Letter Of Bro. W. J. Hughan, Of England, To The Grand Lodge Of Ohio.

appeared in the proper badges of their Order , some gold and some sdver . The procession was closed by the Grand Master . " This extract will doubtless prove interesting to my friends in Massachusettsas I

, believe the Minutes of the old lodge at Boston , started A . D . 1733 , say but little of this period . The report states that the procession mentioned was the FIRST of its kind in America ; so that if such a statement be

correct the city of Boston will have started the first American Masonic procession , though it did not contain the first regular American lodge . It is not a matter of much moment either ivay , but the origin of Masonry in America is a matter of

consequence , and its decision worth much study and research . Bro . M'Calla , in the Keystone , has discoursed on this subject with much ability , and brought to modern light several old documents .

I have been successful in another department of the same subject , and proved that a regular lodge , under the wing of the Grand Lodge of England , was held in Philadel phia , A . D . 1730 , and I have also been pleased to trace the lodge at Boston in' thc authorized list of lodges for A . D . 1734 .

Much still remains to be clone , and move than can possibly be accomplished from the present sparse materials , but it may now be safely assumed that Freemasonry was introduced into America during either the years 1729 or 1730 , and

that most likely under the Grand Mastership of Coxe , and also directly by the Grand Lodge of England . I shall now come nearer home in my communication , and . present sketches of the constitution of lodges over this country ,

in evidence of the spread of Freemasonry , throug h the agency of the Grand Lodge of England , and that what is known as the " modern system" is due to that body . Not that ancient Freemasonry was " snuffed out " by the formidable rival , for two

of the lodges Avhich worked in this country prior to the formation of the Grand Lodge still exist , and are in a flouri shing condition ; but the ancient , simple and unpretentious mode of reception was incorporated with the new order of

things , and the society became wholly speculative by degrees . Many of the following notices of old lodge meetings are new to me , and doubtless to the Craft generally , so that they possess an interest for English Brethren as well as

American . Hence it is to be hoped their perusal will not only please , but induce many Craftsmen to hunt up old lodge archives and disinter other and more valuable documents . St . James' Evening PostFebruary 15

, , 1737 . — " On Monday night was interred at Allhallows , London Wall , the corpse of Mr . Ellis , a Freemason , belonging to the lodge at the Antwerp Tavern , behind the Royal Exchange . The whole society attended . . . which made a very

entertaining sig ht . The like has not been performed for twenty years . " Considerable latitude , appears to have been allowed to the craft in ancient times in attending funeral processions , and such occasions were generally made use of to

exhibit the character and numerical position of the Fraternity in the neighbourhood . Of late years , however , processions in

Masonic clothing at funerals are being discountenanced , and we think advisedly so , for of all times to make a display the period of mourning is the most unsuitable . AVe hope that ere long processions of any kindin connection ivith Freemasonry

, , will be things of the past , unless for some great charitable object . There is an advertisement also in another issue of the paper , May 1 , 1737 , as to the London Magazine Contents , and therein we find " Political Reflections on

the Freemasons , " so that the Society Avas being spoken freely about by friends and foes . In the copy for May 13 , 1737 , occurs an advertisement of the Freemasons ' Pocket Companion , in which the contents are made known in full , and ako " Tlie

secrets of Masonry made hnoion to all men by S . P . " These two books are exceedingly scarce noiv , and the former especially is of value to all Masonic bibliographers . The latter was by Samuel Pritchard , and is one of the scarcest of the various editions of

that erratic book . A copy is in the magnificent Masonic library of my friend and brother Robert Tanner Bower , of Keokuk , Iowa .