USA > Pennsylvania > Luzerne County > Wilkes-Barre > A history of Lodge no. 61, F. and A. M., Wilkesbarr?, Pa. with a collection of masonic addresses > Part 1
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55
Gc 974.802 W65h 1455358
GENEALOCY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02227 3889
61
61
...
PAST MASTER'S JEWEL, LODGE 61.
(See page 637, post.)
1
A HISTORY'
OF
-
LODGE NO. 6 1, F. AND A.M.,
WILKESBARRE, PA .;
LODGE
W
FEB 1
TOGETHER WITH A COLLECTION OF MASONIC ADDRESSES, AN ACCOUNT OF THE ANTI-MASONIC CRUSADE, AND EXTENDED BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF PROMINENT MEMBERS OF THE LODGE, WITH PORTRAITS.
BY OSCAR JEWELL HARVEY, IV. Master of the Lodge in 1879.
974.802 W65h
WILKESBARRĖ, PA., 1897.
Copyright, 1897, BY
O. J. HARVEY.
E. B. YORDY, PRINTER.
9/30/05 $20.00
1455358
TO ABRAM NESBITT, ESQ., OF KINGSTON, PENN'A, THE AUTHOR'S KINSMAN AND KIND FRIEND,
AND GREAT-GRANDSON OF ONE OF THE EARLIEST IMMIGRANTS AND FREE MASONS FROM NEW ENGLAND TO ESTABLISH A HOME IN THE WYOMING VALLEY, THIS BOOK IS
REGARDFULLY DEDICATED.
" The best safeguard of every Institution is an enlightened membership !"
PREFACE.
Time was when an important part of every book was the preface, for in it the author set forth his ideals, and gave the raison d'être of his book. But the day of prefaces is past, I believe. In this present instance, however, a preface became a necessity, in order that the writer might have an oppor- tunity to direct the attention of the reader to the opening paragraphs of Chapter VIII., on page 620, and to request that they be read before any other portion of the work.
A very eminent Mason of ancient times once said, "He who collects materials for a history of this Society [of Free Masons] acts a more important part than all the monkish chroniclers put together, who have left so many journals of the pious inactivity of their brethren." A belief that there was much of truth in this saying, impelled the writer to embark a long time ago in an undertaking, the results of which he now presents.
The antiquity and utility of Free Masonry being generally acknowledged in most parts of the habitable globe, it would be as absurd to conceive it required new aids for its sup- port, as for him who has the use of sight to demand a proof of the rising and setting of the sun. The writer has borne
6
this in mind in the preparation of the following pages, and has, therefore, attempted neither to enter on any advocacy of the principles of Free Masonry, nor to discuss the subject with any who do, or ever did, object to the Fraternity.
LODGE No. 61 has a history, interesting not only to its members, but to all Free Masons. It is the oldest Masonic Body in North-eastern Pennsylvania, and stands, in point of age, fourteenth on the list of Lodges in this jurisdiction. Its history, up to 1840, is very nearly the history of Free Masonry in North-eastern Pennsylvania for the same period. Many of the best and most eminent men of the Wyoming Valley have been Masons, and it is doubtful if any other Masonic Lodge in Pennsylvania bears on its roll of mem- bers the names of as many leading and well-known men of these, and earlier days, as does LODGE 61. But the recollec- tion of the deeds and virtues of many of our departed Breth- ren is rapidly fading away. Even now, in the cases of some, their good qualities and praiseworthy acts are merely tradi- tional. "The life of the dead is placed in the memory of the living !" Their good deeds, their kindnesses, their charities, their moralities, will amount to nothing to those who sur- vive, if they shall be permitted to vanish as the smoke flieth upward, and leave no impression upon our minds and hearts.
Reverence for the past is one of our virtues, for the past, when it was the then present, bestowed upon us its blessings. Therefore we disentomb the past for the information of the present, and the benefit of the future. The Lodge, remem- bering its historic past, should be able to point to its illus- trious men-their achievements and their virtues-and, like the mother of the Gracchi, say, "These are my jewels!"
Of the sixty-one masters who have presided in "61" since 1794, twenty-five are still living; but "the places that now know them, must soon know them no more forever," for Time and Nature are surely though silently doing their work.
7
How far this book will stand the test of criticism it is not for the writer to determine. To know is one thing, to do is another; and it may be observed of good writing as of good blood, that it is much easier to say what it is composed of than to compose it. It has cost the writer more time and pains to abridge these pages than to write them, and he submits them on the firm basis of being the best he could do under the circumstances. He would say that the MS. of Chapters I .- IV. and VII. was read and approved some years ago by the following Brethren : Conrad B. Day, the then R. W. Grand Master of Pennsylvania; Clifford P. Mac- Calla, the then R. W. J. G. Warden of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, and editor of The Keystone; Richard Vaux, Past Grand Master; Sidney Hayden, 33º.
In conclusion, the writer formally, but sincerely, thanks all who aided and assisted him in any way during the pro- gress of his work-especially mentioning Bro. the Rev. Horace Edwin Hayden of Lodge No. 60, and Bro. Fred- erick C. Johnson of Lodge No. 61. O. J. H.
Wilkesbarre, Penn'a, March 26th, 1897.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
PAGE.
PREFACE, .
5
CHAPTER I.
Introduction of Free Masonry into Pennsyl-
vania. Title of Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, II
CHAPTER II.
Introduction of Free Masonry into North-eastern
Pennsylvania. First period (1794-1837') of
the history of Lodge 61, .
20
CHAPTER III.
History of the Anti-Masonic Era,
73
CHAPTER IV.
Second period (1844-1884) of the History of
Lodge 61. History of Mark Lodge, working
under Warrant of Lodge 61 from 1822-'24, . 102
CHAPTER V.
Biographical Sketches,
577
Beaumont, Andrew. Harvey, Elisha B.
Bowman, Samuel. Hoyt, Henry M.
Bowman, Isaac. Lee, Andrew.
Bulkeley, Eliphalet. Lewis, Sharp D.
Colt, Arnold.
Mallery, Garrick.
Conyngham, John N. Miner, Charles.
Dana, Edmund L. Pettebone, Henry.
Denison, George. Schott, John Paul.
Denison, Charles. Scott, David.
Fell, Jesse.
Woodward, Warren J.
Gibson, John B.
Wright, Hendrick B.
CHAPTER VI.
Masonic Addresses,
577
CHAPTER VII. Warrant of Lodge 61. First Code of By-Laws
of the Lodge,
612
CHAPTER VIII. Some Corrections, Emendations, and Additions.
Various Masonic Bodies in Wilkesbarré. List
of Members of Lodge 61, from 1794 to 1897, . 620
INDEX, .
659
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION OF FREEMASONRY INTO PENNSYLVANIA .- TITLE OF GRAND LODGE OF PENNSYLVANIA.
"Before the Pyramids were built; before architecture and sculpture had crowned with their trophies the Acropolis of Athens; before the wolf-nursed twins had marked the earliest limits of imperial Rome; whilst Druidical rites were celebrated in the oaken groves of Britain, and the primeval inhabitants roamed over this undiscovered Western World, MASONRY existed and taught its perpetual lessons of Virtue, Charity and Fraternity."
"In every clime, from age to age, Masons performed their mystic rite; Craftsmen, scholar, poet, sage, Met, and beheld Masonic light."
Much has been written concerning the history, science, and antiquities of Free Masonry. The origin of the Society is lost in the remote past, and the obscurity of its early history has given occasion to various hypotheses.
I make no effort in this brief introduction to clear away the complications, or disperse the darkness, with which the very early history of our Ancient Fraternity is encompassed and enveloped. All that I attempt is a distinct and concise
12
enumeration of the steps leading up to the introduction of Free Masonry into America, and its establishment in Penn- sylvania-the mother-State of Masonry in America.
KING ATHELSTAN (grandson of ALFRED THE GREAT) who translated the Bible into the Saxon tongue, erected many buildings and encouraged many Masons from France, who were appointed his overseers, and who brought with them the ancient charges and regulations preserved since the Roman times. He appointed his brother Edwin-who was initiated into the mysteries-Grand Master of the Frater- nity. In the year of our Lord 926, the year of Light 4926, Prince Edwin summoned a grand communication of Masons at York, who, bringing with them all the writings and records extant in Greek, Latin, French, and other languages, framed the Constitution and Charges of the English Lodges, and enacted statutes for their preservation. From this assembly at York, the true rise of Masonry in England is generally dated.
For a long time the York Assembly exercised Masonic jurisdiction over all England; but in 1567 the Masons in the southern part of the island elected a Grand Master. There were now two grand bodies in England,-one in the North at the old city of York, the other in the South at London; the former known as the Grand Lodge of All England, the latter denominated the Grand Lodge of Eng- land. The supremacy of the Grand Lodge at York was never challenged; on the contrary, every Mason in the Kingdom held it in the highest veneration. To be ranked as descendants of the original York Masons was the glory and boast of the Brethren in almost every country where Masonry was established.
For a series of years the most perfect harmony subsisted between the two Grand Lodges, and subordinate Lodges flourished in both parts of the Kingdom under their separate jurisdictions ; but this harmony was at length interrupted
13
by the officious interference of the Grand Lodge at London, in granting warrants to Lodges within the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge at York. Soon after this, the Grand Lodge of England (London), on account of its situation, being encouraged by some of the principal nobility, acquired consequence and reputation ; while the Grand Lodge at York, restricted to fewer, though not less respectable mem- bers, gradually declined.
About the year 1738, several Brethren, dissatisfied with the conduct of the Grand Lodge of England (London), seceded from it, and assumed the title of York Masons. Up to this time the universal name by which the whole mystic family was known was that of "Free and Accepted Masons."
The next year the secessions continuing, a new Grand Lodge was organized at London, called " The Grand Lodge of England, According to the Old Institutions, or Grand Lodge of Ancient York Masons," the authority for which was claimed to be derived from the old body at York. The appellation "Ancient" was assumed by the organizers of the new body because they claimed that the ancient landmarks were alone preserved by them .* The Brethren
* BRO. WILLIAM JAMES HUGHAN, of England, in his "Masonic Memorials," referring to the schism in the Craft in the last century created by the "Ancients," says: "The precise origin of the seces- sion of 1730-52 has not yet been exactly ascertained, but we may safely assume that the disagreement which arose was mainly fostered by the operatives, in whose practical minds the institution of the Society of Free and Accepted Masons on a cosmopolitan basis was evidently regarded as directly opposed to their ancient customs and privileges. The struggle for supremacy commenced in earnest on the Festival of St. John the Baptist, 1723, when the election of the learned natural philosopher, Dr. Desaguliers, as Deputy Grand Master, met with opposition, forty-two adverse votes being registered out of a total of eighty-five. In 1730 Anthony Sayer, the premier Grand Master, was publicly admonished and well nigh expelled, for taking part in illegal assemblies of dissatisfied Masons, who were seeking to under- mine the authority of the Society they and others had so recently con- structed. The birth of the Stewards' Lodge, with its unique privileges,
14
who still adhered to the Grand Lodge of England continued to style themselves " Free and Accepted Masons," but were stigmatized by their opponents with the name of " Moderns." The Grand Lodge of Ancient York Masons was soon recog- nized by the Masons of Scotland and Ireland, and subordi- nate Lodges were constituted in England and in other countries. The rites and ceremonies of the "Ancients" and " Moderns" were essentially the same, and the Landmarks of Free Masonry were equally preserved by them ; but they continued to exist apart, and to act in opposition to each other, until the year 1813, when they were happily united, and discord banished from English Masonry.
The early history of the Fraternity in Pennsylvania is obscure. It is known, however, that members of the Craft dwelt within the present jurisdiction, and held Lodges, at the beginning of the eighteenth century. [The early min- utes and records of these Lodges were either mislaid or carried away during the occupation of Philadelphia by the British troops in 1777.7
In 1730, application having been made to the Grand Lodge of England (subsequently known as " Moderns") by a number of Brethren residing in the Provinces of New York, New
in 1735, and the appointment in 1736 of Brethren to office by the Earl of Loudoun, G. M., who were most unpopular with the malcontents, were in all probability the immediate causes of the rupture ; and soon after certain members were charged with working a 'different master's part.' * Expulsions and secessions rapidly succeeded one
another. * The more effectually to debar the expelled Breth- ren from visiting the regular Lodges, a transposition was effected in some esoteric portions of the first two degrees, which was an exhibi- tion of weakness on the part of the regular Masons, gave point and apparent justification to the attacks of the schismatics, and strength- ened them in their opposition. The actual outburst of hostilities was doubtless due to an alteration in conferring the 'third degree', being persisted in by certain Brethren, who refused admission to regularly raised Master Masons. On such being reported to the Grand Lodge, and, the offense being repeated, the innovators were expelled. The chief feature in the new ritual consisted in a division of the third degree into two sections."
15
Jersey, and Pennsylvania, for the appointment of a Provincial Grand Master, the Duke of Norfolk, Grand Master, on the 5th of June constituted and appointed " Bro. Daniel Coxe Provincial Grand Master of New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, with full power and authority to nominate and appoint his Deputy Grand Master and Grand Wardens for the space of two years.". Authority was also given to the Provincial Grand Master to constitute Lodges.
In the fall of 1730, Provincial Grand Master Coxe char- tered the first Lodge in America, at Philadelphia. It is noted on the register of the Grand Lodge of England as No. 79. The meetings of this Lodge, and also those of the first Provincial Grand Lodge in Philadelphia, were held at the " Tun Tavern." This tavern, which had at its door three tuns or barrels on top of each other, as a business sign, stood at the corner of Tun, or Wilcox's, alley, the first alley south of Chestnut street, leading from Water street to the wharf.
Bro. Coxe's authority as Provincial Grand Master expired on St. John's Day (Saturday, June 24th) 1732, and on that day the Brethren of Pennsylvania assembled in Grand Lodge, and elected WILLIAM ALLEN their Grand Master, and BENJAMIN FRANKLIN and THOMAS BOUDE, Wardens. Grand Masters were thenceforward chosen annually until 1741 (Bro. Benjamin Franklin was chosen in 1734), when the Fraternity languished, and no Grand Masters were thereafter elected under the Daniel Coxe deputation.
In 1743, Thomas Oxnard, Esq., was appointed by the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of England ("Moderns") Provincial Grand Master of all North America. On July Ioth, 1749, Grand Master Oxnard appointed Benjamin Franklin Provincial Grand Master of Pennsylvania, with authority to appoint the other Grand Officers, hold a Grand Lodge, issue Warrants, etc. Under this authority, on the 5th of September, 1749, a Grand Lodge was organized and
16
held at the "Royal Standard" in Market street, Philadel- phia, Grand Master Franklin having appointed BRO. DR. THOMAS BOUDE, D. G. M. BRO. JOSEPH SHIPPEN, Sr. G. W. BRO. PHILIP SYNG, Jr. G. W. BRO. WILLIAM. PLUMSTEAD, G. Treas. BRO. DANIEL BYLES, G. Sec'y.
From this time they proceeded in their work, granting new Warrants for Lodges in Philadelphia and elsewhere, until 1776, when the Grand Lodge .became practically extinct; "its members being divided in political sentiment at the era of the Revolution, and their Grand Master, Wil- liam Allen, having left America for England on account of his loyalty to the Crown."
About 1757, a number of citizens of Philadelphia were made Masons by the " Ancients," or Ancient York Masons, and soon after they made application to the Grand Lodge of England, According to the Old Institutions, or Grand Lodge of A. Y. M., for a Warrant for a Provincial Grand Lodge. A Warrant was issued, dated June 20th, 1764, and numbered S9 on the Register of the Grand Lodge of Eng- land and I in Pennsylvania, and under authority of it a Grand Lodge for the Province of Pennsylvania was or- ganized, with William Ball as G. M .; Captain Blaithwait Jones, D. G. M .; David Hall, Sr. G. W .; and Hugh Lenox, Jr. G. W. The Grand Lodge thus organized remained as a Provincial Grand Lodge, under the authority of the Grand Lodge of England, known as the "Ancients," or A. Y. M., until the American Revolution had established the in- dependence of the United States; when, on September 25th, 1786, at a special communication of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, thirteen Lodges being repre- sented, it was unanimously " Resolved : That it is improper that the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania should remain any longer under the authority of any foreign Grand Lodge."
17
The Provincial Grand Lodge, or Lodge No. I, of Pennsyl- vania, then by its own action ceased to exist, whereupon the representatives of all the existing Lodges forthwith met and unanimously " Resolved : That the Lodges under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, lately holden as a Provincial Grand Lodge under the authority of the Grand Lodge of England, shall and do form themselves into a Grand Lodge, to be called The Grand Lodge of Penn- sylvania, and Masonic Jurisdiction thereunto belonging."
About this time all that was left of the " Moderns" in Pennsylvania was absorbed by the "Ancients," and no trace of the former can now be found. " The act of independence of our Grand Lodge was gracefully acknowledged and fraternally recognized by the Mother Grand Lodge of England." In their congratulatory letter, they said: " We reflect with pleasure that the Grand Lodge of England has given birth to a Grand Lodge in the Western World, whose strict adherence to the ancient and inimitable landmarks of our Order, reflects honor on its original founders. -* We conceive that in constituting your Grand Lodge we necessarily communicated to it the same independent Ma- sonic authority within your jurisdiction which we ourselves possessed within ours; amenable to no superior jurisdiction under heaven, and subject only to the immutable landmarks of the Order."
As will be seen by the foregoing resolution the title as- sumed by the new Grand Lodge was that of The Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, and Masonic Jurisdiction thereunto. belonging. " This official title, somewhat quaint-and differing from that of any of our sister Grand Lodges- sufficiently indicates that the Grand Lodge claimed and exercised Masonic jurisdiction outside the Province and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania." This jurisdiction was exercised by the Grand Lodge in warranting subordinate lodges in New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, South
18
Carolina, Georgia, Louisiana, Missouri, Illinois, Ohio, Mexico, South America, St. Domingo, Trinidad, and Hayti.
The title of the Grand Lodge remained as above until 1797, when it was changed to The Grand Lodge of the Most Ancient and Honorable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, According to the Old Institutions. In 1800, the words " and Masonic 'Jurisdiction thereunto belonging " were re- inserted; and in 1825, sometime after the union of the "Ancients" and " Moderns" in England and elsewhere, the words "According to the Old Institutions" were eliminated, and from that time on the title has been as it now is, " The Grand Lodge of the Most Ancient and Honorable Frater- nity of Free and Accepted Masons of Pennsylvania and Masonic Jurisdiction thereunto belonging." Although this has been the title of our Grand Lodge so many years, yet, until the year 1878, all subordinate Lodges under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania were spoken of and referred to as Lodges of Ancient York Masons ; as for example (I copy from an original official document in my possession) : “ General Return from Lodge No. 61, Ancient York Masons, held under the authority of the Right Worshipful Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania: I, - Worshipful Master of Lodge No. 61, Ancient York Masons, do hereby certify to the Right Worshipful Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, that, etc." Since the adoption in December, 1877, of our present Ahiman Rezon, our subordinate Lodges have been designated as Lodges of Free and Accepted Masons, and the use of the words "Ancient York" has been discontinued, except in certain portions of the ritual.
" Many may remember the feeling of indignation with which this change was at first met. The term 'Ancient York Masons' had come down to us as a part of our Masonic inheritance. It was originally the Shibboleth of
19
the Ancients in London, from whom we derived our Masonic system. Around the city of York, in England, cluster many Masonic memories, and to the minds of many Craftsmen the term " York Masonry" is suggestive of all that is good, and pure, and true in the Fraternity.
" The 'Ancients' claimed to work 'according to the Old Institutions ;' that is, according to the Constitutions which were said to have been revised by Prince Edwin at York, in the year 926, and for a time they adopted the term 'Ancient York.' It soon permeated their entire system, and became, as it were, a part of the unwritten law of the Fraternity, and it was doubtless brought to Pennsylvania by English Brethren who desired to emphasize the primi- tive character and purity of their work. Our proper title is 'Free and Accepted Masons,' and in Pennsylvania we work . the 'York rite.'' [From P. M. Samuel Harper's History of St. John's Lodge, No. 219, Pittsburgh, Pa.]
[Since the foregoing pages were printed there has been brought to light by Bro. Clifford P. MacCalla, R. W. Junior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, a most important original Masonic record, to wit: The Ledger account-book of the first Lodge in Phila- delphia (St. John's Lodge), with its members, from June 24th, 1731, to June 24th, 1738. This book is now in the possession of the Histor- ical Society of Pennsylvania, and is by far the oldest Masonic Lodge book in America. In it are official Lodge details concerning the Masonic lives of such Masons as William Allen, Benjamin Franklin, Joseph Shippen, Philip Syng, and William Plumstead, all Provincial Grand Masters of Pennsylvania from 1731 to 1741 .-- O. J. H.]
WILKE
SBARR
(First seal of Lodge No. 61.)
CHAPTER II.
INTRODUCTION OF FREE MASONRY INTO NORTH-EASTERN PENN- SYLVANIA .-- FIRST PERIOD (1794-1837) OF THE HISTORY OF LODGE NO. 61.
"Who can rehearse the praise In soft poetic lays, Or solid prose, of Masons true, Whose art transcends the common view ? Their secrets, ne'er to strangers yet expos'd, Preserved shall be By Masons Free, And only to the Ancient Lodge disclos'd."
So far as known the first operations of Free Masonry in North-eastern Pennsylvania occurred in the Wyoming Val- ley in June, 1779. At that time very few white men dwelt in this immediate region. Their first settlements in the Valley had been made but little more than twelve years before; while the terrible massacre of the settlers by the Indians and Tories had taken place near Forty Fort not quite a twelvemonth previous.
Early in the year 1779 an expedition for the extermina- tion of the Indians was planned by General Washington, approved by Congress, and placed under the command
21
of General John Sullivan,-to proceed from the Delaware river at Easton, Pa., across the mountains to the Susque- hanna, at Wilkesbarré, and thence up the river to Tioga Point, there forming a junction with General Clinton's troops. Accompanying this expedition was the First Regi- ment of Pennsylvania Artillery in the United States service, under command of Colonel Thomas Procter, of Philadelphia. He was of Irish descent, was an ardent Free Mason, and had been Worshipful Master of Lodge No. 2, the oldest Lodge of Ancient York Masons in Philadelphia.
During the War of the Revolution Military or Army Masonic Lodges existed in the American army-Charters or Warrants being granted for such Lodges by the Provin- ciał Grand Lodges of Pennsylvania, New York, and Mass- achusetts. These traveling Lodges were organized at various times, and accompanied the regiments to which they were attached in all their expeditions and encampments. One of these Lodges was organized by Colonel Procter in his regiment,-he having received on the 18th of May, 1779, from the Provincial Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania a Warrant "to form and hold a traveling military Lodge" in his regiment. It was the first military Lodge Warrant granted by the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania for the Amer- ican army, and was numbered "19" on the Grand Lodge Register.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.