History of the Most Ancient and Honorable Fraternity of Free And
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GJomell Unioetstttj Hibrarg 3tliara, Near fork FROM THE BENNO LOEWY LIBRARY COLLECTED BY BENNO LOEWY 1854-1919 BEQUEATHED TO CORNELL UNIVERSITY Ms '537 ft 047254 Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924097851350 HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY NEW YORK Rev. WILLIAM WALTER, D.D. FIRST GRAND MASTER OF MASONS, GRAND LODGE OF NEW YORK, '781-2-3. HISTORY OF THE MOST ANCIENT AND HONORABLE FRATERNITY OP FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS IN NEW YORK FEOM THE EARLIEST DATE. EMBRACING THE HISTORY OP THE GRAND LODGE OF THE STATE, PROM ITS FORMATION IN 1781, AND A SKETCH OP EACH LODGE UNDER ITS JURIS- DICTION ; PRECEDED BY A BRIEF ACCOUNT OP EARLY MASONRY IN ENGLAND, SCOTLAND, IRELAND, AND SEVERAL CONTINENTAL NATIONS, TOGETHER WITH AN OUTLINE OP THE ORIGIN OP THE INSTITUTION IN THE THIRTEEN COLONIES OP THE UNION. BY CHARLES T. McCLENACHAN, HISTORIAN OF THE GRAND LODGE. VOLUME IV. NEW YORK: PUBLISHED BY THE GKAND LODGE. 1894. Copyright, 1894, by EDWARD M. L. EHLERS, Gband Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of New York.. 2-32- Press of J. J. Little & Co. Astor Place, New York CONTENTS OF VOLUME IV. PAGE Illustrations in Fourth Volume vii Regulations in force, 1861, 1 Masonry and the Civil War, 16 The Proposed Peace Convention fails, .... 31 The Hall and the Asylum, 45 The Emperor of Prance appoints a Grand Master, . 53 The Delta and the Letter G, 57 Can a Non-Resident be a Master ? 75 Christianity and Universality, ...... 108 An Act as to holding Real Estate, . 117 A Mason "At Sight," 126 The Sixth Avenue, New York City, Property Purchase, 142 Invasion of the Jurisdiction by France, .... 145 The Corner-Stone of Masonic Hall laid, . - . 151 Grand Masonic Bodies in Europe, etc., .... 161 Franco-German "War, 170 The Burning of Chicago, 173 At Home. —An Act to incorporate the Trustees, . 181 Lodges to take and hold Property, 186 The Constitution of 1873, 189 A Cuban Masonic Excitement, ..... 232 The Dedication of the Temple, 237 Privileged Membership, ....... 245 Webotuck Lodge and the Grand Lodge of Connecticut, 253 The Centennial of the Nation, 261 . The New Trustees.—An Act, ' . 277 Dues of an Unaffiliate, ....... 291 VI CONTENTS OP VOLUME IV. Quebec and Scotland, 304 The German Masonic Temple, . , . • • 312 Laying the Corner-Stone of the Egyptian Obelisk, . 325 The Masonic Centennial Celebration, .... 334 Shakespeare Lodge and the Pennsylvania Interdict, . 344 New York and Illinois in Friendly Conflict, . 348 The Board of Eelief, 351 365 The Grand Lodges.—England and New York, . Giuseppe Garibaldi, 369 The "Work and Lectures examined, . - .379 The Destruction of the Temple, 384 The Statue of Liberty, 394 The Society Veritas, 399 An Act concerning Trustees, ...... 419 Insecure Lodge-Rooms, 426 Grand Master Lawrence and the Temple Debt, . 432 The Jubilee, 442 The Ladies' Masonic Pair, ...... 446 Masonic Antiquities, ....... 457 England and Quebec, . .461 Unmasonic Publications, ...... 465 New York and New Jersey. —The Lemm Incident, . 483 The Masonic Shelter, 493 An Act creating Seven Trustees, . • . 503 The Dedication of the Home. —Its Eules, . 516 Masonry in Mexico, 544 The Masonic Code, 553 List of Lodges. —Location. —District, .... 565 Grand Lodges. —Representatives. —Statistics, . 581 Index of Biographical Sketches, etc., of the Four Volumes, 591 ILLUSTRATIONS IN FOURTH VOLUME. Rev. William Walter, First Grand Master of New York, 1781-83, . icce The Masonic Home, Utica, ... Pacing 1 R. R. Livingston, Grand Master, 1784-1800, 16 John Jacob Astor, Grand Treasurer, 1798-1800, 34 Jacob Morton, Grand Master, 1801-05, 53 DeWitt Clinton, Grand Master, 1806-19, 62 Daniel D. Tompkins, Grand Master, 1820-21, 71 Stephen Van Rensselaer, Grand Master, 1825-29, . 86 Morgan Lewis, Grand Master, 1830-43, 53 10. Robert D. Holmes, Grand Master, 1865-66, 98 11. Robert Macoy, Deputy Grand Master, 1856-67, . 124 13. Stephen H. Johnson, Grand Master, 1867, 98 13. James Gibson, Grand Master, 1868-69 133 14. Christopher G. Pox, Grand Master, 1872-73, . 177 15. Ellwood B. Thorne, Grand Master, 1874-75, 233 16. James W. IIusted, Grand Master, 1876, 272 17. Joseph J. Couch, Grand Master, 1877, 288 18. Edmund L. Jud'son, Grand Master, 1878, . 301 19. Charles Roojie, Grand Master, 1879, 306 20. Jesse B. Anthony, Grand Master, 1880, 323 21. John Boyd, Grand Treasurer, 1880-86, 324 22. Horace S. Taylor, Grand Master, 1881, . 350 23. Edward M. L. Ehlers, Grand Secretary, 1882-. 359 24. Benjamin Flagler, Grand Master, 1882, . 362 25. J. Edward Simmons, Grand Master, 1883, . 389 vm ILLUSTRATIONS IN FOURTH VOLUME. PAGE 26. William A. Beodie, Geand Master, 1884, . Facing 407 " 27. John Hodge, Deputy Geand Master, 1893-, . 429 " 28. Washington B. Connor, Grand Treasueee, 1887-88, . 454 29. John W. Vrooman, Geand Master, 1889-90, . "490 30. John J. Gorman, Geand Treasuree, 1889- ... " 492 " 31. William Sherer, Grand Master, 1891, . 510 32. James Ten Eyck, Grand Master, 1892, . "533 " 33. Frederick A. Buenham, Grand Master, 1893-, . 547 34. William A. Sutherland, Senior Grand Warden, 1893-, " 549 35. Chakles E. Ide, Junior Grand Waeden, 1893-, . "550 36. a T. McClenachan, Historian, 1887-. ... " 552 1 HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY IN NEW YORK. THE GRAND LODGE, FROM THE TIME OF GRANTING THE 'WAR- RANT IN 1781 TO THE PRESENT DAY, EXCLUSIVE OF AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF INDIVIDUAL LODGES SO FAR AS PRACTICABLE. CHAPTER IX. 1861-1870. 1861. REGULATIONS AND RESOLUTIONS IN FORCE IN 1861. • Before proceeding with the historical facts' and narrative of Masonry in New York State, and that those interested in the constitutional status of the Grand Lodge might have ready access to the fundamental law as it stood at the close of the last schism Avhich it is hoped will ever disturb the unity and harmony of the representative central power of this State, it was deemed judicious to close Chapter VIII. by quoting the constitutional law as it stood in 1860. In conformity with the same idea, and that a new era of suc- cessful progress might be marked by a thorough under- standing of the internal local regulations as denned by Resolutions, we herein present the same. VOL. IV. — 2 HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY RESOLUTIONS DULY COLLATED AND IN FOECE IN 1861. Brother Finlay M. King, Chairman of 'a Committee ap- pointed to collate all resolutions in force which had been adopted between the years 1S25 and 1855, made a report in 1856, stating that the Committee could only procure the Transactions of the Grand Lodge for the years 1843, 1845, and those succeeding to the year 1856. The Committee was continued, and reported in 1857 a further surprise, that the repealing clause of the Constitution of 1845 annulled the former written Constitution, and all general regulations and resolutions operating as such, which were not embraced in the Constitution of 1845 ; it was, therefore, unnecessary to collate any laws, regulations, or resolutions anterior to that year. The most prominent of these regulations were the provisions of the Compact of 1827, which, except those portions re-introduced in the Constitution of 1S45, had been entirely repealed and abrogated. Those resolutions adopted between the years 1845 and 1854, twenty-five in number, were binding for one year only, unless adopted at a second Annual Communication ; and of the subjoined reso- lutions, No. 17 was the only one so adopted. All these resolutions, however, as compiled, were re-adopted in 185 7. It is quite possible that if the clause repealing the Com- pact of 1827 had been pointed out in the Grand Lodge in 1849, the difficulties of that year would have taken a happier turn. The new Constitutions made all resolutions adopted once, effective and binding until repealed. At the expense of space, it is deemed important to present the following standing resolutions, which were Adopted in 184S. 1. Resolved, That it is inexpedient for this Grand Lodge to adopt any regulation to compel Masons who are not mem- bers of any Grand Lodge to pay a tax for the support of the institution, or to require such Masons to unite with IN THE STATE OP NEW YORK. 3 Lodges, contrary to their inclination, or against the dictates of their own judgment. 2. Resohed, That the Committee on Foreign Correspond- ence be authorized to hold Foreign Correspondence. Adapted in 1849. 3. Resolved, That when the forfeited Charter of a Lodge is revived, it is not to be considered as a new Lodge ; and former initiates and members have the privilege of rejoin- ing, on vote of the Lodge, without paying the Grand Lodge fees, as is provided in Article 20 of the Constitution. Adopted in 1850. 4. Resolved, That every Lodge making its returns and paying its dues, or remitting moneys to the Grand Secre- tary, for any purpose whatever, transmit, at the same time, a duplicate statement of the amount so sent or paid, to the Grand Treasurer; and that the Grand Treasurer keep a true and faithful record of the same, for the use and benefit of the Grand Stewards' Lodge and Grand Lodge. 5. Resolved, That it be earnestly recommended to the Lodges, to guard against loss from fire, to effect a reason- able insurance upon their property ; and that in future this Grand Lodge will extend no relief to Lodges not so insured, except under very peculiar circumstances. 6. Resolved, That for the future, and until otherwise or- dered, the officers of Lodges subordinate to this Grand Lodge be instructed, in all cases in which visitors residing within this State apply to visit such Lodges, to put to such visitors the question, whether they acknowledge the authority of this Grand Lodge ; and, if answered in the negative, that such persons be excluded from visiting such Lodges.