USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > History of Saint John's Lodge of Boston in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as shown in the records of the First Lodge, the Second Lodge, the Third Lodge, the Rising Sun Lodge, the Masters' Lodge, St. John's Lodge, Most Worshipful Grand Lodge > Part 14
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Sixty years had elapsed since the introduction of Free Masonry into North America; a fountain from whence the streams have been numerous
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and extensive. Within this period charters were granted for lodges in Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Penn- sylvania, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Canada, Newfoundland, the West Indies, Dutch Guiana, the Colonial Army, the American Army, and in Massachusetts. The American Revolution had come to a glorious end; the smoke of battle was no longer in the sky; the garments dyed in blood had been laid away; and sweet peace everywhere, like moonlight, lay on all the land. The sad memories of the tears, the trials, and the sufferings, of the dark days of the Revolution were being forgotten, and the whole people were beginning to reap the blessings of liberty and prosperity.
As we stand on the ladder of time, and look back on the sixty rounds then passed, we catch glimpses of the faces of brethren faithful to the duties they owed to God, their country, their neighbors, and themselves. It is to the memory of these departed brethren that we to-day offer our tribute of gratitude for the love they cherished for our time-honored institution, and for their perseverance and fortitude in keeping alive the flame of Masonry. Thanks to their steadfast patience and endurance, nearly all opposition, due to religious and political prejudice, selfish aims and ignorance of our principles, had ceased, and our order stood in its true light, as an institution which conciliates friendship among men of every country, sect, and opinion, having for its foundation the practice of the social and moral virtues.
The diligent toilers had left their summonses at the houses of the brethren, and they had passed into the lodge room of the Bunch of Grapes Tavern beneath the very bunch of grapes, this precious relic of the past, under which you all have come this afternoon. In those days it was the custom for nearly all meetings, Masonic and otherwise, to be held in taverns, partly because they only could furnish rooms of sufficient capacity to accommodate, and partly because they afforded the means of refreshment, which in those days was of more importance than at pres- ent. In the east is our first Worshipful Master, Henry Hope, the repre- sentative in North America of the celebrated firm of Baring Brothers, a high position and filled with honor not only then but later, not only by those illustrious brethren, already mentioned, but also by John Box, a ropemaker, warden of King's Chapel and one of the vestry, and one of the promoters in the building of the present stone church, and John Erving, colonel of the First or Boston Regiment. In the west and south are our first wardens, Frederick Hamilton and James Gordon.
Many a form I doubt not passes in fancy before your eyes as your minds travel backward along the years. The tyler is Robert Newman,
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sexton of Christ Church, who on the eighteenth day of April, 1775, hung out the lanterns in the window of the steeple as the signal for Paul Re- vere, waiting on the Charlestown side of the river. It may be that his attention to these things interfered sometimes with the strict perform- ance of his Masonic duties, for we find it recorded: " Brother John Jones and Robert Newman chosen Toilers for the year ensuing with directions for their attending more strictly to their duty." There are Andrew Bel- cher, son of Gov. Belcher, Deputy Grand Master, the Register of Pro- bate for Suffolk Co., Thomas Kennelly and John Quane, Grand Wardens, Adino Paddock, who planted a row of imported English elms on the sidewalk between Park Street Church and the Granary Burying ground gate, Peter Oliver, chief justice of the Superior Court of Judicature of the Province of Massachusetts Bay, who adhered to the royal party and left Boston with the King's troops, James Otis, one of the greatest of the patriots in the preliminary conflicts before the Revolution, a " flame of fire " who in 1761 made the famous speech against the Writs of Assist- ance, which speech John Adams says was the birth of the " child of Inde- pendence," Abraham Savage, Grand Warden and Recording Grand Sec- retary, Col. Joseph Ingersol, in whose hostelry, the Bunch of Grapes, the lodge held its meetings, and Estes Hatch, who was captain of a troop of horse at Louisburg and brigadier general in the Army of the Revolution.
It seems that boycotting was not unknown in those days, for we find in the records: " Voted, that no brother present shall for the future take any newspaper printed by Thos. Fleet, or that said Fleet may be con- cerned in. Voted, that no brother present shall give any encourage- ment to said Fleet's paper or to him in his business, by advertisement or otherwise. Voted, that Bros. Oxnard, Ld. Colvil, Gridley, McDaniel, Brockwell, Rowe, & Price, be a Committee to wait upon the Lieutenant Governor and Council, to complain against a scandalous piece of ribaldry in said Fleet's paper, and pray their order for prosecuting the printer thereof."
Worshipful Brother Oxnard was a zealous member of the Lodge and we come across his name upon many pages, as: " The Lodge being opened our Rt. Worshipful Bro. Oxnard, G. M. McDaniel, D.G.M. & Rowe, M. presented to the Lodge three silver punch ladles to be deposited in the Pedestal, which were received by the Brethren, with the utmost grati- tude and thankfulness."
" The Lodge being opened it was mentioned and thought proper by the Brethren, that whereas our Grand Master Bro. Oxnard was going home, this and the other Lodges in Boston should prefer a petition signed
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by the several Masters and Wardens to the Grand Master of England, praying the enlarging and establishing our Grand Master's Power in . North America."
This is an interesting record: " The Lodge being opened Brother Henry Price proposed Capt. Delabraz, as a candidate and acquainted the Lodge that he was a Gentleman who being a prisoner of war was thereby re- duced but as he might be serviceable (when at Home) to any Bro. whom Providence might cast in his way, it was desired he might be excused the expense of his making, provided each Bro. would contribute his clothing, which the Rt. Worshpfl. Master was pleased to pass to Vote when it was carried in affirmative and by dispensation from the Rt. W. Mastr. & Wardens upon account of his leaving the Province very soon, he was balloted in, introduced and made a Mason in due Form. Voted That the Secretary grant Bro. Delabraz a letter of recommendation."
" It was Motion'd and Seconded, That when this Lodge Recommends a Person (To the Grand Master of England) to be appointed Grand Master of North America, that they shall desire that his Deputation shall be for three Years only. The Question being put upon the above Motion it passed in the Affirmative unanimously."
Our brothers were not forgetful of their Christian duties; for "Dec. 27, 5748 Being the Festival of St. John the Evangelist the Brethren at- tended Divine service at Christ Church, where a sermon suitable to the Occasion was preached by our Rt. Worshpfl. and Revd. Bro. Mr. Chas. Brockwell after which they repaired in procession, and concluded the celebration of the day in Grand Lodge at an Elegant Dinner with the utmost Decency and Decorum, after the manner of Masons. The Musick went on till Night, when the Hall was finely illuminated, by Seventy two Candles in the Chandeliers and Sconces, and by Nine large Candles in the several Lodges Candlesticks. The Evening was Spent in the fore- going manner till near ten o'Clock, when the Brethren mostly Retired." Neither did they forget the unfortunate: "Motion by brother Morton that the remains of the feast be sent to the prisoners in the Gaol, passed unanimously, & that the Grand Stewards be requested to see the same distributed."
Their zeal and energy were so great that they could not be confined within the narrow limits of one lodge, and on the 15th of February, 1749, Grand Master Oxnard " constituted in due Form with the usual solem- nity " the Second Lodge in Boston; and March 7, 1748, "Our Rt. Worshl. Grand Master, Deputy Grand Master and Grand Wardens constituted (with the usual solemnity in due form) a Lodge to be held at the White Horse Tavern in Boston on the First and Third Wednesdays in every
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month, and appointed the Rt. Wor. Peter Pelham first Master." This Lodge of ye White Horse, or Third Lodge, two years later, removed to the Bunch of Grapes in King Street. "Friday, July 24, 1772, John Rowe, Grand Master, a petition signed by 18 members of the First Lodge on the 22 of June, 1772, wherein they prayed to be embodied into a distinct Lodge, by the name of the Rising Sun Lodge, was granted." Also there is the Masters' Lodgefrom the First, Second, Third, and Rising Sun Lodges, all which lodges were made from the First Lodge. Subse- quent to the Revolution these several lodges came back to the mother lodge by memorials "praying that their Lodge may be incorporated with the other Lodges of St. John's."
Apparently it was somewhat difficult to secure capable tylers or toilers as they very properly then were called. "Mr. Simon Wyman was made a Mason, viz. That he is to serve three years as a Toiler and receive for his services the customary fees for each evening's attendance, if in the course of the time mentioned he shall see fit to pay the customary fees, for being made, he shall be excused from further attendance."
Time forbids other than a most hasty glance at the remaining one hun- dred years of our history. "September the 24th, 5792. The officers of St. John's Lodge taking into consideration the situation of the Town of Boston relative to the smallpox have thought fit to postpone the Regular meeting which was to have been held on Wednesday evening 26th day of September to the last Wednesday in October next."
"October 29th, 5792. The officers of St. John's Lodge have thought fit to postpone their regular meeting to the last Wednesday in November next for the same reason as is set forth in the last record."
"Concert Hall, January 13, 1800. The Committee appointed to con- fer with Massachusetts Lodge upon the subject of a union with this Lodge, reported that they had had a conference with a Committee of said Lodge, and they were willing to unite with St. John's Lodge on con- dition that this Lodge will adopt their method of working. Whereupon Voted that as it would be unconstitutional for this Lodge to relinquish its present method of working, this Lodge cannot upon any consideration whatever agree to unite with Massachusetts Lodge upon the terms which they have offered. Voted that on the next regular Lodge night suitable respect in Masonic style be paid by this Lodge to the memory of our late illustrious brother, George Washington."
"Concert Hall, March 26, 5800. Voted that a copy of the eulogy on the sublime virtues of Washington (pronounced in this Lodge by Br. George Blake), handsomely bound together, with a golden medal, be trans- mitted to the Grand Lodge of England." Two by-laws were adopted:
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"Art. 1. This Lodge shall not consist of more than sixty members, all of whom shall be Master Masons.
Art. 2. All the officers shall be chosen by written votes, on the Lodge night next preceding the festival of St. John the Evangelist two thirds of the vote of all present shall be necessary to constitute a choice."
"St. John's Lodge, Special at W. James Viles No. 17 Court street, Thursday evening, 15 Nov. 5804. Voted that the M.W. Bro. Samuel Dunn, Bro. Shubael Bell, Bro. Robert G. Shaw, Bro. John Kennedy, Bro. Thomas Burly, Bro. Samuel Nye, & Bro. John May, be a committee to draft and bring forward a plan for the purpose of erecting a Masonic Hall in Boston and that they be authorized to confer with any persons who may be engaged on any similar occasion and that they report the next Lodge Night."
"St. John's Lodge- Concert Hall Nov. 3, 5807- Regular meeting second in Quarter-Rt. W. F. J. Oliver, M. Voted that a committee be appointed to consider the expediency of removing the Lodge to Masons Hall to enquire of the present lessees of said hall on what terms St. John's Lodge can be admitted to hold their meetings in said hall. To confer with Mount Lebanon Lodge and ascertain as to the nights of meeting."
"Concert Hall Oct. 4, 5808-Regular meeting first in quarter Rt. W. F. J. Oliver M. At this meeting of the Lodge Resolved that St. John's Lodge think it highly derogatory to the character of a good Mason to hold communication with any clandestine Mason and that no person who holds communication with any clandestine Lodge, Chapter, or Associa- tion knowing them to be such, shall be admitted to a seat in St. John's Lodge, and whereas an Association of men hold meetings at Roxbury under the title of Washington Incampment and have presumed to rank as Masons and assumed the right of conferring the higher orders of Masonry, to which they are by no means entitled, therefore Resolved that all communication between said Association and the members of St. John's Lodge be utterly prohibited."
"Exchange Building-April 4, 5809. Regular Meeting Ist in quarter. Rt. Wor. S. Bell, Master. The subscribers being associated as members of the Washington Encampment at Roxbury for the purpose of confer- ring various degrees in Masonry in a way and manner which we are now conscious are contrary to the principles and ancient usages of Masonry and totally subversive of the harmony and prosperity of the craft, do most heartily renounce and abandon said association forever, and freely confess this our error and solemnly engage to conform to the Edicts and Regulations of the Grand Lodge and constitutions of Masonry in future and request to be hereafter to be conduced as entitled to the privileges
GEORGE HILL & CO
THORNDIKE HALL SUMMER STREET 1864-1867
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and hospitalities of Masonry and to our ancient standing among faithful Masons and brethren."
"Exchange Buildings-Celebration of the Festival of Holy St. John by St. John's Lodge Boston, June 24th, A.N. 5809. The Lodge opened at the Exchange Coffee House at 11 oclock A.M. and at one O'clock in pro- cession to the King's Chapel where divine service was performed by the Rt. Wor. and Revd. Bro. Asa Eaton and an appropriate address was de- livered by the Worshipful Bro. Shaw."
"Exchange Hall, 23 Dec. 1810. Voted On Motion from Bro. Hammatt a committee was appointed consisting of R.W. Master Bro. Bell & Bro. Hammatt to consider the expediency of establishing a Charity Fund in St. John's Lodge and the means proper to effect it."
"Exchange Hall, 5 March 5811. The Committee appointed to take into consideration the expediency of establishing a Charity Fund having attended to that duty begs leave toreport that they find the Lodge is now possessed of $326.66 and that in their opinion it is expedient and will be highly honorable to St. John's Lodge to accept a permanent Mode to es- tablish that fund under the name of St. John's Lodge. Charity Fund."
"Exchange Hall, 2d April 1811. The Treasurer reported that he had received the sum of fifty dollars for the use of the Charity Fund from the managers of the Theatre being the nett proceeds of a Benefit Night for that Institution."
"Exchange Hall, 7 May 5812. The R.W.Master Wardens Treasurer and Secretary, Deacons, Stewards, Toiler and Marshall together with the major part of the members of St. John's Lodge, the Past Masters and other Brethren with the Chaplain all clothed in the Regalia of their order assembled for the purpose of celebrating the anniversary of the Charity Fund of the Lodge in the Lodge Room at 7 o'clock P.M. where they formed in procession and proceeded to the Ball Room. The sum of 200 dollars was collected and placed in the hands of the Treasurer for the use of the Charity Fund."
"Exchange Hall, Special Meeting. 17 Oct. 1812. Don Francisco Lo- pez was made an entered apprentice-Bro. Pemins and another Spanish Bro. acted as interpreters between the officers of the Lodge and Don Francisco Lopez, he being unable to speak the English language."
"Exchange Hall Saturday evening February 6th 5814. Special: Bro. Don Francisco Lopez to the sublime degree Bro. Canera acting as inter- preter."
"St. John's Lodge Exchange Hall-Thursday Evg. Sept. 25, 5816. Special-On Motion of Worshipful Brother Nichols it was voted That a Committee be raised invested with full power to confer with the Com-
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mittee raised from the several Lodges in the Town of Boston upon the expediency of providing a new Hall for their mutual accommodation and to act in conjunction with them or independent of them as in their judgment may seem most conducive to the interest of St. John's Lodge."
"Masons Hall, Exchange C. House, Boston, May 20, 5817-Special Meeting: This meeting called for the Special purpose of passing and raising Bro. Jose Correa D. Paiva one of the suite of the Minister Pleni- potentiary from Pernambuco (S. A.) Bros. Miller &Story were appointed a committee to wait upon the Minister and Suite and inform them that the Lodge was in session and ready to receive them. They were accordingly introduced and received in due form. Bro. Jose Correa D. Paiva who had received the first degree in South America was ballotted for and unani- mously accepted for the Second and Third degree in the Lodge, a dis- pensation being granted by the D.G.M.for that purpose, and was passed to Fellow Craft and raised to Sublime degree of Master Mason."
"Masons Hall-Exchange Coffee House, Boston, Nov. 3rd, 5818. Lodge opened on the Entered Apprentice Degree Proceeded to Initiate Mr. Samuel Dana. While passing through some of the ceremonies the Alarm was given that the building, that Grand Structure, the Exchange Coffee House was on fire which we were soon compelled to believe by the room being filled with smoke.
The Lodge was then closed without ceremony and by the time the Jewells and some of the most valuable articles of furniture could be saved the Building was all in flames, notwithstanding the Masonic Hall was situated on the Sixth Story of the building and the roof of the Building all in flames, yet by the exertions and daring risk of the lives of the Mem- bers and Visitors most of the valuable property of all the Lodges was saved.
This evening was appropriated by St. John's Lodge for the annual visitation of the Grand Lodge which drew a large concourse of Visitors to witness the dreadful calamity; who were very active in rescuing the property from destruction. At the time the alarm of fire was given the District D. G. Master and suite were in the Visitors' room preparing to visit St. John's Lodge."
It appears by the report of a "committee appointed to confer with the committee of other Lodges on the subject of procuring a place for the future meeting of the Masonic Institutions in Boston," that the Grand Lodge "hired the upper stories of the Old State House for the purpose at a rent of Six Hundred Dollars per annum, on a conditional lease of ten years;" and St. John's Lodge agreed to pay two hundred dollars, as their
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proportion for fitting the new hall, being the sum assessed on St. John's Lodge by the Grand Lodge.
February 1, 1825, General Lafayette was made an honorary member by the passage of the following motion: "In addition to that respect which St. John's Lodge has been pleased to manifest towards our dis- tinguished Brother Gen. Lafayette by inviting him to partake of their friendship and hospitality and the very happy and acceptable manner which he was pleased to reply to it, I beg leave to offer as a further testi- mony of the high sense we entertain of him, as a Mason, a Christian and a Patriot and for all those virtues for which he is so eminently distin- guished, that St. John's Lodge, the most ancient and first chartered Lodge in the United States of America do admit receive and acknowledge him as an Honorary Member." June 17, 1825, at fifteen minutes past eight o'clock, in the morning, General Lafayette came to the Old State House, on State Street, and entered Masons Hall, where he met the offi- cers of the Lodge. He stayed but a few minutes and left to be present at the ceremonies at Bunker Hill.
"April 3, A.L. 5827. Voted that St. John Lodge will appropriate the sum of $500 or more toward the erection of the contemplated Masonic Temple, and that we will guarantee to the Stock-holders, so far as St. John's Lodge is concerned, our proportion of rent."
"A Communication was received from the Grand Lodge inviting St. John's Lodge to attend the ceremonies of Laying the Corner Stone of the Temple. The members assembled at Faneuil Hall on the 14th of October, 5830, and there met the Grand Lodge and walked in procession from thence through Merchants Row, State, Court, and Tremont Streets to the site of the Temple and there attending the solemnities of laying the Corner Stone."
"St. John's Lodge, Centennial Anniversary, Special Meeting at the Masonic Temple, April 30, 5833.
The Lodge assembled this evening agreeably to notification and in conformity to the Report of a Committee appointed in November last, for the purpose of celebrating the Centennial Anniversary of the insti- tution of the Lodge.
Also present many officers who are past officers of the Grand Lodge, Grand Chapter, and Grand Encampment of the Commonwealth to- gether with the officers and members of all the Lodges in the City and many visiting Brethren from the Country."
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" The One Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary of the Institution of St. John's Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Masonic Temple, Boston, Mass., Monday Evening, October 1, 1883."
Brethren we now have traversed hurriedly one hundred and seventy- five years of our history, and are met to-day to celebrate our anniversary. It is eminently fit and proper that our own Grand Lodge and these dis- tinguished representatives of our sister lodges, and the Grand Masters of the old Provinces of the Dominion of Canada and of the original States of our Union, should join with us in this celebration, since they have a part as well as we in the early history of St. John's Lodge. From the little band of ten brothers, who met upon the thirtieth day of July in the year 1733 and constituted the First Lodge upon this continent, our institution has grown and prospered until now its members, thousands in number, are found in every Province of the Dominion of Canada and in every State of the United States.
Why has Freemasonry not only survived for one hundred and seventy- five years but also has flourished exceedingly? It is a long period of time and one in which the changes of the conditions of society have been so great that many other institutions which began with it have perished. Then a trip to Boston, and return even within the limits of our own Commonwealth, took a week of tedious travelling; now, one can come to Boston and return in a few hours, travelling many miles; while the fast trains of our great railroads will take one more than a thousand miles in twenty-four hours. In 1733 there was not a cotton or woolen mill with a power loom in the country; not a cooking stove, or a wagon with springs; no railroad or telegraph, sewing-machine or reaper; not even a common match. Men worshipped God in churches without stoves or furnaces, dur- ing the severe winters. The world in these days has grown very small in time and space. Wereach Europe in five days; we correspond by telegraph with our friends in London with the same ease as with our friends in New York; we talk by telephone with our friends in New York, three hun- dred miles off, as readily as with our friends in Boston; and we do business with a bank in Calcutta as speedily as with one in Chicago. Our modes of communication have been so perfected that time and space have been conquered, and the whole world is brought to our fireside with each morning's issue from the daily press. The whole human family are brought in touch one with another; our knowledge of mankind is in- creased; our horizon is broadened; and our sympathies are quickened.
Freemasonry is the same today as it was then. The mysteries of the ancient peoples have faded from the minds of men; but evolved from them, purified and enriched by the Divine Word, moulded and fitted to
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meet the needs of modern thought, Freemasonry has survived to bless the world. It has served to unite diverse orders, to break down barriers which have long divided, and has caused men to meet on the level where all other measures have failed.
In the Revolution, the beginning of the history of our country as a na- tion, Freemasonry held a most prominent place. George Washington and most of his generals were of our brethren, as also were fifty of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and their names are held in rever- ence and honor, not only by our countrymen as eminent citizens but also in our fraternity as distinguished Masons. A half century went by and the change in public opinion drove DeWitt Clinton from the Governor's chair of the State of New York, and contributed to the defeat of John Quincy Adams as President of the United States. Many brethren with- drew from their lodges, many lodges surrendered their charters, and when our brethren did come together, it was in private houses, and at the peril of their social standing, and even of their property and persons. . While many fell by the wayside, many more remained true, holding fast the principles and virtues of our craft, until at last the people began to recognize and admit their error, and lodges once more came into life. In the dark days of the Rebellion when the smoke of battle cleared away, you could see the silver line of Masonic friendship running from hearts loyal in the north to hearts sincere in the south, binding together the men whose lives had been tested by the level and the plumb and the square, and finally helping to fill the bloody chasm and cover it with the olive leaves of peace and union.
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