USA > Indiana > A history of freemasonry in Indiana from 1806 to 1898 > Part 19
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"We learn from Masonic history that Prince Edwin pur- chased a free charter of King Athelstain, for the Masons having a connection among themselves, to mend what might happen amiss, and to hold a yearly communication and general assembly."
"He assembled the Craft at York, a general lodge was organized, and Edwin made Grand Master. He collected all the written manuscripts extant, took them to this assem- bly, from the contents whereof the assembly did frame the Constitution of an English lodge."
"Here we have the beginning and the powers created by the assembled Craft. Says Webb, until the year 1717 a sufficient number of Masons met together, had ample power to make Masons and discharge every duty of Masonry by inherent privileges vested in the Fraternity at large.
"We pass now to the history of Grand Lodges in this coun- try. In 1733 a Grand Lodge was opened in Boston, under the style of St. John's Grand Lodge, under the authority of the Grand Master of Masons in England. From this organization, says Webb, sprang most of the lodges in this country.
"In the year 1752, under a charter from the Grand Lodge of Scotland, St. Andrew's Lodge No. 82 was opened in Boston in 1769. When the brethren were assembled, a commission from the Grand Lodge of Scotland, appointing Joseph Warren Grand Master, was received; in 1772 these powers were greatly enlarged by a new commission. Here we have an instance of the existence, and that by authority, of two separate and distinct Grand Lodges, and commis- sions existed to hold others within the same jurisdiction.
"During the struggle for American independence the Grand Lodges suspended operations; yet lodges were in the exercise of their rights, conferring degrees, exerting their happy influence in deeds of charity, not only to the Crafts- men, but for the good of their countrymen, thereby exer- cising their primitive right uncontrolled.
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"Previous to the establishment of Grand Lodges, Grand Masters were individuals who by their superior skill and merit were acknowledged as such by their brethren, he ex- ercising no control or influence except such as his intelli- gence and merit entitled him to.
"At the close of the Revolution the Craft in the United States repudiated their allegiance to a foreign control. The Fraternity in Rhode Island led the way by establishing a Grand Lodge for that State, Massachusetts next; Vermont soon followed, and by the close of the year 1798 there was organized in each of the old thirteen States, except Dela- ware. a Grand Lodge. These Grand Lodges were consti- tuted by delegates from lodges within the State. The lodges in Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont and New Hampshire originally held by a charter from the Grand Lodges in Boston, never having received a commission for a Grand Lodge.
"From the brief history here given the following deduc- tions are made :
"First-Ancient Craft Masonry contained within itself the elements of its own existence-the power, when a cer- tain number be present, to receive and make members, and instruct them in all the mysteries of the Brotherhood.
"Second-General assemblies of Masons for the good of the whole were superseded by the creation of Grand Lodges, which are comparatively of modern date-their ex- istence conventional-a compact between independent lodges for their common good and general welfare. This compact may be altered or rescinded by the parties.
"Third-Grand Lodges, being conventional, have no orig- inal jurisdiction, and cannot exercise any power except that which is expressly given. Thus constituted, they have no power to create a Supreme Grand Lodge."
His report was accompanied by this resolution:
" Resolved, That, in the opinion of this Grand Lodge, a Supreme Grand Lodge is inexpedient."
The report and resolution were laid on the table.
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In 1855 the question was again before the Grand Lodge, and was reported upon by Past Grand Master William Hacker for the committee. Among other things, he said:
"We have received the proceedings of the so-called Na- tional Convention, held at the city of Washington on the 3d and 4th of January, 1855, from which it appears there were thirteen delegates present, representing six Grand Lodges.
"We had supposed that, in the minds of all reflecting Masons, the idea of establishing a Supreme Grand Lodge or confederation among the several Grand Lodges of these United States had long since exploded. For the past sixty- five years has this matter been before the Masonic Fra- ternity in the United States. Various conventions have been held, and various propositions submitted, but without avail. Nor can we now see any necessity for adopting the plan proposed by this convention. ,Hence we stand di- rectly opposed, in principle, to the whole concern."
The report was concurred in.
A Masonic convention of a number of prominent Masons from various Grand Lodges of the United States convened in Chicago, Ill., September 13, 1859. Representatives of thirteen Grand Lodges were present, among whom were the names of such distinguished Masons as Albert G. Mackey, Albert Pike, Rob Morris, Philip C. Tucker, B. B. French, T. S. Parvin, Luke E. Barber, A. T. C. Pearson, Finley M. King and others to the number of forty. Finley M. King, of New York, was made chairman and Rob Morris, of Kentucky, secretary. The object of the con- vention was stated to be "to form a closer union and in- crease of harmony among the Grand Lodges of America, to secure and cultivate fraternal relations with the Grand Lodges of the world; to extend our knowledge of the his- tory, work, symbolism, philosophy and jurisprudence of Craft Masonry, in order that questions of law and jurisdic- tion may be equitably and permanently adjusted, that all agitated questions of general Masonic interest may be con- sidered for the general interest of Masonry."
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Articles of association were adopted similar to those adopted at Baltimore, a circular issued requesting the sev- eral Grand Lodges to unite with the organization, and an adjournment was taken until September, 1862, at Mem- phis, Tenn. Prior to that date, as is well known, the Rebellion came on, and the meeting was not held; and that was the end of the last effort to establish a Supreme Grand Lodge.
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NEGRO FREEMASONRY.
F ROM time immemorial the question of the legality of what is known as negro or colored Masonry has been investigated by the brightest and most distinguished mem- bers of the Masonic Fraternity in this country, in addresses, magazine, book and newspaper articles, and the conclusion originally arrived at, namely, that the authority under which negro Masonry has been established in America is not sufficient to warrant the recognition of said organization by the Grand Lodges of Free and Accepted Masons of the United States, about the validity of whose legal organiza- tion there is no question.
Negro Masonry has an organization in Indiana, with a number of lodges and a Grand Lodge and Grand Officers, a Constitution, laws and general regulations, and all the ma- chinery necessary to conduct its affairs in a systematic man- ner. Such information as may be given here is gathered from what is deemed reliable sources, and may be relied upon as substantially correct.
Lodges of Masons were organized in this country under dispensation or charter from the Grand Lodges of England and Scotland as early as 1732. On March 3, 1772, Joseph Warren was appointed, by the Grand Master of Scotland, Provincial Grand Master of Masons for the Continent of America, was duly installed as such, and thereupon he ap- pointed Joseph Webb as Deputy Grand Master. At the battle of Bunker Hill, 1776, Warren was killed. At a special meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge, March S, 1777, Joseph Webb was elected Grand Master to fill the vacancy, and it was expressly stated by the Grand Lodge that all connection with the Grand Lodge of Scotland being dissolved by the independence of the States, it was neces-
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sary that the Grand Lodge should have a Grand Master of their own choosing. Thus was organized the first inde- pendent Grand Lodge on the American continent.
The lodge from which negro Masonry of the present day gets its authority-if such can be called authority-to or- ganize lodges and initiate candidates is from a lodge whose charter was issued by the Grand Lodge of England, dated September 29, 1784. It will be seen by the date of this charter that England invaded the jurisdiction of the inde- pendent Grand Lodge of America, which is recognized now by all the Grand Lodges on the globe as the only legally constituted Grand Lodge in this country, and which had ex- clusive jurisdiction over all the territory in America, and therefore the lodge organized under said charter was not legal, and the Masons made therein were clandestine, so far, at least, as the Masons were concerned who had been made in the lodges regularly chartered and presided over by the Provincial Grand Master. The lodge was petitioned for by a negro by the name of Prince Hall, from whom it de- rives its name, Burton Smith, and Thomas Sanderson. As a matter for future historical reference, it may be of inter- est to insert a copy of this famous charter in this connec- tion. It is as follows:
"Effingham, A. G. M. To all and every our Right Wor- shipful and Loving Brethren, we, Thomas Howard, etc., etc., etc., Earl of Effingham, Lord Howard, Act- [L. S.] ing Grand Master under the authority of His Royal Highness Henry Frederick, Duke of Cum- berland, etc., etc., etc., Grand Master of the Most Ancient and Honorable Society of Free and Accepted Masons, sends greeting:
"Know ye, that we, at the humble petition of our right trusty and well-beloved brethren, Prince Hall, Burton Smith, Thomas Sanderson, and several other brethren re- siding in Boston, New England, in North America, do hereby constitute the said brethren into a regular lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, under the title or denomination of the African Lodge, to be opened in Boston aforesaid; and do further, at their said petition, hereby appoint the
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said Prince Hall to be Master, Burton Smith, Senior War- den, and Thomas Sanderson, Junior Warden, for opening the said lodge, and for such further time only as shall be thought proper by the brethren thereof, it being our will that this our appointment of the above officers shall in no wise affect any future election of officers of the lodge, but that such election shall be regulated agreeably to such by- laws of said lodge as shall be consistent with the general laws of the society, contained in the Book of Constitutions; and we hereby will and require you, the said Prince Hall, to take special care that all and every the said brethren are, or have been, regularly made Masons, and that they do ob- serve, perform and keep all the rules and orders contained in the Book of Constitutions; and further, that you do, from time to time, cause to be entered in a book kept for that purpose an account of your proceedings in the lodge, together with all such rules, orders and regulations as shall be made for the good government of the same; that in no wise you omit once in every year to send to us, our succes- cors, Grand Masters, or to Rowland Holt, Esq., our Deputy Grand Master, for the time being, an account in writing of your said proceedings, and copies of all such rules, orders and regulations as shall be made as aforesaid, together with a list of the members of the lodge, and such a sum of money as may suit the circumstances of the lodge and rea- sonably be expected towards the Grand Charity. More- over, we hereby will and require you, the said Prince Hall, as soon as may be, to be sent an account in writing of what may be done by virtue of these presents.
"Given at London, under our hand seal of Masonry, this 29th day of September, A. L. 5784, A. D. 1784.
"By the Grand Master's command.
"ROWLAND HOLT,
"Witness: WM. WHITE, "Grand Secretary." D. G. M.
Investigation of the records of the Grand Lodge of Eng- land shows that neither Prince Hall nor any of his asso- ciates made the reports to the Grand Lodge of England re- quired by the authority above quoted; and further, that, on account of said failure, the lodge was dropped from the roll as defunct, Prince Hall himself three years later acknowl-
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edging that the charter had been lost. The "Massachusetts Centinel," printed at Boston, in its issue of May 2, 1787, contained the following:
"AFRICAN LODGE, BOSTON, May 2, 1787.
"By Captain Scott, from London, came the charter, etc., which His Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland and the Grand Lodge have been graciously pleased to grant to the African Lodge in Boston. As the brethren have a de- sire to acknowledge all favors shown them, they, in this public manner, return particular thanks to a certain mem- her of the Fraternity who offered so generous reward in this paper, some time since, for the charter supposed to be lost, and to assure him, though they doubt of his friendship, that he has made them many good friends.
"(Signed) PRINCE HALL."
The African Lodge, however, still continued to work, notwithsanding its charter had been lost and suspended, and eventually resolved itself into a "Grand Lodge," and issued charters for the formation of other lodges in Boston and elsewhere. Of course, all this action was without any au- thority, and was illegal. From this illegal foundation has sprung all the negro Masons in this country, all of whom are, as a consequence, clandestine. Therefore, it is safe to conclude from the historical facts above set forth-
First-That the Grand Lodge of England had no right or authority to issue a warrant for the formation of a lodge to Prince Hall and his associates.
Second-That the warrant was lost.
Third-That the officers having failed to make the re- turn required, the lodge was suspended and never restored.
Fourth-That the warrant, even if it had been kept alive, did not authorize its members to assume the preroga- tives of a Grand Lodge, and that all authority issued by it for the formation of lodges was and is illegal.
Fifth-That all members of all lodges, from the Prince Hall Lodge down to the present time, were illegally made and are clandestine, and all regular Masons cannot lawfully communicate with them as such.
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There is nothing in the laws or regulations of Masonry that prevents a negro who is "free born, of lawful age, and well recommended" from applying to any regular lodge for membership, and, if found worthy, the ballot being clear, the degrees may be conferred, and the applicant thus may become a member in good standing, entitled to all its rights and benefits.
THE BATTLE OF TIPPECANOE.
T THE battle of Tippecanoe, where Colonel Daviess, Grand Master of Kentucky, and so many brave and loyal members of the Fraternity lost their lives, and others were injured and barely escaped from horrid deaths at the hands of the infuriated Indians, has become an historical occur- rence in which every Mason in Indiana and elsewhere has, or should have, a profound interest; and so a description of the battle, the causes that led up to it and the spot on which the desperate conflict took place is deemed appropriate in this connection. The facts embraced in the following sketch are derived from Brother John B. Dillon's history, from public documents, and from other histories and sources deemed reliable.
The battle was fought on the morning of November 7, 1811. As early as the year 1700, as near as has been ascer- tained, French trading posts were established in Canada at Detroit, at several places on the northern lakes, on the St. Joseph river, the Maumee river, and the Wabash river from near where the city of Fort Wayne now stands to its inter- section with the Ohio river, five hundred miles southwest.
At that time the entire country west of the Allegheny mountains was one vast wilderness, inhabited only by the various tribes of Indians, who owned the country by right of discovery.
The organization of the Northwest Territory, which com- prised all the country northwest of the river Ohio, out of which the States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan were afterwards formed, was effected by the passage of what has come to be known as the "Ordinance of 1787," October 5th. General Arthur St. Clair was ap- pointed Governor of the new Territory, with headquarters at Marietta, Ohio. His first instructions from Congress re-
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quired him to examine carefully into the real temper of the Indians, and to remove, if possible, all causes of contro- versy, so that peace and harmony might be established be- tween the United States and the Indian tribes; to regulate trade among the Indian tribes; to neglect no opportunity that might offer of extinguishing the Indian rights to lands westward as far as the Mississippi and north to the lakes; to use every possible endeavor to ascertain the names of the real head men and warriors of the several tribes, and to conciliate the white people inhabiting the frontier towards the Indians.
Thirteen years later, May 7, 1800, the Territory of In- diana was organized and William Henry Harrison ap- pointed Governor. There were not at that time to exceed five thousand white people in the entire Territory, and they were scattered in thinly settled neighborhoods along the Ohio river on the south, and the Wabash river from its mouth to the northern boundary, the larger number being near and at the post called Vincennes, where a garrison had been established by a board composed of field officers in the Wabash expedition of 1786.
No portion of the great territory northwest of the river Ohio witnessed more stirring scenes in the early settlement of the country than that portion bordering on the Wabash river from its head near the eastern line of the State, near Fort Recovery, Ohio, to its intersection with the Ohio river at the extreme southwest portion of the State. Bat- tles and skirmishes were frequent with various bands along the river between Fort Wayne and Vincennes for a number of years, but the most famous battle of which the early his- tory of the settlement of the Northwestern Territory gives any account took place at what has since come to be known as "Tippecanoe Battleground," situated in Tippecanoe county, about seven miles northeast from Lafayette, in sight of the banks of the Wabash river, near where the Tip- pecanoe river enters that stream, and not far from the In- dian village known as "Prophet's Town." The "Shawnee Prophet" and his brother, the famous Tecumseh, estab- lished the village. The inhabitants were governed entirely
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by the new religious fanaticism that had been worked up by the Prophet, who claimed supernatural powers. His town was the center and capital of the new religion. Here the Great Spirit was supposed to dwell, and where was per- formed the strange and mysterious rites with which the new worship was carried on. Hideous dances, midnight orgies, self-inflicted tortures, and the dark ceremonies of Indian magic occupied the frenzied savages. To the thousands of converts who had everywhere adopted the religion of the Prophet this sacred town was as Jerusalem to the Jews and Mecca to the Mahomedans. Its fortifications were believed to be impregnable, and here a thousand braves, the flower of a hundred warlike tribes, worked into frantic frenzy alike by the fervor of fanaticism, the fever of hatred and the un- dying love of warfare, prepared to give battle to Governor Harrison's army, which was then on the march up the Wa- bash river from Post Vincennes.
The army under the command of General Harrison moved from Vincennes on the 26th of September, 1811, and on the 3d of October, without having encountered any material difficulties on its march, encamped at the place where Fort Harrison was afterwards built. This place of encampment was selected on the eastern bank of the Wa- bash river, at a point about two miles above an old village that stood on a prairie where the town of Terre Haute now stands. After remaining here for several days the march was resumed, keeping its course through the prairie lands at some distance from the banks of the Wabash river. The last night prior to reaching their destination the little army encamped at what was nearly a hundred years previous the "Quiatenon," or what is now known as the "Wea" villages, on the southern bank of the Wabash river on the Wea plains, about eight miles west of the present city of Lafay- ette.
General Harrison's army moved on from this place early on the morning of the 6th of November, and came in view of the Prophet's Town on the evening of that day.
At that time the military force of the expedition amount- ed to about nine hundred men. During the march of this
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day small parties of Indians were constantly seen hovering around the army, and several unsuccessful attempts were made to open a conference with them. On reaching a point about a mile and a half from the Prophet's Town the army was ordered to halt, and a captain of the spies and guides was ordered to go forward with an interpreter and request a conference with the Prophet, but the Indians to whom he spoke in friendly terms refused to speak to him. On being informed of these apparently hostile manifesta- tions on the part of the Indians, General Harrison ordered the army to be formed in line of battle, and the whole col- umn began to move toward the town. In his report Gen- eral Harrison said :
"We struck the cultivated grounds about five hundred yards above the town, but as these extended to the bank of the Wabash, there was no possibility of getting an encamp- ment which was provided with both wood and water. My guides and interpreters being still with the advanced guard, and taking the direction of the town, the army followed, and had advanced within about one hundred and fifty yards, when fifty or sixty Indians sallied out, and, with loud ex- clamations, called to the cavalry and to the militia infantry, which were on our right flank, to halt. I immediately ad- vanced to the front, caused the army to halt, and directed an interpreter to request some of the chiefs to come to me. In a few moments one of the Indians made his appearance, and I informed him that my object for the present was to procure a good piece of ground to encamp on where we could get wood and water. After a short interview I took leave of the chief, and mutual promises were made for sus- pension of hostilities until we could have an interview on the following day.
"I found the ground," says General Harrison, "destined for the encampment not altogether such as I could wish it. It was, indeed, admirably calculated for the encampment of regular troops that were opposed to regulars, but it offered great facility to the approach of savages. It was a piece of dry oak land, rising about ten feet above the level of a marshy prairie in front, towards the Prophet's Town, and nearly twice that height above a similar prairie in the rear, through which and near to this bank ran a small stream
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clothed with willows and other brushwood. Toward the left flank this bench of land widened considerably, but be- came gradually narrower in the opposite direction, and at the distance of one hundred and fifty yards from the right flank terminated in an abrupt point. The army encamped in order of battle. The men were instructed to sleep with their clothes and accoutrements on, with their firearms loaded and their bayonets fixed. On the morning of the battle (November 7, 1811,) I had arisen at a quarter after four o'clock, and the signal for calling out the men would have been given in two minutes, when the attack com- menced. It began on the left flank; but a single gun was fired by the sentinels or by the guard in that direction, which made not the least resistance, but abandoned their officer and fled into camp, and the first notice which the troops of that flank had of the danger was from the yells of the savages within a short distance of the line; but even under these circumstances the men were not wanting to themselves or to the occasion. Such of them as were awake or were easily awakened seized their arms and took their stations: others who were more tardy had to contend with the enemy in their tents."
The battlefield was dark, except as it was illuminated by the glow of the smouldering camp fires. The men hurried to put these out as quickly as possible, to prevent the enemy from having so good a mark. They began to fight with great courage. General Ilarrison is said to have taken a most active and courageous part in the battle, riding from point to point, rallying and encouraging his men. It was not so with the Prophet. Selecting for himself an elevated position, he is said to have chanted a wild war song. Though invisible in the darkness, his shrill and piercing voice could be distinctly heard above the din of the battle in every part of the field. Here, like an evil genius, he presided over the destinies of the battle, until his braves, wounded and dying, were being driven back from point to point. The American troops succeeded in keeping the In- dians out of the camp until it became sufficiently light for a general charge, which resulted in a complete rout of the Indians. When the Indians fled the whites found thirty-
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