MassachusettsHamiltonHistoryCh9

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CHAPTER 9: INDEPENDENCE

Webb called the Brethren together on December 27, 1776, to observe the Feast of St. John. Thirty-two Brethren met, and while there is no record beyond the fact of observing the Feast there can be no doubt that there was conference about the situation and how it might be met. A special meeting of the Grand Lodge was held February 14, 1777, ostensibly for the purpose of hearing a petition for a Lodge at Stockbridge, The petition was referred to March 7. It was then voted that the Deputy Grand Master send a summons to all the Masters and Wardens in the Jurisdiction to meet on March 7 for the election of "a Grand Master for this State, in the room of our late worthy Grand Master Warren, deceased." Grand Lodge met on March 7, but adjourned until the next day, probably because no Lodge representatives appeared. At the adjourned meeting, March 8, a Past Master of St. Andrew's and the Master of St. Peter's, of Newburyport, were present. Joseph Webb was elected Grand Master and Samuel Barrett and Paul Revere Grand Wardens, These were all Past Masters of St. Andrew's. Webb later appointed Moses Deshon, also a Past Master of St. Andrew's, as his Deputy. By the terms of his election Webb was to serve until the following June, but Webb continued to serve by annual election until June 24, 1783.

The action of March 8, 1777 was really a declaration or rather an assertion of independence. It was assumed, rather arbitrarily, as we shall see later, that the death of Warren not only terminated his administration but dissolved his Provincial Grand Lodge by vacating all his appointments. The Lodges, being thus left without a governing body, set themselves up as a sovereign Grand Lodge and proceeded to organize as such. Under any other assumption Webb would have acted as Deputy Grand Master of the Scotch Provincial Grand Lodge until Scotland appointed a new Provincial Grand Master. Current political conditions being what they were, the Massachusetts Brethren had no wish to continue in Masonic dependence on Scotland.

Joseph Webb was thus the first elected and installed Grand Master of an American Grand Lodge.

Joseph Webb was born in Boston, October 28, 1734, He joined the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company sometime before 1765. He was commissioned Ensign in the Boston Regiment in 1767 and became its Colonel in 1784. He probably saw no service in the field during the Revolution, but was much occupied in staff work dealing with recruiting and supply. His business was that of a ship-chandler. He accumulated a modest fortune and was one of the leading citizens of Boston, serving the town in many capacities. He took his Masonic degrees in St. Andrew's in 1756 and was its Master in 1765 and 1766. He was an officer of Warren's Grand Lodge from its organization and Deputy Grand Master from 1771 until elected Grand Master in 1777. In 1783 he gave place to John Warren for one year. Elected again in 1784 he held office until his death in 1787, at the age of 53. We have no information about his personal characteristics. That he was an able and successful business man is clear from the record. It is also clear that as a citizen he was willing to serve in any capacity in which he could be useful. We have every reason to infer a courteous, kindly and generous personality.

At the meeting on March 8, a Charter was issued.to "Berkshire Lodge No. 5", granting the petition submitted in February, This was the first Lodge to be chartered by a sovereign Grand Lodge in America. It was short-lived, however, not appearing in the records after 1792.

We find the Brethren enjoying the beauties of an inflated currency, as Grand Lodge votes in December 1779 that the Lodges shall pay for the support of the Grand Lodge nine pounds each quarter, thirty-six pounds a year.

On October 6, 1779, a Charter was voted for an Army Lodge known as Washington No. 10. The Master was Gen. John Patterson, who had been one of the petitioners for Berkshire Lodge; the Senior Warden was Col. Benjamin Tupper, who served with distinction throughout the war, left the service at its close a Brigadier General, and became a Judge in Marietta, Ohio: the Junior Warden was MaJ. William Hull, who served with distinction through the war, was recalled to service as a Brigadier General in the War of 1812, and after being defeated by the English General Brock, nearly lost his honor and his life by being made a scapegoat for the military incapacity and political trickery of others. Hull was the first Master of Meridian Lodge, now of Natick, Mass. Washington Lodge was disbanded at the close of the War.

On March 5, 1779, a petition was received from a group of French Masons resident in Boston asking for a Charter, The petition was received and it was voted to make inquiry of the French Consul as to their character and standing. Apparently his report was prompt and favorable as the Grand Lodge voted on March 9 to grant the petition. There was some delay or misunderstanding, and on June 4 a committee was appointed to inform the petitioners that their prayer had been granted. At the September meeting Bro. Lebarbier Duplessis (his name is spelled in seven different ways in the Grand Lodge Records) who had been chosen Master appeared, applied for, and received the Charter as voted. On January 25, 1780, Grand Master Webb and his officers solemnly constituted the Lodge and installed the officers. The Lodge was named "Friendship", a name very popular among French Lodges.

This was the first experiment made in Massachusetts of constituting a Lodge on racial lines, and the result was not encouraging. In the absence of information to the contrary it may be assumed that the Lodge worked in English. All its business with the Grand Lodge was conducted in English and the confusion which appears in the attempt to spell the names of the members would indicate attempts to render them phonetically in ignorance of the language. The records of the Lodge are not in existence.

Trouble began almost immediately. On September 1, 1780, a petition was received from Defrance, "late Junior Warden" of Friendship Lodge, appealing against his expulsion by the Lodge for misconduct. A committee was appointed to try the case. The committee reported that Defrance had been guilty of minor violations of the By-Laws but recommended mutual oblivion and the restoration of Defrance to standing and "equal estimation, friendship, and brotherly love", and the recommendation was adopted by the Grand Lodge and the Lodge. On January 12, 1781, Duplessis having gone out of office, "a letter of complaint was read, signed by a number of officers and members of Friendship Lodge enumerating charges against their late Master, Brother Duplessis." It was voted to notify Duplessis of the charges and have all parties at the next Quarterly. In the meanwhile a number of members of Friendship Lodge petitioned that their Charter be vacated and a new one issued to them. Duplessis did not appear whereupon a committee was appointed "to wait upon Mr. Duplessis immediately" acquaint him with the charges and know his reasons why the petition against him should not be granted and report forthwith. Duplessis answered by a general denial and prayed that the prayer of the petitioners should not be granted.

At this point the Grand Lodge lost patience and voted to vacate the the Charter of Friendship Lodge. They then immediately voted to issue a new Charter to the petitioners under the name of Perfect Union Lodge, and give them the rank formerly held by Friendship. By this summary procedure Duplessis and such of his friends as had not joined in the charges were gotten rid of.

The Perfect Union was as brittle as the Friendship. At the September Quarterly in 1781, Wor. Bro. Juteau (also variously spelled) complained to the Grand Lodge that their late Treasurer Bro. Jareau had misappropriates the funds of Friendship Lodge. A committee was appointed which found the charges not supported and recommended that he be required to pay any balance of Friendship Lodge funds to Perfect Union Lodge, which was accordingly done.

While this matter was still pending a committee of Grand Lodge was appointed "to enquire into the form of making Masons in the Perfect Union Lodge." As the report of the committee is not recorded, the difficulty must be a matter of conjecture. Very probably the members and officers of Perfect Union had fallen into the habit of using, in whole or in part, the French ritual to which they were accustomed before taking out their Massachusetts Charter.

As we shall presently see, the Massachusetts Grand Lodge was finding serious difficulty in getting itself established. Perhaps on this account Perfect Union paid its arrearages of Grand Lodge dues and resigned its Charter, but apparently with a string to the resignation. On June 24, 1786, the Grand Lodge took curious action.v It voted "That the Grand Lodge will accept the resignation of the Perfect Union Charter, and that the request of said Lodge respecting their holding their rank be referred to the next meeting of Grand Lodge."

When the next meeting came it appeared that in some mysterious way Perfect Union had regained possession of its Charter and Grand Lodge formally notified the Lodge that the return of the Charter was "illegal and unconstitutional". The matter of rank was again referred to the next Quarterly . It was then voted that consideration of the question should be deferred until such time as they might apply for a renewal of their Charter. They never did apply and so Perfect Union Lodge disappears after six years of troubled existence.

During the progress of the War the idea of a General Grand Master for the United States gained much headway. This is interesting in view of the overwhelming popular objection at that time to a strong central government for the Colonies, or indeed to any central government. January 13, 1780, the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania declared its conviction that there ought to be "a Grand Master of Masons throughout the United States" and elected Washington to that office. They communicated their action to the other Grand Lodges and asked their concurrence. Almost at the same time, February 7, a convention of delegates from the Army Lodges met at Morristown, N.J. and recommended the establishment of one Grand Lodge and one Grand Master in America. When Webb received the army proposal, which was the first to reach him, he ignored it as lacking official standing. When information of the Pennsylvania action was officially communicated to him he immediately sent a very diplomatic reply. No one could object to Washington as General Grand Master. What powers and prerogatives was it proposed to give him? Was he to appoint Provincial Grand Masters for the several states? If that was proposed Rowe was "confident that the Grand Lodge of this state will never give up their right of electing their own Grand Master and other officers annually."

Webb consulted the Lodges in his jurisdiction and endeavored to get the opinion of the other American Grand Lodges. The matter was discussed at length in Massachusetts and the conclusion reached was that it was Impossible to obtain the opinions of the other Grand Lodges and that no determination of the case could be reached with propriety and justice to all concerned until peace had been settled throughout the Continent. The proposition to form a General Grand Lodge has been revived from time to time, but Massachusetts has consistently opposed it.

Webb was a very able and energetic Grand Master. The Massachusetts Grand Lodge went about its work very actively and showed marked prosperity. When Webb was elected Grand Master in 1777 there were three Lodges in the jurisdiction. By the end of 1782 the number had grown to seventeen, four of them in open territory outside Massachusetts. Nevertheless there were lingering doubts as to whether the action of 1777 was regular and as to the relation of the Massachusetts Grand Lodge to the St. John's Grand Lodge.

Accordingly on June 10, 1782 a Committee was appointed "to draught Resolutions explanatory of the powers and authority of this Grand Lodge respecting the extent and exercise of any other Masonic authorities within its jurisdiction." The committee consisted of Perez Morton, Paul Revere, John Warren, James Avery, and John Juteau. Of these Revere, Warren and Avery were members of St. Andrew's, Morton of the Massachusetts, and Juteau of Perfect Union. On December 6 four members of the Committee presented a report and resolutions. Juteau dissented and his dissent, though not the reason for it, was recorded. The report deserves reproduction in full, and follows:

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

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. Andrew's Lodge, by the Most Wpfl & Rt. Hon'ble Sholto, Charles Douglass, Lord Aberdour, and that by Means of a Subsequent Petition of the said St. Andrew's Lodge, a Commission was made out & presented from the Most Wpfl & Rt. Hon'ble George, Earl of Dalhousie, Grand Master of Scotland, to the Late Most Wpfll Joseph Warren Esq. constituting and Appointing him Provincial G. M. of the Ancient & Hon'ble 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 Esq 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 b 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 Independent 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 nourishing 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 independent of each other, In Scotland the Same, and in Ireland their Grand Lodge and Grand Master are Independent 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 Precedents 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.
  • 2nd. 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.
  • 3rd. Resolved, that the Sovereign Power & Authority of the said Grand Lodge, be Continued to Extend throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and to Any of the United States, were 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 Gall 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 Prerogatlves 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 Prerogatlves of An Ancient Grand Lodge within any part of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Right full and Appropriated Limits to which the Authority of this Grand Lodge forever hereafter Extends.


Signed:

  • Perez Morton
  • Paul Revere
  • John Warren
  • James Avery".

The report was considered paragraph by paragraph and adopted without dissent.

The report certainly clarified the position of the Grand Lodge. It was a clever and audacious bit of special pleading intended to lend the color and support of Masonic legitimacy to an existing condition. Certainly the Massachusetts Grand Lodge was a growing concern. To disrupt it at this stage would have caused endless confusion. As a matter of fact, however, it was as purely revolutionary in origin as the United States themselves. The claim to legitimacy in Masonic law rested on two assumptions, both unsound. The first was that Warren's authority died with him and that his death automatically vacated all appointments made by him and left his Provincial Grand Lodge without any officers. That was not in accordance with Masonic law. Apparently also it was exactly what Warren wished to forestall when, on receipt of the Warrant from Lord Dumfries extending his Commission, he "by virtue of the authority granted him" therein issued a written Commission to Webb as Deputy Grand Master. Moreover, the Grand Lodge carried on under Webb as Deputy until the election on March 8, 1777, and in the meantime voted to issue a Charter to Berkshire Lodge, in Stockbridge, The Charter was indeed dated March 8, 1777, but on February 14 the Grand Lodge seemed to entertain no doubt of its competence to was grant it. Webb then sitting as Deputy Grand Master.

The other assumption was that the severance of political relations between the United States and Great Britain severed Masonic dependence as well. At the time the report was submitted the severance of political relations was not yet accomplished. It was not then a recognized principle in Masonic law that political changes affected Masonic jurisdiction. That they did so was the basis of the action of the American Grand Lodge in the Revolution and post-Revolution period but that action was itself revolutionary and, with that very important exception, has never been recognized. A very familiar recent example is the case of Ireland. The political division between the Irish Free State and Northern Ireland has in no wise affected the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Ireland,

The action of Grand Lodge appears to have been generally accepted without open dissent except in one important quarter - the very strong and influential St. Andrew's Lodge, whose dissent we shall presently consider. Apparently the Grand Lodge did not feel any too sure of its ground and was apprehensive that the opposition of St. Andrew's might be shared by other Lodges and wished them to commit themselves. On December 4, 1783, a committee of three was appointed and directed to write to all the Lodges in the jurisdiction requesting an answer to the letter which had been sent out advising them of the action of December 1782. This measure appears to have been effective, as we hear of no opposition except that of St. Andrew's.

The members of St. Andrew's were nearly, if not quite, all strong American patriots, but they were also loyal to Freemasonry as they understood it. This loyalty had been strengthened by the struggle St. Andrew's had waged so strenuously and with such unwavering good temper to maintain its Masonic life and independence. They had studied Masonic law very thoroughly and at every point had kept close touch with their Mother Grand Lodge of Scotland, These points must be kept in mind if we are to understand what occurred at this time an6 in the year following.

When the Lodges of Warren's Provincial Grand Lodge assembled in 1777 and elected Webb Grand Master St. Andrew's went along with the rest and participated in all the acts of the Massachusetts Grand Lodge under his administration. The claim has been made by the historians of St. Andrew's Lodge that they regarded the election of Webb as a provisional measure only, and that they participated only as a means for keeping Ancient Masonry united and active during the suspension of intercourse between the United States and Great Britain. This claim may be considered open to doubt. It may well have been set up later to account for the well known attitude of the Lodge a little later.

On February 25, 1782, St. Andrew's Lodge appointed a committee of nine to petition the Grand Lodge for a Charter confirming their name and securing their precedence. This is a clear acknowledgement of the supremacy of the Grand Lodge and of the desire of St. Andrew's to submit to its authority. It is to be remembered that Cornwallis had surrendered on October 19, 1781. With that surrender the British authority in the United States collapsed and everybody knew it. The war in the southern section was definitely over. There were no British armed forces left except the garrison of New York. Renewal of the war was hopeless, and although a technical state of war existed for two years longer, independence was fully assured. A great wave of rejoicing swept over the country. Masonry as well as the state was freed from foreign control. The action of St. Andrew's Lodge was entirely natural under the circumstances.

Their petition was presented to Grand Lodge March 1, 1782. "The Grand Lodge taking the same into their serious and deliberate consideration - for reasons set forth in said Petition - unanimously resolved that the prayer of said petitioners be granted." Unfortunately the text of the petition has not survived and we do not know what reasons were alleged. The action of Grand Lodge is not surprising when we note that the records show eighteen persons present of whom twelve, including proxies for two out of town Lodges, were members of St. Andrew's. There is, however, some doubt whether any such Charter was actually issued. The Charter may not have been issued because the Grand Lodge officers, all of whom were members of St. Andrew's, were fully aware of a change which was taking place in the sentiments of the members of that Lodge and which developed in such a way as to split the Lodge wide open and result in a division which lasted more than a quarter of a century.

When the vote of February 25 was passed Paul Revere was Master of St. Andrew's. The Wardens were Robert McElroy and Nathaniel Willis. All these were warm advocates of acceptance of the Massachusetts Grand Lodge as the Supreme authority over Ancient Masonry in Massachusetts. The change in opinion among the members appears in the records for October 5; "Moved and seconded that the vote passed the 25th Feb'y last be reconsidered respecting the petition to the Grand Lodge for a Charter." The motion apparently prevailed, although it is not specifically so stated. This action was taken at a special summoned meeting authorized on September 12 preceding. At the annual meeting on November 30, 1782, Revere and his friends were ousted from office. William Burbeck was called back to office as Master and James Carter and Matthew C. Groves were elected Wardens, and an entirely new list of officers chosen. Burbeck was the leader and Carter and Groves were members of the Scottish party. The issue was now drawn between the two parties with the resourceful Revere and the sturdy and determined Burbeck, both Colonels in the Revolutionary army as the protagonists.

When the Grand Lodge passed its vote of December 16, 1782, formally declaring its independence, St, Andrew's took prompt action. An emergency meeting was called for December 16, and at that meeting the Lodge voted by 30 votes to 19 not to acknowledge the independence of-the Massachusetts Grand Lodge, "supposing it to be inconsistent with the principles of Masonry, necessary to be observed for the good of the craft, amidst all the variety of circumstances incident to human affairs."

The Grand Lodge wrote a letter of remonstrance and appointed a committee of conference. On January 9 the letter was read in St.Andrew's and it was voted to appoint a special committee to consider it. A meeting was held on January 23 and a committee from Grand Lodge was admitted. After the committee had presented its case and the matter had been discussed it was "Voted, this Lodge reconsider their vote of the 16th Dec. 1782, respecting the Grand Lodge. They now vote that they will send their Master and Wardens to represent them and pay. their dues until there is a peace between this State and Scotland (a curiously interesting side light on the thinking of the period) at which time this Lodge will determine whether they will be under Scotland or America." With this compromise the Grand Lodge was perforce content for the time.

The treaty of peace was ratified September 3, 1783. On December 12, 1783, news of the ratification having been officially proclaimed, it was voted to call a special meeting to decide between Massachusetts and Scotland. The meeting was held on January 22, 1784. Doubtless the discussion was heated as the parties were ably led and very evenly divided. It was finally decided by a division, those favoring Scotland to go to the north side of the room and those favoring Massachusetts to the south side. Scotland won by a count of 29 to 23. A canvass of absentees was made and perhaps a dozen adhesions to Scotland were obtained later. There was no possibility of dodging the issue, Every man had literally to stand up and be counted.

At this point St. Andrew's for once departed from its otherwise uniform attitude of moderation and courtesy. It took the ground that those who had voted for Scotland had thereby ceased to be members of St, Andrew's Lodge and treated them accordingly. When Revere and some of his party presented themselves a fortnight later at the door of St, Andrew's and asked for a hearing the Lodge records speak of them as "persons." They were not admitted, but a committee was sent out to see them. The committee refused conference, but told Revere that if he and his associates had any propositions to make to St. Andrew's Lodge they might submit them in writing. To this Revere by this time in no very pleasant frame of mind, replied that he did not care to submit any proposals in writing, and so departed with his friends.

St. Andrew's slammed the door behind the dissenting minority, and proceeded to lock and bolt it. The Secretary, by direction, informed the "Massachusetts assumed Grand Lodge" of the vote to adhere to Scotland and served formal notice "that all connection and debate between the Grand Lodge and the Lodge of St. Andrew are at an end. The Lodge also voted "that no person shall be admitted a member of this Lodge who acknowledged the authority of the Massachusetts Grand Lodge."

St. Andrew's, however, had by no means heard the last of Paul Revere. He and his friends obtained recognition from the Grand Lodge and a distinguished Masonic career lay before him, as we shall see later. The Revere party brought suit in the courts to compel a division of the property of the Lodge. The suit was settled out of court by arbitration. A division was made which was accepted by all concerned. For the next twenty-five years St. Andrew's went on its independent way. It never recovered its former size, nor desired to do so, but it held its place in the respect of the community, and even of the members of the Grand Lodge, which it later rejoined without the least sacrifice of dignity or self respect.

In December 1782, Webb retired from the Grand Mastership and was succeeded by John Warren. Warren, however, was not installed until June 24, 1785, probably because at the time of his election he was Senior Warden of the Massachusetts Lodge, not being elected Master until December 16, ten days later.

Warren was a very able man: in his day and generation one of the most remarkable men in Massachusetts. Unfortunately for his fame his reputation in the popular esteem has been overshadowed by the glory of his older brother Joseph. Born July 27, 1753, he was not quite thirty years old when he was installed Grand Master. Graduating from Harvard in 1771, he studied medicine under his brother Joseph and commenced practice in Salem at the age of twenty. Like his brother he was devoted to the cause of American freedom and early engaged in political writing. He was present at the battle of Lexington and after the death of Joseph at Bunker Hill he determined to volunteer as a private. By his mother's persuasion he was induced to accept an appointment by Washington as a hospital surgeon. Later he joined the army in the field and rose to the position of Surgeon-General. When active hostilities ceased he settled in Boston.

The Harvard Medical School was opened in 1783 and Warren was the first Professor of Anatomy and Surgery. For the next twenty-five years he did the lecturing of that department without assistance. The Massachusetts Medical Society was formed in 1783. Warren was one of the leaders in its formation and was its first President, holding the office until his death in 1815. In addition to his remarkable work in medicine and surgery he found time for extensive reading in English, Dutch, Greek, and Latin. He was one of the earliest and most valued members of the Humane Society and for many years its President. Indeed every organization for the advancement of human happiness and welfare felt the helpful touch of his strong hand. He was a tireless worker, an eloquent orator, an efficient executive, and a polished gentleman.

Warren served as Grand Master for one year. At the conclusion of his term Webb was recalled to the chair, serving until his death in 1787. Warren then served as Grand Master for another year. In 1794 he was again elected Grand Master, but declined to serve and Paul Revere was elected in his stead.

Early in Webb's second administration St. Andrew's took its memorable action to remain with Scotland and cast out the dissenters. Paul Revere was then Deputy Grand Master. He retained that office and his party attended Grand Lodge, claiming to be the representation of "St. Andrew's No. 1." This seems to have been held justified by the vote of Grand Lodge, taken, as it will be remembered, by request of St. Andrew's, to issue to that Lodge a new Massachusetts Charter and confirm its place at the head of the list. Whether such a document actually existed is not quite clear. The only direct reference we have to it after the vote of authorization is the slightly ambiguous entry in the records of St. Andrew's above quoted which appears to indicate that the request was withdrawn and the Charter, if ever delivered to St. Andrew's, returned. In any event, St. Andrew's, thanks to the foresight and stubbornness of William Burbeck, had its original Scotch Charter in its possession and was acting under its Massachusetts authority. It is possible that the Charter was actually issued and that Revere, who was Master of St. Andrew's Lodge when it was voted, had it in his possession, and that he claimed that he and the officers who served with him at that time, were the true and lawful officers of St. Andrew's Lodge and that the other party were the seceders and had no standing in Masonic law, even though they were in the majority.

In any case, the Grand Lodge certainly did not feel kindly disposed toward St. Andrew's, which had treated it almost contemptuously. It did not relish being called an "assumed Grand Lodge," On the other hand Paul Revere was one of the most influential members of the Grand Lodge, in which he had held the positions successively of Junior Grand Warden, Senior Grand Warden, and Deputy Grand Master, since 1777.

On September 2, 1784, the following entry appears in the records of the Massachusetts Grand Lodge: "On a Petition of St. Andrew's Lodge No. 1, holding under this Jurisdiction, praying a renewal of their Charter with the alteration of the name to "Rising States," "Voted. The Petition be granted."

Obviously interminable confusion would have been caused by the existence in Boston of two mutually excommunicating St. Andrew's Lodges.

This action of Grand Lodge made the break definite. St. Andrew's calmly and courageously went on its independent way.

Revere's party was definitely established as Rising States Lodge at the head of the roster of the Massachusetts Grand Lodge.


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