STB-AP83
Music by Brother J. L. F. Mendelssohn
THE "MASTER'S LODGE"
IN BOSTON
This month marks the 250th Annivcrsary of
the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. It was formed
during that historic period between the Witchcraft trials and the start of the Revolutionary War,
and has been a part of the history of our Nation.
It has witnessed great strides in the development
of society and history and particularly in the
evolution of Freemasonry in the United States.
In April 1733, Henry Price received a deputation from the Grand Lodge of England appointing him Provincial Grand Master of New
England. On July 30, 1733 he called together
ten Masons known to him, read his deputation
and organized the Provincial Grand Lodge of
Massachusetts. Eighteen qualified Brethren
were constituted that day into a Regular Lodge
called The First Lodge in Boston (known as
Saint John's Lodge since 1784). It is regarded
as the oldest Regular and Duly Constituted
Lodge in the Western Hemisphere. With the
precedence of 1733 given by the Grand Lodge
of England, The Grand Lodge of Massachusetts is considered the third oldest Grand Lodge
in the world--preceded by the Grand Lodge of
England organized in 1717, and the Grand
Lodge of Ireland, dating from 1725.
The Bunch of Grapes Tavern on King Street,
now State Street, was the first meeting place in
Boston. Here Henry Price organized the first
Provincial Grand Lodge in Massachusetts.
Grand Lodge met in at least five other taverns
or public halls and in several homes of individual Masons before a permanent Temple was
erected. From this date in 1733, the Grand
Lodge of Masons in Massachusetts has held its
quarterly communications in no less than nineteen different locations.
It is probable that many Masons do not
know that the lodges first established in New
England did not confer the Master Mason
degree. That they did not confer this degree is
not surprising when we consider that regularly
organized Freemasonry at that time was a new
institution, and its single degree had but recently been developed into a system of three degrees.
Even as late as 1735 the Entered
Apprentice's degree contained the most prominent form of initiation, and he who was an
Apprentice was, for all practical purposes, a
Freemason. It was not until repeated improvements by the adoption of new ceremonies and
new regulations, that the degree of Master
Mason took the place which it now occupies;
having been confined at first to those who had
"passed the chair."
No doubt the Master's degree was early
looked upon as a desirable honor but as the two
lodges of Boston did not have, or at least did
not exercise the right of conferring the degree,
some other way had to be devised by which suitable brethren could be admitted to its secret.
Accordingly, a lodge was established for the express purpose of conferring the Master's degree.
It was called the "Master's Lodge" and its
records are in the archives of the Grand Lodge
of Massachusetts. From those records we give
to our readers selections which cover the beginning of the body and a considerable portion of
its subsequent history.
Regulations for a Master's Lodge
of Free and Accepted Masons
To be held at the Sun Tavern being at present
the house of Brother Andrew Halliburton
(durente placito) upon the first Tuesday in
every month at six of the clock in the evening.
First, the proper officers to be elected: A
Master, a senior and junior warden, two stewards, a secretary and a tyler, and to enjoy their
several offices during the space of six months.
Second. The senior steward to be treasurer
and the junior steward to keep an account of
expenses so that the master and wardens shall
not be interrupted in their business.
Third. No Brother to be raised master unless
he goes through the Fellow Craft work to the
approbation of this lodge, and such examination to be performed the lodge night before
such candidate is to be balloted and raised always reserving an unanimous vote of the lodge
to the contrary, and such candidate to pay forty
shillings into the hands of the senior Warden.
Fourth. Each Brother who desires to become a member of this lodge shall pay down into the hands of the senior steward, twenty shillings towards defraying the expenses of the
jewels and all other necessary ornaments for
this lodge.
Fifth. Every member shall pay fifteen shillings a quarter, and every visitor seven shillings
and six pence for the night, and such visitor not
admitted to be clothed in this lodge.
Sixth. The senior steward shall make a demand of the visiting money, and receive the
same before the lodge is closed.
Seventh. No Brother dwelling in this town
to be admitted in this lodge unless he be a member of one or more regular lodge or lodges.
Eighth. Neither of the stewards shall resign
their office unless they first deliver up to the
master and wardens of this lodge a fair and true
account of what cash they have received and
paid by the authority of their said office, to the
satisfaction of this lodge, and in case one or
both of them of that trust upon their timely
representing the same and accompting to the
acceptance of the lodge, shall be discharged,
and the lodge to fill up said vacancy by unanimous vote.
Ninth. No motion, applications, memorial
or petition to the chair, nor any matter regulating the proceedings of the lodge upon offering
the same to be determined immediately, but a
certain day to be then set and fixed for the
discussion thereof at the discretion of the
members then present that received the same.
Tenth. That every member shall pay his
quarterages upon the first night of the quarter,
and that the secretary give due notice thereof
the lodge night before such payment is to be
made.
We, the subscribers, being a committee appointed to make proper regulations for the M.
R's. Iodge, have accordingly met this day, the
22nd of December, 5738 and do offer the above
regulations to the consideration of the lodge.
Benj. Hallowell
Thomas Oxnard
John Overing.
The first meeting of the Masters' Lodge was
held January 2, 1738. At this meeting the Regulations agreed upon December 22, 5738 were
read and adopted.
The first volume of the records of the Master's Lodge begins January 2, 1738 and closes
with the record of the meeting held November
6, 1761. The second volume begins December 1,
1761 and ends with the record of January 15,
1783. There is a record of 223 meetings in the
first book, an average of about ten each year.
During the first period recorded in the second
book, the meetings were not as frequent,
numerous entries being made that no meetings
were held. Henry Price appears to be most
prominent in support of the Masters' Lodge
and was its Master until January, 1744.
The first work of the lodge was February 6,
recorded as follows:
"Brother Ceorge Moncerieff, desiring to be
raised was accordingly duly examined and being found a good Mason to our satisfaction was
unanimously voted in and raised a master in
due manner and form. ''
October 5, 1750. Three dollars more given
to the Grand Lodge for the same purpose.
Nov. 2, 1750. ''Brother McDaniel proposed
the Rt. Worshipful Lord Colvil, Dr. Allen and
Mr. James Thompson. '' Voted that these above
proposed gentlemen shall be raised masters
without the previous examination in the Fellow
Crafts part, but to he no precedent for future
raislng.
Oct. 5, 1753. Committees appoint to amend
the by-laws, recorded in full following the
meeting of Dec. 7, 1753.
Jan. 4, 1754. Brother James Otis, attending
was introduced, examined, approved and raised
a Master in due form.
April5, 1754. Voted that as we have not any
stocks, our Rt. Worshipful Master, to beg the
Crand Lodge to excuse our not sending charity.
Nov. 1, 1754. The lodge reported to be
about L60 in debt and a committee appointed to
pursue some measures to retrieve the lodge's
bad circumstances.
April 4, 1735. Voted that ye Masters and
Wardens attend ye Grand Lodge according to
ye Grand Master's Summons, l~ut having no
stock we cannot send any charity.
Oct. 1, 1736. Voted that Brother Williams,
ye Treasurer, be allowed what was stole from
him, being L5, 13.6 O. T. and that he charge ye
lodge for above sum in his account.
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