The Freemasons Lodge Of 1754.

Lodge from Bro . General Roberdeau of the " Moderns' for himself and other claimants for the Lodge house . A committee of five was appointed , with full power to investigate and act in every sense as they deemeci necessary " to defeat the designs of General Roberdeau in his claims to an interest

in this bouse . " They were authorised to solicit subscriptions for the laudable purpose of "freeing the Society from all obligations whatever to individuals by a purchase of the ground rents or interests entire as they may think necessary .

That in case an application is made to the Assembly of the State or other authority by any claimants whatever , they see that one is framed in reply thereto , that no advantages be taken . "

At an extra meeting of Grand Lodge held 7 th November 1782 , this committee reported that they had duly investigated the claim , and from what had appeared to them are of " the opinion no right or title to this house is invested in this Grand Lodge or any part thereof , and after having

met the Master and members of the first Lodge of Modern Masons and other subscribers towards the building of this house , having acquainted said Master and members of said Lodge No 1 therewith , . received the answer herewith handed . " " At a Lodge held the 30 th October 1782 at the Lodge

in Lodge Alley . Present , R . W . Edward Shippen Mas ., Mathu Clarksori S . W ., Michl Hillegas J . W ., Tench Francis Secty . Visiting Bro . Thomas Bond . The trustees of the Lodge and the other members having taken into consideration the application of the Lodges who have lately met

there , for a temporary use of the upper rooms , have agreed that they may continue to hold their Lodges there , at such convenient times as will not interfere with the other purposes

of the trustees in renting and using the house , that is to say they may meet there every Monday and Friday evening for the term of one year from this date , the said Lodges paying to the trustees five shillings as a consideration thereof .

" Copied from the Minutes " Signed , EDWARD SHIPPEN . " This offer was accepted by the Grand Lodge (" Ancients" ) . On 27 th October 1785 the Deputy Grand

Master reported that a committee of the present proprietors of the Lodge house had offered to the different Lodges the three upper rooms at a rent of £ 30 per annum , which was agreed to .

The sale of the Lodge house was then under consideration , and it was reported to Grand Lodge ( " Moderns" ) " that one-third of the purchase money arising from the sale of the Lodge house will be applied to a charitable purpose . "

A committee was then appointed to wait upon the late proprietors and inform them of the intention of building a new Lodge house and solicit from them a preference in their intended donation .

The Grand Lodge afterwards notified the trustees of the first Lodge of their intention to move to other quarters , and this apparently ceased all business between the " Moderns " and " Ancients . " Disheartened no doubt by the activity and progress of

trie " Ancients , " the desire to sell the property increased . The assembly or legislature was applied to by the trustees for authority to sell , and an act of Assembly was passed authorising such sale . Several meetings of the subscribers were called , but little attention was paid to the same .

Finally the building was sold for £ 1 , 722 14 s gd . One-third share , belonging to the first Lodge , amounting to £ 574 4 s 1 id , was donated to charitable purposes , and given to the corporation of the city of Philadelphia for " the purpose of supplying out of the interest thereof the necessitous

inhabitants with fuel in the winter season . " This fund is still in existence and is administered by the Board of City Trusts . The building , having been sold , was torn down , and in

its place was erected the banking house of the " Bank of Pennsylvania , " incorporated in 1793 , its charter being for twenty years , and in 1811 it was renewed for twenty-one years .

The structure was built of Pennsylvania marble , was designed by Mr . Latrobe and was said to be a pure model of Grecian architecture . It was designed from the Temple

of the Muses on the Ilyssus , near Athens . It had two Ionic porticos , with six columns in front , each supporting entablatures and pediments . Its banking room was circular , Surrounded b y a dome covered with marble and lighted with

The Freemasons Lodge Of 1754.

a lantern in the centre . The stockholders' room was in the western portico , in front of which , facing Dock creek , was a small but beautiful garden , surrounded by an iron pallisade . The corner stone was laid in April 1 799 , and the whole building was finished in 1801 . The building was 125 feet

deep by 51 feet wide . There exists a fine engraving of the Dock Street front of the bank building , which can be seen in the second storey of the west arcade of remodelled Independence Hall , Philadelphia . It was drawn by H . Strickland and engraved by C . C . Childs , engraver , in 1827 . There are coarse woodcuts of it in several of the old histories of

Philadelphia . The bank closed its doors disastrously on 25 th September 1857 . The property was shortly after purchased by the United States Government , was torn down , and on its site was subsequently erected the present United States Appraisers' stores , at Second Street and Lodge Alley .

The parties interested in the ' Moderns m those early days and in the City Dancing Academy , in the Freemasons ' Lodge and the trusteeship of the same were almost identical in the several transactions . The Shippens , the Swifts ; , the Mifflins and the Franklins ( Benjamin and William ) , and the

Hamiltons , were all public spirited men , active in everything to advance the interests of Philadelphia , of Freemasonry and its teachings and the welfare of its citizens , and its last public act was one of charity , the poor in winter time were remembered . — " Keystone . " ******************

Secrets.

SECRETS .

THE absurd notion that everything relating to a Lodge should be regarded as secret and must under no circumstances , be mentioned except at low breath is entertained by a great many well meaning Brethren . On this account many Brethren are actually afraid to

converse about the Lodge with strangers , believing that if they do they might unwittingly violate their obligation by revealing something that they have been taught to conceal and never reveal . It is not a good policy to maintain an

habitual reserve whenever the name of the Lodge is mentioned , for it may mislead strangers and prejudice them against the organisation ; moreover , it is letting slip an opportunity to say a good word for the Lodge that may pave the way for an initiation sooner or later .

By all means talk about the Lodge and the advantage of joining it ; write about it and send your effusions to the newspapers , concealing nothing that strangers might properly be told . Common sense will , of course , dictate some things that should not be made public , and what they are need

puzzle no intelligent Brother to determine . No one , for instance , will talk about the ritual , because , in the first place , it is manifestly improper to even hint about the initiation ceremonies ; and secondly , very few persons would care especially to know anything about such matters . Neither

would it be good policy to be too frank in speaking of the Lodge , particularly if matters are not entirely harmonious , if the meetings are a little dull and not so well attended as you think they ought to be , if there is any past , present or

prospective scandal—withhold from strangers a knowledge of all these matters , for it is no concern of theirs , and is a state of affairs that is merely incidental , after all , and within a short space of time all may be changed for the better .

If all the good points of the organisation are talked about , the good work it does and seeks to do , the friendships it cements , the asperities it tones down , the distress it relieves , there will be subjects enough for a wide range of conversation .

Put ginger into your talk , make people think that you are really in earnest and try to . be so , and if you come across anyone who appears to be half inclined to join your Lodge , do not let him escape until you have his application stowed away in your pocket . Be always prepared for just such

emergencies by always having one or more blank applications in your pocket , and do not be afraid to bring it forth at the right time and ask your friend to fill it out and sign it .

A Lodge may be built up m this way , but never by maintaining a clam-like silence and assuming an indifferent air when an application may be had almost for the asking . — " Masonic Chronicle . " Is the above article intended as a burlesque on Freemasonry ? Can it be possible that the editor of so able 3