Masonic Notes And Queries.

electrified his audience , and elicited the most vociferous applause . EBEEMASOKRY IS" AMERICA . Wanted a short summary—which may be read during the off-moments of a country lodge in a seaport town—Avhich shall ive an account of the

hisg tory of Ereemasonry in America ?—A SEAMAN . —[ We have one ready to hand , which it is hoped will suit the purpose : —• "Ereemasons' lodges in America are of recent date . Upon application of a number of brethren , residing in Boston , a warrant was granted by the Eight

Honourable and Most " Worshipful Anthony , Lord Yiscount Montague , Grand Master of Masons in England , dated 30 th April , 1733 , appointing the E . W . Henry Price , Grand Master of Worth America , with 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 ancl accepted Masons , as often as occasion should require . " In consequence of this commission , the Grand Master opened a Grand Lodge in Boston , * on the 30 th July . 1733 , in due form , and appointed the E . W . Andrew Belcher , Deputy Grand Master , the "W . Thomas Kennelly and John Quann , Grand "Wardens .

"The Grand Lodge being thus organised , under the designation of St . John ' s Grand Lodge , proceeded to grant warrants for instituting regular lodges in various parts of America ; and from this Grand Lodge originated the first Grand Lodges in Massachusetts , New Hampshire , Rhode Island , Connecticut , NBAV Jersey , Pennsylvania , Maryland , Virginia , North

Carolina , South Carolina , Barbadoes , Antigua , Newfoundland , Louisburg , Nova Scotia , Quebec , Surinam , tind St . Christopher ' s . "In 1775 , hostilities commenced between Great Britain and America . Boston became a garrison , and was abandoned by many of its former inhabitants . The regular meetings of the Grand Lodges were terminated , and the brethren of St . John ' s Grand Lodge held no assembly until after the re-establishment of

peace . " There was at that time also a Grand Lodge holden at Boston , upon the ancient establishment , under the designation of "The Massachusetts Grand Lodge , " AA'hich originated as follows : —• " In 1755 , a number of brethren residing in Boston , who were ancient Masonsin consequence of a petition

, to the Grand Lodge of Scotland , received a deputation , dated Nov . 30 , 1752 , from Sholto Charles Douglas , Lord Aberdour , then Grand Master , constituting them a lodge , under the title of St . Andrew ' s Lodge ( No .. 82 ) , to be Holden at Boston . " This establishment was discouraged and opposed

hythe St . John ' s Grand Lodge , AA'I IO thought their privileges infringed by the Grand Lodge of Scotland ; they therefore refused to have any intercourse Avith the St . Andrew ' s Lodge for several years . " The prosperous state of St . Andrew ' s Lodge soon led its members to make great exertions for the

establishment of an ancient Grand Lodge in America , AA hich was soon effected in Boston , by the assistance of travelling lodges , belonging to the British army who were stationed there .

_ " 1769 , December 27 . —The festival of the evangelists was celebrated in due form . "When the brethren were assembled , a commission from the Eight Hon . and M . W . George , Earl of Dalhousie , Grand Master of Masons in Scotland , dated the 30 th of May , 1769 , appointing Joseph Warren to be Grand Master of Masons in Bostonancl Avithin one hundred miles of

, the same , was read , and he Avas , according to ancient usage , duly installed into that office . The Grand Master then appointed aud installed the other grand officers , ancl the Grand Lodge ivas at this time completely organised . " Between this period ancl the year 1791 , this

Grand Lodge granted Avarrauts of constitution for lodges to be holden in Massachusetts , Now Hampshire , Connecticut , Vermont , and New York . " In the . year 1773 , a commission Avas received from the Eight Hon .. and M . W . Patrick , Earl of Dumfries , Grand Master of Masons in Scotlanddated March

, 3 , 1772 , appointing the E . W . Joseph Warren , Esq ., Grand Master of Masons , for the Continent of America . " Iu 1775 , the meetings of the Grand Lodge were suspended , by the toAvn of Boston becoming a

garrison . "At the battle of Bunker ' s Hill , on the 27 th June , this year , Masonry and the Grand Lodge met Avith a heavy loss in the death of Grand Master Warren , who Avas slain contending for the liberties of his country . " Soon after the evacuation of Boston hy the British

army , ancl previous to any regular communication , the brethren , influenced by a pious regard to the memory of the late Grand Master , were induced to search for his body , Avhich had been rudely and indiscriminately buried in the field of slaughter . They accordingly repaired to the place , and , by the

direction of a person who Avas on the ground at the time of his burial , a spot was found where the earth had been recently turned up . " Upon moving the turf , and opening the grave , which Avas on the bi-OAV of a hill , and adjacent to a small cluster of sprigs , the remains Avere discovered , in a mangled condition , but Avere easily ascertained ;* and being decently raised , were conveyed to the State House in Boston ; from whence ,

by a large ancl respectable number of brethren , with the late grand o fleers , attending in procession , they Avere carried to the stone chapel , where an animated eulogium was delivered by Bro . Perez Morton . The body was then deposited in the silent vault ; ' without a sculptured stone to mark the spot ; hut , as the whole earth is the sepulchre of illustrious menhis

, fame , his glorious actions , are engraven on the tablet of universal remembrance , and will survive marble monuments or local inscriptions . ' " 1777 , March 8 . The brethren , who had been dispersed in consequence of the Avar , being now generally collected , they assembled to take into consideration

the state of Masonry . Being deprived of their chief by the melancholy death of their Grand Master , as before mentioned , after clue consideration they proceeded to the formation of a Grand Lodge , ancl elected and installed the Most Worshipful Joseph Webb , their Grand Master . " 1783 , January 3 . A committee was appointed to draft resolutions explanatory of the power and autho-