Bro. Daniel Coxe—The Father Of Freemasonry In America.

Some of the information contained in this volume is remarkable , not only for its accuracy , but also for its geographical and national importance . For example , Ave read that "the Missouri river hath a course of 500 miles , navigable to its head

or springs , and which proceeds from a ridge of hills somewhat north of New Mexico . On the other sideare rivers which run intoa great lake , that empties itself by another great navigable river into the South Seas . " Now , the LeAvis and Yellowstone Rivers

clo head within a feAv miles of each other — a fact , however , that Avas not verified by other explorations for more than a century after Bro . Coxe ' s account was Avriften . Again we read of Corolana : " Cotton grows wild in the pod , and in great plenty ;

may be managed and improved as in our islands , and turned to as great account ; and in time , perhaps , manufactured either in this country , or Great Britain , Avhich may render it a commodity still more valuable . " Bro . Coxe here displayed Avonderful sagacity as to the importance of the cotton plantations of the South ,

which , afterwards , for so many years rendered Europe our debtor , and because one of the great regulators of our exchanges . The preface to "Carolana" also included suggestions ivhieh contain the fiist and

true foundation ideas of our American Union . Bro . Coxe proposed , for the more effectual defence of the British settlements against the French and Indians , that all the North American Colonies should be UNITED—that there should be a Supreme

Governor and a Great Council , consisting of two deputies from each Province , and that they should be convened by the Supreme Governor to consult and advise for the general good of all the Colonies . Grahame says truly , in his Colonial

History , "In this plan , Avhich was supported by great force of argument , we behold the germ of that more celebrated though less original project , which was again ineffectually recommended by Doctor Franklin in 1754 , and which , not many years after , was actually adopted . " We quote a part of Bro . Coxe ' s prophetic words :

" If the ancient Britons had been united among themselves , in all probability the Romans had never become their masters . So if the English Colonies in America

were consolidated as one body , and joined in one common interest , as they are under one gracious sovereign , and with united forces Avere ready and Avilling to act in concert , and assist each other , they would be better enabled to provide for and defend themselves against any troublesome

, ambitious neighbour , or bold invader . For Union and Concord increase and establish strength and power , Avhile Division and Discord have the contrary effect . " The reader Avill perceive that the contents of Bro . Coxe ' s book are of sufficient

importance to justify our extended mention of them . A reference to the Avork itself , Avhich may be found in any good public library , will more than substantiate all we have said of it .

Bro . Daniel Coxe Avas not only distinguished as an authcr , a legislator , a soldier , a lawyer , a jurist , and a Mason , but he was also an ardent and constant advocate of the advancement of religion in the Province of New Jersey . GEO . Ross , an Episcopal Missionary , in a letter to the

English Missionary Society , dated New Castle , August 28 , 1716 , and conveyed by Col . Coxe on his visit to England in that year , says , in a postscript : "This comes by Col . Coxe , of New Jersey , a good and constant friend of all

the Society ' s Missionaries in these parts , and I cannot but Avish that he may meet with that reception from all the members of that honourable body , that a person of his worth and merits , and one that is so hearty for the present constitution in

Church and State , is very deserving of , and has just pretensions to . " Again , later , Joseph Talbot , in another letter to the Society , dated Philadephia , Dec . 9 , 1723 , after speaking of the Church in BurlingtonN . J ., says : " Col . Coxe and

, Mr \ Trent have done their part towards the Society ' s house at Burlington . They have put it all in good order within and without . "

It Avill be noted that the first of these letters was written at the time of the height of the difference between Coxe and Governor Hunter . Bro . Daniel Coxe , the first Provincial Grand Master of Masons in Americadied

, at Burlington , N . J ., on April 25 th , 1739 , at the age of 65 years . He left two sons , John and Daniel Coxe , both of whom were distinguished . John