Minutes of the Right Worshipful Grand Lodge of the Most Ancient Nad
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TmrTTTTT T T » I T T T TTT TTTTYTTyTTTIYTYTTTyil. LIBRARY OF Jos. W. Day. No '^»IIT»TTTTTTTTTTTTTTT^:mTIIlTTlIIIXmXIZr ^5 047399 CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY THIS BOOK IS ONE OF A COLLECTION MADE BY BENNO LOEWY 1854-1919 AND BEQUEATHED TO CORNELL UNIVERSITY k Cornell University J 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/cletails/cu31924097851343 PENNSYLVANIA FREEMASONS' HALL, Place of Meeting, 1801-181T. REPRINT OF THE MINUTES OF THB GRAND LODGE OP HE m mnu masoiis OF PENNSYLVANIA COMPILED BY JOSHUA L. LYTE Membeb of the Committee on Libsaby of the Gband Lodge under direction of the COMMITTEE ON LIBRARY VOLUME II. 1801 TO 1810 PUBLISHED BY THE GRAND LODGE PHILADELPHIA, PA. 1896 COMMITTEE ON LIBRARY. EDWAED S. WYCKOFF, No. 19, Chaibman. FRANK M. HIGHLEY, No. 402. JOSHUA L. LYTE, No. 43. GEORGE W. HALL, No. 211. ANDREW M. RAMBO, No. 286. CHARLES W. PACKER, No. 72. CHARLES K. FRANCIS, No. 610. PEEFACE. The Second Volume of the Eeprint of the Proceedings of the Grand Lodge covers the years from 1801 to 1810, inclusive. We have reached the point in the Proceedings of the Grand Lodge when, on account of there being a, larger number of Lodges, more business was transacted, and more space required to record the proceedings. They lose nothing of their interest, however, by being recorded more fuUy, but, on the other hand, it makes the work all the more interesting as a historical work, both as regards the Grand Lodge and the Subordinate Lodges in Pennsylvania. During the period that James Milnor was R. W. Grand Master, (1806-1813, ) the Grand Officers began to pay more attention to the Subordinate Lodges in the way of visitations, and in this vol- ume wiU be found several of Grand Master Milnor' s addresses de- livered on those occasions. They are able papers, and contain advice that is as applicable to-day to the Lodges in Pennsylvania as it was eighty-five years ago. Much care has been taken in the preparation of a copious index for this volume, following the general style of the index of Volume L , except that the Lodges are all indexed by their numbers. In cases where Lodges have a name, it is given in the proper place under the letter in the index, and a reference made as to where it can be found, as follows: " Montgomery Lodge, No. 19, Philadel- phia (see Lodge No. 19)." It is the intention of the Library Committee to issue the suc- ceeding volumes of the Reprint, at the rate of two volumes each year. The last volume will contain a list of the names of all subscribers for the work. : : MINUTES AND PROCEEDINGS. St- John's Day, Philadelphia, Wednesday, 24* June, Anno Lucis 6801. Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, Grand General Communica- tion. Present Bro"^- Jonathan B. Smith, Esq'- R. "W. Grand Master. " John "W"- Van Cleve, Esq^- R. W. Senior Grand Warden, P. T. Thomas Town, R. W. Junior Grand Warden, P. T. George A. Baker, R. W. Grand Secretary. Robert Lewis, Senior Grand Deacon, P. T. Christian Sheetz, Junior Grand Deacon, P. T. Felix McCarthy, Grand Pursuivant. William Snyder, Grand Tyler. Lodges Nos. 9, 19, 21, 45, 51, 56, 59, 65, 67, 68, 71, 72, 73 and 81 represented. Fourteen Lodges being represented, Grand Lodge was opened in Ample form. The Lodges were called on to present their Returns, and the following Returns were received and read, to wit Lodge N°- 2. Election Return, returning Bro"^- Robert PuUen, W. M'-; Bro'- Joseph Burden, S. W.; Bro'- Thomas Marshall, J. W.; Bro'- John Phillips, Secretary ; Bro"^- George A. Baker, Treasurer. Lodge N°- 9. Election Return, returning Bro""- Joseph Camp- bell, W. M'-; Bro'-- Alexander McAllister, S. W.; Bro'- Arch^- M°Conoghy, J. W.; Bro'^- James Wilkins, Secretary ; Bro*- Thomas Cave, Treasurer. Lodge N°- 19. Election Return, returning Bro""- Ebenezer Fer- guson, W. M'-j Bro'- Alexander R. Coxe, S. W.; Bro'- Wil- 8 GRAND LODGE OF PENNSYLVANIA. 1801 Secretary liam S. Revoudt, J. W.; Bro'- William Gamble, ; Bro'- Frederick Erringer, Treasurer. Retarn of Members to this Time returning the Expulsions of M W , W. B , L G R , W H , B J R , T B , J H , O S , . D , J C Lodge N°- 51. Election Return, returning Bro'^- Thomas Shoe- maker, W. M'-; Bro^- Samuel Watt, S. W.; Bro'- Robert Poalk, J. W.; Bro""- James Tatham, Secretary; Bro^- Henry Beck, Treasurer. Lodge N°- 59. Election Return, returning Bro'- John Ward, W. M'-; Bro'- John Hood, S. W.; Bro""- William Sweeny, J. W.; Bro""- William Allibone, Secretary ; Bro""- John Pragers, Treasurer. Lodge N°- 67. Election return, returning Bro''- Joseph Cloud, W. M"^-; Bro"^- William Littlewood, S. W.; Bro'- Peter Paris, J. W.; Bro'- Lodewyck Sharpe, Secretary ; Bro'- Adam Eck- feldt. Treasurer. Return of Members this Time. Account of Grand Lodge Dues. Lodge N°- 71. Election Return, returning Bro'- William Nel- son, W. M'-; Bro'- Andrew Montgomery, S. W.; Bro'- Neil M^Farland, J. W.; Bro'- John Davis, Secretary ; Bro'- John Cromwell, Treasurer. Lodge N°- 72. Election Return, returning Bro'- Christian Sheetz, W. M'-; Bro'- Joseph Blame, S. W.; Bro'- Anthony Steel, J. W.; Bro'- Patrick E. Whelan, Secretary; Bro'- Henry Rees, Treasurer. Lodge N"- 81. Election Return, returning Bro'- John Sellers, W. M.; Bro'- William Leeson, S. W.; Bro'- Elisha Tobey, J. W.; Bro'- Thomas Morton, Secretary; Bro'- Anthony Her- gesheimer. Treasurer. An Amendment to the Bye Laws of Lodge N°- 73 was re- ceived and read, whereby it appears that said Lodge has resolved for the future to hold their Elections for Officers Annually, and that at the Stated Meeting next preceding S'- John the Evangelist's Day in every Year. A Notification from Lodge N°- 81 of their Removal from the place of their late meetings, at the Widow Lesher's, to Bro'- : : 1801 FREE ANB ACCEPTED MASONS. 9 Anthony Hargesheimer's, at the Sign of the King of Prussia, Germantown, was received and read. The Committee appointed on the 1^ Instant to make the necessary enquiries concerning a suitable place for the meet- ings of this Grand Lodge made their report, which was read, and is in the words following, to wit " To -the Right Worshipful the Grand Lodge of Pennsyl- "vania. The Committee appointed to make the necessary " enquiry concerning a suitable place for the meeting of the " Grand Lodge, Report, That a New and unfinished Tenement " and Lot of Ground in Arch Street, near to the South West " Corner of Ninth and Arch Streets, is for Sale, and in the " Opinion of your Committee is suitable for the intended pur- " pose. That the Length of the Lot North and South is about " 150 feet. That there is thereon erected a Brick building " Twenty Five Feet Front and 44 Feet extending South, with "some back buildings. That said House is Three Stories " high,—inclosed,—^with Window Frames, &c. That from a "Moderate Computation the Building alone has cost 3266 " Dollars, and that the Lot is said to have cost £400, without " any Building, and that said House and Lot can be pur- " chased for 3250 Dollars. Whereupon your Committee pro- " pose the following Resolutions " 1^- Resolved, That it is expedient to purchase said Lot " and Building for the use aforesaid. " 2"^- Resolved, That as said Estate is to be purchased by " the Grand Lodge, it be recommended to the several Lodges " to lend to the Grand Lodge all such Sams as they can spare, " on Interest. " S"^- Resolved, That a Committee be appointed to make " such purchase. (Sign'd) " James Milnor, " John W. Van Cleve, "Thomas Town, " George A. Baker, " Gavin Hamilton, " Committee." Whereupon, On Motion made and Seconded, The First of 10 GRAND LODGE OF PENNSYLVANIA. 1801 the said Resolutions proposed by the Committee was Unani- mously Adopted. On Motion made and Seconded, The Second of the said Resolutions proposed by the Committee was Unanimously Adopted. On Motion made and Seconded, Resolved Unanimously, That it is considered by the Grand Lodge, that the Estate so to be purchased be subject to a lien in favour of those individ- ual Lodges that may make Loans to the Grand Lodge for pur- chasing the same. On Motion made and Seconded, The Third of the said Resolutions proposed by the Committee was Unanimously Adopted. On Motion made and Seconded, Brothers James Milnor, John W. Van Cleve, Gavin Hamilton, Thomas Town and George A. Baker were appointed a Committee to make the said purchase. On Motion made and Seconded, Resolved Unanimously, That the Deed of Conveyance for the said Estate be made to Brothers Jonathan Bayard Smith, R. W. Grand Master, Israel Israel, Deputy Grand Master, James Milnor, Senior Grand Warden, John W. Van Cleve, Junior Grand Warden, George A. Baker, Grand Secretary, and Gavin Hamilton, Grand Treasurer, as Joint Tenants in Fee Simple, and that they execute a Declaration of Trust to the Grand Lodge. On Motion made and Seconded, Ordered, That a Copy of the foregoing Resolutions be furnished to each Lodge, and that the Lodges be requested to take the same under immediate Consideration. The Minutes were read and Grand Lodge closed in Harmony at 12 o'clock, p. m. George A. Baker, Grand Secretary. Philadelphia, Monday, 27'" July, Anno Lucis 5801. Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, Grand Extra Communica- tion. : 1801 FREE AND ACCEPTEB MASONS. H Present Bro''- Gavin Hamilton, (formerly R. W. D. G. M.,) R. "W. G. M. Pro Temp. John Smith, jun^- R. W. Senior Grand Warden, P.