Given under our hand and seal, in the Grand Lodge, held in St. Mary's
Chapel, in the city of Edinburgh, and the Seal of the Grand Lodge is
hereunto appended this thirtieth day of November, one thousand seven
hundred and fifty-six years.
Composition of two Guineas to this Grand Lodge
for the Charter, paid unto
James Hunter, G. Tr.
Charter of Constitution and New Erection,
É UM CULTO OU CULTUS FALICUS ..
FALL E CUS ...OU DE JOELHOS SEGUNDO
A FILOSOFIA BRASUQUEIRA
in favor of the Lodge of Saint
Andrew, to be held at Boston, New England, 1756.
[endorsement by the grand lodge of MASSACHUSETTS.]
To all the Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons in the State of Massachu-
setts, the Most Worshipful Isalah Thomas, Esq., Grand Master of the
State aforesaid, sends Greeting :
Know ye, that by virtue of the power vested in me as Grand Master, and in
conformity to a vote of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts at their Quarterly
Communication, on the nth day of September, A. L. 5809, I do hereby authorize
and empower St. Andrew's Lodge, of Boston, formerly under the jurisdiction of
the Grand Lodge of Scotland, but lately admitted under our jurisdiction, to take
rank in Grand Lodge, at all their (Quarterly Communications, Festivals, and
Funerals, and all other regular and constitutional meetings, agreeably to the
date of their ancient Charter.
Given under my hand this eleventh day of December, A. L. 5809.
Attest, LSAIAH THOMAS,
John Proctor, Gd. Secretary. Grand Master.
This is the earhest authentic record we have of tlie appearance of Freemii-
sonry in the kingdom ; unless, indeed, we adopt the theory that the Culdees,
as the conjectural successors of the Essenes, were a fraternity of Freemasons.
On this hypothesis, the existence of the Order in Scotland may, without diffi-
culty, be traced to a mucli earlier date. But such an inquiry would be foreign
to our present purpose.
It may be remarked, in this connection, that there is extant, in the Hay's MSS.
in the Advocates' library at Edinburgh, the record of an ancient Charter of the
Craft, which recites that, "for sa meikle as from adge to adge it has been ob-
served amongst us that the Lairds of Roslyn has ever been patrons and protec-
tors of us and our privileges ; " and then proceeds to authorize the Lord of Roslyn
to purchase a new recognition and confirmation of that right from the King. This
Charter is without date ; but it is doubtless very ancient, being referred to as
an old deed in the subsequent Charter of renewal, about the year 1628. In
this document we are told that the former Lords of Roslyn had from time to
time obtained Charters from several of the kings of Scotland, confirming their ju-
risdiction over the Masonic Fraternity ; but that these muniments and records
were "consumed in ane flame of fire within the Castle of Roslyn," which confla-
gration occurred in the year 1554, through the depredations of the troops of
Henry VIII. King of England. "These facts," says a distinguished Scotch au-
thor! t\', "confirm the accounts of those historians who relate that the original
grant, or Charter of jurisdiction over the Lodges in Scotland, was made by King
James 1 1, of that kingdom, to St. Clair, the great Earl of Caithness and Orkney,
who founded the chapel of Roslyn Castle about the year 1441." The Order must
have flourished in Scotland, continues the writer just quoted, a long time before
this ; for otherwise we cannot imagine how its numbers and its consequence
should have attracted the notice of the king, nor why the Grand Mastership of
the institution should be deemed a gift worthy the acceptance of so distinguished
a nobleman. And hence also there is derived additional credit to the assertion
of old writers on Masonry, who afiirm that King James I. of Scotland, who died
A. D. 1437, settled a yearly revenue of four pounds Scots, to be paid by every
Master Mason to a Grand Master, to be chosen by the (irand Lodge and ap-
proved by the crown. If an institution so worthy of royal patronage and so
dignified as to excite the ambition of nobles to preside over its mvsteries, had
been of recent origin, its foundation, or at least its introduction into Scothmd,
would have been noted by the historians and annalists of tliat kingdi)m. But as no
such record is to be found, the conckision is irresistible that tlie Order there was
of earlv and uncertain date, and that it was originally venerable and august, or
had acquired its elevated and imposing character by imperceptible degrees, in
long progression of time.
The foregoing particulars are believed to be sufficient to show, first, that
Masonry in Scotland is of great antiquity ; and, secondly, that it was originally
derived from a pure and legitimate source, — that those companies or Lodges,
which were invited into the kingdom by David I. were identical with those
" travelling associations of architects " which appeared in Europe during the
Middle Ages, under the patronage of the See of Rome. The Masonry of Scot-
land and the Masonry of England are but different streams flowing from a
common fountain.
One of the first Lodges in Scotland, under the present system of organization,
of which we have any reliable account, was held at Kilwinning, in Ayrshire,
about the close of the fifteenth century. How long it had been in operation
before that period, cannot now Ije ascertained. It is worthy of remark, how-
ever, in this connection, that it has always been understood among our Breth-
ren in Scotland, that until the betrinninsf of that centurv, the "annual assemblies "
of the Fraternity, or meetings of the Grand Lodge, were held at Kilwinning, and
that this practice continued until their removal to Edinburgh, shortly before
the appointment of the St. Clairs as hereditary Grand Masters.
For the period of more than a century and a half subsequent to the granting
of the first of the Charters before mentioned, the office of Grand Master of
Scotland was filled, without interruption, by the St. Clairs of Roslyn. In the
year 1736, William St. Clair, "the last Roslyn," being "under the necessity
of alienating his estate, and having no children, was anxious that the office of
Grand Master should not become vacant at his death." He accordingly assem-
bled together the Lodges in and about Edinburgli, and having represented to tliem
the advantage that would accrue to the Order by having a nobleman or gentleman
of their oiu)i choice as Grand Master, he graciously intimated liis intention ot
resigning into the hands of tlie lirethren, every title to that office wliich he tlien
possessed, rjr which his successors migiil claim, cither untler the grants ot tlie
12 CENTENNIAL MEMORIAL.
Scottish Kings, or from tlie kindness of the Fraternity. In furtherance of this
generous and voluntary surrender of his hereditary authority, circular letters
were dispatched in the name of "the four Lodges in and about Edinburgh,"
to all the Lodges in Scotland, inviting them to appear in the metropolis, either
personally or by proxies, on the next St. Andrew's day, to concur in the elec-
tion of a Grand Master for Scotland. Thirty-three Lodges were represented
at the meeting held in pursuance of this invitation. The Deed of Resignation
was read and accepted. To the great honor of the Brethren present, the
first use they made of their newly acquired power was, by their free suffrages,
then tor the first time exercised, to elect and constitute for their Grand Master,
him who had so munificently resigned into their hands his oflficial dignity and
prerogatives. He held the office until the 30th November, 1737, when he re-
signed it, and George, Earl of Cromarty, was elected Grand Master. He was
succeeded in 1738, by John, Earl of Kintore : and he, in 1739, by James, Earl
of Morton ; and he, again, in 1740, by Thomas, Earl of Strathmore. His suc-
cessors were, in 1741, Alexander, Earl of Leven ; 1742, William, Earl of Kilmar-
nock ; 1743, James, Earl of Wemyss ; 1744, James, Earl of Moray ; 1745, Henry
David, Earl of Buchan ; 1746, William Nisbet of Dirleton, Esq. ; 1747, Francis
Charteris of Amisfield, Esq. ; 1748, Hugh Seton of Touch, Esq. ; 1749, Thomas,
Lord Erskine ; 1750, Alexander, Earl of Eglintoun ; 175 1, James, Lord Boyd;
1752, Rt. Hon. Geo. Drummond, Lord Provost of Edinburgh ; 1753, Charles
Hamilton Gordon, Esq.; 1754, the Hon. James, Master of Forbes; and, in
1755-6, Sholto Charles, Lord Aberdour, under whose authority St.
Andrew's Lodge was constituted, and whose name is affixed to its Charter. He
was the first Grand Master who had been honored with a re-election. This
probably did not arise from any disinclination on the part of his predecessors to
serve the Grand Lodge for a longer term than one year, or, on the part of their
Brethren to re-elect them ; but at that early period of the Grand Lodge, it was
doubtless deemed expedient, independently of any necessity which may have been
felt to exist on the subject, to strengthen the Body, by interesting in its adminis-
tration as many of the nobility and gentlemen of the kingdom, as could conveni-
ently be induced to assume the responsibility of its management. This having
been accomplished, to the desired extent, the one-term rule was discarded, and
the Grand Masters, from that to the present time have, with few exceptions,
been honored by at least a second election.
ST. ANDREW, in whose name our Lodge was chartered
by the Grand Lodge of Scotland on the 30th of November,
1756, was born at Bethsaida, a city of GaHlee, situated on
the shores of the Lake Tiberias, in Palestine. As the name
imports, it was a place for tishing and hunting, the adjacent
country abounding with deer and the sea with fish. It is
said that Philip the Tetrarch formed it into a magnificent
city and called it Julias, after the daughter of the Emperor
Augustus. And it was here that Jesus performed many of his miracles.
Andrew was the brother of Simon Peter, and both were the sons of John, or
Jonas, a fisherman of tlie place of their nativity. The former, before the advent
of Jesus as a public teacher, had been a Disciple of John the Baptist, and was
probably a member of the Essenian Sect, to which John belonged. If so, this
will, in some measure at least, account for the learning and ability which he
subsequently exhibited in his public ministry. He was the first person whom
Jesus received as a Disciple, and who afterwards, with his brother Simon Peter,
became one of his Apostles. He followed Christ until his crucifixion ; when,
with the other Apostles, he entered upon his public ministry. Departing from
Jerusalem, he first travelled through Cappadocia, Galatia, and Bithynia, in-
structing the inhabitants in the new faith ; and then continued his journey along
the Euxine Sea, into the desert of Scythia. An ancient author tells us that he
first came to Amynsus, where he preached in one of the Jewisli Synagogues,
converted many of the people, and ordained ])riests. He next went to Trapez-
ium, a maritime city on tlie Euxine Sea ; from whence, after visiting many otiier
places, he came to Nice, in Northern Italy, where lie stayed two years, preach-
ing and working miracles witli great success. Leaving here he passed to Nico-
media, and from thence to Chalcedon, whence he sailed through the Propontis
to the Euxine again, and from thence went to Heraclea, and afterwards to
Amastris ; in all of which places he encountered many difficulties, but overcame
them by his invincible patience and resolution. He next proceeded to Synope
(a city on the same sea, and famous as the birth and burial place of King Mith-
ridates), where he met his brother Peter and united with him in the work of the
ministry. Tlie inhabitants were mostly Jews, who, "partly from a zeal for their
celigion and partly from their barbarous manners, were exasperated against him,
and entered into a confederacy to burn the house in which he lodged. But
being disappointed in their design, they treated him with the most savage cruelty,
throwing him on the ground, stamping upon him with their feet, pulling and
dragging him from place to place ; some beating him with clubs, some pelting
him with stones, and others, to satisfy their brutal revenge, biting off his flesh
with their teeth ; until, apprehending that they had entirely deprived him of
life, they cast him out into the fields. But he miraculously recovered, and re-
turned pubhcly into the city ; by which, and other miracles that he wrought
among them, he converted many from the error of their ways and induced them
to become Disciples of Jesus." He afterwards returned to Jerusalem, and
from thence travelled over Thrace, Macedonia, Thessera, Achaia, and Epirus,
" propagating and confirming the doctrine he taught, with signs and miracles."
At last he came to Patrae, a city of Achaia, in Greece, where, after converting
large numbers of the inhabitants, he finally sealed his faith with his blood. He
was here arrested by order of Agenas, pro-consul of Achaia, and having resisted
every temptation to renounce his mission and sacrifice to the gods of the
heathen, he was treated with the utmost severity, and finally crucified on the
30th of November, A. D. 69. The Cross used on this occasion, was of the form
called Criix decussata, and commonly known as St. Andrew's Cross. It was
made of two pieces of timber, crossing each other in the centre, in the form of
the letter X. Contrary to the usual custom, he was fastened to the cross with
cords instead oi nails, that his death might be the more lingferinor and tedious.
In this condition, says one authority, "he hung two whole days, teaching and
instructing the people in the best manner his wretched situation would admit of,
being sometimes so weak and faint as scarce to have the power of utterance.
In the meantime, great interest was made to the pro-consul to spare his life ;
but the Apostle earnesdy begged of the Almighty that he might now depart,
and seal the truth of his religion with his blood."
His prayers were hard, and
he expired, as before stated, on the last day of November. Mis body is said to
have been decently and honorably interred by Maximillia, a lady of quality and
estate, who Niceporus tells us, was the wite of the pro-consul. Constantino
the Great afterwards removed it to Constantinople, and buried it in the great
Church he had erected in honor of the Apostles. Here it remained until the
vear A. D. 369, when, it is said, a Scottish Abbot of the name of Regulus,
caused it to be again removed from Constantinople to Scotland, and buried in
a church, with a monastery, whicli he had erected to the Saint at Abernethy.
The festival of St. Andrew was instituted in Scotland in the year A. D. 359,
and trom that time to the present has been generally observed as the great
national religious festival and gala-day of Scotchmen, wherever dispersed.
The Saint was admitted into the Masonic Calendar, and his "anniversary"
adopted as a Masonic Festival, on the 30th of November, 1737. Previously to
this time, the " Festival Days "' of the Order in Scotland (as in every other
countrv in Christendom), had been, from the early days of Christianity, the
24th of June, and tlie 27th of December. But the peculiar condition of the
Order there at tlie date above given, and the important clianges which then
took place in its organization and government, led to a corresponding change
in its anniversary festivals.
Such are the more prominent points, historical and legendary, in the life of
this distinguished Apostle, as they have come down to us from the early days
of Christianity. A more elaborate narrative was not deemed necessary for the
purpose of the present sketch.
C E L E B R A T I O N
OF THE
CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY
OF THE
MASSACHUSETTS GRAND LODGE
BY THE
LODGE OF ST. ANDREW.
DEC. 23, 1869.
Allegory. — ScoTland and America united in Masonry under the
Patronaue of St. A.ndrew.
Having been precluded by the action of the Grand Lodge of the State, from
a more formal celebration of the One Hundredth Anniversary of the establish-
ment in Boston, of the "Grand Lodge of .-FREE Masons," St. Andrew's Lodge
availed itself of its Quarterly Meeting, on the 23d of December, 1869, to take
such notice of an occasion, historically and personally so interesting to its
Members, as the peculiar circumstances under which they were assembled
would allow.
The Lodge was opened at an early hour in the afternoon, at the house of Bro.
J. B. Smith, in Bulfinch Street, and having transacted its ordinary business,
the Brethren, in commemoration of an ancient masonic custom, were "called
trom labor to refreshment," and sat down to an entertainment provided for the
occasion by tlie celebrated caterer at whose house they were convened.
On the removal of the cloth, the Worshipful Master, Ezra Palmer M. D.,
addressed the Lodge, on tlie auspicious circumstances under which they were
met, in the following congratulatory address :
Brethren of the Lodge of St. Andrew :
I bid you a cordial welcome to these tables so liberally provided with the
luxuries of the season.
The large number of members assembled to-night is a subject of congratula-
tion, as it denotes an interest not only in our time-honored regular quarterly
communications, but also in the fact that at this meeting we commemorate tiic
Centennial Anniversary of the establishment of tiie " Massachusetts Grand
Lodge," in which our Lodge so largely participated, and whose first Grand Mas-
ter was at the time of his aPpointment. WOrshiFful Master of this Lodge.
A retrospect of one hundred years ! What interesting suggestions does it
awaken ! From the date of one hundred years ago we readily recede to the
middle of the last century, when our beloved Lodge was duly constituted. We
recall the source and history of its Charter. We read its early records, and find
that it was one of the few masonic institutions which regularly held their com-
munications, not only through the distracting period preceding the Revolution,
but also through the turbulence of the War itself. All this and more flashes
to the memory, and cjuestions like the following present themselves : Ought not
much of our old history to be revived ? Ought not a committee be appointed
to open our many long-closed volumes of records of this early date and furnish
us some of their valuable contents ?
I am happy to say that something will be done to-night in that direction.
My right hand neighbor at the table has delved into the past and will give you
what preceded and constituted the organization of the Grand Lodge of Massa-
chusetts. And now. Brethren, I call upon R. W. Bro. Charles W. Moore to
respond to the sentiment.
"The Massachusetts Grand Lodge, and its relations with St.
Andrew's Lodge."
R. W. Bro. Moore then delivered an interesting address on the early history of
the Grand Lodge of '■'■Ancient Masons" (as it was originally denominated) ;
tracing the manner of its organization, referring in terms of eulogy to the dis-
tinguished brethren who formed its first Board of Officers, and comprehensively
sketching, with clearness and precision, the important part sustained in its
establishment by Saint Andrew's Lodge ; illustrating this point of his ad-
dress by historical data from the records of the two bodies, and other reliable
and official sources.
The committee have the pleasure to lay this address before the brethren
of the Lodge in the following pages. Bro. Moore has, since its delivery,
elaborated it by the addition of such further documents as seemed to be
necessary to illustrate the early history and struggles of the Lodge, more fully
and satisfactorily than a general course of remark would admit of.
IV. Master and Brethren :
It may not be an extravagant assumPtion nor yet an improbable
one, to suppose that ONe Hundred Years ago this night, more or
less of the members of St. Andrew's Lodge, either in their associate
or individual capacity, were assembled together at their Hall, in the
old Green Dragon Tavern, and were there engaged in maturing
the necessary measures for the successful organization, on the fol-
lowing Wednesday (being the 27th day of December), of a second
Grand Lodge in the then town of Boston, to be thereafter known
as the " Grand Lodge of Ancient Masons with their beloved and
distinguished Brother Dr. Joseph Warren, for its Grand Master.
To the organization of this body, and the connection of St.
Andrew's Lodge with it, I propose to limit the remarks I am
about to submit in answer to the call with which you have been
pleased to honor me.
The history of Freemasonry in Massachusetts is marked by
three distinct and notable epochs. The first of these was the
organization of the "St. John's Grand Lodge" in 1733, with the
R. W. Henkv Price for its Grand Master: The second, the estab-
lishment of the Grand Lodge of " Ancient Masons^' (subsequently
styled, and more generally known in masonic history as " The
Massachusetts Grand Lodge,") on tlic 27th of December 1769,
with the R. W. Joseph Warren, for its Grand Master: And the
third, the consolidation and union in 1792, of these two Grand
Lodges into one body, to be thereafter known as the " Grand Lodge
of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts," with the R. W. John
, for its Grand Master. It is with the second of these lead-
ing events that we, as a Lodge, are at this time more particularly
concerned.
On the 30th of July, 1733, there was organized and opened at
the Bunch of Grapes Tavern, on the corner of King (now State)
and Kilby Streets, in the town of Boston, the first Grand Lodge
of Freemasons ever erected on the American Continent. The
authority under which the Brethren on that occasion acted, was a
commission, or in the language of that day, a " deputation," from
the Grand Master of Masons in England, to R. W. Henry Price
of Boston, constituting and appointing him Provincial Grand Mas-
ter for New England. The body so formed was denominated, and
c(mtinued to be known until nearly the close of the century, as " The
St. John's Grand Lodge." It went into immediate active opera-
tion by constituting on the evening of its own erection, " The
First Lodge in Boston." This was the beginning of the existence
of Freemasonry in America, on its present and modern plan of
organization.
On the 30th of November, 1756, a Charter was granted by the
Grand Lodge of Scotland, for the erection of a Lodge in Boston,
under the name and title of the " Lodge of St. Andrew ; " but was
not received by the petitioners until the following year, when the
Lodge was regularly organized under it. It had, however, previously
been in operation, as will hereafter appear. The issuing of this
Charter was objected to and resisted by the St. John's Grand
Lodge, which had then been in existence twenty-three years, as an
infringement of its lawful jurisdiction. It was claimed by that
body that the commission of Grand Master Price gave him and
his successors, exclusive masonic authority in the Province. This
claim was not well founded. Massachusetts, like all the other col-
onies and dependencies of the British Crown, was open and free to
the joint occupancy of the three Grand Lodges of that kingdom :
namely, of lngland, Ireland and Scotland. The right, therefore, of
the Grand Lodge of Scotland, or of the Grand Lodge of Ireland,
or both together, to estabhsh Lodges within the Province, was as
clear and undoubted as that of the Grand Lodge of England to
authorize the establishment of English Lodges within the same
territory. This right of common jurisdiction in the Provinces
was not, however, so clearly understood by the Brethren composing
the St. John's Grand Lodge, as by the parent Grand Lodges of
Great Britain (which alone had control over it), as -.vill be seen by the
letter, hereafter cited, from the Grand Master of Scotland. The
result was a long and exciting controversy, which was not always
particularly distinguished for its amiability or fraternal courtesy.
To such an extent indeed had this feeling of unkindness and spirit
of exclusiveness obtained, that the St. John's Grand Lodge, by a.
formal vote, forbade all masonic intercourse with the members of
St. Andrew's Lodge, declaring their organization to be irregular
and without lawful authority. This vote was in the following
terms, and was adopted April 8, 1761 :
" Voted, That it be, and it is herein' recommended and ordered liy the Grand Master,
that no Meml)er of a regularly constituted Lodge in Boston, do a])pear at the meeting
(or the Lodge so called) of .Scotts Masons in Boston, not l^eing regularly constituted in
the opinion of this (Grand) Lodge. The Master and Wardens of the several Lodges,
are desired to take notice of this Order at their next meeting."
9
This was a declaration of outlawry to which the proscribed
Brethren could not passively submit, without a dishonorable abne-
gation of their masonic character and prerogatives. On the
receipt of a copy of it, the members of the Lodge laid their
grievances before their parent Grand Lodge of Scotland, and sought
the interposition of that body to relieve them from the embarrass-
ments and humiliation to which they were so unjustly subjected,
and received from the luirl of Elgin and Kincardin, its Grand Mas-
ter, an answer, under date Edinburgh June 4, 1762, from which the
following is an extract ;
as an infringement (if his Province as Grand Master of North America ; it is my opinion
there may he some mistake in this ; you say he saw, read and approved of your Char-
ter ; if he liad any objections, he certainly would have signified them to you when you
showed him your Charter. I am confident my R. W. Brother Jeremiah Gridley, Esq.,
knows and olxserves the principles of Masonry better, than to take offence where there
is not the smallest reason given for it. I do not doubt nor dispute his authority as
Grand Master of all the Lodges in North America, wJio ackncndedge the aitthority, and
liold of tHE Grand Lodge of England, as he certainly has a warrant and commission from
the Grand Master of England to that effect. The Grand Master and Grand Lodge of
Scotland have also granted a warrant and commission to our R. W. Bro. Col. John
A'oung, Esq., constituting and appointing him Provincial Grand Master of all the
Lodges in North America, who acknowledge the authority and hold of the Grand
Lodge of Scotland. These Commissions, when rightly understood, can never clash or
interfere with each other."
'• The last reason assigned by the Lodges in Boston
for their unkind behavior to you
is, that the Right Worshii)ful Jercn\iah (Jeremy) Gridley, ICsc].,
looks upon your Charter
