head, and without a single grand officer; and of consequence it was evident, that not only the grand lodge, but all the particular lodges under its jurisdiction, must cease to assemble, the brethren be dispersed, the pennyless go unassisted, the craft languish, and ancient masonry be extinet in this part of the world. "That in consequence of a summons from the former grand officers to the masters and wardens of all the regular constituted lodges, a grand communication was held, to consult and advise on some means to preserve the intercourse of the brethren. "That the political head of this country having destroyed all connexion and correspondence between the subjects of these states and the country from which the grand lodge originally derived its commissioned authori-ty, and the principles of the craft inculeating on its professors submission to the commands of the civil authority of the country they reside in the brethren did assume an elective supremacy, and under it chose a grand master and grand officers, and erected a grand lodge, with independent powers and prerogatives, to be exercised however on principles consistent with and subordinate to the regulations pointed out in the constitutions of ancient masonry. "That the reputation and utility of the craft, under their jurisdiction, has been most extensively diffused, by the flourishing state of fourteen lodges constituted by their authority, within a shorter period than that in which three only received dispensations under the former grand lodge. "That in the history of our craft we find, that in England there are two grand lodges independent of each other; in Scotland the same; and in Ireland their grand lodge and grand master are independent either of England or Scotland. It is clear that the authority of some of their grand lodges originated in assumption; or otherwise, they would acknowledge the head from whence they derived. "Your committee are therefore of opinion, that the doings of the present grand lodge were dictated by principles of the clearest necessity, founded in the highest reason, and warranted by precedents of the most approved authority." This report was accepted, and corresponding resolutions entered into by the grand lodge, and recorded. 1791, Dec. 5. A committee was appointed, agreeably to a vote of the second of March, 1790, "to confer with the officers of St. John's grand lodge upon the subject of a complete masonic union throughout this commonwealth." On the 5th of March, 1792, the committee brought in their report, and presented a copy of the laws and constitution for associating and uniting the two grand lodges, as agreed to by St. John's grand lodge, which, being read and deliberately considered, was unanimously approved of. June 19, 1792. The officers and members of the two grand lodges met in conjunction, agreeable to previous arrangements, and installed the most worshipful John Cutler grand master; and resolved, "that this grand lodge, organized as aforesaid, shall forever hereafter be known by the name of The Grand Lodge of the Most Ancient and Honourable Society of Free and Accepted Masons for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.” In addition to the powers vested by charter in the two grand lodges before mentioned, for instituting subordinate Lodges, the grand lodge of England appointed provincial grand masters in several of the states, and invested them also with authority to grant warrants for holding lodges. The revolution, which separated the American States from the government of the mother country, also exonerated the American lodges from their allegiance to foreign grand lodges; because the principles of masonry inculcate obedience to the governments under which we live. The lodges, in the several States, therefore, after the termination of the war, resorted to the proper and necessary means of forming and establishing independent grand lodges, for the government of the fraternity in their respective jurisdictions. CHAPTER III. Grand Lodge of New-Hampshire. THE Grand Lodge of New-Hampshire was first formed the eighth of July, A. L. 5789. A number of Lodges in this state had received warrants from Massachusetts, which united in the establishment of this grand lodge, and came under its jurisdiction. Its meetings are holden at Portsmouth, in January, April, July and October. Subordinate Lodges. St. John's, No. 1, Ports Columbian, No. 2, Notting- cord. CHAPTER IV. Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. THE first grand lodge in America was holden at Boston, on the 30th July, A. Ď. 1733, known by the name of St. John's Grand Lodge, and descended from the grand master of England. The Massachusetts Grand Lodge (also holden at Boston) was first established on the 27th Dec. A. D. 1769, and descended from the grand master of Scotland. On the 19th of June, A. D. 1792, a grand masonie nnion was formed by the two grand lodges, and all distinctions between ancient and modern masons abolished. Subordinate Lodges. St. John's Lodge, Boston. St. Peter's, Newburyport. do. Trinity, Hingham. Unity, Rising States, Gloucester. town. Massachusetts, Lancaster. Machias. Ipswich. Portland. King Solomon's, Charles Boston. Friendship, Williamstown. Essex, Salem. King Hiram's, Trure. Kennebeck, Hallowell. Washington, Roxbury. Fayette, Charlestown. St. John's, Demerara(W.1.) Harmony, Northfield. Amity, Camden. Union, Dorchester. Rural, Randolph. Thomas, Monson. Sumner's, Dennis. Bristol, Norton. Sincerity, Patridgefield. Jerusalem, Williamsburg. Corner Stone, Duxbury. St. Paul's, Groton. United, Topsham. Concord. American Union, Marietta. Mendon. Meridian Sun, Brookfield. Cineiunatus,G't Barrington. Eastport. Amicable, Cambridgeport. Worcester. Ancient Landmark, Port Penobscot. land. Cheshire. Rising Sun, Paris. Sandisfield. Republican, Greenfield. Jordan, Danvers. Middlesex, Framingham. Orient, Thomastown. Columbian, Boston. St. George's, Warren. Evening Star, Lenox. Mountain, Rowe. Cincinnatus, N. Marlboro'. Ionic, Steuben. Mount Vernon, Belchertown. Maine, Sylvian, Southwick. Mystic, Lanesborough. Mount Pleasant, Middle St. John, Stabroek, Deme Grenville. rara. CHAPTER V. Grand Lodge of Rhode Island. THE Grand Lodge of Rhode-Island was organized on the 25th of June, A. L. 5791, agreeably to a plan previously proposed and adopted by St. John's lodge, No. 1, of Newport, and St. John's lodge, No. 2, of Providence, which were the only lodges in the State at that time. Subordinate Lodges. St. John's, No. 1, Newport. ter. Mount Union, No. 11, Pawtucket. Manchester, No. 13, Coventry. The quarterly communications are holden in Providence, on the last Monday in February, May, August and November. The annual meeting for the choice of officers is on the anniversary of St. John the Baptist. CHAPTER VI. Grand Lodge of Connecticut. THE Grand Lodge of Connecticut was constituted on the 8th day of July, A. D. 1789, by fifteen lodges, which |