Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Bro. James Milnor, Grand Master Of Pennsylvania.
BRO . JAMES MILNOR , GRAND MASTER OF PENNSYLVANIA .
PENNSYLVANIA has had few Grand Masters whose lives were of more varied interest than that of Bro , James Milnor , and the Grand Lodge honoured him above his Brethren by electing him to fill the Oriental Chair for eight successive terms . Firsfc elected Grand Master in 1805 , he served continuously in the Grand East nntil 1813 , a period longer than that of any Grand Master , since the
Grand Lodge ceased to be Provincial , and became independent , in 1786 . Bro . Milnor ' s ability as a man , and zeal as a Freemason , entitle his memory to be held in perpetual respect , and in order that our readers may judge of his high character , Masonio services , and varied achievements , we spread this brief and interesting biographical sketch before them .
Bro . Milnor came of honoured parentage . His father was the friend of both Washington and Franklin , and a Quaker and patriot . Dnring tbe Revolutionary era , he drove a chaise with an ingenious false bottom , in which he conveyed intelligence , and furnished supplies to the patriot army , and was often suspected therefore , but never detected . His conduct gave great offence to " the heads of meeting , "
and he was * ' read out" by the Friends ; but a few years prior to his death he became reunited to them , and died in the Society ' s connection at the age of seventy-three . Bro . James Milnor was born , raised , and spent the first half of his life in the city of Philadelphia . 20 th June 1773 waa the date of his birth , and Sth April 1845 that of his death . He received his
education at a grammar school in his native city , and afterwards in fche University of Pennsylvania , which , however , owing to his father ' s straitened circumstances , he was compelled to leave before r ceiving his degree . He then commenced the study of law , at the age of sixteen , with Mr . Howell , an eminent Quaker Attorney of Phil delphia . That gentleman dying during the yellow fever scourge of 1793 , he
completed his studies with Mr . Rawle , and was admitted to the bar in 179-, before he had attained the age of twenty-one years . The Masonic career of Bro . Milnor began in August 1725 , when he was made a Mason in Lodge No . 31 , Norristown . In a diary , whioh he kep f for many years , the following record appears of several leading incidents in his Masonic life : — " I was elected Master of Lodge
No . 31 while I resided at Norristown ; but since my return to Phila . delphia I have been a member of No . 3 . and am now Treasurer of the latter . " " On St . John's day , 27 th December 1798 , 1 was elected Senior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge ; and on St . John's Day 1790 , was unanimously re-elected to the same office . " In 1801 he was elected W . M . of Lodge No . 3 , of Philadelphia . In 1805 he was
elected R . W . Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania , and was re-elected for seven successive terms , filling fche s'atiou with great credit to himself and honour to the Fraternity . His annual addresses were replete with sound Masonio views . On St . John Baptist ' s Day , 24 th June 1811 , as Grand Master , he dedicated the firsfc Masonio Hall erected on Chestnut-street . Thirty-one Lodges
and seven hundred and fifty brethren were present ; and after the dedication services , a procession of the Craft was made , proceeding to St . John's Lutheran Church , on Race-street , where Grand Master Milnor pronounced a graceful and eloquent oration . At its conolu . sion , his legal friend , Thomas Bradford jun ., playfully remarked to him , " Why , Right Worshipful , you wore cut out for a parson . "
Three years later this prediction was fulfilled . Bro . Milnor afc this period took an active interest in municipal and nationnl affairs . He was a member for a number of years of the Resolute Fire Company , served as a member of both branches of City Councils , and was elected a President of Select Council . Like his
father , he was a Friend , and like him , also , he was " read out of meeting . " Tbe cause of this was his marrying a lady who was an Episcopalian , and being joined in marriage to her by a clergyman who received therefore a wedding fee . The record of bis disownment still exists , aud is so curious that we reproduce it : —
" At a monthly meeting of Friends of Philadelphia , held 29 th . of llfcb month 1799 , tbe following testimony was agreed to , and a copy directed to be given to the party , namely : — " James Milnor , of this city , attorney-at-law , who bad a birthright among ns , the people called Quakers , disregarding the order of our discipline , has accomplished his marriage with fche assistance of a
hireling minister , to a woman not professing with us ; and in his dress and address deviating from that plainness and moderation consistent with our religious profession ; for which deviations he hath been treated witb , but without the desired effect . We , therefore , no longer consider him a member of our religions society ; nevertheless we desire he may become duly sensible of his errors , and seek to be restored . "
A Committee even waited on him to "treat" witb him , but he wouldn ' t treat , and this ended his career as a Friend . An anecdote of his relation to Bro . Stephen Girard well illustrates tbe character of both these brethren . Bro . Milnor represented , professionally , a claim against Bro . Girard , which the latter stoutly contested , bnt at last agreed to submit to arbitration . The result was in
favour of Bro . Milnor ' s client ; and when Bvo . Girard handed the former a check for the amount ; awarded , he observed : "You have proved yourself , sir , a lawyer who will never desert a client . If I had not an attorney whom I very much respect , you shonld be my man . " The political career of Bro . Milnor was no less distinguished than
his legal one . In the year 1800 he was elected a member of Common Council , and in 1805 a member of Select Conncil , in which body he served for five years , and during one year as President . In 1810 he was elected to Congress as a member of the House of Representatives from tbe city of Philadelphia , were he served with distinction fur three years . On his departure for Washington , in 1811 , he was acconipanied by a number of his political friends as fai : as the Blue Bell
Bro. James Milnor, Grand Master Of Pennsylvania.
Tavern , on the Chester-road , where they paid him the compliment of n public dinner . One memorable event in his congressional career was the receiving a challenge to fight a duel from Bro . Henry Clay , for words spoken in debate . Bro . Milnor had the courage to decline the challenge in a manly written reply ; and years afterwards , when the latter was a Doctor of Divinity , he was invited by Bro
Clay to dine with him ; and ever afterwards each cherished for the other the greatest respect . In the year 1810 Bro . Milnor became impressed with deep religious views , which resulted in his resigning his praotioe at the bar , and hia high political honours , and entering the high Episcopal ministry . Ho was ordained a deacon by Bishop White in 1814 , and in 1815 a
presbyter , in St . James' Church , Philadelphia . In 1816 he accepted a call to the rectorship of St . George ' s Chnrch , New York , which ba continued to hold for twenty-nine years , until hia death in 1845 . After declining a re-election as Grand Master of Pennsylvania , Bro . Milnor , when ordained a clergyman , was elected Grand Chaplain of the body he bad so long ornamented as Grand Master ; aud he had
a beautiful and costly Past Grand Master a jewel voted him by the Grand Lodge , as a token of their fraternal regard . Bro . Milnor had the honour of having a son , the Rev . William H . Milnor , D . D ., who served with distinction as Grand Master of New York in the year 1851 ; and tbe latter related the following anecdote of his father during the era of anti-Masonry . A brother clergyman from the conntry called to consult him aa to
tbe propriety of bis withdrawing from the Fraternity . Bro . Milnor inquired if he desired to renounce Freemasonry . He replied , " No , I love Masonry too well . " " Then , do as I do , " was tbe rejoinder , " put down your foot firmly , and say , ' I am a Mason , and proud of it , ' and if any . sk you what Masonry consists in , tell them , ' Love to God and good will to man . '" The brother followed hia advice , aud continued in the Fraternity , and preserved tbe esteem of hia parishioners .
Upon Bro . Milnor's death , Lodge No . 3 of Philadelphia , of whioh be was a Past Master and member for so many years , adopted a glowing tribute to his lofty character as a Freemason , a citizen and a divine .
Such was tbe career of Grand Master Milnor . Pennsylvania has reason to be proud of his long and distinguished services rendered to the Grand Lodge , and of his entire Masonio life , the leading incidents of which we take pleasure in thus spreading before our readers . — Keystone .
We are glad to be in a position to state thafc Bro . Binckes , who is compelled to absent himself from his duties through illness , is somewhat better , and we sincerely trust thafc he will be shortly in a position to resume his labours on behalf of " Our Boys . "
The Provincial Grand Master of Hants and the Isle of Wight ( Bro . W . W . B . Beach , M . P . ) has appointed Tuesday next , the 29 th inst ., for the constitution of the Hundred of Bosmere Lodge , No . 1958 , at the Masonio Hall ,
Havanfc , and the installation of the Master designate , Bro . H . Martin Green P . M . The ceremony will begin at 3 . 30 p . m ., and will be sneceded by a dinner at the Town Hall , Havant , afc 5 . 30 .
Some brethren who are strong supporters of the Royal Masomo Benevolent Institution feel a great anxiety with respect to a grant of £ 800 made by Grand Lodge at its last meeting , aud in order to secure a confirmation of this grant , are soliciting fche members of Grand Lodge to be in their places to support fche confirmation next Wednesday week . At the last meeting of the Committee of the Institution , on
the 9 th instant , the Secretary also reminded the brethren that the grant would come up for confirmation on the 6 th of September , and asked the Committee to attend to snpport it . The anxiety that is felfc about this grant is really needless . Grand Lodge does not begrudge the £ 800 , Grand Lodge can afford it , and Grand Lodge is always pleased when ifc can do anything whioh will further the- ends of
Masonry . The confirmation of the grant is a foregone conclusion , The £ 800 is a very small sum to Grand Lodge , and the Benevolent Insti . tntion , to which it is granted , has this to be said in its favour , thafc the recipients of its bounty did nofc come into Masonry at a time when it was thought there was something to be got out of Masonry . They
joined Masonry , it is true ; and what is as true , they never did anything for Masonry besides belonging to ifc , and working np in it , and the support of the Charities was never parb of their practice . Still they were Masons , aud they fell into bad circumstances , and the doctrines of Freemasonry have been carried into effect by placing them on the annuitants' list . With the other Institutions there is a
difference . The children who are admitted are the children of yoanger Masons , who , there is no room left for doubt , in a large proportion had an eye to the future when they joined the ranks , and fche great majority of whom never contributed a halfpenny to either of the
Institutions . Very few men join Masonry late in life , and so there is no suspicion that the annuitants of the Benevolent Institution saw in the not far distant future an annuity of £ 40 when they went through the ceremonies of initiation , passing , and raising . —Evening News .
" The Fern World , " by Mr . Francis George Heath , author of ' . ' Autumnal Leaves , " has iuat reached its seventh Edition .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Bro. James Milnor, Grand Master Of Pennsylvania.
BRO . JAMES MILNOR , GRAND MASTER OF PENNSYLVANIA .
PENNSYLVANIA has had few Grand Masters whose lives were of more varied interest than that of Bro , James Milnor , and the Grand Lodge honoured him above his Brethren by electing him to fill the Oriental Chair for eight successive terms . Firsfc elected Grand Master in 1805 , he served continuously in the Grand East nntil 1813 , a period longer than that of any Grand Master , since the
Grand Lodge ceased to be Provincial , and became independent , in 1786 . Bro . Milnor ' s ability as a man , and zeal as a Freemason , entitle his memory to be held in perpetual respect , and in order that our readers may judge of his high character , Masonio services , and varied achievements , we spread this brief and interesting biographical sketch before them .
Bro . Milnor came of honoured parentage . His father was the friend of both Washington and Franklin , and a Quaker and patriot . Dnring tbe Revolutionary era , he drove a chaise with an ingenious false bottom , in which he conveyed intelligence , and furnished supplies to the patriot army , and was often suspected therefore , but never detected . His conduct gave great offence to " the heads of meeting , "
and he was * ' read out" by the Friends ; but a few years prior to his death he became reunited to them , and died in the Society ' s connection at the age of seventy-three . Bro . James Milnor was born , raised , and spent the first half of his life in the city of Philadelphia . 20 th June 1773 waa the date of his birth , and Sth April 1845 that of his death . He received his
education at a grammar school in his native city , and afterwards in fche University of Pennsylvania , which , however , owing to his father ' s straitened circumstances , he was compelled to leave before r ceiving his degree . He then commenced the study of law , at the age of sixteen , with Mr . Howell , an eminent Quaker Attorney of Phil delphia . That gentleman dying during the yellow fever scourge of 1793 , he
completed his studies with Mr . Rawle , and was admitted to the bar in 179-, before he had attained the age of twenty-one years . The Masonic career of Bro . Milnor began in August 1725 , when he was made a Mason in Lodge No . 31 , Norristown . In a diary , whioh he kep f for many years , the following record appears of several leading incidents in his Masonic life : — " I was elected Master of Lodge
No . 31 while I resided at Norristown ; but since my return to Phila . delphia I have been a member of No . 3 . and am now Treasurer of the latter . " " On St . John's day , 27 th December 1798 , 1 was elected Senior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge ; and on St . John's Day 1790 , was unanimously re-elected to the same office . " In 1801 he was elected W . M . of Lodge No . 3 , of Philadelphia . In 1805 he was
elected R . W . Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania , and was re-elected for seven successive terms , filling fche s'atiou with great credit to himself and honour to the Fraternity . His annual addresses were replete with sound Masonio views . On St . John Baptist ' s Day , 24 th June 1811 , as Grand Master , he dedicated the firsfc Masonio Hall erected on Chestnut-street . Thirty-one Lodges
and seven hundred and fifty brethren were present ; and after the dedication services , a procession of the Craft was made , proceeding to St . John's Lutheran Church , on Race-street , where Grand Master Milnor pronounced a graceful and eloquent oration . At its conolu . sion , his legal friend , Thomas Bradford jun ., playfully remarked to him , " Why , Right Worshipful , you wore cut out for a parson . "
Three years later this prediction was fulfilled . Bro . Milnor afc this period took an active interest in municipal and nationnl affairs . He was a member for a number of years of the Resolute Fire Company , served as a member of both branches of City Councils , and was elected a President of Select Council . Like his
father , he was a Friend , and like him , also , he was " read out of meeting . " Tbe cause of this was his marrying a lady who was an Episcopalian , and being joined in marriage to her by a clergyman who received therefore a wedding fee . The record of bis disownment still exists , aud is so curious that we reproduce it : —
" At a monthly meeting of Friends of Philadelphia , held 29 th . of llfcb month 1799 , tbe following testimony was agreed to , and a copy directed to be given to the party , namely : — " James Milnor , of this city , attorney-at-law , who bad a birthright among ns , the people called Quakers , disregarding the order of our discipline , has accomplished his marriage with fche assistance of a
hireling minister , to a woman not professing with us ; and in his dress and address deviating from that plainness and moderation consistent with our religious profession ; for which deviations he hath been treated witb , but without the desired effect . We , therefore , no longer consider him a member of our religions society ; nevertheless we desire he may become duly sensible of his errors , and seek to be restored . "
A Committee even waited on him to "treat" witb him , but he wouldn ' t treat , and this ended his career as a Friend . An anecdote of his relation to Bro . Stephen Girard well illustrates tbe character of both these brethren . Bro . Milnor represented , professionally , a claim against Bro . Girard , which the latter stoutly contested , bnt at last agreed to submit to arbitration . The result was in
favour of Bro . Milnor ' s client ; and when Bvo . Girard handed the former a check for the amount ; awarded , he observed : "You have proved yourself , sir , a lawyer who will never desert a client . If I had not an attorney whom I very much respect , you shonld be my man . " The political career of Bro . Milnor was no less distinguished than
his legal one . In the year 1800 he was elected a member of Common Council , and in 1805 a member of Select Conncil , in which body he served for five years , and during one year as President . In 1810 he was elected to Congress as a member of the House of Representatives from tbe city of Philadelphia , were he served with distinction fur three years . On his departure for Washington , in 1811 , he was acconipanied by a number of his political friends as fai : as the Blue Bell
Bro. James Milnor, Grand Master Of Pennsylvania.
Tavern , on the Chester-road , where they paid him the compliment of n public dinner . One memorable event in his congressional career was the receiving a challenge to fight a duel from Bro . Henry Clay , for words spoken in debate . Bro . Milnor had the courage to decline the challenge in a manly written reply ; and years afterwards , when the latter was a Doctor of Divinity , he was invited by Bro
Clay to dine with him ; and ever afterwards each cherished for the other the greatest respect . In the year 1810 Bro . Milnor became impressed with deep religious views , which resulted in his resigning his praotioe at the bar , and hia high political honours , and entering the high Episcopal ministry . Ho was ordained a deacon by Bishop White in 1814 , and in 1815 a
presbyter , in St . James' Church , Philadelphia . In 1816 he accepted a call to the rectorship of St . George ' s Chnrch , New York , which ba continued to hold for twenty-nine years , until hia death in 1845 . After declining a re-election as Grand Master of Pennsylvania , Bro . Milnor , when ordained a clergyman , was elected Grand Chaplain of the body he bad so long ornamented as Grand Master ; aud he had
a beautiful and costly Past Grand Master a jewel voted him by the Grand Lodge , as a token of their fraternal regard . Bro . Milnor had the honour of having a son , the Rev . William H . Milnor , D . D ., who served with distinction as Grand Master of New York in the year 1851 ; and tbe latter related the following anecdote of his father during the era of anti-Masonry . A brother clergyman from the conntry called to consult him aa to
tbe propriety of bis withdrawing from the Fraternity . Bro . Milnor inquired if he desired to renounce Freemasonry . He replied , " No , I love Masonry too well . " " Then , do as I do , " was tbe rejoinder , " put down your foot firmly , and say , ' I am a Mason , and proud of it , ' and if any . sk you what Masonry consists in , tell them , ' Love to God and good will to man . '" The brother followed hia advice , aud continued in the Fraternity , and preserved tbe esteem of hia parishioners .
Upon Bro . Milnor's death , Lodge No . 3 of Philadelphia , of whioh be was a Past Master and member for so many years , adopted a glowing tribute to his lofty character as a Freemason , a citizen and a divine .
Such was tbe career of Grand Master Milnor . Pennsylvania has reason to be proud of his long and distinguished services rendered to the Grand Lodge , and of his entire Masonio life , the leading incidents of which we take pleasure in thus spreading before our readers . — Keystone .
We are glad to be in a position to state thafc Bro . Binckes , who is compelled to absent himself from his duties through illness , is somewhat better , and we sincerely trust thafc he will be shortly in a position to resume his labours on behalf of " Our Boys . "
The Provincial Grand Master of Hants and the Isle of Wight ( Bro . W . W . B . Beach , M . P . ) has appointed Tuesday next , the 29 th inst ., for the constitution of the Hundred of Bosmere Lodge , No . 1958 , at the Masonio Hall ,
Havanfc , and the installation of the Master designate , Bro . H . Martin Green P . M . The ceremony will begin at 3 . 30 p . m ., and will be sneceded by a dinner at the Town Hall , Havant , afc 5 . 30 .
Some brethren who are strong supporters of the Royal Masomo Benevolent Institution feel a great anxiety with respect to a grant of £ 800 made by Grand Lodge at its last meeting , aud in order to secure a confirmation of this grant , are soliciting fche members of Grand Lodge to be in their places to support fche confirmation next Wednesday week . At the last meeting of the Committee of the Institution , on
the 9 th instant , the Secretary also reminded the brethren that the grant would come up for confirmation on the 6 th of September , and asked the Committee to attend to snpport it . The anxiety that is felfc about this grant is really needless . Grand Lodge does not begrudge the £ 800 , Grand Lodge can afford it , and Grand Lodge is always pleased when ifc can do anything whioh will further the- ends of
Masonry . The confirmation of the grant is a foregone conclusion , The £ 800 is a very small sum to Grand Lodge , and the Benevolent Insti . tntion , to which it is granted , has this to be said in its favour , thafc the recipients of its bounty did nofc come into Masonry at a time when it was thought there was something to be got out of Masonry . They
joined Masonry , it is true ; and what is as true , they never did anything for Masonry besides belonging to ifc , and working np in it , and the support of the Charities was never parb of their practice . Still they were Masons , aud they fell into bad circumstances , and the doctrines of Freemasonry have been carried into effect by placing them on the annuitants' list . With the other Institutions there is a
difference . The children who are admitted are the children of yoanger Masons , who , there is no room left for doubt , in a large proportion had an eye to the future when they joined the ranks , and fche great majority of whom never contributed a halfpenny to either of the
Institutions . Very few men join Masonry late in life , and so there is no suspicion that the annuitants of the Benevolent Institution saw in the not far distant future an annuity of £ 40 when they went through the ceremonies of initiation , passing , and raising . —Evening News .
" The Fern World , " by Mr . Francis George Heath , author of ' . ' Autumnal Leaves , " has iuat reached its seventh Edition .