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 7
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Which was accordingly done in due form."
"Tuesday the 6th Feb'y. A : D: 1738, Bro". George Moncrieff, desireing to be raised, was accordingly duely examined and being found a good Mason to our satisfaction was unanimously voted in, and raised a Master in due manner & form."
"Tuesday, the 7th August 1739, the Lodge being Open, Bro". Peter Napper, desireing to be raised, was accordingly examined, and being found a good Fellow-Craft to the satisfaction of the Lodge, was unani- mously Voted in, and raised a Master in due manner & form, and paid 30/ for entrance & quarteridge."
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THE MASTERS' LODGE
"Fryday July 6th: 1744, voted that, for the six months ensuing, every Bro": present shall pay, Five Shillings each, whither there be a raising or not."
"Fryday August 3d: 1744, voted that Brors: Price & Jenkins, be paid their respective bills as soon as posable with what money is now good to this Lodge."
"Fryday Octo": 5th: 1744, no meeting this Night, our Rt. W: M. and several of the members being out of Town on Extraordinary Business."
"Fryday Jany: 4th: 1745, Bro. Stevenson Tylar, and to have 10/ each nights attendance, and oblig'd to summon the Breth": the day before. Voted that Visiting Brors: pay each Ten Shillings when at the Lodge. Voted that the Stewards and Bror. Johnson be a Committee, to examine and settle the Accots: of this Lodge."
"Fryday Jany: 5th: 1750, being Masters Lodge Night, voted that Our Treas". do give 40/. old Ten". to ye Waiter in this house as a present from this Lodge."
"Fryday April 7th. 1750, being Masters Lodge night, Voted, that the Treas". supply our Rt. Wors1. M. with £10. old T'. for Our Constitution, and £2. for Charity, to carry to the Grand Lodge."
"Fryday Octo': 5th: 1750, being Lodge night, Voted that the Treas"., being our Rt. Worsh1. M., do present at the next Grand Lodge Three Dollars as Charity from this Lodge."
"Fryday Nov": 2ª. 1750, being Masters Lodge, Bro". Daniel propos'd the Rt. Honble. Lord Colvil, Doc". Allen, & MT. Jas. Thompson; and Bro. Leverett propos'd MT. Daniel Gooking. Voted that the above pro- pos'd gentlemen shall be rais'd Masters, without the previous examina- tion in the Fellow Crafts part, but to be no precedent for future rais- ings."
"Fryday Jany. 4 1751, being Masters Lodge, the Lodge being open, Bro. Price propos'd Bro. Thos. Kennaway. Voted that the Treas". do supply our Rt. Wors1. Mas". with Six Dollars to present to the Grand Lodge as Charity from this Lodge."
"Fryday Augt: 2 1751, being Masters Lodge, whereas it was motion'd and thought proper that a pettition should be preferr'd to the Grand Master of England sign'd by the Master and Wardens of every Lodge in Boston praying the inlargement of our Rt. Wors1. Grand Mas- ters power, voted that the Treas". do pay into the hands of the Comee. appointed by the Rt. Wors1. the 1st. Lodge for that purpose Three Guin- eas for this Lodges proportion of the expences that may acrue upon nego- tiating the affair at Home."
"Fryday Feby: 7th. 1752, being Masters Lodge Night, voted that this
66
HISTORY OF SAINT JOHN'S LODGE
Lodge be remov'd from the House of Bro. Stone to the House of Bro: Sam1. Withered, ye. Sign of the Bunch of Grapes in King street, and that it be held there next Lodge night."
"Fryday Sept: 7th: 1753, being Masters Lodge Night, Voted that the Sec": do send a summons to each Mem". of this Lodge, the day before Lodge Night. Voted that the Commee. appointed to Revise the Laws of this Lodge, do also consider of some method to supply the Lodge with the proper furniture that is wanting."
"WHEREAS a Lodge of Masters was Constituted the 22d. of Decem- ber 5738, whereof our Right Worsh1. Bro. Henry Price was appointed the First Master, and whereas by the said Lodge a Committee of Three Viz *: the Rt. Worsh1. Brors. Benjamin Hallowell, Thomas Oxnard, and John Overing Esq"., were chosen in order to draw up a body of By-Laws for the future order and government of the said Lodge, which Laws were then thought sufficient, approv'd of, and engrossed in the Lodge Book, for the Rule and Regulation of the said Lodge, but upon the settling of our me- dium of currency (which was then undetermined and fluctuating) at a stated value, and other intervening incidents, the said Laws have been found not fully to answer their designed ends, THEREFORE upon a motion made to the chair the said Lodge was pleas'd to appoint The Rt. Worsh1. Brors. Chas. Brockwell, Henry Price, Belthazar Bayard, Jere- miah Gridley, and Richard Gridley, as a Committee to supervise, add to, correct, and amend, the said By-Laws, as to them should seem meet, and deliver them the next Lodge Night, for the approbation or amendment of the said Lodge, in obedience to which appointment the said Committee met and having duely consider'd the same now offer their Report as fol- lows, which were voted by the Lodge to be the standing By-Laws of the Lodge and order'd the same to be engrossed in the Book. Vizt:
1st. The proper Officers to be Elected are
a Master
Two Wardens
a Treasurer
a Secretary
a Tyler
To enjoy their several Posts Twelve Months; the Junior Warden to keep Accot. of the Reckoning, and be care- ful that it does not exceed Two Shil- lings lawful money a night for each Bro". present.
2. No Brother to be rais'd a Master unless he has been a Fellow Craft Twelve Months, and a member of a Lodge in Boston for the same space, and to pay therefor Thirteen Shill8. and Four pence lawful money. But, if made in any Lodge that does not regularly communicate with the Grand Lodge in Boston by sending their charity to the Quarterly Com-
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THE MASTERS' LODGE
munication, then to pay for such raising Twenty Six Shills. and Eight pence lawful money, they having likewise been Fellow Crafts for Twelve Months; and this qualification not to be dispens'd with but by the vote, of at least three fourths of the members then present.
3ª. Every Member to pay Six Shillings L:M. p. Quarter, and every Visiting Brother Two Shill8. p. Night.
4th. No Motion, Application, Memorial, or Pettition to the Chair nor any matter relating to the proceedings of the Lodge to be determined immediately, but a certain day at the discretion of the Lodge for discuss- ing the same, unless the occasion require immediate dispatch.
5th: The Secretary to send Summons's to the Members at least the day before the Lodge Night.
6th. Every Member Shall pay his Quarterage upon the First Night of the quarter, whereof notice to be given in the summons's the day before.
7th: Any Member absenting himself from the Lodge Six Months upon re-entering to pay Three Shill8. L:M. unless he has been out of the Prov- ince, and every Forreign Brother, upon being admitted a Member to pay also Three shillings L.M. besides his Quarterage.
8th: The Tyler to be paid One Shilling and Four pence L.M. each night for his attendance at the Lodge, Two Shillings for delivering the summons's, and One Shilling and Four pence from each Brother Rais'd in the Lodge.
Charles Brockwell Henry Price Belthazar Bayard Jer: Gridley Richd. Gridley
Committee."
"Fryday April 5th: 1754, being Masters Lodge Night, Voted, that as we have not any stock, our Rt. Worsh1. Mas". do beg the Grand Lodge to excuse our not sending Charity."
"Fryday Dec". 4th. 1761, voted that Bro": Jenkins, Bror. Williams, & Bro": Price, be a Committee to consider what shall be allowed Bro": Walley for his trouble in posting up the Lodge Books which were behind hand when he was chosen Secretary."
"Fryday April 2ª, 1762, being Masters Lodge night, Bror. Blodget attended, was examined, unanimously voted to be rais'd a Mast" & was accordingly rais'd and paid. Voted that, for one Quarter from this time, each present member at each meeting shall pay his Clubb, the Reck. & Tyler for that evening, in the room of paying Quarteridge. Brors Tho8 Brown, Tho. Thayes, Levy Jennings, Moses Pitcher, BartholoW Ballard & William Sheppard propos'd to be rais'd."
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HISTORY OF SAINT JOHN'S LODGE
"Fryday, Nov' 5th 1762, being Masters Lodge, Bro" William Jackson, who stood a candidate was unanimously voted to be rais'd a Master Mason & was rais'd in due form. The Lodge voted that the sum of Forty Eight Shillings be paid Bro' Walley for his past services agreeable to the award of Committee wch were appointed for that purpose."
"Fryday, 6th Decb' 5765, being Masters Lodge Night, this being the Lodge preceding St John the Evangelist, our Rt Worsh1 Master propos'd Bro. Abram Savage to succeed him as Master of this Lodge the ensuing Six Months who was accordingly ballotted in as such, and appointed.Br° Joye S' Warden and Br° Wheelwright Jun. Warden. He propos'd Br° Gardner as Treasurer of the Lodge who ballotted in accordingly, Br° Lenox was unanimously chosen Tyler for the year ensuing. Br° MªNeal propos'd Br° Nath Patten and Br° Fleet propos'd Christ" Clark, both to be rais'd Masters."
"Fryday, 2ª January 5767, 1st in the Quarter, being Masters Lodge Night, Broth. Savage, the Master chosen the last Lodge Night, desired to resign that office on accot of his having the care of the first Lodge & a fur- ther appointment of the Grand Lodge, therefore nominated the Rt Wor1 Broth. John Cutler, Past Master of the Second Lodge, to succeed him for the year ensueing who was afterward unanimously ballotted in & invested in due form."
"Fryday February 5th 1768, the Lodge being desirous that the instal- ment of our Grand Master Elect may be both decent & honble:, voted that the Master & Treasurer be appointed to provide a new sett of jewells &c. as may be necessary for that purpose."
"Fryday Evening April 1768, voted that a Brother who is son of a Mason has no right to be rais'd before another who has been made a Mason before him."
"At a Master's Lodge held in Concert Hall January 16th. 1781 Br: William Burbeck, being propos'd for Master the ensuing year, Brother Prince inform'd thelodge that it was Brother Burbeck's desire they would proceed to a new choice, it being out of his power to serve. "B": Burbeck not being present, the lodge were Satisfy'd, with what was said, and made choice of B": Nat1. Patten as their Master."
"At a Masters Lodge held Jany. 15 5783, voted that Brs: Seth Reed, Artenatus Moore, John Cathcart, Lemon, Bartley, Mervina, be rais'd to the Sublime Degree - & they were accordingly."
SAINT JOHN'S LODGE
In the year 1783 a petition to the Grand Lodge was presented by John Cutler, Nath1. Patten, Job Prince, W™. Burbeck, and Mungo Mackay, a committee on behalf of the First and Second Lodges of St. John, show- ing that it had been inconvenient for them to meet in their respective capacities, that it would be for the benefit of Masonry that they be united in one Lodge, and that they would resign all powers by which they acted in those separate capacities, being desirous to form a complete and independent union. They, therefore, prayed that they, with such others as might think proper to join them, might be erected and constituted a regular Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, under the name, title, and designation of St. John's Lodge, and that Brother Nath1. Patten be appointed their Master. This petition appearing to the Grand Master as tending to the advancement of Ancient Masonry and the general good of the Craft, he granted the prayer thereof, and invested the Brethren named and their associates with all the powers and privileges of a regu- lar Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons.
"PREAMBLE.
At a Meeting of St. John's Lodge at Concert Hall, on Friday 14th Day of November 1783, a Committee of three Brethren vizt: Right Worshipfull Brothers John Cutler & Nath1. Patten Esq". & Brother Samuel Parkman were appointed to revise the By-Laws for the future government of this Lodge. The Committee having mett and taken into consideration the business of their appointment report as follows.
FIRST.
That the last Wednesday in every month be the Stated Meeting of this Lodge.
SECOND.
This Lodge of St. John, under the jurisdiction of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, shall not exceed forty members, officers included; all of whom shall be Master Masons .. In case of a vacancy by the decease, removal, or exclusion, of a Member, a Brother made in the Lodge shall have the preference, who shall be one month proposed be- fore he is ballotted for; and may be admitted if not more than three nega-
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HISTORY OF SAINT JOHN'S LODGE
tives appear unless those who negative, at the request of the Master, give satisfactory reasons to the Lodge for his being rejected; if more negatives appear he is not to be balloted for again. Every Candidate made in this Lodge, on becoming a Member, is to pay Eighteen Shillings, but if Made under any other Lodge shall pay Thirty Six Shillings.
THIRD.
That annually on the Lodge evening preceeding the Festival of St. John the Evangelist shall be chosen the officers for the next year; not less than a vote of two thirds of the Members present shall be sufficient to estab- lish the Master & Treasurer; the Master in the Chair may at his option nominate his successor, who, if after election, should decline accepting the office, the nomination to revert to the Lodge, & the person whose name shall first reach the Master's ear after he shall call for a nomination shall be ballotted for, untill one be chosen and accepts. The new Master when in the chair shall select two of the Brethren who shall be Master Masons for his Wardens; whom he shall present to the Lodge for their ap- probation, which having obtained, the Master shall invest them with their respective jewells; the Lodge shall then proceed to the election of Treasurer, Secretary, Stewards, and Toilers, who must be Master Ma- sons.
FOURTH.
A Committee shall be chosen on the night preceeding the choice of offi- cers to inspect & settle the accounts of the Treasurer and Secretary, and lay the same before the Lodge on the night of the choice of officers; the Treasurer that may be chosen for the succeeding year shall call upon his predecessor and demand and receive of him all the property and stock of the Lodge intrusted to him, giving a receipt therefor; and make a regular and exact entry of them in a Book kept for that purpose; he shall like- wise give a receipt to the Secretary for all monies he may receive from time to time, making fair records of all his transactions.
FIFTH.
The Secretary shall keep in his possession a Lodge Book, into which he shall faithfully record every transaction of the Lodge, and produce the same every Lodge night, for the inspection of the Members -he shall also keep a book in which shall be stated every Members accot; he shall also minute the name of every Member, & Visitor that comes into the Lodge, and record the monies he receives of them against each Member's name in the Lodge Book-he shall fill a summons for each Member & deliver them sealed to the Toiler two days before the Lodge meets, under penalty of forfeiting his fees every evening he is deficient; he shall pay into the
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71
SAINT JOHN'S LODGE
hands of the Treasurer, every evening, all the monies he receives belong- ing to the Lodge, who shall give a receipt in the Lodge Book therefor; & the Secretary shall before the succeeding evening, deliver a copy of the proceedings to the Treasurer for which duty he shall be exempt from Quarterage & every other expence, & be entitled at the making of a Ma- son Six Shillings for every Brother admitted, or readmitted a Member three Shillings, for every certificate six Shillings-he must sign the By- Laws to entitle him to vote.
SIXTH.
The Toilers shall call on the Secretary at least two days before the meet- ing of the Lodge for the summons and shall leave one at the dwelling house of each Member the day before the Lodge meets. They shall attend the Lodge in proper season & shall be ready to do all manner of duty re- quired of them that relates to the Lodge; for which they shall receive four Shillings & six pence every Lodge night, or other Masonic ceremony; they shall also be entitled each of them at the making of a Mason to 3/ but if they neglect to warn the Members, or refuse doing every duty of the Lodge, they shall forfeit their fees every evening they are deficient.
SEVENTH.
At the opening of the Lodge when the Brethren are seated the Master shall enquire if any brother has anything to propose to the Lodge, for the benefit of Masonry; that if any proposals are made, they may be de- bated on, in the course of the evening; Members only are permitted to make proposals, & no Brother to speak more than twice on the same sub- ject, without special leave from the Master, and when speaking shall stand up & address himself to the Chair; no Brother shall interrupt an- other whilst speaking.
EIGHTH.
When any Member proposes a candidate to be made a Mason, he shall deposit five Dollars into the hands of the Secretary & if accepted it shall be in part payment for the expence of making; if he does not appear, the money shall be forfeited for the benefit of the Lodge; but if he appears & is rejected, the money to be returned; the Secretary shall not enter the candidate's name on the Lodge Book, till he receives the deposits.
NINTH.
Every Candidate proposed to be made a Mason if an inhabitant of this Town, shall stand proposed a month before he is balloted for, but a stranger, or one who is obliged to leave the Town, may be admitted the same night, but when ballotted for, if two negatives appear he shall be rejected; if one only appears he shall be balloted for a second time; & if the negative still appears, he shall be referred to the next Lodge night
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HISTORY OF SAINT JOHN'S LODGE
for further information & may be then admitted at the discretion of the Lodge; unless the Brother who put in the negative gives sufficient reason for his being rejected; Candidates made in a special Lodge shall pay the expence of the evening, over and above the fees for making and no per- son shall be made a Mason under twenty one years of age.
TENTH.
Every accepted candidate shall for his making & crafting pay the sum of fourteen dollars & for raising to the sublime degree the further sum of four dollars, together with the Secretaries & Toilers fees, & any Brother not made in this Lodge, shall on being raised, pay the sum of six dollars.
ELEVENTH.
Each member shall pay to the Secretary nine shillings a quarter during his membership, which shall cease on his neglecting to attend or to pay his Quarterage two successive quarters, unless an excuse satisfactory to the Lodge be given; & every visiting Brother shall pay to the Secretary three shillings each visit; no Brother shall depart the Lodge without leave from the Chair, & paying the Secretary his demand.
TWELFTH.
Should any Brother behave indecently or unbecoming a Mason by not regarding the Master when he calls to order during the time the Lodge is open, or in the Lodge room after the Lodge is closed, he shall suffer such penalty as the Lodge shall determine; & should he refuse to submit to the decision of the Lodge he shall be excluded until he makes satis- faction; no Brother shall presume to smoke, talk of indifferent matters, or get into private committees, during the time that the Master is ad- mitting a person into any degree of Masonry; and every Brother shall continue in the Lodge room except those appointed by the Master topre- pare the candidate; and stand up and behave with decency and good order.
THIRTEENTH.
That a certificate be granted by the Secretary to any Brother made in this Lodge, having been passed to the degree of a Fellow Craft, which certificate is to be given under the seal of this Lodge, signed by the Mas- ter, Wardens, Treasurer & Secretary; & countersigned by the Grand Secretary, he paying therefor six shillings for the benefit of this Lodge, exclusive of the Secretary's fees, & the cost of the certificate.
FOURTEENTH.
The funds of this Lodge shall never be spent on any occasion whatever; the interest only arising therefrom shall be applied to Charitable pur-
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ROBERT NEWMAN
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SAINT JOHN'S LODGE
poses, agreeably to the Principles of Masonry; and it shall be the Duty of the Treasurer, at the close of each year, to reserve for that purpose the interest of the preceding year; & should no occasion for the applica- tion thereof occur, in the course of the ensuing year, the same shall then be added to and become a part of the funds.
The foregoing By-Laws being read & debated upon were unanimously voted to be By-Laws for the future government of this Lodge."
John Cutler
Samuel Dunn Master
· Mungo Mackay John Flumin
Thomas Dennie S.W.
William Shaw J.W.
Ja8: Jackson
Thomas Farrington Secy.
wm. Donnison
John Foster Williams
Samuel Parkman
Lewis Hayt
Job Prince JNº. Deverel
Dudley Coleman
Amos Windship
Fortunatus Tallen
Joachim Von Exterr
David Everett
Joshua Thomas
William Healy
William Dix
Samuel Cogneau
Shubael Bell Elna Hayt
Charles Clement
Jam8. L. Homer
Francis Welch
James Campbell William Jarvis
John Proctor
Geo. Blake
James Cutler
Eben™. Niles
John May JunT.
William Alline
John Russell
Thomas Fobes
John Aug. Parkman
William Reed
Eliphalet Hale JOS. Dix
William Baylis
David Wier
Nath1. Johnson Asahel Biglow
Ebenezer Farley John Williams
Cornelius Coolidge
Francis J. Oliver
R. G. Shaw
John Mackay
Ja8. Phillips
William Morrisy
Samuel Liveridge
Davis Whitman
"St. John's Lodge held 21 Nov' 5791 at Brother Colmans for the choice of Officers nominate Brother Dennie for Master of this Lodge but
Lawson Denet
John B. Hammatt
Tho8. Burley
Abel Wheelock
John Ward Gurley
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HISTORY OF SAINT JOHN'S LODGE
declined. The R. W. Samuel Dunn was then unanimously chosen & Accepted."
"September the 24 5792. The Officers of St. John's Lodge taking into consideration the situation of the Town of Boston relative to the Small Pox 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 Novem- ber next for the same reason as is set forth in the last Record."
"St. John's Lodge held at Concert Hall December 26 5792 R. W. Bro. Samuel Dunn balloted for, and unanimously chosen Master. Brother John Jones & Robert Newman chosen Toilers for the year ensuing with directions for their attending More Strictly to their Duty."
ROBERT NEWMAN was the youngest of four sons of Thomas New- man, a Boston merchant of excellent English descent. From the begin- ning of the troubles with the mother country the family was strongly patriotic. Their cousin, Isaiah Thomas, was the bold editor of the Mas- sachusetts Spy, and both in his office, which was a rendezvous for the leaders of the day, and in the ranks of the North End mechanics headed by Paul Revere, who had been a schoolmate of the older sons, Robert Newman early became known as a young fellow to be trusted. The con- stant watch kept upon the British in Boston had convinced the patriots of a movement to be made on the night of the 18th of April (1775); the signals which should send the message to the Charlestown side were agreed upon and Robert Newman, agile, daring and familiar from boy- hood with Christ Church (commonly referred to as North Church), was ready for the dangerous task.
That evening he sat quietly at his window waiting, as prearranged, to be secretly notified by a friend outside of the moment to act, when, to divert any suspicion of the English officers quartered upon the family, he took a candle and went to his room, where he climbed out of a back window upon a shed and dropped to the street. He joined his friend, reached the church, climbed the tower in the darkness and made the sig- nals. Then, coming down and leaving the church by a rear window, he gained his chamber as he left it.
He has been described as a brave, ambitious youth, eager to conquer a place in the world despite the changed fortunes of his family, but he was forced by accident while still young to give up all hope of an active life. The post of sexton of Christ Church, taken as a temporary makeshift, became a permanency, with some small offices of a public nature, and he
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SAINT JOHN'S LODGE
grew into a serious man whose quiet dignity of manner rarely relaxed except in the society of a few intimate friends, most of whom were men of value in the community. Like many repressed natures, he seems to have been a man of strong attachments, and his chief interests outside of his family were his church and the Masonic fraternity. His nearest friends were Colonel Edward Proctor, a Revolutionary officer and prom- inent man of affairs, and Henry Fowle, one of the earliest and most prominent members of Knight Templary in Massachusetts.
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