The Denver Jewish news., 1919-11-19

ing the fourth to the fourteenth de-
gree inclusive, SO Hays acted in a
similar capacity in the case of the ia
nous Philadelphia Lodge of Perfec-
tion. 1t Is unnecessary to discuss NJ
length Hays work in Masonry. be-
cause we reserve this topic for sub
sequent considera ton of the life. of
this American Jewish worthy. OF the
Philadelphia Lodge of Perfection we
need only say that that at its consti-
tuition practically all its officers and
the preponderant majority of its mem
ters We're Jews. as to whose identity
as such. there is not the slightest pos
sibility of doubt In course of time
the Jewish complexion. as it were. of
this lodge changed But this has no
bearing on the matters now being
treated.
Jews bore an interesting part Ill
shaping the relations of Pennsylvania
Iasonry to English Masonry In thar
Solomon Bush. of Philadelphia. rev
ciuti0nary soldier who proceeding TO
grand lodge of Pennsylvania with the
duty of advising the parent body III
London of the fact that the former
had formally thrown off its depend
ence on the latter as an incident OF
the successful war of the Americans
for their independence of Great Brit
ain. The mother grand lodge which
had originally chartered Pennsylvania
rs a provincial grand lodge was the
grand lodge of the ancients. as it was
called. In the Intervening years anottl-
er grand lodge had arisen in London,
Which was known as the grand lodge
Of the mOderns. Thru some mad
yertence Bush notified the moderns in
in Pennsylvania Masonic relations,
For long time the leaders Of the
craft in Philadelphia doubtless won
dcred why 10 word came to them from
London with reference to. their indie
pendent action. 1t came at last, long
after Bush had absolved himself of
the trust reposed in him, and was in
the nature of message of congrat-
ulation on the step thus taken.
Another Masonic incident of these
early days In which Jews of America
participated may he related in this
place. Moses Seixas was a respected
citizen of Newport. in Rhode Island,
pillar of the local synagog and az
e Al
IN the beginning of tlie nineties of the
eighteenth century. before Rhode Is
land had become Il part of the United
States by formally ratifying its new
rnrnass. or president. of the synagog.
At the same time he was worshipfui
master of King David's Lodge. the local
| Masonic quarry and cashier of the
| Bank of Rhode Island. King narid's
| Lodge had originally been established
at New York. With Moses Michael Hays
as one of its members. bat had been
| transplanted TO Newport during rev
| olutionary times. In virtue of the
| fact that Seixas was the worshpfu'
| Muster of this important lodge. he had
| been chosen as the grand master of
| The then newly constituted grand lodge
| of Maspns of Rhode Island Il most he
| occupied with credit TO himself and
mis- death in 1909. His tombstone in
| The celebrated Jewish cemetery ut New
| port records this outstanding fact of
his honored Masonic career.
Now, after Rhode Island had form
ally ratified the Constitution of the
United States, President George WASH
ington made Il visit to that section
| of the country As Is well known, the
| Jewish congregation of Newport shared
i'll Washington's trillmphal progress
| Ly presenting to him formal address
Of congratulation which was signed by
Moses Seixas as its president or
warden A similar address was pre-
scnted to the first president, a mem
ber of the Masonic fraternity and past
master of the lodge at Alexandria,. III
| Virginia. by his brethren of King
navid's Lodge at Newport. This again
was signed by Moses SeiXas us the
! master of this lodge. II is believed by
reputable Masonic historians that the
two addresses were presented together
| to Washington in the hall of the New
| port synagog: regrettably, there is no
| confirmation of this suggestion. inter
esting as it is from historical sources
| at our disposal.
Later incidents evidencing the i'm
| portance of the connection between
American Jews and the fraternity OF
| Masons exist without number, but they
| are neither so significant nor so char