nofc be interrupted by the death or retirement of the

Provincial Master-, unless the vacancy shall not be filled for one year . In Ireland the same system prevails . The conclusion is , that Avhen the Provincial Grand Master Joseph Warren expired on Bunker Hill , June 17 , 1775 , the Provincial Grancl

Lodge , of which he was the essence and life , expired also , but the Lodges established were not effected thereby , as they Avere , or should have been registered iu Edinburgh , aud oAved their allegiance to the Grand Lodge there .

The institution of Freemasonry , which numbered among its firmest adherents such revolutionists as Webb , Severe , Morton , and a host of -others who followed in the footsteps of Warren , could not withstand the influence of freedom , and

Massachusetts set the example of revolution in Masonic government , which Avas followed by every State in the Union . The American doctrine of Grand Lodge Jurisdiction is , that three regularly chartered Lodges

existing in any State or Territory have the right to establish a Grand Lodge therein . Such Grand Lodge has exclusive jurisdiction over the three degrees of Craft Masonry , over the Lodges and their members , and over all Masons ,

unaffiliated as well as affiliated . By the erection of such Grand Lodge all Masonic powers over Blue Masonry are merged in ifc , and henceforth ifc exists therein supreme and sovereign over a jurisdiction AA'hich ifc can neither divide , nor share with any

other Masonic Grand Body in the world . The brethren celebz-afced , as usual , the Feasfc of Sfc . John , the Evangelist , in 1776 , and the record shows that a Grand Lodge Avas held by thirtythree brethren , Joseph Webb presiding as Deputy

Grand Master . On the 14 th of February , 1777 , a Grand Lodge was called by the Deputy of Warren , to hear the petition of certain brethren for a charter at Stockridge . This proposition aroused the brethren to a realising sense of their

status as a Grand Lodge , and it Avas voted thafc the Deputy Grand Master send a summons to all the Masters and Wardens to assemble on the 7 th of March , to consult upon , and elect a Grand Master for the State . The brethren met , and

elected E . W . Joseph Webb , of St . Andrews Lodge , Boston , Grand Master , Paul Eevere S . G . W ., Thos . Crofts , J . G . W ., John Lowell , G . T ., Nat . Pierce , G . Sec , Thomas Uram , S . G . D ., etc . The Grand Lodge , thus organizedacted

, upon the petition from Stockbridge , and granted the same , it being the first act of fche Independent Grand Lodge of Massachusetts . Iu September , 1780 , the Grand Master laid before the . Grand Lodge a letter from William

Smith , Grand Secretary of Pennsylvania , stating thafc the Lodges in that jurisdiction in Grand Lodge assembled , thought ifc expedient to make choice of a Grand Master General , for the Thirteen United American States ; that they had nominated

His Excellency General George Washington , and requesting the opinion and approbation of the Massachusetts Grand Lodge . The propositicn was deemed inexpedient , and could nofc then in the troubled state of affairs , with propriety be adopted . If the Grancl Lodge had acted favour-