Early Masonry In New Hampshire, U.S.

appointed the first Master of the lodge in Pennsylvania . On the same clay ( June 24 , 1734 ) , a petition was also received from sundry brethren residing in Portsmouth , N . H ., praying- for the erection of a lodge , to be known as the " Holy Lodge of

St . John , " which ivas granted . The records of this lodgo , for several years subsequent to its organisation , are lost ,- bnt we learn , from another source , that on the appointment of the R . W . Robert Tomlinson , to the office of Grand Master , in 1736 , the brethren at Portsmouth received a

charter , and ivere soon after constituted as " St . John ' s Lodge . " The first entry in the oldest record book of the last-named lodge , is the following code of by-laws , or regulations , under date of October 9 , 1739 . It is probable that previous records Avere either kept in a smaller book , or upon loose sheets , ancl have been lost . The fact that the above book

commences with the by-laws ; that from the abo \ r e date the record is well kept , ancl continuous ; ancl that Avithin a feAv Aveeks from that time the lodge received an official visit from the Grand Master ; Avould seem to indicate that this was the beginning of its earnest , and more formal existence . Certain

it is , that this is the oldest record of a meeting of the lodge , and that a code of by-laAVS were formally adopted upon the occasion . The following is a copy of the by-laivs , and of the names appended ! to them . They are Avell worth preserving-. The first part of several of the names are

illegible : — " Regulations or by-laws agreed upon by the brethren of the first constituted lodge in Portsmouth , in the province of New Hampshire , at their meeting , Oct . 9 , 1739 . A . M . 5739 , " viz . : — 1 . No person shall be made a Mason unless all

the brethren members present are unanimous , and if but one member be against him , he shall be rejected . 2 . No brother shall be admitted as member of this lodge , unless all the members present are unanimous as aforesaidand upon his or their

ad-, mission , shall pay tAventy shillings each , ancl also their quarterages , discounting so many lodge nights as are past of the quarter , and shall consent to the by-laws ancl regulations of the lodge by subscribing their names to the same .

3 . No brother shall eat any victuals , or call for any liquor or tobacco , while the lodge is open , without leave of the Master or Wardens . 4 . Any person or persons being ballotted in , may , by dispensation of the Master and Wardens , be made on a private night ; provided the brethren

present defray the charge of the making , by paying their chibbs . 5 . No brother shall , propose a person without first asking leave of the Master ancl Wardens . 6 . Every member who does not pay his quarterage on the first night of the quarter , or second at farthest ( being present , or Avithout a reasonable

excuse for his absence ) , shall be excluded from being a member , and all privileges of the lodge . 7 . Every member jiroposing- a candidate shall deposite forty shillings in the hands of the cashire , to be allowed towards the making , unless the person proposed neglects or refuses , then the money to be spent , and not alloAved as part of the initiation fee .

8 . The Treasurer of this lodge , upon his quitting , shall render an account to the Master and Wardens , of the time being , of all the money received , expended , and remaining on hand , Avith the lodge book and accounts .

9 . The Master of this lodge , or in his absence the Grand Master , Deputy Grand Master , or Wardens , ivhen there , ancl the lodge be ordered for a making , shall be obliged to give the members timely notice thereof , that they ma } r give them attendance ; ancl every member being duly warned ,

and neglecting to attend at the making , shall not be admitted to the privilege of being clothed for that evening . 10 . No member , being absent from the lodge of an evening when there is a making , shall have the benefit of clothing himself that night .

11 . Every member to pay eighteen shillings , which is to be advanced the first or second nig-lit of the quarter , as expressed in the 6 th article ; three shillings of the same being- designed for charitable uses , and if such payment be not sufficient to defray the chargesit must be drawn from

, the publique stock . 12 . No person shall be made a Freemason in this lodge at less expense than six pounds , without a dispensation from the Avhole lodge . 13 . The Junior Warden is to keep an account of what liquor comes in for the use of the lodge

, which is not to exceed 2 s . 6 d . per head ; in failure of which he is to forfeit the surplusage ( without a dispensation from the Master and members ) , the said Warden to render an account to the Secretary , Avho is to settle the same Avith the Master ancl

Treasurer before the lodge is closed . We , the undersigned , do approve of , and subscribe to , the foregoing regulations or by-IaAvs . Geo . Mitchell , Master ; N . Fellows , S . AV . ; Robert Hart ; Jas . Sherburn ; John Mills ; Charles Facy ; Henry Sherburne , Treas . ; Jos . Franklin ;

Jona . Nailer ; Jno . Loggin ; Thos . Newmarch ; J oseph Moses ; John Underwood ; William Wentworth ; John Eyres ; Robert Traill ; Edm . Quincy , Jr . ; John Greenwood ; Thos . Durant ; Robt . Stokell ; — La Fontain ; John Higgins ; Rich . W . Cower : Stephen Hills ; John Coultas ; John

Ley ; Clement Jackson ; — Chauncy ; — Gleeson ; — Appleton ; — BroAvne ; — Dobleville ; Andrew Tooner ¦ William CarsOn ; Samuel Lolly ; Charles Gorwood ; Sam . Moore ; Tim . Ryan ; Nath . Shamon ; Henry Barnsley ; Wm . Smith ; M . Pascal ; Thos . Gardner ; Will . Jones ; Richd . I . Orr ; Wm . Cambell ; Win . L . Keeling ; Wm , GarroAv .