Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Reviews.
and the officers , namely , Bros . Jamea Livingston W . M ., Jonathan Lewis S . W ., and John Child J . W ., installed by the same W . Bro . R . R . Livingston , on the 22 nd May following . The Lodge held its regular monthly meetings uninterruptedly during tlie war , the feasts of
Saint John being duly celebrated . Bro . James Livingston retired from the chair in December 1774 , but was re-elected in 1776 , and continued in office till 1780 , when he was appointed Secretary . The following Bye-laws , adopted at the organisation of the Lodge , is worth while re-quoting : —
" ARTICLE I . "In open Lodge without order or decency a dissolution must be the consequence . "Therefore , at the third stroke of the Master ' s hammer , a profound silence shall be observed , and if any Brother Curses , Swears , or says anything Irreligious , Obscene or Ludicrous , holds private committees , disputes about Religion or Politicks , offers to lay any wagers ,
Interrupts any brother who is speaking to the Master , or hisses at what he is or has been speaking , is not on his legs when he has anything to say to the Master , sits down nncloathed or with his hat on , or smoakes Tobacco in open Lodge , or is Disguised in Liquor during Lodge hours , such offending Brother shall for tho first offence be gently reproved and admonished by the Master , for tho second offence
shall be fined one shilling , for the third offence be fined two shillings , and for the fourth offence to be immediately expelled the Lodge and never be admitted again as a member or a visitor unless he be balloted for and received in like manner with a strange brother , Paying all fines due as per these bye Laws and Eight Shillings as a new admission fee if he chooses to be reinstated as a Member . "
Among the visitors present on December 27 1782 , occurs the name of no less illustrious a man than " Bro . GEORGE WASHINGTON , Commander-in-Chief . " "Solomon's , No . 1 , " was represented in Grand Lodge June 1784 , surrendered its old warrant on 6 Sept . 1796 , was placed No . 5 on the roll in 1800 , and in 1819 No . 6 . It has not been represented in G . L . since 1827 .
As already mentioned , the petition for the formation of " St . George ' s Lodge , No . 1 , of Shenectady , " was recommended by Masters , No . 2 Lodge , and the dispensation was granted by the M . W . Sir John Johnson P . G . M ., on 21 st Juno 1774 , Bros . Chris , topher Yates being appointed W . M ., Benjamin Hilton jun . S . W ., and John Hengan J . W . A second Dispensation was granted
on 13 th December of the same year , the preamble reciting " that whereas the former dispensation , according to its own limitation , will expire on the twenty-seventh instant , and whereas the obtaining the same warrant is unavoidably impeded and delayed , and the said brethren , for the benefit and advancement of the Craft , are desirous and solicitous of having the duration of the said dispensation
renewed and continued , and the virtue of this last dispensation extended until the next festival of St John the Baptist , succeeding the then approaching festival of St John the Evangelist , providing they could not obtain a warrant , and be installed sooner . " The Lodge was accordingly held and continued under this second dispensation , but shortly after , the warrant bearing date the 14 th September 1774 ,
signed " John Johnson G . M ., " and attested by " William Seton G . Secretary , " was received . The Lodge was held once a fortnight , on Saturday evening . Some interruptions , however , occurred during the war . The initiation fee was five pounds ten shillings and sixpence , of which eight shillings was allowed the Tyler , the quarterly clues being half-a-crown . Every visitor , except on the occasion of
his first attendance , was required to pay two shillings to the Treasurer . The Lodge was not represented in Grand Lodge till April 1792 . It ranked aa No . 7 in 1800 , as No . 8 in 1819 , and has been No . 6 since 1839 . "Military Union Lodge No . 1 , " was constituted by Dr . Peter Middleton , Deputy G . M . of the P . G . Lodge of New York , in April
1776 . The petitioners were the officers and members of "American Union Lodge , " warranted by the W . Bro . Richard Gridley P . G . M ., Massachusetts , on the 13 th February 1776 , the warrant empowering Bro . Joel Clark and others to hold a Lodge in the American army , then at Roxbury , Mass . That part of the army with which the Lodge was connected , removed soon afterwards to New York , and hence the
petition to Dr . Middleton . Instead , however , of confirming the Massachusetts Warrant , Dr . Middleton granted them a new one , under the style and title of " Military Union No . 1 . " The minutes relating to these transactions are preserved . On June 20 th 1776 , at a meeting held at " Bro . Vandanham's , " ib was voted , firstly , to celebrate St .
John ' s day , and then , " That the utensils , consisting of Aprons , Glasses , Candlesticks , Bible , & c , purchased under the American Union Lodge , be returned to the said American Union Lodge , and considered only as lent to Military Union Lodge . " Th" Lodge met frequently till tho 15 th August 1776 , the record following , which reads thus : —
" Tho British troops having landed with a large body on Long Island , the attention of th-j American army was necessary to repel them . On that ever memc > rab 1 o 27 th of August , the Rijjht Worship , ful Joel Clark , Elisha Hcpkins , Ozias Bissoll , Joseph Jewett , Nathaniel Gore , being takpn prisoners ; and on the 13 th September , Broa . James Chapman , Micajah Gleason killed ; William Cleaveland
and John P . Wylly taken prisoners , and Bro . Otho H . Williams taken prisoner at Fort Washington , by which misfortunes the Lodge was deprived of its Master and some most worthy members , and many other brethren wero called to net in separate departments , wherefore tho Lodge closed without day . " A meeting is recorded in the year following , and then nothing follows till 15 th February 1779 , when tho Lodgo is at Rf . iding , Con .
Deeticot . W . Bro . Joel Oloake having died in captivity , a new election of officers was held , Samuel Holden Parsons being elected W . M ., Jonathan Heart S . W ., and Elisha Marshall J . W . The last entry in the Record Book bears date 10 th March of this year . From other sources it appears the Lodge was ou the Hudson River , near West Point in the summer of 1779 , and at Neubarg from 1781 to 1783 , For a part of this , time Colonel John Parke was W . M . of the
" Military Union Lodge , " and the Lodge remained under the authority of the P . G . M . of New York while located within its jurisdiction . The original warrant , we are told , " was taken to Marietta , Ohio , by its Master , Jonathan Heart , who , together with many of its members who had removed to the then new settlements on the Ohio , reopened the Lodge . "
St . John ' s Regimental Lodge No . 1 , was warranted 24 th July 1775 , being attached to the United States Battalion during the war . No records of it remain . It was located at Clarkstown towards the end of the war , and was known as " St . John ' s Lodge No . 1 , Clarkstown . " It was represented in Grand Lodge , New York , 23 rd June 1784 . Under its warrant a Lodge was held at Warwick , Orange Co . N . Y .,
and on December 23 rd application was made to Grand Lodge for & warrant under the title of " St . John's Lodgo . " The prayer was granted 26 th March 1790 . St . John ' s Lodge ( No . 4 ) , New York , was organised in 1776 by those members of St . John ' s No . 2 who remained loyal to the English Government . When tho provincial troops left the city in September
1776 , the officers of No . 2 retired , taking with them the warrant , while the properties were secured by those members who remained and who continued to assemble as a Lodge . Ou Sth February 1783 , application was made to Grand Lodge , and they were admitted and granted a warrant as St . John ' s , No . 4 . On 3 rd June 1787 it ranked as No . 6 ; in 1800 as No . 9 ; in 1826 the warrant was surrendered to
Grand Lodge . " Zion Lodge" was warranted in 1773 , was located iu New York during the early part of the war , and is described as an Ancient Lodge . Two extracts from the New York Oazette and Weekly Mercury , dated respectively 30 th June and 22 nd December 1777 , relating to the festivals of St . John the Baptist and St . John the Evangelist , are
all the information that has been gathered as to this Lodge . Lodge 169 , A . Y . M . —Registry of England . Warrant dated 13 th July 1771—appears to have been held at first in the City of Boston . It was the most prominent of the Lodges held after the commence * ment of the war , and is said to have been acknowledged aa the loading Masonio authority by the various army Lodges . In 1781 , the
convention for the organization of Grand Lodge was held under its auspices , and the W . M . assumed , pro temp ., the authority of G . M . The first P . G . M . was a member , and so , also , was the first Grand Secretary of the State Grand Lodge . Subsequently it took the titla of St . Andrew's Lodge . On 3 rd June 1789 it ranked as No . 3 , but subsequently it became No . 7 , and held that rank until 1827 , when
the warrant was surrendered . Lodge , No . 210—Registry of England ( Ancients ) , warrant dated 20 th February 1779—was one of the Lodges which took a prominent part in the establishment of Grand Lodge in 1781 . The warrant was surrendered 3 rd June 1789 , and a new one granted , as " Temple Lodge , No 4 , " on 2 nd December of same year . In 1794 , the name
was changed to " Jerusalem Lodge . " Subsequently , owing to internal dissensions , the warrant was revoked , and new warrants were granted to " Trinity , No . 10 , and Phoenix , No . 11 , " the old properties being divided between the new Lodaes . " Solomon ' s Lodge , No . 212 , "— Registry of England ( Ancients ) , warrant dated 1 st November 1780—took part in the organisation of Grand Lodge . On 3 rd September 1788 , the name was changed to
St . Patrick s . In 1789 it ranked as No . 5 . No records since 1795 . Zion Lodge , U . D ., was attached to H . M . 57 th Reg ., its dispensation being dated 16 th June 1780 , and granted at the instance of No . 210 , A . Y . M . seconded by Nos . 133 aud 134 , Registry of Scotland . It took part in the formation of Grand Lodgo , which granted a warrant dated 2 nd January 1783 , James Huston being W . M ., William Auld S . W ., and Samuel Haggan J . W . Representation in Grand Lodge ceased after 1783 .
Of other Lodges in New York , whose connection has since been severed , we read of No . 52 , 37 th Foot , Moriab , No . 133 , 22 nd Foot , 213 , in the Royal Artillery , Lodge 215 , A . Y . M ., in 2 nd Regiment Brandonburgh Auspach , and Lodge 441 , Registry of Ireland , in H . M . 38 th Foot . This closes tho chronicle of the early Lodges of tho Grand Lodge
of New York . We now pass to the transactions of Grand Lodge itself . As wo havo said , the warrant of the Grand Lodgo ( Ancients ) of London , to which the present Grand Lodge of New York traces its origin , was granted by G . M . tho Duke of Athol on Sth September 1781 , and the R . W . the Rev . William Walter , John Studholme Brownrigg ( doubtless an ancestor of our present highly respected
Lieut .-General William Studholme Brownrigg , P . G . M . of Surrey ) , and the Rev . John Beardsley being therein severally appointed Provincial Grand Master and Grand Senior and Junior Wardens . Under this warrant , the Provincial Grand Lodge held its first meeting on 'ho 5 th December 1782 , tho above mentioned in their several capacities being present , together with representatives from the following Lodges , namely : Nos . 52 , 37 th Foot , Moriah , 133 , 22 nd Foot ,
169 , A . Y . M ., 212 , 210 , A . Y . M ., 213 , A . Y . M ., 215 , A . Y . M ., 411 ( Registry of Ireland ) , 38 th Foot , and Zion , U . D . The warrant , & c . having been read , and tho above officers proclaimed with the usual solemnity , Bro . James McCnen P . M . 169 , was appointed and invested D . P . G . M ., Bro . William Cock W . M . of 212 was then appointed G . Secretary , Bro . James Clarke , Secretary of No . 169 , Asst . G . Secretary , Bro . Joshua Watson , W . M . of 210 , G . Treasurer
and sundry other brethren , Grand i . ' -p . cors av ; 1 Grand Stewards . It was then determined that tho Lodge should meet for the dispatch of business tho first Wednesday in every month , and soma other foi'f . i'il business bavins ; been transacted , and the prayer duly recommonded of certain brethren for the formation of a now Lodge having been unanimously granted , the Lodge was closed . At the
meeting on 2 nd . January 1783 , it was resolved , inter alia , " that a Modern Master Mason , known to be such , may be healed and admitted into tho mysteries of tho Ancient Craft in the manner determined upon this evening , and that the same be recommended to tho several Lodges under this jurisdiction . " At tho meeting on 5 th February 1783 , held at Bro , Straohan ' s , it was resolved that R visiting
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Reviews.
and the officers , namely , Bros . Jamea Livingston W . M ., Jonathan Lewis S . W ., and John Child J . W ., installed by the same W . Bro . R . R . Livingston , on the 22 nd May following . The Lodge held its regular monthly meetings uninterruptedly during tlie war , the feasts of
Saint John being duly celebrated . Bro . James Livingston retired from the chair in December 1774 , but was re-elected in 1776 , and continued in office till 1780 , when he was appointed Secretary . The following Bye-laws , adopted at the organisation of the Lodge , is worth while re-quoting : —
" ARTICLE I . "In open Lodge without order or decency a dissolution must be the consequence . "Therefore , at the third stroke of the Master ' s hammer , a profound silence shall be observed , and if any Brother Curses , Swears , or says anything Irreligious , Obscene or Ludicrous , holds private committees , disputes about Religion or Politicks , offers to lay any wagers ,
Interrupts any brother who is speaking to the Master , or hisses at what he is or has been speaking , is not on his legs when he has anything to say to the Master , sits down nncloathed or with his hat on , or smoakes Tobacco in open Lodge , or is Disguised in Liquor during Lodge hours , such offending Brother shall for tho first offence be gently reproved and admonished by the Master , for tho second offence
shall be fined one shilling , for the third offence be fined two shillings , and for the fourth offence to be immediately expelled the Lodge and never be admitted again as a member or a visitor unless he be balloted for and received in like manner with a strange brother , Paying all fines due as per these bye Laws and Eight Shillings as a new admission fee if he chooses to be reinstated as a Member . "
Among the visitors present on December 27 1782 , occurs the name of no less illustrious a man than " Bro . GEORGE WASHINGTON , Commander-in-Chief . " "Solomon's , No . 1 , " was represented in Grand Lodge June 1784 , surrendered its old warrant on 6 Sept . 1796 , was placed No . 5 on the roll in 1800 , and in 1819 No . 6 . It has not been represented in G . L . since 1827 .
As already mentioned , the petition for the formation of " St . George ' s Lodge , No . 1 , of Shenectady , " was recommended by Masters , No . 2 Lodge , and the dispensation was granted by the M . W . Sir John Johnson P . G . M ., on 21 st Juno 1774 , Bros . Chris , topher Yates being appointed W . M ., Benjamin Hilton jun . S . W ., and John Hengan J . W . A second Dispensation was granted
on 13 th December of the same year , the preamble reciting " that whereas the former dispensation , according to its own limitation , will expire on the twenty-seventh instant , and whereas the obtaining the same warrant is unavoidably impeded and delayed , and the said brethren , for the benefit and advancement of the Craft , are desirous and solicitous of having the duration of the said dispensation
renewed and continued , and the virtue of this last dispensation extended until the next festival of St John the Baptist , succeeding the then approaching festival of St John the Evangelist , providing they could not obtain a warrant , and be installed sooner . " The Lodge was accordingly held and continued under this second dispensation , but shortly after , the warrant bearing date the 14 th September 1774 ,
signed " John Johnson G . M ., " and attested by " William Seton G . Secretary , " was received . The Lodge was held once a fortnight , on Saturday evening . Some interruptions , however , occurred during the war . The initiation fee was five pounds ten shillings and sixpence , of which eight shillings was allowed the Tyler , the quarterly clues being half-a-crown . Every visitor , except on the occasion of
his first attendance , was required to pay two shillings to the Treasurer . The Lodge was not represented in Grand Lodge till April 1792 . It ranked aa No . 7 in 1800 , as No . 8 in 1819 , and has been No . 6 since 1839 . "Military Union Lodge No . 1 , " was constituted by Dr . Peter Middleton , Deputy G . M . of the P . G . Lodge of New York , in April
1776 . The petitioners were the officers and members of "American Union Lodge , " warranted by the W . Bro . Richard Gridley P . G . M ., Massachusetts , on the 13 th February 1776 , the warrant empowering Bro . Joel Clark and others to hold a Lodge in the American army , then at Roxbury , Mass . That part of the army with which the Lodge was connected , removed soon afterwards to New York , and hence the
petition to Dr . Middleton . Instead , however , of confirming the Massachusetts Warrant , Dr . Middleton granted them a new one , under the style and title of " Military Union No . 1 . " The minutes relating to these transactions are preserved . On June 20 th 1776 , at a meeting held at " Bro . Vandanham's , " ib was voted , firstly , to celebrate St .
John ' s day , and then , " That the utensils , consisting of Aprons , Glasses , Candlesticks , Bible , & c , purchased under the American Union Lodge , be returned to the said American Union Lodge , and considered only as lent to Military Union Lodge . " Th" Lodge met frequently till tho 15 th August 1776 , the record following , which reads thus : —
" Tho British troops having landed with a large body on Long Island , the attention of th-j American army was necessary to repel them . On that ever memc > rab 1 o 27 th of August , the Rijjht Worship , ful Joel Clark , Elisha Hcpkins , Ozias Bissoll , Joseph Jewett , Nathaniel Gore , being takpn prisoners ; and on the 13 th September , Broa . James Chapman , Micajah Gleason killed ; William Cleaveland
and John P . Wylly taken prisoners , and Bro . Otho H . Williams taken prisoner at Fort Washington , by which misfortunes the Lodge was deprived of its Master and some most worthy members , and many other brethren wero called to net in separate departments , wherefore tho Lodge closed without day . " A meeting is recorded in the year following , and then nothing follows till 15 th February 1779 , when tho Lodgo is at Rf . iding , Con .
Deeticot . W . Bro . Joel Oloake having died in captivity , a new election of officers was held , Samuel Holden Parsons being elected W . M ., Jonathan Heart S . W ., and Elisha Marshall J . W . The last entry in the Record Book bears date 10 th March of this year . From other sources it appears the Lodge was ou the Hudson River , near West Point in the summer of 1779 , and at Neubarg from 1781 to 1783 , For a part of this , time Colonel John Parke was W . M . of the
" Military Union Lodge , " and the Lodge remained under the authority of the P . G . M . of New York while located within its jurisdiction . The original warrant , we are told , " was taken to Marietta , Ohio , by its Master , Jonathan Heart , who , together with many of its members who had removed to the then new settlements on the Ohio , reopened the Lodge . "
St . John ' s Regimental Lodge No . 1 , was warranted 24 th July 1775 , being attached to the United States Battalion during the war . No records of it remain . It was located at Clarkstown towards the end of the war , and was known as " St . John ' s Lodge No . 1 , Clarkstown . " It was represented in Grand Lodge , New York , 23 rd June 1784 . Under its warrant a Lodge was held at Warwick , Orange Co . N . Y .,
and on December 23 rd application was made to Grand Lodge for & warrant under the title of " St . John's Lodgo . " The prayer was granted 26 th March 1790 . St . John ' s Lodge ( No . 4 ) , New York , was organised in 1776 by those members of St . John ' s No . 2 who remained loyal to the English Government . When tho provincial troops left the city in September
1776 , the officers of No . 2 retired , taking with them the warrant , while the properties were secured by those members who remained and who continued to assemble as a Lodge . Ou Sth February 1783 , application was made to Grand Lodge , and they were admitted and granted a warrant as St . John ' s , No . 4 . On 3 rd June 1787 it ranked as No . 6 ; in 1800 as No . 9 ; in 1826 the warrant was surrendered to
Grand Lodge . " Zion Lodge" was warranted in 1773 , was located iu New York during the early part of the war , and is described as an Ancient Lodge . Two extracts from the New York Oazette and Weekly Mercury , dated respectively 30 th June and 22 nd December 1777 , relating to the festivals of St . John the Baptist and St . John the Evangelist , are
all the information that has been gathered as to this Lodge . Lodge 169 , A . Y . M . —Registry of England . Warrant dated 13 th July 1771—appears to have been held at first in the City of Boston . It was the most prominent of the Lodges held after the commence * ment of the war , and is said to have been acknowledged aa the loading Masonio authority by the various army Lodges . In 1781 , the
convention for the organization of Grand Lodge was held under its auspices , and the W . M . assumed , pro temp ., the authority of G . M . The first P . G . M . was a member , and so , also , was the first Grand Secretary of the State Grand Lodge . Subsequently it took the titla of St . Andrew's Lodge . On 3 rd June 1789 it ranked as No . 3 , but subsequently it became No . 7 , and held that rank until 1827 , when
the warrant was surrendered . Lodge , No . 210—Registry of England ( Ancients ) , warrant dated 20 th February 1779—was one of the Lodges which took a prominent part in the establishment of Grand Lodge in 1781 . The warrant was surrendered 3 rd June 1789 , and a new one granted , as " Temple Lodge , No 4 , " on 2 nd December of same year . In 1794 , the name
was changed to " Jerusalem Lodge . " Subsequently , owing to internal dissensions , the warrant was revoked , and new warrants were granted to " Trinity , No . 10 , and Phoenix , No . 11 , " the old properties being divided between the new Lodaes . " Solomon ' s Lodge , No . 212 , "— Registry of England ( Ancients ) , warrant dated 1 st November 1780—took part in the organisation of Grand Lodge . On 3 rd September 1788 , the name was changed to
St . Patrick s . In 1789 it ranked as No . 5 . No records since 1795 . Zion Lodge , U . D ., was attached to H . M . 57 th Reg ., its dispensation being dated 16 th June 1780 , and granted at the instance of No . 210 , A . Y . M . seconded by Nos . 133 aud 134 , Registry of Scotland . It took part in the formation of Grand Lodgo , which granted a warrant dated 2 nd January 1783 , James Huston being W . M ., William Auld S . W ., and Samuel Haggan J . W . Representation in Grand Lodge ceased after 1783 .
Of other Lodges in New York , whose connection has since been severed , we read of No . 52 , 37 th Foot , Moriab , No . 133 , 22 nd Foot , 213 , in the Royal Artillery , Lodge 215 , A . Y . M ., in 2 nd Regiment Brandonburgh Auspach , and Lodge 441 , Registry of Ireland , in H . M . 38 th Foot . This closes tho chronicle of the early Lodges of tho Grand Lodge
of New York . We now pass to the transactions of Grand Lodge itself . As wo havo said , the warrant of the Grand Lodgo ( Ancients ) of London , to which the present Grand Lodge of New York traces its origin , was granted by G . M . tho Duke of Athol on Sth September 1781 , and the R . W . the Rev . William Walter , John Studholme Brownrigg ( doubtless an ancestor of our present highly respected
Lieut .-General William Studholme Brownrigg , P . G . M . of Surrey ) , and the Rev . John Beardsley being therein severally appointed Provincial Grand Master and Grand Senior and Junior Wardens . Under this warrant , the Provincial Grand Lodge held its first meeting on 'ho 5 th December 1782 , tho above mentioned in their several capacities being present , together with representatives from the following Lodges , namely : Nos . 52 , 37 th Foot , Moriah , 133 , 22 nd Foot ,
169 , A . Y . M ., 212 , 210 , A . Y . M ., 213 , A . Y . M ., 215 , A . Y . M ., 411 ( Registry of Ireland ) , 38 th Foot , and Zion , U . D . The warrant , & c . having been read , and tho above officers proclaimed with the usual solemnity , Bro . James McCnen P . M . 169 , was appointed and invested D . P . G . M ., Bro . William Cock W . M . of 212 was then appointed G . Secretary , Bro . James Clarke , Secretary of No . 169 , Asst . G . Secretary , Bro . Joshua Watson , W . M . of 210 , G . Treasurer
and sundry other brethren , Grand i . ' -p . cors av ; 1 Grand Stewards . It was then determined that tho Lodge should meet for the dispatch of business tho first Wednesday in every month , and soma other foi'f . i'il business bavins ; been transacted , and the prayer duly recommonded of certain brethren for the formation of a now Lodge having been unanimously granted , the Lodge was closed . At the
meeting on 2 nd . January 1783 , it was resolved , inter alia , " that a Modern Master Mason , known to be such , may be healed and admitted into tho mysteries of tho Ancient Craft in the manner determined upon this evening , and that the same be recommended to tho several Lodges under this jurisdiction . " At tho meeting on 5 th February 1783 , held at Bro , Straohan ' s , it was resolved that R visiting