Friendship1
Contents
FRIENDSHIP LODGE
PERFECT UNION LODGE
Location: Boston
Chartered By: Joseph Webb
Charter Date: 03/08/1779 I-272
Precedence Date: 03/08/1778
Current Status: unknown. The charter was vacated in May 1781 and its precedence was assigned to Perfect Union Lodge. Notes on page 1911-140.
- 1935 (Notes included in "The Masonic Predecessors of Mystic Lodge", by Most Wor. Herbert W. Dean, 1935-102)
YEARS
1778 1779 1780 1781 1782 1783 1784 1785 1786 1787 1788 1789 1790 1791
HISTORY
FROM CENTENARY HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE LODGE, NOVEMBER 1957
From Proceedings, Page 1957-151:
Friendship Lodge of Williamstown was the second Lodge to be instituted in Berkshire County. Their Charter was issued July 23, 1785. It was surrendered in 1828, when the anti-Masonic storm clouds began to gather.
NOTES IN 75TH ANNIVERSARY HISTORY OF WILLIAMS LODGE, MAY 1946
From Proceedings, Page 1946-173:
The first Masonic Lodge in Williamstown was known by the name of Friendship Lodge, and was organized 161 years ago. Friendship Lodge was instituted by dispensation, and Israel Jones was appointed Worshipful Master by Massachusetts Grand Lodge July 23, 1785. It is therefore one of the very earliest Lodges in Massachusetts. We are in possession of three Master Mason's diplomas issued by Friendship Lodge in the years 1796, 1805 and 1806 respectively. These are signed by the officers of the Lodge, and among the signatures, appear the names of two of the Trustees of Williams College. These interesting documents are here and available for your inspection. A few extracts copied from the minutes of the Lodge are also in our possession.
The Lodge is frequently mentioned in local histories of the period, but on the whole, we have comparatively little information concerning the activities of Friendship Lodge. Suffice it here to say that after forty-three years of active work, the Lodge surrendered its Charter in the year 1828.. The records of old Friendship Lodge are now to be found in the archives of the Grand Lodge in Boston.
