Pennsylvania Freemasons


Pennsylvania Freemasons

On June 5, 1730, the Duke of Norfolk, then the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of England (Moderns), deputized Colonel Daniel Coxe of New Jersey to be “the Provincial Grand Master of the Provinces of New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.” His deputation took effect June 24, 1730 and extended to June 24, 1732. The deputation authorized Brother Coxe to appoint his officers, so it makes sense that Coxe appointed William Allen as Grand Master. Allen was then elected Grand Master, as recorded in the Pennsylvania Gazette, June 19-26, 1732, the election taking place on St. John the Baptist’s Day, 1732. Allen appointed William Pringle, Deputy Grand Master, and Thomas Boude and Benjamin Franklin, Wardens. Benjamin Franklin would become Grand Master in 1734, the same year he published Anderson’s Constitutions, the first Masonic book printed in America.

By September 5, 1749 (during Franklin’s second term as Grand Master), some Brethren of this Grand Lodge, feeling that their self-constituted Grand Lodge lacked the authority it formerly possessed, made an appeal to the Masonic authorities in London for the appointment of a Provincial Grand Master of Pennsylvania. The Grand Master of England (Moderns), William Lord Baron of Rochdale in the County of Lancaster, appointed William Allen, thus marking the end of the first independent Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania and its inception as a Provincial Grand Lodge affiliated with and deriving its authority from the Grand Lodge of England (Moderns).

On February 13, 1760, the Members of Lodge № 1, (Ancients) in Philadelphia, balloted for a Provincial Grand Master, and William Ball, a wealthy landowner in the Province, was elected. Following Ball’s election, application was made by the Members of Lodge № 1 to the Grand Lodge (Ancients) in London for a Provincial Grand Warrant for Pennsylvania. A warrant signed by Grand Secretary Laurence Dermott, bearing the date of July 15, 1761, for the Provincial Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania (Ancients) was issued.

Whereas the original Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania (Moderns) had been very conservative and relatively inactive, the new Grand Lodge of the Ancients was progressive and active. Whereas the Modern Grand Lodge never had more than four constituent lodges on its rolls, the Ancients’ Grand Lodge granted warrants to sixteen lodges and during the Revolution warranted seven more. Indeed the war intensified the rivalry and considerable friction between Ancients and Moderns in Pennsylvania, because the Modern lodges, to a great extent, were Loyalists, while a large majority of the Ancients espoused independence. By the end of the war the “Moderns” Grand Lodge and its three subordinate lodges had died out. With the death of Brother Franklin, April 17, 1790 at age 84, “Modern” Masonry in Pennsylvania, for all practical purposes, ceased to exist. Thus, in 1813 when Modern and Ancients in Jurisdictions throughout the world began to be reconciled and united, no reconciliation was necessary in Pennsylvania. Therefore, the resulting ritualistic changes and compromises did not affect Pennsylvania Masons, who continued to work in the pure “Ancient” way, as “Ancient York Masons”. This appellation was changed to “Free and Accepted Masons” about 1872.

Among many illustrious Pennsylvania Masons are Major General and Pennsylvania Governor John Frederick Hartranft (1830-1889), who received his Masonic degrees in 1858, and Major General Winfield Scott Hancock (1824-1886), who received all three degrees by dispensation on October 31, 1860, were both members of Charity Lodge №&thinsp:190, Norristown. Hall of Fame golfer Arnold Palmer was a member of Loyalhanna Lodge №&thinsp:275, Latrobe. Today R.W. Grand Master Thomas Gamon, IV presides over 400 lodges and more than 100,000 brother Masons.

Right Worshipful Thomas Gamon, IV, Grand Master
The Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania is one of the Memorial’s Supporting Grand Lodges.
 
the source/read more: gwmemorial.org
RSS Pennsylvania Masons
  • California Wildfires Relief Appeal February 3, 2025
    Grand Master Arthur L. Salazar Jr. of California has requested the Masonic Service Association of North America (MSA) issue this Disaster Relief Appeal. Earlier this month, large parts of Los Angeles County were ravaged by several horrific fires which took several lives, destroyed entire communities and flattened thousands of structures. While we are not […]
    Kelly Lynch
  • Florida, North Carolina & South Carolina Hurricane Helene – Disaster Relief Appeals October 3, 2024
    Grand Masters Donald W. Cowart, of Florida; Bobby Rideout, of North Carolina; and Steven D. Hames, of South Carolina, have requested the Masonic Service Association of North America (MSA) to issue these Disaster Relief Appeals. Following the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, the Grand Lodge of Florida has had many lodges that could not afford […]
    Kelly Lynch
  • Brazil Rain and Flooding Disaster Relief Appeal August 13, 2024
    The Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul has been hit by heavy rains resulting in widespread flooding. As a result, many people are left homeless and in need of assistance, including families of affected Freemasons belonging to the Grande Oriente do Brasil do Rio Grande do Sul – GOB/RS and their communities. Grand […]
    Kelly Lynch
  • Piecing Together Family History August 3, 2023
    Brother Robert Platt has always enjoyed the challenge of genealogy work, including completing pedigree charts for fellow brothers.
    Deb Davis
  • One Masonic Family: Leading and Becoming Better Together June 15, 2023
    Richard Korn, WM, Ashland Lodge No. 294 Our journey began in 2010. I was at a restaurant in Northern PA for bear camp when an older gentleman asked me if I was a Traveling Man. I said “Yes,” thinking he meant do I travel for work? My friend (who I had no idea was […]
    Megan Hess
  • The Most Frightening Question: “Why Should I Join?” May 3, 2023
    The answer to “Why should I join the Freemasons?” isn't always short and sweet. It can be layered and complex, and ultimately leads to a worthwhile, life-changing experience.
    Kelly Lynch
  • All Aboard for Masonic Bonding April 24, 2023
    Traveling is a good opportunity to meet and bond with other Masons from around the world. One brother has made it a common practice to host Masonic meet ups during cruises and other trips.
    Deb Davis
  • First Impressions in Freemasonry April 13, 2023
    As Freemasons, we must always remember the adage, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression,” particularly when a newly petitioned candidate is in our midst.
    Deb Davis
  • The Masonic Lite Podcast December 15, 2022
    The Masonic Lite Podcast Brother Brian McHale, Union Lodge No. 291, Scranton It began simply enough, with a request to a few friends for suggestions on how to learn more about Masonry. As a teacher, I knew I would have off this summer, allowing me what I thought might amount to some time to […]
    Megan Hess
  • Why Become a Freemason? November 29, 2022
    Men have various reasons for joining Pennsylvania Masonry. For those who've taken the step, what they've gained through their membership has far exceeded their expectations. As Kurk Misialek, Melita Lodge No. 295, Philadelphia, shares in this video, "I joined because I had some friends who were in the lodge, but I had heard about […]
    Kelly Lynch

© by Masonic Roundtable. We recommend to visit its YouTube channel.

© by Whence Came You?. We recommend to visit its YouTube channel.

The Grand Lodge Free and Accepted Masons of Pennsylvania
1 North Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107

www.pagrandlodge.org

215-988-1900

Number of post comments: 0

Log in/register to see and post comments.

Share:

Send