Difference between revisions of "GMHays"

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(MOSES MICHAEL HAYS (1739-1805))
(MOSES MICHAEL HAYS (1739-1805))
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"In 1758, a Body was organized at Paris, called ''The Council of the Emperors of the East and West''. This Council organized a Rite called the Rite of Perfection, which consisted of twenty-five degrees, the highest of which was ''Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret.''
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"In 1758, a Body was organized at Paris, called ''The Council of the Emperors of the East and West''. This Council organized a Rite called the Rite of Perfection, which consisted of twenty-five degrees, the highest of which was ''Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret.''<br>
  
 
"In 1761, this Council granted a Patent or Deputation to Stephin Morin, authorizing him to propagate the Rite in the Western continent, whither he was about to repair. In the same year, Morin arrived at the city of St. Domingo, where he commenced the dissemination of the Rite, and appointed many Inspectors, both for the West Indies and for the United States. Among others, he conferred the degrees on M. M. Hays, with a power of appointing others when necessary. Hays accordingly appointed Isaac Da Costa Deputy Inspector-General for South Carolina, who in 1783 introduced the Rite into that State by the establishment of a Grand Lodge of Perfection in Charleston. Other Inspectors were subsequently appointed; and in 1801, a Supreme Council was opened in
 
"In 1761, this Council granted a Patent or Deputation to Stephin Morin, authorizing him to propagate the Rite in the Western continent, whither he was about to repair. In the same year, Morin arrived at the city of St. Domingo, where he commenced the dissemination of the Rite, and appointed many Inspectors, both for the West Indies and for the United States. Among others, he conferred the degrees on M. M. Hays, with a power of appointing others when necessary. Hays accordingly appointed Isaac Da Costa Deputy Inspector-General for South Carolina, who in 1783 introduced the Rite into that State by the establishment of a Grand Lodge of Perfection in Charleston. Other Inspectors were subsequently appointed; and in 1801, a Supreme Council was opened in

Revision as of 18:08, 13 February 2011

MOSES MICHAEL HAYS (1739-1805)

MosesMichaelHays1915.jpg

Grand Master, Massachusetts Grand Lodge, 1788-1792

Most Worshipful Brother Hays was born of Hebrew parents, in Lisbon, Portugal, in 1739. He came to this country about the year 1768 by way of Jamaica and the West Indies and established himself at Newport, R. I. While in Jamaica Brother Hays, through Henry Andrew Francken, received the appointment of Deputy Inspector-General for North-America for the Rite of Perfection. A contemporaneous written copy of his deputation is among our archives. Dr. Mackey (Encyclopedia of Freemasonry, p. 697) thus relates the history of the introduction of the Scottish Rite into North America.

"In 1758, a Body was organized at Paris, called The Council of the Emperors of the East and West. This Council organized a Rite called the Rite of Perfection, which consisted of twenty-five degrees, the highest of which was Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret.

"In 1761, this Council granted a Patent or Deputation to Stephin Morin, authorizing him to propagate the Rite in the Western continent, whither he was about to repair. In the same year, Morin arrived at the city of St. Domingo, where he commenced the dissemination of the Rite, and appointed many Inspectors, both for the West Indies and for the United States. Among others, he conferred the degrees on M. M. Hays, with a power of appointing others when necessary. Hays accordingly appointed Isaac Da Costa Deputy Inspector-General for South Carolina, who in 1783 introduced the Rite into that State by the establishment of a Grand Lodge of Perfection in Charleston. Other Inspectors were subsequently appointed; and in 1801, a Supreme Council was opened in Charleston by John Mitchell and Frederick Dalcho."

It is known that Brother Hays while a resident of Newport, R. I., was active in Masonry. Indeed, he and one or two of his Jewish Brethren were the main supports of all the Masonic Bodies there.

He was proposed as a member of The Massachusetts Lodge, Boston, November 5, 1782. December 3, 1782, he was elected Master and served during the years 1783, 1784, and 1785. In 1785, he was Junior Grand Warden and served as Grand Master of the Massachusetts Grand Lodge from July 24, 1788 until the union of the two Grand Lodges within this Commonwealth on March 5, 1792. He was one of the main factors in effecting the union.

The fact that he took particular interest in the degrees of the Rose et Croix, coupled with a remark of R.W. Charles W. Moore (13 M.F.M. 232) to the effect that he had no conscientious scruples in dietetics, would seem to indicate that he certainly was not bigoted. Further evidence is offered on this point, as well as in regard to his general character and reputation, by the following extractfrom the Memoir of Samuel Joseph May: </blockquote>

"If the children of my day were taught, among other foolish things, to dread, if not despise, Jews, a very different lesson was impressed upon my young heart. There was but one famiiy of the despised children of the house of Israel resident in Boston - the family of Moses Michael Hays; a man much respected, not only on account of his large wealth, but for his many personal virtues, and the high culture and great excellence of his wife, his son Judah, and his daughters - especially Catherine and Slowey. His house, far down on Hanover Street, then one of the fashionable streets of the town, was the abode of hospitality; and his family moved in what were then the first cireles of society. He and his truly good wife were hospitable, not to the rich alone, but also to the poor. Many indigent families were fed pretty regularly from his table. They would come especially after his frequent dinner parties, and were sure to be made welcome, not to the crumbs only, but to ampler portions of the food that might be left.

"Always on Saturday he expected a number of friends to dine with him. A full-length table was always spread and loaded with the luxuries of the season; and he loved to see it surrounded by a few regular visitors, and others especially invited. My father was a favorite guest. He was regarded by Mr. Hays and his whole family as a particular friend, their chosen counsellor in times of perplexity, and their comforter in the days of their affiiction. My father seldom failed to dine at Mr. Hays, on Saturday, and often took me with him; for he was sure I should meet refined company there.

"Both Uncle and Aunt Hays (for so I called them) were fond of children, particularly of me; and I was permitted to stay with them several days, and even weeks, together. And I can never forget, not merely their kind, but their conscientious care of me. I was the child of Christian parents, and they took especial pains that I should lose nothing of religious training so long as I was permitted to abide with them. Every night I was required, on going to bed, to repeat my Christian hymns and prayers to them, or else to an excellent Chrigtian servant woman who lived with them many years. f witnessed their religious exercises, their fastings anil their prayers, and was made to feel that they worshipped the Unseen, Almighty and All-merciful One. Of course I grew up without any prejudice against Jews- or any other religionists - because they did not believe as my father and mother believed." </blockquote>

In the Boston Directory of the period Brother Hays is described as keeping an insurance office at No. 68 State Street. He was probably what was then called an underwriter, carrying on for his private account the same business as is now transacted by insurance companies. He died intestate, May 9, 1805, and his son Judah administered on the estate, the inventory amounting to $80,000. His remains were conveyed to Newport, R. I., and buried in the Jewish cemetery, by the side of those of his daughter Rebecca. Some years afterwards his son erected a handsome monument on the spot and placed upon it the following inscription:

"Here repose the ashes of Moses Michael Hays, Esq., who died in Boston, in the State of Massachusetts, on the 11th day of Sivan, A.M.5565; 9th day of May, 1805 of the Christian Era; aged 66. In commemoration of his virtues, his son, with filial reverence, erected this monument."

The Columbian Centinel, published in Boston on Saturday, May 11, 1805, contained the following obituary notice:

"In the character of the deceased there is much worthy of our admiration, much for our imitation. Possessed by nature of a strong intellect, there was a vigor in his conceptions of men and things which gave a seeming asperity to his conversation, which was ever frank and lucid. He walked abroad fearing no man, but loving all. Under his roof dwelt hospitality; it was an asylum of friendship, the mansion of peace. He was without guile, despising hypocrisy as he despised meanness. Take him for all in all, he was A MAN.

"In his death society will mourn the loss of a most estimable citizen, his family the kindest of husbands, the most indulgent of fathers. But what consolation shall we offer to assuage the violence of their grief? Why, this is all the recollection of his virtues, and that as he lived, so he died; that to his last moment the cheerfulness and benevolence of his whole life wasted not on his falling brow. Calm and without a sigh he sunk to rest, and is now secure in the bosom of his Father and our Father, of his God and our God.


Columbian Centinel for May 11, 1805.
Memorial Volume of 125th Anniversary of The Massachusetts Lodge, 27 and 88.
2 N.E.F. 71. 117, 145.
5 American Freemason, 576.
The Jews and Masonry in the United States before 1810, by Samuel Oppenheim (1910).