MassGLLegality

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LEGALITY OF THE MASSACHUSETTS GRAND LODGE

From New England Freemason, Vol. I, No. 10, October 1874, Page 465:

We are indebted to Brother Drummond for the discovery in the Library of the Grand Lodge of New York of a pamphlet which neither he nor we ever heard of before, or increed any Brother in this jurisdiction, as far as we can learn. We consider it an interesting item of Masonic history, and reprint it in the hope that further information may be elicited in regard to the history of the question involved.

At a Convention of Delegates from the following Lodges of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, holdcn at Free Masons Hall in Charlestown, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, on Thursday, 26 May, 5785.

PRESENT.

Rising States Lodge.

Massachusetts Lodge.

St. Peter's Lodge.

  • Rt. Worsh. Moses Greenleaf.

Trinity Lodge.

  • Rt. Worsh. Timo. Whiting.
  • Rt. Worsh. Edward Heard.
  • Rt. Woi sh. Michael Newall.
  • Ephraim Carter, Jun.
  • Benjamin Moore.

Warren Lodge.

  • Henry Jackson.
  • Benjamin Hitchburn.

Perfect Union Lodge.

  • Rt. Worsh. John Juteau.
  • Peter St. Meadows.
  • James Nebon.
  • Edward V. Brown.
  • James Huzman.

Essex Lodge.

  • Rt. Worsh. Joseph Hiller.
  • William Bentley.

Unity Lodge.

  • Rt. Worsh. Thomas Dodge.

Worcester Lodge.

  • Joseph Ruggles.

King Solomon's Lodge.

  • Rt. Worsh. Josiah Bartlett
  • Eiiphaiet Newell.
  • Benjamin Frothingham.
  • Joseph Cordis.
  • Caleb Swan.

Rising Sun Lodge.

Hampshire Lodge.

  • Rt. Worsh. Benja. Tupper.

The Committee appointed by the Delegates from five Lodges at Boston on March 10th last, report, That they have sent the Proceedings of that Day to all Ancient Lodges, agreeable to their Instructions, and that Answers have been received from all except Berkshire, United States, Amity, St. Patrick's, St. Paul's, Vermont, and King Hiram's Lodges; After which it was Voted, That the Right Worshipful Brother Hays be President; that the Right Worshipful Brother Tupper and the Right Worshipful Brother Whitney be Vice-Presidents; and that the Right Worshipful Brother Bartlett be Secretary to this Convention.

Resolved, That in the present prosecution of Business, each Lodge shall have but one vote, That every person be indulged with freedom of Debate, and that the Yeas and Nays bo taken on any Question when requested.

Letters from St. Andrew's and Tyrian Lodges (declining to send Delegates) were read and ordered to be filed.

The Convention proceeded to Business, and after a lengthy Debate on the present state of Masonry, and the government of Lodges, it was

  • Resolved, That a Committee be chosen from this Convention to consider the Constitution of the Massachusetts Grand Lodge, the Authority under which the different Lodges in the Commonwealth act, or think they act, and the State of Ancient Masonry in general, together with a Circular Letter (on File) from the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, and that they do report to this Convention at their Adjournment what may be most expedient for a perfect conciliation and happy Union of all Ancient Lodges.
  • Resolved, That the said Committee consist of seven, when the following were nominated, viz. Brother Hays, Brother Tupper, Brother Edwards, Brother Dexter, Brother Jackson, Brother Warren, and Brother Moore.

The business being thus far ended, the Convention adjourned until To-morrow, at 4 o'clock, P. M., then to assemble at the House of Brother Stoddard in Boston.

Friday 27th Convention met agreeable to their adjournment. The Committee appointed on the Business of yesterday, reported to the Convention their Enquiry: which was read Paragraph by Paragraph, numbered and acted upon in the following Order, viz : '

  1. The Committee appointed by the Convention report,—Having examined the Charter originally granted to the Grand Lodge in this Commonwealth by the Grand Lodge of Scotland, they find the Grant to have been made to the Grand Master by said Charter appointed and to him only, without any provision for a Successor.
  2. That St. Andrew's, the Tyrian, the Massachusetts, and St. Peter's Lodges, were the only Lodges, which at the commencement of the war had existence under said Charter in this Commonwealth.
  3. That soon after the commencement of the war, and the death of the Grand Master, by the Charter aforesaid appointed, The Craft was in danger of decay, from the circumstance of there being no Grand Lodge established, and all communication being cut off by the war, with the Grand Lodge of Scotland.
  4. At a meeting of the Delegates from St. Andrew's, the Tyrian, the Massachusetts, and St. Peter's Lodges, (Massachusetts then from the circumstances of the war not having congregated) a Grand Lodge was established, and Grand Master Webb elected by the free suffrages of the members assembled, and was commissioned accordingly, without any reference to, or consideration of the Charter from Scotland, other than as that gave existence to the said St. Andrew's, Tyrean and St. Peter's Lodges.
  5. That this Grand Lodge was thus formed from the necessity of the case, for the purpose of enabling the Brethren to carry out the design of Masonry, and for the purpose of constituting new Lodges.
  6. That all the Lodges of Ancient Masons in the Commonwealth, as well as all represented in this Convention, except the said St. Andrew's, Tyrean, Massachusetts and St. Peter's, were constituted by the authority of the said Grand Lodge, called the Massachusetts Grand Lodge and that they are Lodges from, or by no other authority whatever.
  7. That this Establishment was about two years since communicated to the Grand Lodge of Scotland, with a request of their sentiments on the subject, but no answer, that your Committee find, has ever been received.
  8. This your Committee report as a state of facts, and take leave to remark thereon, that if the said Grand Lodge is not a legal constitutional Grand Lodge, there are in this Commonwealth but four legal constituted Lodges of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, viz. the said St. Andrew's, Tyrean, Massachusetts and St. Peter's, and all the others are spurious, as being derived from a spurious original.
  9. But they are of opinion that the said Massachusetts Grand Lodge is a constitutional Lodge, as it appears from Proceedings in the Book of Constitutions, that it has been the usage of Masons, in free, sovereign and independent Nations and States, when they thought it for the good of Masonry, to establish Grand Lodges, with the authority of such.
  10. And it appears to your Committee perfectly consistent with the Principle of Masonry, which is universal benevolence, with the usage of Masons in the former ages, and with reason, that Masons in every free and independent State should have such power.
  11. More especially that the said mentioned Lodges should of right have exercised that power when they did, as the benefits of Masonry in a time of war are most needed, and are of more immediate service to Masons, and there was no other mode in which the benefits could be extended.
  12. Your Committee are further of opinion, that an union and correspondence of all Ancient Lodges through the United States is an event much to be wished for by all good Masons and that they think an opportunity is now offered for such union and correspondence by the letter from the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania.
  13. On the whole then, as there have been with some ancient Lodges a doubt respecting the constitutionality of the Massachusetts Grand Lodge, and as (tho' we think it a constitutional Grand Lodge) there appears to us some defects iu the regulations of the said Grand Lodge, to mention particularly but one, viz: the circumstances of the Grand Master's nominating his successor, which we conceive is not perfectly consistant with freedom of election: your Committee therefore take leave to recommend that the several Ancient Lodges in this Commonwealth, and such as are represented in this Convention, if they think proper shall appear by themselves or proxies, at the Massachusetts Grand Lodge on the next Grand Feast, then and there perfectly to recognize the Constitutionality of said Grand Lodge, choose new Grand Officers, and make such alterations in the present regulations as to them shall appear expedient and proper to bo made: and that the said Grand Lodge be then empowered to correspond with the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, and other Grand Lodges in the United States, and to form with them such union as may be thought for the good of Masonry in general, all which is humbly submitted by
  • M. M. Hays, Chairman,
  • Thomas Edwards,
  • Henry Jackson,
  • Benjamin Tupper,
  • Aaron Dexter,
  • John Warren,
  • Benjamin Moore,

Boston, March 27, 5785.

The 2d, 7th, 10th, and 12th Paragraphs unanimously accepted. The 1st, 4th, 3d, 5th, 6th, 8th, 9th, 11th, and 13th Paragraphs accepted with only the dissention of Unity Lodge.

The Question was then put, Whether the Report should be accepted in whole, and passed in the affirmative, with the disscntion of Unity Lodge only.

  • Resolved unanimously, that this Convention in the foregoing Proceedings, have had in View the good of the Craft, that they are actuated by an ardent Wish to preserve inviolate the uncorrupted Principles of the Masonic Institution. That Copies of the Proceedings, signed by the President and Secretary, be transmitted to all Ancient Lodges in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and other Lodges under the Jurisdiction of the Massachusetts Grand Lodge, with all possible dispatch.

The Business being finished, the Convention dissolved with Concord, Unity and Peace.
M. M. Hays, President.
Attest, Josiah Bartlett, Secretary.

The questions discussed in this Convention would seem to have been previously settled by the Grand Lodge itself, as appears from the following extracts from the records of the Massachusetts Grand Lodge:

At a meeting of the Grand Lodge Held on Special Occasion Monday Evening, 10th June, 1782,

  • Voted, that a Committee be Appointed to Draught resolutions explanatory of the Powers & Authority of this Grand Lodge respecting the Extent & Meaning of its Jurisdiction and the Exercise of any other Masonic Authorities within its Jurisdiction.
  • Voted, That the Committee Consist of five. Viz't Bros. Morton, Revere, Warren, Avery & Juteau.

At a Meeting of the Grand Lodge, Monday, 30th September, 1782, to receive the report of their Committee Chose in June last, the report being read, it was Voted it should be referred to Next Lodge evening.

  • Voted, That the Committee Chose in June last, revise the Book of Constitution which is to be printed by Br. N. Willis.

Massachusetts Grand Lodge in Ample Form at Masons' Hall, Friday, December 6th, 1782.

A Report of the Committee to take into Consideration the Conduct of the Brethren, who Assumed the Power and Prerogative of a Grand Lodge on the American Establishment Referr'd Over from last Quarterly Communication was read as follows:

The Committee appointed to take into Consideration the Conduct of those Brethren, who Assumed the Powers and Prerogatives of a Grand Lodge on the Ancient Establishment in this Place, and Examine the Extent of their Authority & Jurisdiction, together with the Powers of any other Ancient Masonic Institution within the Same ; Beg Leave to Report the Result of their Examination founded on the following facts, Viz't:

  • That in Consequence of a petition from a Number of Brethren of this Town to the Grand Lodge of Scotland, a Charter was granted them under the Name of St. Andrews Lodge, by the Most Wpfl. & Rt. Noble Sholto, Charles Douglass, Lord Aberdour, and that by means of a Subsequent Petition of the Said St. Andrews Lodge, a Commission was made out & presented from the Most Wpfl. & Rt. Honble. George Earl of Dalhousie, Grand Master of Scotland, to the Late Most Wpfll. Joseph Warren Esqr. constituting and appointing him, Provincial G. M. of the Ancient & Honble Society of Free and Accepted Masons, with Power of granting Charters of Erection within One Hundred Miles of this Metropolis, but that during the Jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge in form & manner thus Appointed, three Lodges only were Constituted by the Authority thereof.
  • That the Commission from the Grand Lodge of Scotland granted to our Late Grand Master, Joseph Warren Esqr. having died with him and of Course his Deputy whose Appointment was derived from his Nomination being no longer in existence, they saw themselves without a Head, & without a Single Grand Officer, and of Course it was evident that not Only the Grand Lodge, but all the particular Lodges under its Jurisdiction must Cease to Assemble, the Brethren be dispersed, the Pennyless go unassisted, the Craft Languish, & Ancient Masonry be extinct in this Part of the World.
  • That in Consequence of a Summons from the former Grand Wardens, to the Masters & Wardens of All the regular Constituted Lodges, a Grand Communication was held, to Consult & Advise on some means to preserve the Intercourse of the Brethren.
  • That the Political Head of this Country having destroyed All Connection & Correspondence between the Subjects of these States & the Country from which the Grand Lodge originally derived its Commissioned Authority, and the Principles of the Craft inculcating on its professors Submission to the Commands of the Civil Authority of the Country they reside in, the Brethren did Assume an Elective Supremacy, & under it Chose a Grand Master & Grand Officers, and Erected a Grand Lodge with Indepcndant Powers & Prerogatives, to be exercised however, on Principles consistent with, & Subordinate to the Regulations pointed out in the Constitution of Ancient Masonry. That the Reputation & Utility of the Craft under their Jurisdiction has been most Extensively diffused by the flourishing State of fourteen Lodges, Constituted by their Authority, within a Shorter Period, than that in which three Only received Dispensations under the former Grand Lodge.
  • That in the History of our Craft we find, that in England there are Two Grand Lodges independant of each other, In Scotland the Same, and in Ireland their Grand Lodge and Grand Master are Independant of either England or Scotland. Tis clear that the Authority of some of these Grand Lodges originated in Assumption or otherwise they would acknowledge the Head from whence they Derived.

Your Committee are therefore of Opinion that the Resolutions of the said Present Grand Lodge, were dictated by Principles of the Clearest Necessity, founded in the Highest reason, and Warranted by Precedent of the most approved Authority.

Your Committee beg leave to recommend the following Resolutions to be Adopted by this Grand Lodge, & to be ingrafted into its Constitutions.

  • 1st. Resolved, That the Brethren of the Grand Lodge in Assuming the Powers & Prerogatives of an Independent Grand Lodge, Acted on the most laudable Motives and Consistently with the Principles which ought forever to govern Masons, the Benefit of the Craft & the good of Mankind ; and are warranted in their Proceedings, by the Practice of Ancient Masons in All Ages of the World.
  • 2d. Resolved, That this Grand Lodge be forever hereafter known & Called by the Name of The Massachusetts Grand Lodge of Ancient Masons, and, that it is free and Independent in its Government & Official Authority of any other Grand Lodge, or Grand Master in the Universe.
  • 3d. Resolved, That the Sovereign Power & Authority of the said Grand Lodge, be Construed to Extend throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and to Any of the United States, where none shall be erected over such Lodges only as this Grand Lodge Shall there Constitute.
  • 4th. Resolved, That the Grand Master for the time being, be desired to Call in all the Charters which were held under the Jurisdiction of the late Grand Master, Joseph Warren Esqr. and Return the same with an Endorsement thereon, Expressive of their Voluntary Recognition of the Power and Authority of this Grand Lodge.
  • 5th. Resolved, That no Person or Persons ought or can (Consistently with the Rules of Ancient Masonry and the Good Order of the Craft) use or Exercise the Powers or Prerogatives of an Ancient Grand Master, or Grand Lodge, to wit, to give Power to Erect Lodges of Ancient Masonry, Make Masons, appoint Superior or Grand Officers, Receive dues, or do any thing which belongs to the Powers or Prerogatives of an Ancient Grand Lodge, within any part of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the rightful and Appropriated Limits to which the Authority of this Grand Lodge forever hereafter Extends.

Sign'd, Perez Morton, Paul Revere, John Warren, John Warren, James Avery.

The Foregoing Report having been taken into Consideration, was read Paragraph by Paragraph and after Mature Deliberation thereon the same was Accepted and Ordered to be recorded in the Proceedings of the Grand Lodge.

Sign'd, Jos: Webb, Grand M.

Bro. Juteau. presented his Dissent to the foregoing Report & Resolves.

Voted, That the foregoing Report & Resolves be printed and a Copy enclosed to each of the Lodges under this Jurisdiction in order that it may be kept in, & Considered as part of the Book of Constitutions and that Brothers Avery, Warren & Morton be a Committee for that purpose.

It will be remembered that the Saint John's Grand Lodge was organized in 1733 under the Deputation granted to Henry Price. The Massachusetts Grand Lodge was organized in 1769 under the Deputation granted to Joseph Warren. In 1792 the two were united under the name of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts.