Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-04-29
For the WatchmAn.
Origin Of Free Masonry in America.
PREPARED ~ A. NJ s., IRON wEBB's OLD IA
sonic MONITOR.

PREPARED ~ A. n s.. FRoN wKBB's OLD MA
sonic MONITOR.
The first lodge Of Masons in America was
organized in Boston, Mass, July 80, 1893, by
the worshiplul Henry Price, Grand Master 10
North America, under an appointment by Lord
yiscount Montagu, Grand Master Of Masons in
England
The lodge in Boston was called st. Johns
Grand Lodge, and the Right Worshpful An
drew Belcher was appointed Grand Master,
and Thomas Kenelley and John Guam, Grand
Wardens Warrants were soon granted for
instituting lodges in various parts Of America,
including Canada, Nova Scotia and New
loundland.
In 1852, number of brethren residing in
Boston, who were ancient Masons, so called,
and different in some respects from the St..
Johns Lodge, applied for a charter to the
Grand Lodge of Scotland, and were constituted
a regular lodge, under the name Of St, Andrew 5
Lodge, No 50
This establishment was opposed by the St.
Johns Lodge, who thought their privileges iu-
friuged upon by the Grand Lodge Of Scotland (;
but it grew prosperous, by the assistance Of
travelling lodges belonging to the British army
stationed there. December 81, 1863, the Fes-
tiyal Of the Evangelist was celebrated in due
form At this assembly, a commission was
received from the Earl Of Dalhouse, Grand
Master Of Masons in Scotland, appointing
Joseph Warren to be Grand Master Of Masons
ia Boston, and within one hundred miles Of
the same, dated May 30, 1869. The other
grand officers were then appointed and in
stalled, and the Grand Lodge was then duly
organized.
Between this period and the year 1871, this
Grand Lodge granted warrants Of constitution
for lodges TO be holden in Massachusetts,, New
Hampshire Connecticut, Vermont, and New
York.
In the year l772, Patrick, Earl Of Dunn
fries, Grand Master Of Scotland, appointed the
Right Worshiplul Joseph Warren, Esq, Grand
Master of Masons for the Continent of America.
In l775, the meetings Of the Grand Lodge were
suspended, by Boston becoming garrison.
At the battle Of Bunker Hill, June 18th, Of
this year, Masonry, and the Grand Lodge, met
with a severe loss, in the death of Grand Mas
ter Warren, who was slain contending for the
liberty Of his country.
Soon after the evacuation of Boston, the
brethren were induced to search for his body,
which had been buried on the field of battle.
By direction Of a person who witnessed the
burial, a place was found on the brow Of a
hill, near a cluster Of twigs, where the earth
had been recently turned up. Here his re-
mains were found, and identified by means oil
an artificial tooth. The body was conveyed Ia
the State House, in Boston, and, attended by
the surviving grand officers and large con-
course of people, was buried with Masonic
honors Being deprived of their chief, by the
death Of their Grand Master, they appointed
Joseph Webb as his successor.
The revolution, which separated the Ameri-
can States from the government Of the mother
country, also exonerated the American lodges
from their allegiance TO foreign Grand Lodges
because the principles Of Masonry inculcats
obedience to the government under which We
i've. Ihe lodges In the several States, there
fore, after the termination of the war, resorted
to the proper and necessary means of forming
and establishing independent Grand Lodges, for
the government of the fraternity in their re-
spective Jurisdictions.
June 10, 1902, the officers and members ol
the two Grand Lodges, which had been al
variance, met in conjunction, agreeably TO q
previous arrangement, and having effected q
complete Masonic union, installed the Most
Worshipful John Cutler, Grand Master, and
resolved that this Grand Lodge shall forever
hereafter be known by the name Of the Grand
Lodge of the Most Ancient and Honorable So
ciety of Free and Accepted Masons Of the Com
mNnwealth Of Massachusetts.
The Grand Lodge Of Vermont was constitutes
at Rutland, October IA, 1884.