haviour with social adepts, and brotherly benignity in all the duties of life; one who would willingly do to all men as he would have them to do to him. This we presume is the fundamen tal principle of Masonry. Let not an institution aiming at so great and noble an object, be evilly spoken of: cherish the divine principle in your hearts, and manifest it through all your lives and in all your actions; it is the transcript of the divine nature formed in the human soul. The principal intention of forming societies is undoubtedly the uniting men in the stricter bonds of love; for men considered as social creatures, must derive their happiness from each other; every man being designed by Providence, to promote the good of others, as he tenders his own advantage. Our doctrine is this: that we restrain not our love to our next neighbors only, this being merely a matter of convenience; nor to our acquaintance solely, this being the effect of inclination to gratify ourselves. We are not to caress our friends only because gratitude and common justice require that at our hands, nor should our love be limited to them particularly who are of the same church or opinion with us, for by the very same reason that we are induced to believe ourselves right, they may imagine themselves so too, and what we may judge to be perfection among ourselves, they may condemn as blemishes. Admit that in points or modes of worship, we may differ from each other, yet the Lodge reconciles even these; there we all meet amicably and converse socially together; there we harmonize in principles, though we vary in punctilios; there we join in conversation and intermingle interests; there we discover no estrangement of behaviour, no alienation of affection; we serve one another most readily in all kind offices of friendship. Freedom of opinion thus indulged, but its points never discussed, is the happy influence under which the unity of this truly honourable society, has been preserved from time immemorial. Upon which account Masonry has become the centre of union, and the means of conciliating friendships among those, that might otherwise have remained at a perpetual distance, causing them to love as brethren and heirs of the same hope, partaking of the same promises, children of the same God, and candidates for the same heaven. Now in order to cherish and promote this harmony, within doors and without, let us first lay hold on the surest means of stopping the mouth of detraction, by

endeavouring to lead a pure and unblemished life; let us consider that not the reputation of one only, but that of the whole society is affected by a brother's misbehaviour. Invested as we are with that distinguished badge, which at this day is the glo ry and boast of the greatest potentates upon earth, we should scorn to act beneath the dignity of our profession. Let us then walk worthy of our vocation, and do honour to our profession.

MASONIC CONSTITUTIONS, &c.

CHAPTER I.

ORIGIN OF MASONRY, AND HISTORY THEREOF IN AMERICA.

In England, until the year 1717, a sufficient num

N ber of masons, met together, had ample power to make masons, and discharge every duty of masonry, by inherent privileges, vested in the fraternity at large, without a warrant of constitution.-But at the meeting of the Grand Lodge of England on St. John the Baptist's day in that year, the following regulation was adopted:

"The privilege of assembling as masons, which has hitherto been unlimited, shall be vested in certain lodges of masons, convened in certain places; and every lodge hereafter convened, shall be legally authorised to act by a warrant from the Grand Master for the time being, granted to certain individuals by petition, with the consent and approbation of the Grand Lodge in communication; and without such warrant, no lodge shall hereafter be deemed regular or constitutional,"

Freemason's lodges in America are of recent date. Upon application of a number of brethren residing in Boston, a warrant was granted by the right honorable and most worshipful Anthony, Lord Viscount Montague, grand master of masons in England, dated the 30th of April, 1733, appointing the right worshipful Henry Price

grand master in North America, with full power and authority to appoint his deputy, and other masonic officers necessary for forming a grand lodge; and also to constitute lodges of free and accepted masons, as often as occasion should require.

In consequence of this commission, the grand master opened a grand lodge in Boston,* on the 30th of July, 1733, in due form, and appointed the right worshipful Andrew Belcher, deputy grand master, the worshipful Thomas Kennelly and John Quann, grand wardens.

The grand lodge, being thus organized, under the designation of St. John's Grand Lodge, proceeded to grant warrants for constituting regular lodges in various parts of America; and from this grand lodge originated the first lodges in Massachusetts, New-Hampshire, RhodeIsland, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Barbadoes, Antigua, Newfoundland, Louisburg, Nova-Scotia, Quebec, Surrinam, and St. Christopher's.

In 1775, hostilities commenced between Great Britain and America. Boston became a garrison, and was abandoned by many of its former inhabitants. The regular meetings of the grand lodges were terminated, and the brethren of St. John's Grand Lodge held no assembly until after the re-establishment of peace.

There was at that time also a grand lodge holden at Boston, upon the ancient establishment, under the desig nation of "The Massachusetts Grand Lodge," which originated as follows:

In 1755, a number of brethren residing in Boston, who were ancient masons, in consequence of a petition to the grand lodge of Scotland, received a deputation, dated November 30th, 1752, from Sholto Charles Douglas,

Sometimes called "The Grand Lodge of Modern Masons.”

Lord Aberdour, then grand master, constituting them a regular lodge, under the title of St. Andrew's Lodge, No. 82, to be holden at Boston.

This establishment was discouraged and opposed by the St. John's Grand Lodge, who thought their privileges infringed by the grand lodge of Scotland; they therefore refused to have any intercourse with St. Andrew's Lodge for several years.

The prosperous state of St. Andrew's lodge soon led its members to make great exertions for the establishment of an ancient grand lodge in America; which was soon effected in Boston, by the assistance of travelling lodges, belonging to the British army, who were stationed there.

December 27, 1769, the festival of the Evangelist was celebrated in due form. When the brethren were assembled, a commission from the right honorable and most worshipful George, Earl of Dalhouse, grand master of masons in Scotland, dated the 30th of May, 1769, appointing Joseph Warren to be grand master of masons in Boston, and within one hundred miles of the same, was read, and he was, according to ancient usage, duly installed into that office. The grand master then ap pointed and installed the other grand officers, and the grand lodge was at this time completely organized.

Between this period and the year 1791, this grand lodge granted warrants of constitution for lodges to be holden in Massachusetts, New-Hampshire, Connecticut, Vermont and New-York.

In the year 1773, a commission was received from the right honorable and most worshipful Patrick, Earl of Dumfries, Grand master of masons in Scotland, dated March 3, 1772, appointing the right worshipful Joseph