L. B. charges entrance fees of John Hall, Samuel Mc-

Clanan, and Lawrence Reynold.
1731/2, February 17, Boston.
The Weekly News Letter relates that “the Society of Real Masons held their Lodge of St. Michael” at Lon- don on September 30, 1731.
books
1731/2, March 6, Philadelphia. L.B. charges entrance fee of David Parry.
1732; April 3, Philadel phia. Entries in L. B. indicate a meeting.
1732, May I, Philadelphia.
Entries in L. B. indicate a meeting.
1732, May 11, Philadelphia. The Pennsylvania Gazette has a Masonic notice from Dublin.
oer ines: Philadelphia.
It is reported that in 1885 there was in the possession of George T. Ingham, Esq., of Atlantic City, N. J., a document in Benjamin Franklin’s handwriting (except the signatures) reading as follows:
“Gentlemen of the Lodge
The Committee you have been pleased to appoint to consider of the present State of the Lodge, and of the properest Methods to improve it, in obedience to your commands have met, and, after much and mature De- liberation, have come to the following Resolutions :-—
EARLIEST TRACES 67
1. That since the excellent Science of Geometry and Architecture is so much recommended in our ancient Con- stitutions, Masonry being first instituted with this De- sign, among others, to distinguish the true and skilful Architect from unskilful Pretenders; total Ignorance of this Art is very unbecoming a Man who bears the Worthy Name and Character of Mason; We therefore conclude, that it is the Duty of every Member to make himself, in some Measure, acquainted therewith, as he would honour the Society he belongs to, and conform to the Constitutions.
2. That every Member may have an Opportunity of so doing, the present Cash be laid out in the best Books of Architecture, suitable Mathematical Instru- ments, etc.
3. That since the present whole Stock is not too large for that purpose, every Member indebted to the Lodge pay what is from him respectively due on Monday night, the nineteenth Instant, that so the whole being ready by the 24th of June, may be sent away by the first Oppor- tunity. And that every one not paying that Night, be suspended till he do pay: For without Care be taken that Rules are punctually observed, no Society can be long upheld in good Order and Regularity.
5. That the use of Balls be established in its full Force and Vigour; and that no new Member be admitted against the will of any present Member; because certainly more Regard ought to be had in this way to a Brother who is already a Mason, than to any Person who is not one, and we should never in such cases disoblige a Brother, to oblige a Stranger.
6. That any Member of this Lodge having a com- plaint against any other Member, shall first apply him- self to the Wardens, who shall bring the Cause before the Lodge, where it shall be consider’d and made up, if pos- sible, before the Complainant be allow’d to make that Complaint publick to the World: the Offender against this Rule to be expell’d.
68 FREEMASONRY IN AMERICA June 5, 1732.
The Members whose Names are underwritten, being a Majority, agree unanimously to the within Proposals of the Committee (except the fourth, which is cross’d out) and accordingly have hereunto set their hands.
Will. Pringle
Thomas Boude
B. Franklin
Xtopher Thompson
Thos. Hartt
David Parry
John Emerson
Law Reynolds
John Hobart
Henry Pratt
Sam’] Nicholas. “Benjamin Franklin as a Freemason,” page 21.
1732, June 24, Philadelphia.
The Pennsylvania Gazette for June 26, 1732, recites that a Grand Lodge was held this day at the Sun Tavern in Philadelphia at which W. Allen, Esq. was chosen Grand Master for the Province of Pennsylvania; that | Mr. William Pringle was appointed Deputy Grand Mas- ter; and that Thomas Boude and Benjamin Franklin were chosen Grand Wardens.
See 1731, June 24, supra. 1914 Mass. 252, et cét. 1883 Mass. 184.
William Allen
William Allen was born in Philadelphia, August 5, 1704, and baptized, August 17, in the First Presbyterian Church. In 1725, he was studying law at the Temple in
WILLIAM ALLEN 69
London, and returned to Philadelphia prior to Septem- ber 21, 1726, but appears again to have gone abroad, and did not return until the spring of 1728. During his absence, he was elected a Common Councilman; in 1731 he became a member of the Assembly, serving until 1739; October, 1735, he was chosen Mayor of the City. Allen repeatedly served as Judge of the Orphans’ Court and the Court of Common Pleas; in 1741, he was Recorder, succeeding his father-in-law, Andrew Hamilton, and con- tinued in that office until October 2, 1750, when he was appointed Chief Justice of the Province, an office he held until 1774, when he went to Engiand, where he pub- lished ‘“The American Crisis,” setting forth a plan for restoring the dependence of the American Colonies.
A portrait of Grand Master Allen was painted by Benjamin West before he left Philadelphia, and 1s de- scribed by Brown, in the Forum, Vol. 1, pp. 248-249. In this portrait, he has a curled wig and ruffled sleeves, but is otherwise dressed as plainly as possible. The cos- tume is a shade of brown, the face round, with rather straight features, and is distinguished by bonhomie and good sense, rather than by intensity of intellectual action.
Judge Allen was elected a member of the American Philosophical Society, January 19, 1768.
In “Libr B” at the head of his account, commencing June 24, 1731, he is styled “Grandm’r.”” Brother Allen was afterwards appointed Provincial Grand Master by Lord Byron, the Grand Master of England, in 1750, which office he is supposed to have held for some years. After the Revolution Bro. William Allen returned to Philadelphia, and lived in retirement on his estate at Mount Airy, now the Seminary of the Evangelical Lu- theran Church, where he ended his days in comparative
70 FREEMASONRY IN AMERICA
obscurity, dying on September 6, 1780. He was buried
quietly on the following day. ‘The lane leading from
his house to the Wissahickon still bears the name of
‘““Allen’s Lane,” and has also given the name to a station
on the Pennsylvania Railroad branch to Chestnut Hill. 1O.M.L.P. 29-31.
1/32, July 3, Philadelphia.
Entries in L. B. indicate a meeting.
1732, July 24, Boston. The Boston Weekly News Letter contains the follow- ing curious statement under its news from London:
“Laft Monday [April 17] were admitted of the Hon- ourable and Ancient Society of Free and Accepted Mafons, George Skinner of Enfield, Efq., a blind Gen- tleman; and the fame Day the Right Hon. the Earl of Strathmore.”
Those who regard the “perfect youth” or “physical perfection” doctrine as a landmark, will have difficulty in reconciling this fact.
1732, August 7, Philadelphia.
Entries in L. B. indicate a meeting.
1732, September 4, Philadelphia. Entries in L. B. indicate a meeting.
1732, October 19, Philadelphia. Entries in L. B. indicate a meeting.
WILLIAM ALLEN
From portrait painted by Benjamin West.
a
EARLIEST TRACES 71
1732, October 30, Boston. The Weekly Rehearsal chronicles a Grand Lodge meet- ing in Dublin on August Ist. P-t.
1732, November 6, Philadelphia.