The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-01-22
MASONIC LODGE
At VALLEY FORGE
IT WAS ORGANIZED BY FAMisH-
ING SOLDIERS OF WASHING
TOMS ARMY-soME OF THE
MEMBERS WERE TORIES AND
WARMLY WELCOMED.

Philadelphia North American:
Rarely interesting not only 70 the
Free Mason, but to the historian is
a new work, Old Masonic Lodges of
Pennsylvania, by DIR. julius F.
Sachse, librarian of the Masonic tenn
pie, who has just issued the first
volume. In 1t Doctor Sachse traces
the local history of Free Masonry from
the establishment of the first lodge
some time prior to 1880 to the period
of the British occupation Of the city.
Part of the second volume is now in
type and will be issued soon.
The earliest record Of Philadelphia
lodges appears to be a statement in
the Pennsylvania Gazette, published
by BENJAMIN Franklin. In the issue Of
Dec. 8, 1880, The Gazette prints
this caption on it's first page:
"As there are several lodges of
Free Masons erected this province and
people have lately been much amused
with conjectures concerning them;
we think the following account of
Free Masonry from London, will not
be unacceptable to our readers"
This, says Doctor Sachse, indicates
that lodges existed here prior to 1880.
He gives a. history of the construction
of the first provincial grand master,
Colonel Daniel Coke, who received his
appointment from the Grand Lodge OF
England. He described In an enter
tanning way how the grand lodge. in
1882, met in the Tun Tavern, in Water
street. There, William Allen was
elected grand master. In 1874 the
grand lodge removed to the Sign of
the. Conestogoe Wagon" in Market
street. next to the White Horse.
Early Lodges.
The author traces the early strug-
giles, and the almost elimination OF
the grand lodge in 1855, owing to the
inroads made by the revolution. Then
it was sold out, but a few Of the faith
full maintained the semblance of an
organization, and eventually revived
the craft.
There was a Tun Tavern as well as
q Sun Tavern, and these two appear
to have been mixed at times by early
c%hroniclers. Doctor SachSe, at the eX-
pense of great labor and exhaustive
research, has got at the truth and
Strengthened out not only these, but
other differences and discrepancies.
The Tun Tavern was a noted hotel
in Water street south of Chestnut.
and there wa organized the third
lodge, known as the "Tun Tavern"
lodge. 1t is not known, however, just
when the lodge from June %, 1749,
to July 2. 1855, Is still in existence.
The Tun Tavern was the peoples
lodge, while st. Johns was more ia
vored by the a~Tfstocracy.
At Valley Forge.
DR.. Sachse has succeeded in obtain
ing almost the complete history Of The
little known Valley Forge lodge, which
nv a. nYor r9t1Ad aY~tansy fhA "a rSiChfr q
soldiers of Wash'ngton'g army while
| encamped at Valley Forge.
The story of Valley Forge lodge is
virtually the story of the camp itself.
II is filled with anecdotes and Incl
dents OF camp life which do not APP
pear in regular historical works, and
| show the fidelity of the Masonic fra
ternity in its traditions. The records
of the lodge have been found and
preserved. and a number of meetings
| are chronicIed, with the names of
members present, and the names OF
visitors, all officers of the continental
army.
The lodge met at the Hannah
Thompson Inn on the Ridge road
and in 1883 found a home at Peter
| Holstein's at the Swedesford below
Norristown.
The first act of the British upon
taking possession OF Philadelphia was
to clear out lodge No. 2, capturing
It's paraphernalia. Some of the mem
bers were Tories, and warmly well
| coined the invaders. The lodge was
then kept up during the occupation
by the Tory members. the visitors be-
ing British officers, and b number oil
| meetings are described, with lists OF
members and visitors present When
the British left the city tho Tories
left with them, and the patriotic
members again took possession OF the
lodge.