L. B. charges the entrance fees of Josiah Rolfe and

Philip Syng.
1734, November 13, Boston. Meeting of the First Lodge. Richard Patteshall and Samuel Curwen made. ined Le B.MS. Barons Letter.
Cuapter VIII
FRANKLIN’S APPOINTMENT AS PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER FOR THE PROVINCE OF PENNSYLVANIA
1734, November 28, Philadelphia.
On this day Benjamin Franklin as the head of what he calls the ‘““Grand Lodge” for the Province of Pennsy]l- vania, wrote two letters to Price—one official and one personal. They read as follows:
Right Worshipful Grand Master and Most Worthy and Dear Brethren:
We acknowledge your favor of the 23d of October past, and rejoice that the Grand Master (whom God bless) hath so happily recovered from his late indisposi- tion: and we now, glass in hand, drink to the establish- ment of -his health, and the prosperity of your whole Lodge.
We have seen in the Boston prints an article of news from London, importing that at a Grand Lodge held
there in August last, Mr. Price’s deputation and power was extended over all America, which advice we hope is true, and we heartily congratulate him thereupon and though this has not been as yet regularly signified to us by you, yet, giving credit thereto, we think it our duty to lay before your Lodge what we apprehend needful to be done for us, in order to promote and strengthen the interest of Masonry in this Province (which seems to want the sanction of some authority de- rived from home, to give the proceedings and determina- 124
FRANKLIN’S APPOINTMENT 125
tions of our Lodge their due weight) to wit, a Deputa- tion or Charter granted by the Right Worshipful Mr. Price, by virtue of his Commission from Britain, confirm- ing the Brethren of Pennsylvania in the privileges they at present enjoy of holding annually their Grand Lodge, choosing their Grand Master, Wardens and other officers, who may manage all affairs relating to the Brethren here with full power and authority, according to the customs and usages of Masons, the said Grand Master of Pennsyl- vania only yielding his chair, when the Grand Master of all America shall be in place. This, if it seems good and reasonable to you to grant, will not only be extremely agreeable to us, but will also, we are confident, conduce much to the welfare, establishment, and reputation of Masonry in these parts. We therefore submit it for your consideration, and, as we hope our request will be complied with, we desire that it may be done as soon as possible, and also accompanied with a copy of the R. W. Grand Master’s first Deputation, and of the instrument by which it appears to be enlarged as above-mentioned, witnessed by your Wardens, and signed by the Secre- tary; for which favours this Lodge doubt not of being able to behave as not to be thought ungrateful.
We are, Right Worshipful Grand Master and Most Worthy Brethren,
Your Affectionate Brethren and obliged humble Servts, Signed at the request of the Lodge,
B. FRaNKuIN, G. M.
Philadelphia, Nov. 28, 1734.
Dear Brotuer Price:—I am glad to hear of your recovery. I hoped to have seen you here this Fall, agree- able to the expectation you were so good as to give me; but since sickness has prevented your coming while the weather was moderate, I have no room to flatter myself with a visit from you before the Spring, when a deputa- tion of the Brethren here will have an opportunity of showing how much they esteem you. I beg leave to
126 FREEMASONRY IN AMERICA
recommend their request to you, and to inform you, that some false and rebel Brethren, who are foreigners, being about to set up a distinct Lodge in opposition to the old and true Brethren here, pretending to make Masons for a bowl of punch, and the Craft is like to come into dis- esteem among us unless the true Brethren are counte- nanced and distinguished by some special authority as herein desired. I entreat, therefore, that whatever you shall think proper to do therein may be sent by the next post, if possible, or the next following.
I am, Your Affectionate Brother & humb Servt
B. FRANKLIN, G. M. Pennsylvania.
Philadelphia, Nov. 28, 1734.
P.S.—If more of the Constitutions are wanted among you, please hint it to me.
(Address upon said letters:)
“To Mr. Henry Price ‘At the Brazen Head ‘“‘Boston,
“N.E.”
These original letters were destroyed at the burning of the Masonic Temple in Boston on April 5/6, 1864, prior to which time the official letter hung in a frame in the Temple observed by all men. As to their authenticity see statements and affidavits in 1871 Mass. 306, 356- 361. They were, for instance, exhibited to the Com- mittee of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania on March 22, 1855, as related in 14 M.F.M. 188; see also 1888 Mass. 118.
In the official letter, Franklin, acting as he himself Says at the request of his Lodge, acknowledges its want of lawful authority and prays that Price by virtue of his Commission from Britain, which had been extended over the whole of North America, would confirm the Brethren
| :
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN Reproduced from an original sent by Franklin from Paris to his niece and inscribed on the back, in hisown handwriting, ‘‘For Mrs. Dorcas Stickney in Newbury”
FRANKLIN’S APPOINTMENT 127
of Pennsylvania in privileges which they then enjoyed of holding their Lodge although without “the sanction of some authority derived from home.” He further ad- mits that the Grand Master of Pennsylvania would there- after yield his chair whenever the Grand Master of North America, to wit, Henry Price, should be present. This letter is a flat and explicit admission made officially that the Brethren of Pennsylvania had no authority, and that they were irregular without it; and they prayed for the grant thereof.
Benjamin Franklin when he signed the letter of No- vember 28, 1734, as Grand Master and “at the request of the Lodge,” knew what he was writing ex cathedra. It is also submitted that the Brethren who officially re- quested their Grand Master to send the petition to Price, knew more about the facts of that day and generation than some partisan historians one hundred and fifty years later who have struggled to convince the Masonic world that Franklin, Price, and their associates were all wrong as to these facts.
Should all other evidence and argument be disre- garded, these letters are definite and final. They estab- lish that Pennsylvania Masonry was wanting in author- ity, 1.e., was not duly constituted; that Henry Price was the “Founder of Duly Constituted Masonry in America.”
1914 Mass. 257, et cit., 283. 1871 Mass. 356-359.
The Deputation or Warrant granted Franklin and the Brethren of Pennsylvania has disappeared as have all of Franklin’s American Masonic documents. (There are no Pennsylvania Grand Lodge records prior to July 29, 1779, and no Lodge minute book for that jurisdiction earlier than that beginning June 28, 1749, ¢.v.)
128 FREEMASONRY IN AMERICA
Franklin’s letter states as his source of information that Price’s authority had been extended over all North America; ‘We have seen in the Boston prints an article of news from London, importing that at a Grand Lodge held there in August last, Mr. Price’s deputation and power was extended over all America.” Because of the delays in transportation of the mails in those days, this means that the article which Brother Franklin saw must have been published some time between the first of Sep- tember and the middle of November, 1734. At that time there were five Boston newspapers. ‘The oldest was The Boston News Letter. Complete files of that paper for the period in question have been examined and no such article is found therein.
The Boston Gazette was at that period frequently pub- lishing Masonic items. Only three copies of the Boston Gazette after August 19, and before December, 1734, are known to exist. September 16th is in the library of the Massachusetts Historical Society; October 21st and November 25th are in the library of the Bostonian So- ciety. They have been examined and no such item has — been found. The paper was issued, however, on August 26th, September 2nd, 9th, 23rd; October 7th, 14th and 28th, and November 4th, 11th and 18th, but no copies of these issues are now known to exist. Probably the item Franklin saw was in one of these issues. He fre- quently quoted from the Gaze¢fe and the missing copies are those which would have come to him immediately preceding the writing of these letters.
The Boston Post Boy began with the issue of October 7, 1734. No copies of this paper, however, are known to exist prior to April 21, 1735.
A copy of each issue of the New England Weekly
FRANKLIN’S APPOINTMENT 129
Journal for the period has been searched but no such arti- cle has been found. This statement applies also to the Weekly Rehearsal, except that no copy of this for Sep- tember 16, 1734, is known.
We may safely assume that Franklin told the truth and therefore must possess our souls in patience until, if ever, the print to which he referred is found. ‘There is much other evidence than Franklin’s letter or the miss- ing print that Price’s commission was extended as stated, all of which has been quoted or referred to in citations. The reporter who wrote the newspaper article, however, was in error in thinking that the commission was ex- tended at a meeting of the Grand Lodge, for in those days the Grand Lodge neither issued nor endorsed Pro- vincial Grand Masters’ commissions. ‘That was a pre- rogative of the Grand Master. We, in this day and generation, can well understand from familiarity with our newspapers how a reporter can get the essential fact as a basis of his article and yet mistake many of the de- tails. He would not have written the report unless he had information of the fact that the Commission had been extended. Unless he were a well informed member of the Craft, however, he would easily fall into the error of stating that the act was of the Grand Lodge instead of the Grand Master.
On this subject, see the important recent discovery
cited under 1734/5, February 21, znfra.
1734, December 2, Philadelphia. Entries in L. B. indicate a meeting.
1734, December 11, Boston. Meeting of the First Lodge. Anthony Davis made,
130 FREEMASONRY IN AMERICA
Brothers Robert Gardiner, and William Grice admitted. Bae B.MS.
Barons Letter.
Montserrat—Philadelphia. The American Weekly Mercury of Philadelphia pub- lishes the item quoted under 1734, September, supra.
1734, December 27, Boston. Celebration of the Festival of Saint John the Evan- gelist. 1 Mass. 4.
1734/5, February 21, Boston-Philadelphia.
Meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge in Boston.
Appointment of Benjamin Franklin as Provincial Grand Master for Pennsylvania by “HENRY PRICE GRAND MASTER OF HIS MAJESTY’S DOMINIONS IN NORTH AMERICA.”
In 1916 the author discovered an item of news, dated Boston, February 24, 1734/5, published by the American Weekly Mercury (Philadelphia), No. 795, “March 20 to 2717352" asiollows:
“Boston, Feb. 24.
“On Friday laft was held a Grand Lodge of that An- cient and Honourable Society of Free and Accepted Mafons, at the Bunch of Grapes Tavern in King Street, where Mr. Henry Price, Grand Maifter of His Majefty’s Dominions in North America, Nominated and Appointed his Grand Officers for the Year enfuing, viz: Andrew Belcher, Eifg., Deputy Grand Mafter; Mr. James Gordon
», Sufferers by Haft Wednefday’s Srorm, we
S. Ev and Soutk, which fill con: Indes,
"1 Adven ur | was athore ar Gilkicker, Is Overier, and luppof.
jot her to be {cen. The Princels of Orange, Warden, Capt. Wigram, and
the lar vy Capt.
{ed to be broke in picces, there being nothing
ther very hard Gale of Wind lift Night
and : -has a ne great Damage. ‘The ‘Priends ee Caps Manby, for Maryland, thar |
ae
Ae
©
Lithered, are allo broke to i
- p eces. The Coddnngton, Capt. Borafton, for
? | Antigua, lott all her Mafts, bur rode our the |_| Storm at Spithead, and came Yeilerday inte tierHarbour, as did the Wisbech, Capt. Nor. ris, having rode the Storm, but loft her Pore. malt and Bowiprit. Came in the Princcts of __,| Attunas, Holman, in Ballaft from Cadiz; the 2 Of) Amelia, Spilman, trom London for Malaga.
_ i Capt. Dent, the |
land, the had been athere on the Horfe; the Richard ard Anne, Carter, from Hirwich for , | adi2z; the Sarah, Chapman, from London, {bors for the Piar, the three Sifters, Grindal, dito for Maryland. Such quick repeated vio. [iene Storms and Lolles as this | * {duced, far execeds any in the Memory ot Man. | Tre Swallow Brig. Leonard B.zer, |bourd from Petersburgh to Brittol, who was
jon W_dneiday lait, got off on Thurfday, and
| Higginion, for Jamaica
{to Leghorn, andthe Bruaonia, Kelicy, for Ce a :
i 5° they had recew'd in the late Storm at che i
carricd away her Mizen Matt, (| We fhall prefent in omr next.)
_ . .., POSTON, Feb. 24. 5, bLaft Week, at the Court of | feral Goal Delivery held here for the County ol Safelite, Two Negro Fellows were itied, one
| Houte of Capr. Greenwood, and ftealing | Bills of Credit, and the other for telontoufly t | fetung Fite to his Mafter’s Hay, by which his | __ | Barn, Dwelling Houfe, Shop, and other Buu- jwith {dings were dettroyed, near Barton's Point in | Boi- Months fince; but for want |
i
bs : oe oe
ithe Town, fome , of legal Evidence they were both acquitted, tho’
| Facts. . |_ Yefterday arrived here Canc. Smith from the 1) Bay of Honduras, who came out in Company }wrh Capt. Derfey and others; he lays they |lefe 9 Sal in the Bay, one of which was Capt. | Hay of this Town, and thar two others went jin as they came out. Tis {aid Provifions are Avery fcarce and dear in the Bay. | 7On Friday lat was held a Grand Lodge of
FACSIMILE OF TWO COLUMNS OF American Weekly
Mercury FOR MARCH 20-27, 1735
ithe Succels, Snelling from dito tor New-Eng..
Winter has pro. !
‘The Auguttus Cefar, Capt. Hampron, bound |
;¢ 4%, are put into Sheernels, to repair the Dame |
(|obeped them to cur away her Main Mait, and £
Afize and ge-
Sig shnentce sr
AS Semen toasie amines mg
Matter, | iforced on Shore at Portimouth in ¢ be Storm ©
fwentinto the Harbour ro rohit, as-did the Anne,
Nore; the tormer’s Sheet Anchor broke, which |
| LN. B. Tbe farther Particulars of this Storm
for Burglary and Felony, in breaking into the © fundry —
us thought by all they were guilty of che -
that
_. thar Ancient and Honourable Soct and Accepied Mafins, at the Bunch c ‘Lavern in King Street, where Mr. He Grand Matter of His Majclty’s Domi North America, Nominated and Appointe
Mr, James Gordon and M. Frederick Hamilton ae ‘Wardens for this Province; And M
the Province of Henn{ylvanza..
* journment on Tuciday the 14'h Inftanr, but 7
_* fome Plantations the Buggs come into it and | * deitroy 1, fo thar Rice ttdl will keep up us |
Bay of Honduras, and that the other Veflels
Grand Officers tor the Year enfuing, viz. Andrew Belchar Eig, Deputy GrandMs
Benjamin Franklin Provincial Grand Matter for | i
Extrall of a Letter from Charicltown, m Souch- | Carolina, dated January 18. 1734. of
‘ Our Afflembly met here according to Ad- |
‘tthe Governor not being fuily Recovercd | Pea * of his Llincfs, no Bulinets is done yet. Ourj * Planters here tind themiclyes very oiflaken} ‘in thew Ettimation of the laft Crop of Rice, |. * fince tome of them, who after having their | * Rice in the Birn, thought to have 300 Bir- | * rls, found when beaten out but too. In]
* Price. |
We hear from Rb. land, That the beginning | _- of left Weck Capt. Durfey and another Veflei | Fa boionging to that Place, arrived there from the
which came out with him were daily expett- ed, *Tis faid Capr. Darfey brought the Spans Sloop which he took in the Bay as far as the | Mouth of the Gulf, and then crvilly dilmniis’d | Feb her; but the Spamard was fo uncivil as to fol- [—
low the Fleet for a confiderable Time, in hopes |
no doubt of taking fome of them, ull Capt. |—1 Darfey fired at him and obliged hum to leave off | —E ibe Ghaic | March 3. Lat Week arrived Capt. Cary from | Cadiz, who left London the latter end of No-| vember. and that Place the begining of January |. with Advice, That by Letters from London | in the begining ot December a Peace was like. | ly to be accommodated. The following isa | Ne Paragraph of a Letter toa Gentleman in this| Town, Dated Cadiz, Dec. zorh 1934. “Tawi § “a Letter this Day from Alicant, giving an | Slo “ Account that Capt. Eilss Beanere in the Six Oh Brothers, and ¢ or 6 fail more of Englith | Fa " Ships were Cait away in that Bay, but all | “the Men faved. | - | _ We hear Mr. Alderman Vining ot Portfmowth, | (Brother to Benjamin Viniw, ‘Eig, Cole€tor of |R Salem ) bas thc Honour of Knightwood confer- | E
bas #3
red on him.
We are told, a certain Perfon in this Town has beat his Apprentice fo unmercitully chat bis Life is difpared of, which may ferve asa Caution to prevent the like abotiumable inhu- mane Cruelty. - :
On Tuciday laft ‘his Excellency our ¢ vernor, with the Advice of his Majelty’s Cou cil, ifiued a Proclamation, appointing Ther{d.
FRANKLIN’S APPOINTMENT 131
and Mr. Frederick Hamilton, Grand Wardens for this Province; and Mr. Benjamin Franklin, Provincial Grand Matter for the Province of Pennfylvania.”’
P-t.
A reproduction of the last column of page 2 and the first column of page 3 of this number of the American Weekly Mercury is herewith presented.
We are now, for the first time, in possession of the date of Franklin’s appointment, for which he had peti- tioned less than three months before.
1734, November 28, supra.
And we have also from Pennsylvania’s own press un- equivocal evidence of the extension of Price’s authority over all North America, and Pennsylvania’s recognition thereof.
See also 1734, August, supra.
Vain search for a reference to this item has been made in the Printed Proceedings or in the elaborate official and quasi-official publications of the Grand Lodge of Penn- sylvania, including the works of Brother Julius F. Sachse, its librarian and historical spokesman for many years. Frequent and extensive use is made therein of quotations from newspapers both before and after the date of this one. This most important and vital bit of history having escaped notice in these works, it 1s evident that no weight can be given to conclusions which this item negatives. No argument is worth consideration unless based upon the truth and the whole truth.
As Brother Sachse omitted to publish this fact, one can hardly help wondering if there does not still remain in the great libraries of Pennsylvania other information which remains unpublished.
132 FREEMASONRY IN AMERICA
The life of Franklin is so well known that a sketch is omitted. See ‘Benj. Franklin as a Freemason,” by Sachse.
1734/5, March 12, Boston. Meeting of the First Lodge which amended the 8th Article of its By-Laws by providing:
“That no Person Shall be a Member of this Lodge, that has not on a Lodge Night, been publickly balloted in accord® to Our Constitutions, and Consents to our by- Laws, and pays the Lodge for his Making, unlefs by a Dispensation from the Master & Wardens of the Lodge.”
B.MS. 15.