Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Reviews.
REVIEWS .
All Books intended for Keview should be addressed to the Editor of The Freemason ' s Chronicle , 67 Barbican , B . C .
Early History and Transactions of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of New York , 1781-1815 . Part X . Published by authority of the Grand Lodge . Granted to Kane Lodge , No . ' 154 , June 1874 . New York : Masonic and Miscellaneous Publishers , No . 2 Bleecker-streot : D . Sickels and Co ., Managers . 1876 . IN the minutes of the 1 st December 1813 , a part of which appeared in Part IX ., we find recorded a resolution to the effect that the School Committee tako measures for raising money , by means of individual contributions , for clothing the Masonic Charity Scholars , and that if they should think it expedient , they should convene tho different Lodges in the Freo School , aud Bro . Vanderbilt be invited to deliver
an oration . The minutes close with a record of the fact that communications had been received from the Grand Lodges of England , North Carolina and Tennessee , and Maryland , and also that suggoations had been submitted by dilToront Lodges recommending the adoption of certain alterations in the present plan of Grand Visitors . At the meetin" of tho 2 nd March 1814 , a petition from a number of brethren ,
officers of the several divisions of tho Northern army assembled at Pittsburgh , for a Masonio Warrant for a Lodge to be known as the Northern Light Lodge , was referred to tho Grand Officers . It is also minuted that communications had been received from certain bodies , known respectively as tho Supreme Council of Sovereign Grand Inspectors General of tho 33 rd degree , holding its sittings in
Charleston , South Carolina , and signed by E . Do La Motta , John Mitchell , and Frederick Dalcho , aud from tho Most Potent Grand Consistory of tho United States , sitting in tho city of New York ; but as these degrees wore unknown to aud not recognised by the New York Grand Lodge , it was ordered that sucu communications should be returned . On the 1 st Juno , after the election of officers , a report
was presented by the Committee appointed to discuss the plan of Grand Visitors . In this it was recommended that the State should be divided into three districts , with a Grand Visitor attached to each , and also that , in addition to thoir expenses , a suitable compensation , to bo determined between tho Grand Officers and Grand Visitors , should be paid to the latter . A series of resolutions based upon
this report was then submitted , and unanimously carried . A report from tho School Committee was also submitted , and likewise one from tho Committee on Finance . Communications from the Grand Lodges of Maryland aud Ohio were read and ordered to be filed , soon after which tho Grand Lodge was closed . At an Emergency meeting , held ou tho 22 nd August , it was resolved as follows—namely , " That
the Grand Lodge will perform ouo day ' s labour on the fortifications at Buch times as shall be appointed by the Committee of Defence ; that the several Lodges in tho city , and tbe Fraternity in general , be earnestly requested to co-operate in this laudablo work ; and that tho Deputy Grand Master , the Grand Senior Warden , the Assistant Grand Secretary , tho Grand Treasurer , Dros . Simson , Riker , and Nicholas
Roome be a Committee to make the necessary arrangements for carrying tho same into effect . " Accordingly , at a secona Emergency meeting , hold on the 1 st September , tho G . Lodgo met at sunrise , at the Park , and , having formed a procession to the steamboat , were conveyed to the fortifications , aud , having worked the whole day long , reformed themselves in tho samo order of procession , and ,
having returned to the Park , wero dismissed to their homes . At the meeting held ou tho 7 th of tho samo month , communications from the Grand Lodges of New Hampshire and Ohio , furnishing the names of their respective Grand Officers , and lists of the Lodges under their respective jurisdictions , wero read and ordered to be filed . It was further announced that a similar communication ,
together with a full account of its organisation , and extracts from its Proceedings , from 11 th December 1810 to 11 th January 1814 , had been received from tho Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia . Having made arrangements to perform another day ' s labour on the fortifications , aud especially on FORT MASONIC , which had been so named in honour of tho Craft , Grand Lodge was
closed . Effect was given to this resolution at an Emergency meeting , specially convened for the purpose on the 19 th of the month , when the Lodge assembled and worked as on the occasion already mentioned . On tho 7 th December it was resolved that the Graud Secretary aud Grand Treasurer be authorised to borrow on account of Grand LoiUre a sum not exceeding
one thousand dollars , aud to repay tho same as tho funds of Gtrunu Lodge shonld allow . On the 14 th of the month a Rev . Bro . Fairbanks prayed for the patronage of Grand Lodge for a work on The Elements of Masonry , which he was about to publish , but it was resolved not to pledge support without a knowledge of the work . At the same time , a sum of twenty . five dollars was voted in order to defray the
Rev . Brother s expenses in attending the Lodge and submitting his work for approval . At the same meeting an announcement was made of the union of Ancient aud Modern Masons in South Carolina , and the matter was referred to tho Grand officers for their report at tho next meeting of Grand Lodge . Accordingly , ou the 1 st March 1815 , the said Grand Officers reported that the union of Freemasons
in South Carolina and likewisa in England , Ireland , and Scotland , " by which events the Masonic Fraternity throughout the world have been united into one happy family , appears to havo beeu mado on a footing of perfect equality , but how the precise differences have been arranged and adjusted cannot be collected from printed communications . " It was thereupon resolved , " that all Freemasons who are cknowledged as such by any of the'Lodges under the jurisdiction of
Reviews.
the Grand Lodges of England , Scotland , and Ireland , and South Carolina , shall be considered as legitimate Freemasons by the Lodges under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge . '' On the 7 th June , the usual election of Grand Officers was held , after which some business was transacted , and tho Lodge adjourned till the 14 th of the month , when the remaining business was dispatched , and communications
from the Grand Lodges of South Carolina , Now Hampshire , and Kentucky were read aud ordered to be filed . On the 6 th September , Bro . Simson , Grand Treasurer , tendered the resignation of his office , aud it was arranged to elect his successor on tho 13 th of the month , when a Lodge of Emergency was held , and after a ballot , Bro . Bogert was ohoson aud invested . On the same occasion , application
was made by a Brother for the loan of a hundred dollars , in order to enable him to visit Europe for the benefit of his health , but was refused , owing to the reduced state of Grand Lodge finances . Another Emergency meeting was held on the 29 th September for the purpose of hearing the complaint of a brother whose expulsion from Trinity Lodge , No . 10 , had been published in a newspaper .
Resolutions condemning the conduct of the Lodge were passed , and also " That no Lodge within the jurisdiction of this Graud Lodge , nor any member thereof , shall publish , or in any manner make public , except it bo to the Fraternity or within the walls of a Lodge , the expulsion of any member . " At the meeting on the 6 th December a report was delivered on the finances of Grand Lodgo , and it was further resolved ,
after hearing the report of the School Committee , to recommend that , if possible , each Lodgo should raise the sum of sixteen dollars for providing two children with shoes , stockings , an overcoat , and hat . A number of petitions for warrants were referred to the Graud Officers and a communication from Grand Lodge of South Carolina was also read and filed . The last minute of all relates to the meeting on the
6 th March 1816 . Among tho records are several important resolutions . Ono series provided that tho use of distilled spirits at Lodge meetings is pernicious , and shonld be forbidden ; that the contributions due from Lodges in that jurisdiction to the Charity Fuud must not be diverted from their benevolent purposes , and that no Lodge should divide its funds among its members , or provide any banquets or other
refreshments out of the same , till the dues to the Charity Fund have been satisfied ; that Lodges should " return annually to the Grand Lodge a trae and correct list of all their members , together with their Graud Lodge dues , to the end that no regular Mason shall be exempt from contributing to the Grand Charity Fund , " and that notice bo given to the District Grand Visitor of members who are
suspended for non-payment of their dues ; that Lodges which had forfeited their warrants should surrender the same , together with all books , papers , furniture , jewels , & o . to the Grand Visitor , aud that the practice of Lodges lending money to individuals be prohibited as unwise . The consideration of these was , however , postponed till the next meeting , copies being sent in the meantime to the Masters of
Lodges in the City . Resolutions were then submitted and agreed to , settling the future constitution of the Grand Stewards' Lodge from the following June . The new composition was as follows : —The Grand Master , Deputy Grand Master , Grand Senior and Grand J . W ., G . Secretary , Grand Treasurer ex-officio , and twelve Grand Stewards of Charity to be elected from the Past Grand Officers , Past Masters and
Masters of the several Lodges in the city and county of New York , who at tho time shall be members of this Grand Lodge . Tho election of these latter was arranged to take place at the annual election of Grand Officers , and it was resolved that the twelve should be arranged in four classes of three each , the seats of the first class boing vacated at tho end of the year , of the second class at tho end
of the second year , and so on : so that three Grand Stewards of Charity should be annually elected . The new Lodge was to enjoy tho same powers as tho present , there being also a Grand Stewards ' Committee of Charity of three , to be organised in the same manner as the present Committee , and for three months , so that the whole of the twelve would in return discharge these duties during
one quarter of the year . It was also resolved , that henceforth the Grand Master , the Deputy Grand Master and the Grand Secretary should be elected annually , at the same time , in the same manner , and for the same term as the Grand Wardens ; the salary of the Grand Sec . being fixed at 600 dollars per annum . It was also resolved that Committees be appointed ( ft ) to report what , if any , amendments
are necessary in the Constitution of the Grand Lodge , and for the better government of tho Fraternity generally , and ( b ) to superintend the printing aud publication of as many copies of the book of Constitutions as may be thought necessary , with discretionary powers to select and publish such bye-laws and resolutions of Grand Lodgo , from the 5 th December 1800 to date , as they may judge proper . It was also agreed that henceforth the names of the Grand Officers
elected annually shall be communicated by the Grand Secretary to the different Grand Lodges iu the United States , and to the different subordinate Lodges , as well as all such matters as have a general relation to the Craft , or the government of the individual Lodges in this jurisdiction . Communications from tho Grand Lodges of Kentucky , New Jersey , and Tennessee , having been read and ordered to be _ filed , Grand Lodge was closed , and the transactions closed likewise .
We have now gone seriatim through the several parts of this valuable history . It is in the highest degree creditable to the Kane Lodge to have taken upon themselves the cost of its publication , and it says much for the wisdom of the New York Grand Lodge that it should have lent its subordinate Lodge the sanction of its own high authority . It remains for us to add that we appreciate the fraternal kindness of the New York brethren to whom we are indebted for tha
opportuuity of reading what thev have assisted in publishing . That we have derived much pleasure and profit from its study wo heartily confess , and this confession and the analysis we have been able to publish in our columns is the only return it is in our power to make . Here then , for the present at all events , we must take our leave of the Masonic history of New York , though it is highly probable we shall have occasion to refer to it at odd times in elucidating Craft history iu this state ;
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Reviews.
REVIEWS .
All Books intended for Keview should be addressed to the Editor of The Freemason ' s Chronicle , 67 Barbican , B . C .
Early History and Transactions of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of New York , 1781-1815 . Part X . Published by authority of the Grand Lodge . Granted to Kane Lodge , No . ' 154 , June 1874 . New York : Masonic and Miscellaneous Publishers , No . 2 Bleecker-streot : D . Sickels and Co ., Managers . 1876 . IN the minutes of the 1 st December 1813 , a part of which appeared in Part IX ., we find recorded a resolution to the effect that the School Committee tako measures for raising money , by means of individual contributions , for clothing the Masonic Charity Scholars , and that if they should think it expedient , they should convene tho different Lodges in the Freo School , aud Bro . Vanderbilt be invited to deliver
an oration . The minutes close with a record of the fact that communications had been received from the Grand Lodges of England , North Carolina and Tennessee , and Maryland , and also that suggoations had been submitted by dilToront Lodges recommending the adoption of certain alterations in the present plan of Grand Visitors . At the meetin" of tho 2 nd March 1814 , a petition from a number of brethren ,
officers of the several divisions of tho Northern army assembled at Pittsburgh , for a Masonio Warrant for a Lodge to be known as the Northern Light Lodge , was referred to tho Grand Officers . It is also minuted that communications had been received from certain bodies , known respectively as tho Supreme Council of Sovereign Grand Inspectors General of tho 33 rd degree , holding its sittings in
Charleston , South Carolina , and signed by E . Do La Motta , John Mitchell , and Frederick Dalcho , aud from tho Most Potent Grand Consistory of tho United States , sitting in tho city of New York ; but as these degrees wore unknown to aud not recognised by the New York Grand Lodge , it was ordered that sucu communications should be returned . On the 1 st Juno , after the election of officers , a report
was presented by the Committee appointed to discuss the plan of Grand Visitors . In this it was recommended that the State should be divided into three districts , with a Grand Visitor attached to each , and also that , in addition to thoir expenses , a suitable compensation , to bo determined between tho Grand Officers and Grand Visitors , should be paid to the latter . A series of resolutions based upon
this report was then submitted , and unanimously carried . A report from tho School Committee was also submitted , and likewise one from tho Committee on Finance . Communications from the Grand Lodges of Maryland aud Ohio were read and ordered to be filed , soon after which tho Grand Lodge was closed . At an Emergency meeting , held ou tho 22 nd August , it was resolved as follows—namely , " That
the Grand Lodge will perform ouo day ' s labour on the fortifications at Buch times as shall be appointed by the Committee of Defence ; that the several Lodges in tho city , and tbe Fraternity in general , be earnestly requested to co-operate in this laudablo work ; and that tho Deputy Grand Master , the Grand Senior Warden , the Assistant Grand Secretary , tho Grand Treasurer , Dros . Simson , Riker , and Nicholas
Roome be a Committee to make the necessary arrangements for carrying tho same into effect . " Accordingly , at a secona Emergency meeting , hold on the 1 st September , tho G . Lodgo met at sunrise , at the Park , and , having formed a procession to the steamboat , were conveyed to the fortifications , aud , having worked the whole day long , reformed themselves in tho samo order of procession , and ,
having returned to the Park , wero dismissed to their homes . At the meeting held ou tho 7 th of tho samo month , communications from the Grand Lodges of New Hampshire and Ohio , furnishing the names of their respective Grand Officers , and lists of the Lodges under their respective jurisdictions , wero read and ordered to be filed . It was further announced that a similar communication ,
together with a full account of its organisation , and extracts from its Proceedings , from 11 th December 1810 to 11 th January 1814 , had been received from tho Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia . Having made arrangements to perform another day ' s labour on the fortifications , aud especially on FORT MASONIC , which had been so named in honour of tho Craft , Grand Lodge was
closed . Effect was given to this resolution at an Emergency meeting , specially convened for the purpose on the 19 th of the month , when the Lodge assembled and worked as on the occasion already mentioned . On tho 7 th December it was resolved that the Graud Secretary aud Grand Treasurer be authorised to borrow on account of Grand LoiUre a sum not exceeding
one thousand dollars , aud to repay tho same as tho funds of Gtrunu Lodge shonld allow . On the 14 th of the month a Rev . Bro . Fairbanks prayed for the patronage of Grand Lodge for a work on The Elements of Masonry , which he was about to publish , but it was resolved not to pledge support without a knowledge of the work . At the same time , a sum of twenty . five dollars was voted in order to defray the
Rev . Brother s expenses in attending the Lodge and submitting his work for approval . At the same meeting an announcement was made of the union of Ancient aud Modern Masons in South Carolina , and the matter was referred to tho Grand officers for their report at tho next meeting of Grand Lodge . Accordingly , ou the 1 st March 1815 , the said Grand Officers reported that the union of Freemasons
in South Carolina and likewisa in England , Ireland , and Scotland , " by which events the Masonic Fraternity throughout the world have been united into one happy family , appears to havo beeu mado on a footing of perfect equality , but how the precise differences have been arranged and adjusted cannot be collected from printed communications . " It was thereupon resolved , " that all Freemasons who are cknowledged as such by any of the'Lodges under the jurisdiction of
Reviews.
the Grand Lodges of England , Scotland , and Ireland , and South Carolina , shall be considered as legitimate Freemasons by the Lodges under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge . '' On the 7 th June , the usual election of Grand Officers was held , after which some business was transacted , and tho Lodge adjourned till the 14 th of the month , when the remaining business was dispatched , and communications
from the Grand Lodges of South Carolina , Now Hampshire , and Kentucky were read aud ordered to be filed . On the 6 th September , Bro . Simson , Grand Treasurer , tendered the resignation of his office , aud it was arranged to elect his successor on tho 13 th of the month , when a Lodge of Emergency was held , and after a ballot , Bro . Bogert was ohoson aud invested . On the same occasion , application
was made by a Brother for the loan of a hundred dollars , in order to enable him to visit Europe for the benefit of his health , but was refused , owing to the reduced state of Grand Lodge finances . Another Emergency meeting was held on the 29 th September for the purpose of hearing the complaint of a brother whose expulsion from Trinity Lodge , No . 10 , had been published in a newspaper .
Resolutions condemning the conduct of the Lodge were passed , and also " That no Lodge within the jurisdiction of this Graud Lodge , nor any member thereof , shall publish , or in any manner make public , except it bo to the Fraternity or within the walls of a Lodge , the expulsion of any member . " At the meeting on the 6 th December a report was delivered on the finances of Grand Lodgo , and it was further resolved ,
after hearing the report of the School Committee , to recommend that , if possible , each Lodgo should raise the sum of sixteen dollars for providing two children with shoes , stockings , an overcoat , and hat . A number of petitions for warrants were referred to the Graud Officers and a communication from Grand Lodge of South Carolina was also read and filed . The last minute of all relates to the meeting on the
6 th March 1816 . Among tho records are several important resolutions . Ono series provided that tho use of distilled spirits at Lodge meetings is pernicious , and shonld be forbidden ; that the contributions due from Lodges in that jurisdiction to the Charity Fuud must not be diverted from their benevolent purposes , and that no Lodge should divide its funds among its members , or provide any banquets or other
refreshments out of the same , till the dues to the Charity Fund have been satisfied ; that Lodges should " return annually to the Grand Lodge a trae and correct list of all their members , together with their Graud Lodge dues , to the end that no regular Mason shall be exempt from contributing to the Grand Charity Fund , " and that notice bo given to the District Grand Visitor of members who are
suspended for non-payment of their dues ; that Lodges which had forfeited their warrants should surrender the same , together with all books , papers , furniture , jewels , & o . to the Grand Visitor , aud that the practice of Lodges lending money to individuals be prohibited as unwise . The consideration of these was , however , postponed till the next meeting , copies being sent in the meantime to the Masters of
Lodges in the City . Resolutions were then submitted and agreed to , settling the future constitution of the Grand Stewards' Lodge from the following June . The new composition was as follows : —The Grand Master , Deputy Grand Master , Grand Senior and Grand J . W ., G . Secretary , Grand Treasurer ex-officio , and twelve Grand Stewards of Charity to be elected from the Past Grand Officers , Past Masters and
Masters of the several Lodges in the city and county of New York , who at tho time shall be members of this Grand Lodge . Tho election of these latter was arranged to take place at the annual election of Grand Officers , and it was resolved that the twelve should be arranged in four classes of three each , the seats of the first class boing vacated at tho end of the year , of the second class at tho end
of the second year , and so on : so that three Grand Stewards of Charity should be annually elected . The new Lodge was to enjoy tho same powers as tho present , there being also a Grand Stewards ' Committee of Charity of three , to be organised in the same manner as the present Committee , and for three months , so that the whole of the twelve would in return discharge these duties during
one quarter of the year . It was also resolved , that henceforth the Grand Master , the Deputy Grand Master and the Grand Secretary should be elected annually , at the same time , in the same manner , and for the same term as the Grand Wardens ; the salary of the Grand Sec . being fixed at 600 dollars per annum . It was also resolved that Committees be appointed ( ft ) to report what , if any , amendments
are necessary in the Constitution of the Grand Lodge , and for the better government of tho Fraternity generally , and ( b ) to superintend the printing aud publication of as many copies of the book of Constitutions as may be thought necessary , with discretionary powers to select and publish such bye-laws and resolutions of Grand Lodgo , from the 5 th December 1800 to date , as they may judge proper . It was also agreed that henceforth the names of the Grand Officers
elected annually shall be communicated by the Grand Secretary to the different Grand Lodges iu the United States , and to the different subordinate Lodges , as well as all such matters as have a general relation to the Craft , or the government of the individual Lodges in this jurisdiction . Communications from tho Grand Lodges of Kentucky , New Jersey , and Tennessee , having been read and ordered to be _ filed , Grand Lodge was closed , and the transactions closed likewise .
We have now gone seriatim through the several parts of this valuable history . It is in the highest degree creditable to the Kane Lodge to have taken upon themselves the cost of its publication , and it says much for the wisdom of the New York Grand Lodge that it should have lent its subordinate Lodge the sanction of its own high authority . It remains for us to add that we appreciate the fraternal kindness of the New York brethren to whom we are indebted for tha
opportuuity of reading what thev have assisted in publishing . That we have derived much pleasure and profit from its study wo heartily confess , and this confession and the analysis we have been able to publish in our columns is the only return it is in our power to make . Here then , for the present at all events , we must take our leave of the Masonic history of New York , though it is highly probable we shall have occasion to refer to it at odd times in elucidating Craft history iu this state ;