england celebrates 275th anniversary

345 Pages·2009·1.63 MB·English

by  Jane Morgan

PYRAMID LODGE OF PAST MASTERS 962
American Canadian Grand Lodge
Under the Jurisdiction of
United Grand Lodges of Germany

The Pyramid Texts

Ne Lux moriatur

Volume II
ENGLAND CELEBRATES 275TH ANNIVERSARY
by P. Normand
American Masonic Review, Volume 1, No. 4 - Fall 1992
The year 1992 will be long remembered for the largest and most magnificent gathering of
Freemasons in the history of the Craft. On June 10, the United Grand Lodge of England
welcomed 12,000 Masons and their guests to participate in the celebration of the 275th
anniversary of the founding of the Premier Grand Lodge. In the first and most complete
report published thus far, Richard H. Curtis 33 ∞, Editor of The Northern Light magazine,
gave a full account of the celebration in the August 1992 issue. To him, we are grateful
for much of the information on this spectacular Masonic event. We are also grateful to
Robert L. Dillard Jr. of Dallas, Past Grand Master, and Secretary of the Commission on
Information for Recognition of the Conference of Grand Masters of North America for
his personal report.
The assembly filled the Earls Court Exhibition Centre in London. The large indoor arena
was arranged and decorated in the form of a large Lodge room complete with checkered
pavement. The Grand East, upon a large raised dais, included the traditional Grand
Master’s chair, seating for various grand officers and over 300 other Masonic dignitaries.
Above and behind the Grand East were seated the North Wales Provincial Masonic Choir
and the Masonic Girls’ School Choir. Suspended high on either side of the platform in the
east two giant video screens afforded everyone an enlarged view of the ceremonies.
During the opening ceremonies, the Duke of Kent, Grand Master of the United Grand
Lodge of England, received each of the representatives of 91 Grand Lodges, including 72
Grand Masters. Responding for the visiting Masons, two representatives addressed the
assembly: Massachusetts Grand Master Edgar W. Darling, as the representative of the
senior Grand Lodge in North America, and Grand Master Joseph Ferencz of Hungary, as
the representative of the newest Grand Lodge in the world.
One of the highlights of the ceremonies was the dedication of the foundation stone for a
residential village for handicapped adults. The Grand Master took the opportunity to
announce of a series of charitable grants, including £1,250,000 to the Cottage and Rural
Enterprises charity (CARE) which is building the handicapped village.
In his remarks, the Grand Master emphasized that the charitable work of the United
Grand Lodge of England remains central to its purpose. “Freemasons continue to pay
what I consider is proper attention to general or non-Masonic charity,- he said, ' because
we are part of society and share the obligation of all good citizens to care for others.- The
Grand Charity of the United Grand Lodge of England has been involved in many
charitable activities, including a separate fund set up in 1967 making it the single largest
benefactor of the Royal College of Surgeons.
In addition to the Grand Lodge anniversary, the occasion was also the celebration of the
40th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II, and the 25th anniversary of the
installation of the Duke of Kent as Grand Master. The triple significance of the
anniversary was commemorated by the commissioning of three large Wedgwood cups,
one for the Grand Master, one for the Grand Lodge Museum, and one to be presented to
the Queen. The 12,000 in attendance almost doubled the number present for the 250th
PLPM RESEARCH LIBRARY March 1995 Volume II Page 1
anniversary celebration held in the Royal Albert Hall on June 27,1967.
On the evening of June 10, following the assembly at Earls Court, an anniversary dinner
was served to 4,000 Masons and guests. Later that evening, at Freemasons Hall,
entertainment was provided by the London Youth Opera Company. Other events
included a reception at London's Guild Hall given by the Grand Master and the
Worshipful Lord Mayor of London who is currently serving as Master of his Lodge.
THE PREMIER GRAND LODGE
The Premier Grand Lodge, although formed in London in 1717, recorded no minutes until
June 24, 1723. In fact, it was not until that date that the first Secretary, William Cowper,
was elected. Nevertheless, Dr. James Anderson, best known for his Book of
Constitutions, set forth this account of the formation of the first Grand Lodge:
King George I entered London most magnificently on 20 Sept. 1714. And after the
Rebellion was over A.D. 1716, the few Lodges at London finding themselves neglected
by Sir Christopher Wren, thought fit to cement under a Grand Master as the Center of
Union and Harmony, viz., the Lodges that met,
1. At the Goose and Gridiron Ale-house in St. Paul 's Church-Yard.
2. At the Crown Ale-house in Parker's Lane near Drury-Lane.
3. At the Apple-Tree Tavern in Charles Street, Covent-Garden.
4. At the Rummer and Grapes Tavern in Channel-Row, Westminster.
They and some old Brothers met at the said Apple-Tree, and having put into the Chair the
oldest Master Mason (now the Master of a Lodge), they constituted themselves a Grand
Lodge pro Tempore in Due Form, and forthwith revived the
Quarterly Communication of the Officers of Lodges (called the GRAND LODGE)
resolved to hold the Annual Assembly and Feast, and then to chuse a Grand Master from
among themselves, till they should have the Honour of a Noble Brother at their Head.
Accordingly,
On St. John Baptist's Day, in the 3d year of King George I, A.D. 1717, the ASSEMBLY
and Feast of the Free and Accepted Masons was held at the aforesaid Goose and Gridiron
Ale-house.
Before Dinner, the oldest Master Mason (now the Master of a Lodge) in the Chair,
proposed a List of proper Candidates; and the Brethren by a Majority of Hands elected
Mr. Antony Sayer, Gentleman, Grand Master of Masons, who being forthwith invested
with the Badges of Office and Power by the said oldest Master, and install'd, was duly
congratulated by the Assembly who pay 'd him the Homage. Mr. Jacob Lamball,
Carpenter, J Grand Capt. Joseph Elliot, Wardens.
Sayer, Grand Master, commanded the Masters and Wardens of Lodges to meet the Grand
Officers every Quarter in Communication, at the Place that he should appoint in his
Summons sent by the Tyler.
It is important to note that the Premier Grand Lodge was not the “Grand Lodge of
England,” but was simply a Grand Lodge for London and Westminster and what ever
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Lodges chose to be governed by it. The Premier Grand Lodge never made any claim to
territorial jurisdiction, exclusive or otherwise.
THE ANCIENT GRAND LODGE
Besides the Premier Grand Lodge, there were five other Grand Lodges erected in England
during the 18th and 19th centuries. Listed in order of seniority they were:
1. The York Grand Lodge (1725-1790).
2. The Grand Lodge of England According to the Old Institutions (also called the
“Ancient” or “Atholl Grand Lodge,” 1751-1813).
3. The Grand Lodge of England South of the River Trent (1779-1789).
4. The Supreme Grand Lodge of England (1770-1775).
5. The Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of England According to the Old
Institutions (also called the “Wigan Grand Lodge,” 1823-1866).
The second of these grew to become the second largest Masonic authority in England, and
it continued to thrive until 1813 when it merged with the Premier Grand Lodge to form
the United Grand Lodge of England.
The first record of “The Grand Lodge of England According to the Old Institutions,”
often called the “Ancient Grand Lodge,” is dated July 17, 1751. It states that a General
Assembly of Ancient Masons was held at the Turk's Head Tavern in Greek Street, Soho.
It was established primarily by Irish Masons living in and about the city of London. These
Irish Masons, mostly mechanics and shopkeepers, were often refused admission to the
more aristocratic English Lodges that held the Irishmen's Masonic regularity in the same
esteem as their social standing.
This division between the two groups was worsened by the fact that the Irish Masons
disliked the many differences that existed between the two systems. Although the Irish
had undoubtedly inherited speculative Freemasonry from the English, they accused the
English Grand Lodge of introducing changes in the work. To some extent this was true,
but the better educated English Masons tended to view Freemasonry as a man-made
institution and therefore subject to ongoing change. But the less educated working class
Irish Masons viewed the institution with less understanding and a great deal more awe,
and were therefore very suspicious of any changes in what they perceived as “the body of
Masonry.”
The division between the two groups has incorrectly been described as a schism. But
records have shown that the founding fathers of the Ancient Grand Lodge were never
members of Lodges under the older Premier Grand Lodge (Moderns), and seven of the
original eight appeared in the Dublin directory.
By 1771 the Ancient Grand Lodge had about 197 Lodges on its roll compared to 339 for
the Premier (Modern) Grand Lodge. It was during this period that the other Grand Lodges
in Ireland and Scotland showed their clear support for the more conservative Ancients.
Ireland, which had previously acknowledged the Ancient Grand Lodge, reaffirmed its
recognition, and in 1772, the 3rd Duke of Atholl, already Grand Master of the Ancient
Grand Lodge, was installed as Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Scotland.
THE UNION OF 1813
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By the beginning of the nineteenth century, the Ancient Grand Lodge was a strong and
viable organization with 260 Lodges on its roll, including many military Lodges that had
actively spread the influence of the Ancients' style of Masonry throughout the British
colonies. The Premier Grand Lodge, with 387 Lodges, still outnumbered the Ancients by
three to two. But dissatisfaction over the divided state of the Craft was a growing concern,
and the desire for a union of the two factions became more and more imminent.
Beginning in 1809, steps were taken to begin the process of effecting a harmonious union
between the rival Grand Lodges. In the compromises that were enumerated in the
twenty-one Articles of Union, the Ancients prevailed on almost all points. Chief among
these was the actual inclusion of the Royal Arch Degree as a part of the Master Mason's
Degree, and the incorporation of the word “Ancient” in the name of the United Grand
Lodge.
With the acceptance of the Articles of Union, the process was completed in 1813 with the
election and installation of two royal brothers, sons of King George III, as the Grand
Masters of the two Grand Lodges. In that year, Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, accepted
the Grand Mastership of the Ancient Grand Lodge for the sole purpose of cooperating
with his brother, Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex, the Grand Master of the
Modem Grand Lodge, in the final stages of the union.
On December 27, 1813, Grand Officers and members of the two Grand Lodges were
reobligated and entered Freemasons Hall to perform the ceremonies creating the United
Grand Lodge of England.

ENGLAND CELEBRATES 275TH ANNIVERSARY - GRAND MASTER'S
ADDRESS
by The Duke of Kent
American Masonic Review, Volume 1, No. 4 - Fall 1992
(The following is an excerpt from the Grand Master's address at the 275th anniversary
ceremony of the United Grand Lodge of England.)
I believe that there cannot now be many who doubt the wisdom of our decision in 1984 to
leave behind a Dark Age, when our habit of responding to any criticism or indeed
comment, however inaccurate, with a wall of silence seemed to confirm people's worst
fear about Freemasonry.
As our policy on public relations has changed, so the Craft has, I believe, become more
lively. In preparing to explain ourselves, we have had to take a close look at what we are
and what we do, and the exercise has done us no end of good.
It can do no harm occasionally, though not too often, to go back to first principles and so
try to make certain we are navigating by the right stars. This anniversary offers a good
occasion to ask such questions.
What, then, is Freemasonry? Clearly it must be more than what the Archbishop of York
called a “fairly harmless eccentricity” in 1987. If that was all that Freemasonry was about,
it would not have flourished as it has for over three hundred years, attracting and retaining
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the interest of millions of men today all over the world.
Freemasonry brings people together from vastly different backgrounds. With its sensible
rule prohibiting discussion of religion or politics within its Lodges, it removes two likely
causes of dissension, and allows Freemasons to concentrate instead on what they have in
common - and that, in this world, cannot be bad.
On the contrary, with its encouragement of good fellowship and of consideration for one's
fellow men, and its insistence on a belief in God, Freemasonry can reasonably be held to
be a force for good in society. It is up to all Masons to ensure that enviable position is only
enhanced.

EARLY MASONRY IN ENGLAND
by C. N. Batham
MSA Short Talk Bulletin - November 1992
[The year 1717 saw the formation of the Grand Lodge of England, the “Mother Grand
Lodge of the World.” The history of Freemasonry after that date is quite well known.
But what about Masonry in England prior to 1717? This STB was extracted from an
article written by Bro. C. N. Batham and published under the title The Grand Lodge of
England (1717) and its Founding Lodges. The article was published in Vol. 103; page
22 of Ars Quatuor Coronatorum (Transactions of Quatuor Coronati Lodge #2076).
Bro. Batham is an extremely well known and outstanding Masonic historian and
author!
- Editor]
INTRODUCTION-FREEMASONRY IN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY
That famous Masonic historian, R. F. Gould, once wrote: 'But our “Old Lodges” have, in
truth, been too much neglected and forgotten, to the lasting reproach of the English Craft
Ö our premier Lodges yet await an adequate and enduring memorial of their exertions as
the pioneers of Masonic progress Ö' This paper will not, by any stretch of imagination,
provide that memorial but the gathering together of material about those pioneers, culled
from Masonic records some of which are not readily available, may perhaps give
Brethren of the present day an understanding of the debt they owe to them and, at the
same time, enable them to explore some unfamiliar byways.
To do that, however, it is necessary first to consider the Masonic situation in the
seventeenth century and it comes as a great surprise to many Brethren to learn that there is
no official Masonic record of any kind prior to the first edition of Anderson's
Constitutions, published in 1723.
Certainly there are references to Freemasonry and to initiation ceremonies in the
seventeenth century but they are all of a secondary nature. The first is by Elias Ashmole
who records in his diary that he and Col. Henry Mainwaring were made 'Free Masons' at
Warrington in Lancashire on 16 October, 1646. How long previously and where the seven
Brethren present on that occasion were initiated is unknown. A copy of the Old Charges
(Sloane MS No. 3848) was made by Edward Sankey and finished on the same date. 16
October, 1646. It seems certain that he was the son of one of the Brethren present at the
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meeting and these two facts indicate that the copy was made for use in the ceremony, as
Brethren of those days regarded the possession of a copy of the Old Charges as essential
for a Masonic meeting in which a candidate was to be made a member of the Craft. It also
strengthens the suggestion that this was not a meeting of a permanent Lodge but a private
gathering of a few friends who were Freemasons, met together for the one and only time
for the purpose of admitting two of their friends into the Craft.
The only other reference to Freemasonry in Ashmole's diary is on 10 March, 1682 when
he records that he was summoned to attend a Lodge in Masons' Hall, London, on the
following day when six persons were admitted into the 'Fellowship of Free Masons'.
Although there is no mention of Freemasonry in the diary during the intervening thirty six
years, Ashmole must surely have maintained some contact with the Craft as otherwise it
is inconceivable that he would have been summoned to a meeting after that considerable
lapse of time and to a Lodge so far removed from the place of his initiation. It seems
likely that this Lodge in Masons' Hall was of a more permanent nature, though meeting
only when the need arose, as all the indications are that there was a lodge within the
Masons' Company of London and there are apparent references to acceptances into it at
irregular intervals from 1621 onwards. There is, however, no official record of this lodge
nor anything to substantiate the claim sometimes made that it became the present Lodge
of Antiquity #2.
Randle Holme, Deputy Garter King-of-Arms, was a Freemason and was possibly
initiated in a Lodge at Chester in or about the year 1665. Some eight years later he wrote
out a list of twenty-seven members of the Lodge, including himself. In 1732, Bro. Edward
Hall, a member of a Lodge held at the Swan, East Street, Chichester, recorded that he had
been made a Freemason in a Chichester Lodge by the late Duke of Richmond thirty six
years earlier, that is to say, in 1696. In 1705-6 Sir George Tempest presided over a Lodge
in York that probably dated back to 1693, if not before, and there are subsequent
references to it until it constituted itself as The Grand Lodge of All England at York in
1725. In 1704 Jonathan Belcher, the first native-born American to be admitted into the
Craft and who subsequently became Governor of New Jersey, was initiated in London in
what he describes as an 'old Guilde Lodge' that obviously dated back to the previous
century.
That is all there is. Those six secondary records are scanty enough though it has to be
borne in mind that, in the 1738 edition of his Constitutions, Anderson stated that Sir
Robert Clayton summoned 'Ö an Occasional Lodge of his Brother Masters Ö to advise the
Governors about the best Design of rebuilding that Hospital [St. Thomas's] Ö ' and he
then refers to seven or more Lodges of which there is no other mention, but in view of his
unreliability, coupled with the fact that he goes on to say that King William III Ö was
privately made a Free MasonÖ '. it is questionable whether any reliance can be placed on
those statements.
Nevertheless there must have been considerable Masonic activity in the seventeenth and
early eighteenth centuries that has gone unrecorded, activity that created widespread
interest and suspicion amongst the public at large. If there had not been that public
interest, there would not have been any purpose in including a reference to Freemasonry
in the scurrilous sheet Poor Robin's Intelligence of 1676-7, nor would some unknown
person have found it necessary in 1698 to publish a leaflet warning 'all godly people in the
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citie of London' of the 'Mischiefs and Evils practised in the Sight of God by those called
Freed Masons.' He continued: 'I say take Care lest their ceremonies and secret Swearings
take hold of you: and be wary that none cause you to err from Godliness.'
In 1709 and 1710 Richard Steele published essays in The Tattler in which he referred to
Freemasonry and, in the latter year, a pamphlet printed in London mentioned 'Ö a certain
Company called the Free Masons.' Finally, Robert Plot in his Natural History of
Staffordshire (1686) refers to Freemasonry being ' Ö spread more or less over the Nation
', and John Aubrey also refers to the Craft, even though his statements are suspect, in his
The Natural History of Wiltshire (also in 1686).
ANDERSON'S THE CONSTITUTIONS OF THE FREE-MASONS (1723)
It is against this sketchy background that the first official reference to the Craft appeared
in 1723. It was the first edition of Anderson's Constitutions and was issued under the
authority of the recently-founded premier Grand Lodge of England, the mother Grand
Lodge of the world. It was published 'Ö By Order of his Grace the Duke of Wharton, the
present Right Worshipful Grand Master of the Free MasonsÖ' who subsequently was
appointed the first Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of France, the only person ever to
occupy that office in the two Obediences. The Dedication was signed by the Deputy
Grand Master, Dr. J. T. Desaguliers, who had been Grand Master in 1719-20 and was the
only Frenchman ever to achieve that high honor.
Anderson's publication consisted of a highly imaginative so-called history of the Craft
from the time of Adam to the year 1721, a list of Charges to be read at the making of new
Brethren, the Regulations of the Craft, the manner of constituting a new Lodge, a list of
the Masters and Wardens of twenty Lodges and a collection of songs, including the
'Enter'd Prentices Song' which is still sung at Masonic social boards. He refers to
Freemasonry being revived 'Ö under our present worthy Grand Master, the most noble
Prince John, Duke of Montague. ' But he gives no information whatsoever about the
foundation of the Grand Lodge of England.
The picture, then, is of Lodges throughout the country meeting irregularly as occasion
demanded, perhaps not surviving for any great length of time, and of informal meetings
of groups of members of the Craft for the sole purpose of initiating friends of theirs. There
is nothing other than brief references to their ceremonies as, unfortunately for Masonic
historians, Brethren of those days were pledged to the utmost secrecy about all aspects of
Freemasonry and so committed nothing to writing if they could possibly avoid doing so.
When it could not be avoided, they destroyed such writings as soon as they had served
their purpose. George Payne (Grand Master 1718-19 and 1720-1) complained that several
valuable manuscripts ' Ö were too hastily burnt by some scrupulous Brothers, That those
papers might not fall into strange Hands. 'These Lodges would have been aware only of
other Lodges in their immediate vicinity and were entirely independent and
self-governing, as there was no central authority to exercise control over them. Means of
communication had not substantially improved since Roman times and, especially as no
written records were kept and all instruction was by word of mouth, there must have been
considerable variations in the ceremonial details observed in those Lodges. Only two
degrees would have been worked, often both at the same meeting, until some Lodges. but
by no means all, began to work the third degree in the 1720s.
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EARLY MASONRY IN THE COLONIES
by William A. Brown, Librarian, George Washington Masonic National Memorial
[source unknown - date unknown]
The first Lodge meeting of Free Masons in Pennsylvania must have been opened prior to
1730; as Daniel Cox received a deputation at that time constituting him as Grand Master
of New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, therefore there must have been sufficient
numbers of Masons to have formed at least one Lodge in each of those States, or there
would have been no reason to have a Grand Master. From an old ledger discovered in
1908, it shows that there was a Lodge established in Philadelphia about the later part of
1730, or first part of 1731. It met on the first Monday of each month and had thirteen
members. This ledger entitled “Libre B” was the Secretary's ledger, and entries date from
June 24, 1731 til June 24, 1738, and shows a list of 50 members. “Libre B” indicates that
there was a “Libre A” an even older ledger used by an older Lodge.
It was in “Libre B," that it mentions Benjamin Franklin. It shows that Franklin was
charged on June 24, 1731. “To the remainder of your L3. entered is L2." Franklin had
apparently paid the sum of L1, five months before or some time during that period, as he
was also charged with five months dues, which would indicate he had been made a Mason
in February 1731, (the first degree). Oddly the last entries in “Libre B” were made by
Franklin, it consists of a report drawn up on June 5, 1731, by a committee of the members,
and was in his own handwriting. NOTE; Feb 1731 under the old calendar was the
birthdate of George Washington, under the new calendar it would be February 1732. It
may be assumed that they were using the new calendar, but there is no proof. however if it
were so then we could say that Benjamin Franklin was made a Mason one year before
George Washington was born. From the Philadelphia Gazette, dated June 27, 1734,
“Monday last a Grand Lodge of the Ancient and Honorable Society of Free Masons in
this Province, was held at the Sun Tavern, in Water Street, when Benjamin Franklin,
being elected Grand ensuing year, appointed Mr. John Crap to be his deputy; and James
Hamilton, Esq., and Thomas Hopkins, Gent. to be his wardens. After which a very
elegant entertainment was provided and the Proprietor (Thomas Penn) the Governor, and
several other persons of distinction honored the Society with their presence.” Franklin
went on to serve a second term as Grand Master, and by that time the Meeting was held in
the “Royal Standard on Market street near second. During his diplomatic career, Franklin
while in France, joined the “Lodge of the nine Muses” in which Lander and other literary
celebrities were members. Franklin took an active part in the initiation of Voltaire, and at
his death, Franklin served as S.W. of the Lodge of Sorrow held to celebrate his memory.
Oddly when we speak of early Masonry in the Colonies, we always get conflicting
statements as to who was first, or when was the first Lodge meeting. Masons for some
reason always interested in the first of anything and everything. Yet here is a first which
very few pay any attention too, and it can be validated.
“In 1715, John Moore, Collector for the port of Philadelphia, in a letter to a friend,
mentions having spent some evenings with his Masonic Brethren” Although this
reference may be located in the Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, 1882,
page 152, there is no mention of it being a Lodge meeting. With the end of the War for
Independence, there was that desire to be independent from England in other ways, and
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thus on September 25,1786, in Lodge #25 which met in a little room in Vidall's alley, near
Second and Chestnut Streets in Philadelphia. Lodges Nos. 2, 3, 5, 9, 12, 14, 18, 33, 44,
and 45 met. They dissolved the Provincial Grand Lodge, and formed the “Independent
Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania and Masonic Jurisdiction there unto belonging." Although
they had formed their Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, there had only been eleven Lodges
at this meeting, not present were some 17 Lodges which held warrants under the old
provincial Grand Lodge, to which they were still very much attached.
Five months passed, and in February of 1787 the Independent Grand Lodge wrote letters
and notified all Lodges outstanding to return their warrant and they would be issued new
Charters under the new Grand Lodge. As an example; Alexandria Lodge 39 received their
letter on February 23, 1787, requesting the return of the warrant issued February 3, 1783,
and a new charter would be issued placing them under the Independent Grand Lodge of
Pennsylvania. Unlike some of the other Lodges. The Alexandria Lodge 39 did not reply
but hesitated. The Revolutionary War now at an end, the Grand Lodge of Virginia was
once more in session; and at a meeting of the Lodge 39 they decided that rather than go
with Pennsylvania it would request membership with the Grand Lodge of Virginia. A
Committee consisting of Robert McCrea, William Hunter, and John Allison approached
General Washington to ascertain if it was agreeable to him to be named in the Charter as
Master of the newly proposed Lodge. Washington gave his consent to the use of his
name, and a Letter was sent on October 25, 1787 to the Grand Lodge of Virginia
requesting to be admitted and that a charter naming George Washington as its Charter
Master be granted at the next regular communication of the Grand Lodge in Richmond.
The Petition of the Lodge was granted, the number was changed to 22, and dated April
28, 1788, and signed by Edmund Randolph Esq. Grand Master and William Waddell,
Grand Secretary. What may have happened to the other sixteen Lodges under the
Provincial Grand Lodge? What did they do? How did they respond to the request for the
return of their warrants? I can only say, There must have been other Lodges like our
Alexandria Lodge which were outside the Pennsylvania jurisdiction, at the time of the
establishment of the Independent Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania.

FREEMASONRY AND CHRISTIANITY
by Gordon Haynes, Grand Lodge of Alberta
[source unknown - date unknown]
INTRODUCTION:
Brethren, I would like to take a small portion of your time tonight to talk about the
relationship between Christianity and Freemasonry, and particularly to the question
whether or not Christianity and Freemasonry are mutually exclusive.
In doing this, I recognize that I am talking to a number of different groups. First, there is
the group that will view with amazement the prospect of a Presbyterian clergyman getting
up in front of a captive audience and restricting himself to anything less than 45 minutes.
This group certainly includes my wife at home, and probably includes those Brethren
here who attend my church. A second group will be those of other faiths (or no particular
faith at all), who will hopefully view this talk with mild interest, but who will wonder
what all the fuss is about. To them, I apologize for restricting myself to Christianity, but it
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