L. B. charges the entrance fees of Dr. Thomas Cad-

walader, Michael Cario, William Deering, Thomas Es- daile, David Humphrey, John Jones, and Henry Lewis.
1737, June 8, Boston. Meeting of the First Lodge. Captain Edward Clerke (Clarke) of New York and Albert Dennie made. Pls: B.MS.
1737, June 9, Boston. The Boston Weekly News Letter has the following
curious item:
“The Humour of entring into the Society cal’d Free Mafons, runs fo high in France that there are no lefs than nine Lodges conftituted in Paris, a vaft many young Noblemen are become Members of the Order, par- ticularly the Prince of Conti, and even the Minifter for the Marine Affairs, as well as feveral General Officers and two Bifhops. The Ladies pufh forward for an in- {titution-of this Kind, in order for an engraftment but the Princefs of Carignan is the only Woman yet discov- ered that can fteep (sc) a secret, fo that the Female Mafonry, it’s thought, will fall to the Ground.—yjuft now we have Advice that Monfieur Blarer the noted Flute Player, and Monfieur Leclainlee, the famous Fid- ler, with feveral other Men of Science, and Poets of all Sizes were admitted Members, but as the old Cure of St. Sulpice the Great Pro ector (sé¢), and Father Tour-
176 FREEMASONRY IN AMERICA
nemin the celebrated preacher and Jesuit, were going to initiate themfelves, out comes an Order from the King,
like a Thunderbolt, and throws down the Babel Build- P-t.
1737, June 16, Philadelphia.
The Pennsylvania Gazette publishes an item copied in the Boston Evening Post of June 27, 1737, the New England Weekly Journal of June 28, 1737, and the Boston Weekly News Letter of June 30, 1737. It is as follows:
“Philadelphia, June 16. We hear, that Monday night laft, fome People pre- tending to be Free Mafons, got together in the Cellar, with a young Man who was defirous of being made one, and in the Ceremony, ’tis faid, they threw fome burning Spirits on him, which burnt him fo that he was obliged to take to his bed, and died this Morning.”
Immediately after this event there was published as au advertisement in the Pennsylvania Gazette and the American Weekly Mercury the following:
Penn’a, SS., Hopkinson, Grand Master.
Whereas, fome ill-difposed Perfons in this City af- fuming the Name of Free-Mafons, have for some years paft impofed upon feveral well-meaning People, who defirous of becoming true Brethren, perfuading them, after they had performed certain ridiculous Ceremonies, that they were really become Free-Mafons, and have lately, under the Pretence of making a Young Man a Mafon, caused his Death, as ’tis faid, by Purging, Vomit- ing, Burning, and the Terror of certain horrid and dia- bolical rites: It is thought proper, for preventing fuch
1737 177
Impofitions for the future, and to avoid any unjust Af- perfions that may be thrown on the Antient and Hon- ourable Fraternity on this Account, either in this city or any other Part of the World, to publifh this Advertife- ment, declaring the Abhorance of all true Brethren to fuch Practices in general, and their Innocence of this Fact in particular: and that the Perfons concerned in this wicked Action are not of our Society, nor of any Society of Free and Accepted Mafons, to our knowledge or Be- lief. Signed in Behalf of all the Members of St. John’s Lodge, at Philad’a the 16th day of June, 1737. Thomas Hopkinfon, Grand Mafter. Will. Plumftead, Deputy Mafter.
Joseph Shippen Henry Pratt }Grand Warden
The attestation of this document tends to confirm what has been hinted above, to the effect that there was up to this date but one Lodge in Philadelphia and also that the Lodge and the Grand Lodge there were one and the same.
L773 June 23) Philadelphia.
The Pennsylvania Gazette publishes the result of the coroner’s inquest on the matter referred to under 1737, June 16, supra, to the effect that the throwing of the spirits was accidental.
See also Boston Weekly News Letter for July Tek hod:
1737, June 24, Boston. The Boston Gazette for June 27, 1737, publishes the following account of the Festival on this day:
178 FREEMASONRY IN AMERICA
“Friday laft being the Feaft of St. John the Baptift, the annual Meeting of the Free and Accepted Mafons, they accordingly met. The right worfhipful Mr. Robert Thomlinfon G. M. nominated and appointed his grand Officers for the Year enfuing, viz Mr. Hugh McDaniel D.G.M. Mr. Thomas Moffatt, (Doctor of Medicines) S.G.W. Mr. John Osborne J.G.W. Mr. Benjamin Hal- lowell, G.T. Mr. Francis Beteillie (Beteilhe) G.S. after which the Society attended the G.M. in Proceffion to his Excellency Governour Belcher, & from thence the Gov- ernour was attended by the G.M. and the Brotherhood to the Royal Exchange Tavern in King-Street, where they had an elegant Entertainment. It being the firf{t Pro- ce{fion in America, they appeared in the proper Badges of their Order, fome Gold, the reft Silver. The Procef- fion was clofed by the Grand Wardens.”
et 1 Mass. 6.
This item was copied in the St. James Evening Post,
London, for August 20, 1737. 1 Mass. 470.
This was perhaps the first American procession of a
Lodge as such in regalia.
But see 1737, May 26, supra.
Philadelphia. William Plumstead was chosen Grand Master of Penn- sylvania at a Grand Lodge held at the Indian King. Pennsylvania Gazette for June 30, 1737. Boston Weekly News Letter for July 14, 1737,
G.U.
William Plumstead. William Plumstead was a son of Clement Plumstead, Provincial Councillor, and was born in Philadelphia,
1737 179
November 7, 1708. In 1724, he was taken abroad by his father. He became a Common Councilman of the City in 1739, and upon his return from a voyage to Eng- land in 1741, was suggested for the Provincial] Council. He was chosen Register of Wills in 1735; 1748, Alder- man; 1750, Judge of the Orphans’ Court; 1754, Mayor of the City, and 1764, President Judge of the Court of Quarter Sessions. He was chosen Senior Grand Warden in 1735; Deputy Grand Master in 1736; Grand Master in 1737; and Grand Treasurer in 1755. He renounced Quakerism, and became an Episcopalian, and was one of the founders of the St. Peter’s Church at Third and Pine Streets, Philadelphia. He died, August 10, 1765, and was buried in St. Peter’s churchyard. 1 O.M.L.P. 40.
L/o7eune:.2/, Boston. The Boston Evening Post publishes the item referred to under 1737, June 10, supra. EG
1737, June 28, Boston. The New England Weekly Journal publishes the item referred to under 1737, June 16, szpra.
1737, June 30, Boston. The Boston Weekly News Letter publishes the item referred to under 1737, June 16, supra. Pt
Pa July, 2; Charleston, S. C.
The South Carolina Gazette announces the arrival at Charleston of the ‘“‘Free-Mason,”’ from Providence, refer- ring to it as a sloop.
180 FREEMASONRY IN AMERICA
1737, July 4, Boston. The Boston Gazette publishes the following item of news from London:
“April 26. Yefterday at Noon the Earl of Darnley Grand Mafter elect of the Antient and Honourable So- ciety of Free Mafons in a Chariot drawn by fix fine Horfes, attended with upwards of an hundred Coaches & Chariots, went from his Lordship’s Houfe in Pall-Mall, where the Company Breakfafted, which coft his Lord- {hip two hundred Pounds, and then proceeded thro’ the City to Fifhmonger’s Hall, where a Grand Entertain- ment was provided: There were three Pair of Kettle Drums, fix Trumpets, and eight French Horns, properly difpos’d in the Proceffion.”
ae
L737 sive Boston. The Boston Evening Post publishes the following ex- tract of a private letter from Paris:
“The Court has taken fuch Offence at the vaft and fudden Increafe of the Society of Free Mafons, that the King has forbid their Meeting at any of their Lodges, and looks with an indifferent eye on thofe who have been forward in entering into a Society, that even the States of Holland would not fuffer amongft them.”
tock.
1737, July 14, Boston. The Boston Weekly News Letter publishes the follow- ing item quoted from the Pennsylvania Gazette of June
30, 1737:
“Friday laft was held, at the Indian King in this City, a Grand Lodge of the Free and Accepted Mafons; when
WILLIAM PLUMSTEAD
oie
1737 181
William Plumstead was unanimously chofen Grand Matter of this Province, for the Year enfuing; who ap- pointed Jofeph Shippen, jun. to be his Deputy, and Meffrs Henry Prat, and Philip Syng, were nominated and chofen Grand Wardens.”
Pt:
1737, July 21, Charleston, S. C. The South Carolina Gazette publishes the following:
“Last Thurfday, (2lst July, 1737), John Hammer- ton, Efq., Receiver General of his Majefty’s Quit-rents, Secretary and one of his Majef{ty’s Honourable Council, who has been the firft Mafter of the Lodge of the Ancient and Honourable Society of Free Mafons in this place, and intending to embark on board the ship Molly Galley, John Caruthers, Mafter, for London, at a Lodge held that evening, refigned his office, for the true and faithful difcharge of which he received the thanks of the whole Society, who were 30 in number. James Graeme, Efq., was then unanimoufly chofen Mafter in his room, and having been duly in{ftalled into that office with the ufual ceremonies, was pleafed to chufe and appoint James Wright, Efg., who was Junior Warden, to be Senior Warden, and Maurice Lewis, Efq., Junior Warden.”
Concerning the new Master, shortly to become Pro- vincial Grand Master, Brother Mackey in his “History of Freemasonry in South Carolina’ says:
“James Graeme, who was an attorney at law, held, at the time of his appointment as Master of the new Lodge, the position of Commissioner of the Market. After- wards he was appointed a Lieutenant in the Second Com- pany of Militia, which was enrolled in November, 1738, for the defence of the Province against an anticipated
182 FREEMASONRY IN AMERICA
attack of the Spaniards of Florida. Subsequently he was a Representative from Charleston in the Commons House of Assembly and finally received from the Crown the appointments of Chief Justice of the Province, Judge of the Court of Admiralty, and a seat in his Majesty’s Coun- cil, offices which he held until his death, which took place on Saturday, 29th of August, 1752. S. Car. Gazette, Ist Sept. 175277
James Wright, afterwards Senior Warden, Master and Provincial Grand Master, will be referred to here- after.
Maurice Lewis was the progenitor of a large family, many of whose members have held elevated positions in South Carolina. He himself was, in 1738, appointed one of the Commissioners to build up the curtain line before Charleston Bay.
Philadelphia. The Pennsylvania Gazette copies from the Boston Gazette the item referred to under 1737, July 4, supra.
1737, July 27, Boston. Meeting of the First Lodge. Thomas Pearson made. ded be. B.MS.
1737, August 10, Philadelphia. Franklin charges the Lodge at Brother Hubard’s for “Freight of limes, 3.0.” F.J. It is surmised that the Lodge put these limes to a use which would be unlawful in the United States to-day.
1737 183
1737, August 18, Charleston, S. C.
The South Carolina Gazette for Saturday, the 20th of August, 1737, contains the following important para- graph:
“On Thurfday night laft, (18th of August,) at the Solomon’s Lodge in Charles-Town, a Deputation from the Right Worfhipful and Right Honourable John, Earl of Loudoun, conftituting and appointing a Provincial Grand Mafter of South Carolina, was read, when James Graeme, Efq., the prefent Grand Mafter of the faid Province, propofed James Wright, Efq., to be Mafter of the Solomon’s Lodge, which was unanimoufly agreed to by the Lodge.”
In this news item the Lodge, for the first time is re- ferred to as “Solomon’s Lodge.”
1737, August 24, Boston. Meeting of the First Lodge. Brother Richard Wolfe admitted. leh Se
1737, September 12, Boston. The Boston Evening Post quotes “From the Polttical State for May, 1737,” the following item:
“The 28th Inftant at Noon the Society of Free Ma- fons, went with uncommon Splendor from the Houfe of their Grand Mafter the Earl of Darnley, in Pall Mall, to Fif{hmonger’s Hall; his Lordfhip appeared on this Oc- cafion in a Superb Chariot drown by fix fine Grey Horfes, Kettle Drums, French Horns, Trumpets, were properly difpofed in the Proceffion which confifted of above a hundred Coaches and Chariots, all filled with Perfons of Eminence, and the Breakfaft at his Lord-
184 FREEMASONRY IN AMERICA
f{hip’s Houfe coft upwards of Two Hundred Pounds, all which are undeniable Marks of the Wealth and Wifdom 109
of the prefent Age: as
1737, October 12, Boston. Meeting of the First Lodge. Brother Nathaniel Derby admitted. Pil
1737, October 24. Boston.
The Boston Evening Post under the heading of ‘‘Lon- don, August 5”’ publishes the following two items among others, vzz-
“It feems they refolv’d at Paris to go thro’ Stitch with the Free Mafons: The Lientenant General of the Police fent to an Englifhman’s Lodging in the Hotel de Bourgogne, Fauxbourge St. Germain, and his Mef- fengers brought away not only the Utenfils, Figures, &c. belonging to the Free Mafons, but alfo the Statutes of their Order, and every thing that feem’d to have any Relation to it. In the Year 1734 the French Miniftry would have confider’d better of the Matter before they infulted an Englifh Free Mafon, for fear of ruffing the P—of B—-; but Adieu Panniers, Vendanges: font faites.”
“We hear that a Deputation from the Society of Free and Accepted Mafons of this Kingdom is to be fent to Germany, to congratulate (a Royal Brother) the Duke of Lorrain on his Acceffion to the Dutchy of Tufcany.”
Pet.
1737, October 26, Boston. Meeting of the First Lodge. Andrew Hill made and Brother John Waghorn admitted. P.L.
1737 185
1737, November 9, Boston. Meeting of the First Lodge. John Tucker and Peter Buckley made, and Brother John Saint admitted. jel
1737, November 11, — Boston. Meeting of the First Lodge. Joseph Smith made. PAs.
1737, November 14, _ Boston. Meeting of the First Lodge. Erasmus James Phillips made, and Brother J. Sheriff admitted. j eae be
1737, November 15, New York.
Capt. Richard Riggs was this day appointed Provin- cial Grand Master for New York by the Earl of Darn- ley, Grand Master of England. It is believed that he authorized the formation of one Lodge before September 24, 1739, because in the New York Gazette for that date is a notice of its meeting.
Anderson (1738 Ed.) 195. Entick (1756 Ed.) 333. P.C. (2nd English Ed.) 116. Ss EAS
IV Gould 414.
1737, November 28, — Boston.
The Boston Evening Post contains a notice of the meeting of Lodge No. 9, in London, on September 21, igo.
P-t.
186 FREEMASONRY IN AMERICA
New York.
Article in New York Gazette on the “(New and un- usual sect or society of persons of late appeared in our native country and at last has extended to these parts of America” and complaining that “this society, called Freemasons, meet with their doors shut and a guard at the outside.” It will be noted that this was just after Provincial Grand Master Riggs’ appointment but before news of the appointment could have reached New York. Captain Riggs arrived in New York some months later
(May 21, 1738).
1737, December 1, Philadelphia.
The Pennsylvania Gazette reports the appointment of a Provincial Grand Master for the Leeward group of the West India Islands.
1737, December 5, Boston. The boston Gazette contains the following advertise- ment concerning the Pro. G. M.:
“Mr. Robert Thomlinfon being bound {peedily for England, defires all Perfons that have any Demands on him forthwith to apply for Payment; and alfo Requefts thofe Indebted to him not to delay the fame.”
| rei
1737, December 8, Charleston, S. C. The South Carolina Gazette announces the arrival of the “Free Mason” from New York.
1737, December 12, Boston. The advertisement of December 5 (q.v.) is repeated.
1737 187
1737, December 14, — Boston. Meeting of the First Lodge. Stephen Deblois made. toga Br
1737, December 19, Boston. The advertisement of December 5 (g.v.) is repeated.
1737, December 27, — Boston.
The Festival is celebrated and shortly thereafter Pro- vincial Grand Master Thomlinson leaves for England by way of Antigua.
1 Mass. 6.
Charleston, S. C. The S. C. Gazette for December 29, 1737, says:
“On Tuefday laft, being St. John’s day, all the mem- bers of the Ancient and Honourable Society of Free and Accepted Mafons in this place met at Mr. Seaman’s, Matter of Solomon’s Lodge, from whence they pro- ceeded, all properly clothed, under the found of French horns, to wait on James Graeme, Efg., Provincial Grand Mafter, at his houfe in Broad Street, where they were received by all the members of the Grand Lodge. After a {hort {tay there, they all went in proceffion and with the enfigns of their Order into the Court-Room at Mr. Charles Shepheard’s houfe, making a very grand fhow. Here, to a numerous audience of Ladies and Gentlemen, who were admitted by tickets, the Grand Mafter made a very elegant {peech in praife of Mafonry, which we hear was univerfally applauded. Then the Grand Lodge withdrew in order to proceed to the election of a Grand Mafter for the ensuing year, when James Graeme, Efq., was unanimoufly re-chofen Grand Mafter, who ap- pointed James Wright, Efg., Deputy Grand Mafter, Maurice Lewis, Esg., Senior Grand Warden, John Crookfhanks, Efgq., Junior Grand Warden, James
188 FREEMASONRY IN AMERICA
Mitchie, Efq., Grand Treafurer, and James Gordon, Efq., Grand Secretary.
The fame day Mr. James Crokatt was unanimously chofen Mafter of Solomon’s Lodge.”
James Crokatt was evidently a citizen of some dis- tinction for the succeeding June he was appointed “‘one of His Majesty’s Honourable Council.” |
1737/8, January 24, New York.
Gould states that the earliest Lodge in New York “‘of which any record has been preserved was in full working order, and had probably existed for some time” before this day.
IV Gould 260.
1737/8, January 25, Boston.
Meeting of the First Lodge. James Carrel Tabbs and Thomas Walker made and Brother John Hutchinson admitted.
nel E,
1737/8, January 26, Charleston, S. C. In the South Carolina Gazette for this day we find the following important record:
“We hear that at Mr. William Flud’s, at the fign of the Harp and Crown, is held a Lodge of the Ancient and Honourable Society of Free and Accepted Mafons, be- longing to the Lodge of St. John. Dr. Newman Ogle- thorpe being chofen Mafter.”’
Mackey’s “History of Freemasonry in South Caro- lina’”’ comments interestingly upon this item of news as follows:
1737 189
“Perfectly to understand the character of this Lodge, it will be necessary to refer to the history of Masonry in another part of the Continent. In the year 1733, Vis- count Montacute, then Grand Master of England, granted a Warrant, or more properly a Deputation, ap- pointing Henry Price, of Boston, Provincial Grand Mas- ter of North America. Under this authority he opened a Provincial Grand Lodge in Boston on the 30th of July, 1733, and appointed his Deputy and Wardens. The Grand Lodge thus organized, assumed and was recog- nized by the appellation of ‘St. John’s Grand Lodge,’ and proceeded to grant Warrants for instituting regular Lodges in various parts of North America. Webb,” from whom this account is taken, mentions South Caro- lina as one of the places in which these new Lodges were instituted. But until I met with the paragraph above cited from the Carolina Gazette I had found no other account of the Lodge instituted in South Carolina by St. John’s Grand Lodge of Boston, than the mere announce- ment in Webb’s Monitor that such a Lodge had been constituted. There is, however, no longer any doubt that the Lodge said to have been held in 1738 in Charles- town, at ‘the Harp and Crown,’ received its warrant from St. John’s Grand Lodge of Boston, and hence the journalist calls it a ‘Lodge of St. John.’ The phraseol- ogy of the paragraph seems to indicate that it had an existence anterior to the date of the notice. It was probably organized late in the year 1737, and was thus the second Lodge established in the Province. But as its Constitution was manifestly an interference with the prerogatives and jurisdiction of the Provincial Grand Lodge, it must have been soon abandoned, and hence it is that we find no further account of it in the subsequent Masonic proceedings of the Province.”
See page 146.
1737/8, January 31, Antigua.
Lodge Constituted at Parham, Antigua, first given in 1 Webb’s Monitor, Ed. 1808, p. 299.
190 FREEMASONRY IN AMERICA
the Official English List for 1740, appearing as No. 154. P.C. (2nd Eng. Ed.) 378. Pnticka( | /5Opbawesa de L.M.R. 74. L.H.B. 40.
1737/8, February 13. Boston. The Boston Evening Post copies from the London Magazine an article reading as follows:
“This Writer fuppofes, that this Fraternity might as well be call’d the Society of Carpenters, Joiners, Chimney-Sweepers, or Rat-Catchers, as Mafons; and en- deavours to prove this parodoxical Truth, That the Ma- fons are no Mafons.
Agatharcbus the Athenian, Archimedes, Virtruvius, &c as well as the later Architects and Mathematicians, have deliver’'d their Knowledge in this Science freely, gen- erally and publickly. How then can this be the Art, that is kept fecret in the Breafts of the Members of the mod- ern Lodges? as the Constitution Book affects, that altho’ this Society is poffefs’d of many Arts (curious ones, no doubt) yet do they dwell fecurely in the Breafts of the Brethren.
Nor does it appear by their Performances, that they are taught in the Lodges to hew, mould ftone, lay a Level, or raife a Perpendicular. How then can they be faid to be Mafons? Is a Drawer a Mafon, becaufe he keeps his Reckoning fquare? Or a Tinker, becaufe he rings his Kettle by Rule? If a Lawyer can compofe his Caufe, or a Bookfetter erect monumental Volumes; if a Porter ftand {trong as a Coloffus, and an Apothe- cary can temper his electuarial Mortars and Cements, to new-frame, and, as it were, rebuild our animate edi- fices: Yet cannot'.[ perceive the }leaft® Tinctnremor Vitruvifm, Euclidifm, or Burlingtonism in any of thefe.
Laftly, if the Art of Mafonry be really and truly
1737 191
vefted in this Society, how comes it to pafs, that the Brethren build no better than fome of the monied Gen- try among the Grubs, who, I own, feldom build any Thing but Caftles in the Air?
Having thus shewn what they are not, let us confider what they are, and from whence the Word Mafon, as applied to this Club, may be corrupted. The Society I allow to be a very antient one; and, I believe, they will not thank me for acknowledging, that fuch a {trange Society may have been even as old as Chaucer; in whofe Dayes the Word mafe was ufed to fignify a Whim, or Fancy; And what could be more natural, than to diftin- guifh a Society by this Name, which hath fo many peculiar whimfical Oddities? Doubt not then candid Bavy that the Word Mafon is a corruption of this Mafe; Which will appear {till more probable, if thou wilt take a Ride or Walk to Devonshire; where, to this Day they call any Perfon whom they imagine to be mad, a Mafe, or Maze, Man or Woman. Some wicked Perfons, I know, would derive this Name from the popifh Mafe, which, I own is of very intricate Nature: Yet muift I reject {uch a malevolent Suppofition, if it was only be- caufe so many zealous Protestants, nay even Jews, the conftant Enemies to Tranfubftantiation, are accepted Brethren.
A. H. FaGase gt
1737/8, February 14, Philadelphia.
The Philadelphia Gazette publishes an account of the trial of those concerned in the mock initiation in Phila- delphia which is copied in part in the Boston Evening Post for March 6th, znfra (q.v.), the New England Weekly Journal for March 7th, and the Boston Weekly News Letter for March 9th.
The American Weekly Mercury published February 14th, at Philadelphia starts an anti-Masonic campaign
192 FREEMASONRY IN AMERICA
by a letter based upon the events of the trial. Franklin in the Gazette of the same date (though issued the next day ) replies.
Bradford in the Mercury is so bitter that he even re- fers to a band of negro thieves as a Lodge of Free Ma- sons, and, utterly without foundation, accuses Franklin of conniving in the mock initiation.
1737/8, February 21, Philadelphia.
The Pennsylvania Gazette publishes an account of a Masonic Celebration in Charleston, S. C., and a notice of a Lodge in New York.
In the American Weekly Mercury is a rejoinder to Franklin’s reply of February 14th.
1737/8, February 23. Boston.
The Boston Weekly News Letter publishes the follow- ing in an extract of a letter from Paris repeated from London under date of October 5, 1737, viz.:
“You have no doubt the Account of an Act of arbi- trary Power of a very high Strain, I mean the forcing open the Doors of the French Free Mafons Lodge here by the Lieutenant-General of Police. Various are the Difcourfes upon this Occafion: Some fay that the Inqui- {ition of Florence has tortur’d out Confeffions from the Brethren of the Order imprifon’d fome Weeks ago in that City, and fent our Court an Account of their Dif- coveries; but whether there is any Truth or not in this Report, the Clergy here have decided open War again{ft all Free-Mafonry, and upon this Declaration of the Clergy, the People look upon all Free-Mafons to be rank Hereticks, and dangerous to common Society. But, not to lay any Strefs on thefe Opinions, the Free-Mafons
1737 193
were doubtlefs a Parcel of Madmen, to think of eftab- lifhing Lodges under an arbitrary Government, efpecially in any Country where there is an Inquifition or a Baf- tile.”
Pt.
1737/8, March 6, Boston. The Boston Evening Post quotes from the Pennsyl- vania Gazette the article referred to under date of Feb-
ruary 14, 1737/8, szpra, as follows: “Philadelphia, Feb. 7. On Wednefday laft, at the
Court of Oyer and Terminer then fitting here, came on the Trial of Evan Jones, Chymift, for being a Principal concern’d in the death of D. R. a young Man who had been his Apprentice, and was but juft free, in June laft. The Trial began at Nine o’Clock in the Forenoon, anc lafted till almoft Two next Morning. The Jury found him guilty of Manflaughter, and he was accordingly burnt in the Hand, and order’d to find sufficient Security for his good Behaviour. There was the greateft Throng of People to hear the Trial, that perhaps ever appear’d at any Trial in this Province. By the Evidence, fome of whom were deeply concern’d in the Affair, it appear’d, That the Deceafed, having made known to his Mafter his Defires of being a Free-Mafon, he and fome of his Affociates, contriv’d to make themfelves Mirth, by im- pofing on the young Fellow, and making him believe that they were Free-Mafons: The unwary young Man was too foon prevail’d with to believe them, fuffer’d fuch Impofitions (befide that of his Treating them) as at length terminated in his Death. He was perfuaded to repeat, after one of the Company, what was call’d an Oath of Secrecy, but as vile, {tupid, and prophane (to fay no worfe of it) as ever was invented; after which, he being Blindfold, they gave him Phyfick to Drink; and then led him to, and made him Kifs, the bare Pof- teriors of one of their Company. After all this, viz. on
194 FREEMASONRY IN AMERICA
the 13th of June, at Evening, the Company, who call’d themfelves a Lodge, met again, at Dr. Jone’s, in order, as the Deceafed was made to believe, to make him a com- pleat Free-Mafon. After Supper, the Company retir’d to the Cellar, and then this unhappy Perfon was led down blindfold to them, and there unveil’d: They had prepar’d a Pan of burning Spirits, with Raifins at the Bottom, and were ftanding round, dipping in their Hands for the Raifins, and flirting the Flames about. This was call’d Snap-Dragon. One of the Company was wrap’d in a Hide to represent the Devil, which, with the {trange Countenances that the Light of the burning Spirits caus’d, made Things there look ghaftly, frightful, devilifh. However, this it seems did not terrify him as was expected, and he had not been long in the Cellar, when the whole Pan of burning Spirits was thrown on him, at which he cry’d out, Mafter, ?m kill’d, ?’m kill’d; and, notwithstanding they immediately {trove to extin- cuifh the Flames, he was fcorch’d to that Degree that he died on the 16th of the fame Month, in a miferable Manner. It was {worn, that the Doctor was the Perfon who flung or {pilt the Liquor; but no premeditated Malice could be proved, fo he came off with only burning in the Hand, as before related.
And on Thurfday F—R—g—n, Attorney at Law, and E—W-— Taylor, were tried for being prefent at, and concern’d in, the faid Affair. The former was found Guilty of Manflaughter, but was pardon’d. The other the Jury acquitted.”
Pott See also Boston Weekly News Letter for March 16, 1737/8.
1737/8, March 7, Boston. The New England Weekly Journal publishes the ac- count quoted under 1737/8, March 6, supra. Pp-t.
1737 195
1737/8, March 9, Boston. The Boston Weekly News Letter publishes the account last referred to. P-t.
1737/8, March 13, Boston—Nova Scotia. The Boston Gazette publishes the following para- graph:
“We are inform’d That Major Phillips is Appointed Provincial Grand Maf{ter over the Free and Accepted Mafons, in the Province of Nova Scotia, and that a Deputation is getting ready for that purpofe.”
P=t: See 1739, April 11, énfra.
It has been heretofore thought that the above appoint- ment was made about 1740.
Erasmus James Phillips.
Erasmus James Philipps (Phillips), the first Pro- vincial Grand Master of Nova Scotia, was a nephew of Col. Richard Philipps, Governor of Nova Scotia from 1716 to 1749, being a son of his brother Erasmus, and was born April 23, 1705. The father, Erasmus, was the Captain of the “Blandford,” a frigate lost with all hands in March, 1719.
Erasmus James entered the 40th regiment of Foot when a young man and was successively ensign, lieu- tenant, captain and major. This regiment, known as “the Fighting Fortieth,’ was organized at Annapolis on August 25, 1717 (its first Colonel being Col. Richard Philipps) and garrisoned the fort from that year until 1755 and probably till 1758, when it formed part of the expedition against Louisburg.
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While an ensign in 1726, Philipps was selected by the acting governor, with Captain Joseph Bennett of the same regiment, to accompany the French deputies to Minas to tender oaths of allegiance to the habitans in that district. Owing to the prevalence of unfavourable weather they failed to reach the settlements there and the matter was postponed to a future day.
On February 23rd, 1729, he was appointed Advocate of the Vice-Admiralty of the Province of Nova Scotia or Acadia by the British Government, a position which he held until July, 1749.
The minutes of the Council of the Province, held at Annapolis Royal on December 7th, 1730, record that “His Excellency likewise acquainted ye Board that there not being Councillors enough upon ye spot to make up a Quorum he thought proper, with their advice to appoint Mr. Eras. Jas. Philipps a member thereof, who was sworn accordingly.” He seems to have acted as Secre- tary of the Council for several months, and continued a member of the Council until his death in 1760.
In November, 1734, Philipps and thirty-five others, including all the members of the Government in England and of the Council of the Province, were made pro- prietors and patentees of some mines discovered in the Province, ‘‘as a Recompense of their many years Service at this Board.” Such a resolution in these days would be regarded with some suspicion and would be the sub- ject of investigation, but none of the proprietors seem to have grown rich as a result of their action.
In August, 1736, a grant was made to Philipps (at that time Captain in the 40th Regiment) and others of 50,000 acres of land ‘‘at Norwich, in the County of Norfolk, in Nova Scotia.”’ This tract of land was situ-
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ated at or near Chignecto, in what is now Cumberland County and was afterwards escheated and revested in the Crown in 1760.
In the archives of New Hampshire under date of August Ist, 1737, there is a record to the effect that Dr. W. Skene, E. J. Philipps and Otho Hamilton of H. M. Council of Nova Scotia, met at Hampton, N. H., with four commissioners from Rhode Island to mark out and settle the boundaries between the Province of Massachu- setts Bay and the Colony of Rhode Island. He was in Boston from August, 1737, to June, 1738. A later com- mission, dated September 4, 1740, reappointed the same commissioners and several others for a similar purpose. He left Annapolis for New England in April, 1741, and was at Providence, Rhode Island, until June, 1741.
About 1740 he married Ann, eldest daughter of John Dyson and Alice his wife, by whom he had four chil- dren, Ann, who married Col. Robert Fenwick, R. A.; John Erasmus, born at Annapolis, April 30, 1741, Capt. 35th Regiment, died at New York, December, 1776; Elizabeth, who married Capt. Horatio Gates; and Doro- thy, unmarried.
In the fall of 1746, the government decided on the military occupation of Grand Pré and a detachment of 470 men of the Massachusetts forces was sent to that place, disembarking on the day before Christmas day, where they were quartered on the inhabitants. The force was under the command of Colonel Arthur Noble and Major Philipps, and Edward How accompanied them as commissioner in charge of the administration of civil affairs and as commissary. The news of the occu- pation reached the French commander De Ramezay at
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Chignecto on January 8, 1747, and he at once decided on an attack. A force of 300 men under Coulon de Villiers marched overland, reaching Grand Pré on Feb- tuary Ilth, and attacked the sleeping New England forces at night in a blinding snow storm. The battle which followed was perhaps the most stubbornly con- tested fight in the history of Acadia. Colonel Noble and his brother were killed, Edward How was wounded and taken prisoner and after several hours’ resistance during which the Massachusetts men fought in their shirts in hand-to-hand conflicts in the snow storm, with great losses, they capitulated on honourable terms at daybreak. They were allowed to march out of the village with the honours of war and permitted to retire to Annapolis, on making a declaration not to bear arms against the French for six months.
After the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle in 1749 we find Philipps among the claimants for compensation for losses sustained in consequence of the destruction of buildings torn down by the order of the Commander-in- Chief for the better defence of the place in the recent war. In the same year, 1749, Major Philipps resigned his office as King’s Advocate in the Court of Vice-Ad- miralty, giving as the reason that “it would henceforth be impossible for him to attend and execute the duties of said office.”’ He continued to live, however, at An- napolis.
On the Ist January, 1751, Governor Cornwallis issued a special commission to Mr. Philipps as Judge of Pro- bate and Wills to prove the will of Edward How, who had been treacherously murdered by the French and Indians at Chignecto in October, 1750. The document sets forth that it is done ‘‘by reason of the distance be-
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tween Annapolis Royal and the said town of Halifax, the inclemency of the weather and the difficulty of trav- elling through the country at this time would be attended with great inconvenience and danger to the person or persons on whom the proof of the said Will depends.” In conclusion it required him “to transmit the original Will of the said Edward How together with this Com- mission and your proceedings thereon to me at Halifax as soon as convenient may be.”
From 1753-60 Philipps was Commissary of Musters for the garrison at Annapolis.
In 1758 he was honoured by a vote of thanks of the Council for services rendered in 1757 in making pris-. oners of a number of French habitans who having man- aged to avoid capture at the time of the expulsion of the Acadians had formed a temporary settlement on the shores of St. Mary’s Bay, Digby County.
On the retirement of Mascarene, Major Philipps be- came commander of the forces at Annapolis, in which capacity he acted until his death, 1760.
In 1759 Major Philipps was chosen a representative in the House of Assembly, for Annapolis County, Colonel Jonathan Hoar being his colleague, but his legislative career was of short duration, as he died suddenly of apoplexy at Halifax in 1760, while on a visit to that town.
Major Philipps was undoubtedly an able, energetic and efficient officer, in both his military and civil em- ployments and managed with judgment public affairs requiring the exercise of skill and tact, always acquitting himself with credit and success.
Erasmus James Philipps, along with J. Sheriff, was made a Mason in The First Lodge at Boston, November
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14, 1737, on the occasion of his first visit as a commis- sioner to settle the boundaries of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The records of this lodge also show his presence at meetings held on April 11, May 9, November 28, December 26, 1739, and August 12, 1741. In the minutes of April, 1739, he appears as “Rt. Wpfull Bro’r Erasmus James Philipps, G. M. de Nov. Scot.”
On his return to Annapolis in 1738 he established a lodge there which it is said was called the Annapolis Royal Lodge and Philipps was its first W. M.
On June 12, 1750, the Hon. Edward Cornwallis and others at Halifax petitioned Erasmus James Philipps as Pro. G. M. for a warrant or deputation to establish a lodge at Halifax. The warrant was received and the first meeting held July 19, 1750, Cornwallis being the first Master.
On March 18, 1751, the second lodge was formed at Halifax.
On Dec. 27, 1757, a Grand Warrant, signed by the Earl of Blessington, G. M. of the “‘Antients’’ was issued to Philipps, probably without any request on his part, constituting him “Provincial Grand Master of Novia Scotia and the territories thereunto belonging.” This warrant was probably never acted upon, as Philipps’ original authority, that of the Grand Lodge of Massa- chusetts, was the authority of the “Modern” Grand Lodge of England. The warrant from the “Antients”’ was written by Lawrence Dermott, Grand Secretary, and neither it nor two lodge warrants accompanying it were ever acted upon by Philipps or any one else, but lay dormant until 1784 when the Provincial Grand Lodge of Nova Scotia was formed.
On his death in 1760 Major Philipps was succeeded in
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his position of Pro. G. M. by the Hon. Jonathan Belcher, Lieut. Governor of the province.
Major Philipps was thus the founder and first great figure of Freemasonry, not only in Nova Scotia, but in all of Canada.
1 Nova Scotia Lodge of Research 44.
1 Mass. 7.
Ross’s History of Freemasonry in Nova Scotia, hee
IV Gould 331.
1 Robertson’s History of Freemasonry in Can-
ada, 140-152.
lia ee Maryland. There is a tradition of a Lodge at Georgetown, Md., during this year, but without any supporting evidence.
IV Gould 262.
Boston.
It may be interesting to note in this connection that during this year Provincial Grand Master Henry Price’s portrait, the original of which has been destroyed by fire, although copies are preserved, was painted.
1871 Mass. 285, 295.
See frontispiece.
Antigua.
Some time during this year Provincial Grand Master Thomlinson while at Antigua found some old Boston Masons and went to work, making the Governor and sundry other gentlemen of distinction Masons.
| Mass. 6. L.M.R. 483. See page 117.
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Cape Breton, Louisburg and West Indies.
There is a record in a registry book of the Grand Lodge of England, that in 1737 William Douglas, Com- mander of H.M.S. Falmouth, was appointed Provincial Grand Master for the coast of Africa and the islands of America, and Capt. Robert Comins (Commins; Cumins) for Cape Breton and Louisburg. What was meant by the islands of America was, of course, the West Indies, where Commander Douglas touched now and then in the discharge of his naval activities.
See closing items of Chapters XII and XX.