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AMERICAN UNION LODGE

Location: Roxbury; Marietta (Ohio) (1790?)

Chartered By: Joseph Webb

Charter Date: 02/15/1776 I-484

Precedence Date: 02/15/1776

Current Status: Resigned Massachusetts charter in 1819. Now chartered under the Grand Lodge of Ohio as American Union #1.

NOTES

From Liberal Freemason, Vol. I, No. 12, March 1878, Page 375:

American Union Lodge stands No. 1 on the roll of Lodges within the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Ohio; and, though it may appear a little late to refer to the celebration of its one hundreth anniversary, it cannot, even though it be past, fail to be of interest to our readers, but especially to the Masons in Massachusetts, where this Lodge. had its origin. Its history is outlined in a very interesting correspondence between it and Washington Lodge, of Roxbury, now Boston, showing the fraternal relations existing between the two bodies, and the result of an invitation to Washington Lodge to attend the Centennial celebration of American Union Lodge, in Marietta, Ohio, where it now is, and long has been, located.

The latter appointed a committee of arrangements, consisting of Brothers A. E. McCormick, M. D. Follett, and J. McClure; the invitation given by the committee to Washington Lodge received immediate attention; the Master and Wardens, Brothers R. G. Molineux, S. A. Bolster, B. F. Avers, and John F. Newton, Past Master, were appointed a committee, with full powers to take such action as they might deem expedient.

In a letter from Brother McCormick, he says, "The Charter of American Union Lodge No. 1 was granted by the Grand Lodge at Boston, through Richard Gridley, D. G. M. We are now working under a charter from the Grand Lodge of Ohio, as it was rechartered by our Grand Lodge in 1815."

The report of the committee to Washington Lodge shows the result of their action, and the response to it from American Union Lodge corroborates their good judgment. The committee, in their report, said,

It was found, upon investigation, that American Union Lodge was the oldest Lodge in the West, and was originally constituted at Roxbury, Mass., on the 20th day of February, 1776.

This Lodge was what was called an Army Lodge, and followed the patriot Army through the entire Revolutionary War, working, as occasion permitted, and finally locating itself at Marietta, Ohio.

The committee, after due deliberation, decided to procure and present to American Union Lodge a set of Working Tools, consisting of a Master's Gavel, Truncheons for the Wardens, and a Marshal's Baton, all made from the wood of the old elm tree, which, for many years, spread its branches over the birthplace of General Joseph Warren, on Warren Street, at the corner of Moreland Street in this city. The material from which these several pieces were made was furnished by Wor. Bro. J. F, Newton, and each piece bore the following inscription on a silver band encircling them, "Presented by Washington Lodge, F. and A. M., of Roxbury, Mass., to American Union Lodge No. 1, of Marietta, Ohio, June 24, 1876."

These were forwarded by Express, accompanied by a congratulatory letter; and, as can well be imagined, they were received with expressions of pleasure, and called forth a very beautiful letter in answer, wherein it was stated that the gifts were received and presented by Bro. McCormick to the Lodge, at their celebration on June 24, 1876, to which the Worshipful Master, Bro. Geo. T. Hovey, responded in an appropriate address of acceptance.

In communicating this the committee say it "will ever remain a proud day in the minds of all worthy members of American Union Lodge. The Grand Lodge of Ohio, a large number of Lodges, the Masonic Historical Society of the State, and many distinguished Masons were present with us. . . While your Lodge bears the honored name of Washington, we feel a pride in the fact that the name of our Lodge is the embodiment of the grand thought of our 'American Union.'"

The oration, by M. W. Richard Vaux, of Pennsylvania, was all that could be desired, and thus was represented in the centennial celebration of American Union Lodge, the Masons of three great States, and three old Grand Lodges, whose progress has been graced by the tenets of a Mason's profession, and whose century of life in each, now closed, has been crowned with prosperity and peace.

Brother McCormick noticed the fact that, among the members of American Union Lodge, is Brother Col. Augustus Stone, the oldest Mason in the West. He joined the Lodge about three-quarters of a century ago, and is over ninety-five years of age. He looks forward to our centennial celebration with great interest, as Masonry is his greatest pride," and as the celebration was in all respects "a success;" we feel sure that the Masons of Massachusetts will congratulate those of Ohio, and wish them joy of their century Lodge, and of their venerable Brother.

YEARS

1776 1777 1778 1779 1780 1781 1782 1783 1784 1785 1786 1787 1788 1789 1790 1791 1793 1794 1803 1805 1816 1819

1886 1950 1954

OTHER BROTHERS

• John Brooks, Biography
• Israel Putnam, Memorial
• Rufus Putnam, Memorial
• Benjamin Tupper, Memorial

LINKS

American Union #1, Ohio.

Massachusetts Lodges