pect; as the merit of the candidate was the only thing they then paid attention to. With these principles instilled into their minds, many of the grand elect left the temple after its dedication, and dispersed themselves among the neighbouring kingdoms, instructing all who applied, and were found worthy, in the sublime degrees of ancient craft masonry.

"The temple was finished in the year of the world 3000.

"Thus far the wise king of Israel behaved worthy of himself, and gained universal admiration; but in pro'cess of time, when he had advanced in years, his understanding became impaired; he grew deaf to the voice of the Lord, and was strangely irregular in his conduct. Proud of having erected an edifice to his Maker, and much intoxicated with his great power, he plunged into all manner of licentiousness and debauchery, and profaned the temple, by offering that incense to the idol Moloch, which only should have been offered to the living God.

"The grand elect and perfect masons saw this, and were sorely grieved; being fearful that his apostacy would end in some dreadful consequences, and perhaps bring upon them their enemies, whom Solomon had vainly and wantonly defied. The people, copying the follies and vices of their king, became proud and idolatrous, neglecting the true worship of God for that of idols.

"As an adequate punishment for this defection, God inspired the heart of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, to take vengeance on the kingdom of Israel. This prince sent an army, with Nebuzaradan, captain of the guards, who entered Judah with fire and sword, took

and sacked the city of Jerusalem, razed its walls, and destroyed that superb model of excellence, the temple. The people were carried captive to Babylon, and the conquerors carried with them all the vessels of gold and silver, &c. This happened 470 years 6 months and 10 days after its dedication.

"When the time arrived that the christian princes entered into a league to free the holy land from the oppression of the infidels, the good and virtuous masons, anxious for so pious an undertaking, voluntarily offered their services to the confederates, on condition that they should have a chief of their own election, which was granted; accordingly they accepted their standard, and departed.

"The valour and fortitude of those elected knights were such, that they were admired by, and took the lead of, all the princes of Jerusalem, who, believing that their mysteries inspired them with courage and fidelity to the cause of virtue and religion, became de sirous of being initiated; upon being found worthy, their desires were complied with, and thus the royal art, meeting the approbation of great and good men, became popular and honourable, and was diffused to the worthy, throughout their various dominions, and bas continued to spread, far and wide, through a succession of ages, to the present day."

24*

FREEMASON'S MONITOR.

PART SECOND.

BOOK II.

SKETCH OF THE HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY IN AMERICA.

CHAPTER I.

General Remarks.

A GRAND LODGE consists of the master and wardens of all the regular lodges of master masons, within its jurisdiction, with the grand master at their head, the deputy grand master on his left, and the grand wardens and deacons in their proper places; attended also by the grand secretary, grand treasurer, grand chaplain, grand sword bearer, grand marshal, and also the past grand and deputy grand masters, and past masters of regular lodges while members of a lodge within the ju

risdiction.

In England, until the year 1717, a sufficient number of masons met together, had ample power to make niasons, 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 authorized 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."

CHAPTER II.

Commencement of Masonry in America.

On application of a number of brethren residing in Boston, a warrant was granted by the right honourable 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

Sometimes called "The grand lodge of modern masons.”

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 instituting 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, Louisburgh, Nova-Scotia, Quebec, Surinam, and St. Christopher's.

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

In 1775, 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 Nov. 30, 1752, from Sholto Charles Douglas, 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.