Freemasonry in America the Purpose

Freemasonry in America

The purpose of this paper is to introduce and analyze the topic of American history. Specifically, it will discuss the beginning of Freemasonry in America. Freemasonry has its roots in Europe, but historians are not quite sure how and when it formed. Many historians believe the first Freemasons were stonecutters and masons who formed groups to further their careers and building techniques in medieval England. The emblems of Freemasonry, the square and compass, were tools used by these stonemasons, and are now the symbols of Freemasonry on their official seal and documents. These informal groups initially met alone, and then formed into still informal "lodges." However, in 1717 in London, four groups banded together and formed the first Grand Lodge of England. It was then that Freemasonry really began to spread, including across the Atlantic to the United States (Fuller, 2001, p. 20). Today, Freemasons work around the world. The goals of Freemasonry are simple, as the Freemason Web site notes, "Over the centuries, Freemasonry has developed into a worldwide fraternity emphasizing personal study, self-improvement, and social betterment via individual involvement and philanthropy" (Editors, 2007). Thus, Freemasonry may be the oldest philanthropic organization in the world, dating back to the Middle Ages but still existing today.

While there are no written records for the very first lodge formations in America, an early Masonic historian believes the first lodge in America was organized in Boston in 1733. In an address to fellow Masons he states, "And the premier Provincial Grand Lodge of the Western Hemisphere, organized in Boston Massachusetts, July 30, 1733, has no formal and continuous records written in a book at the time of the recorded events, until 1750" (Johnson, 1917, p. 6). Record keeping was sketchy, and written records do not exist for many of the earliest lodges in Europe, either. It is also known that Benjamin Franklin was a Mason, and printed their constitution and rules in his Philadelphia printing shop as early as 1734 (Johnson, 1917, p. 8). In fact, appointing him as the Provincial Grand Master of the Province of Pennsylvania was the first official act of the first American Grand Master, in 1734 (Johnson, 1917, p. 234). However, since records were so sketchy, it is believed by many experts and historians that informal lodges existed in America even before the first recorded lodge was launched in Boston (Johnson, 1917, p. 22).

Freemasonry began to grow in Europe, and the same is true in America. It became a very popular group, and most businessmen joined the organization. It became a way to spread the ideas of the Enlightenment, and many believe it was a great motivator in the Revolutionary War for independence from Great Britain. Another historian notes, "By 1776, there were over forty lodges in the colonies. The influence of Freemasonry on early American religious and intellectual history can hardly be overestimated as evidenced by the fact that fifty-two of the fifty-six signers of the Declaration of Independence were Masons" (Fuller, 2001, p. 21). Originally, the organization only accepted men. Many people believe this is because only men were accepted as stonemasons in the Middle Ages. However, there are several Masonic organizations for women today, including Job's Daughters for young women, and Daughters of the Nile.

Americans joined the Masons for a variety of reasons, but the organization has always existed to teach philosophic and philanthropic ideals. However, many more joined simply for the social aspects of the organization. Historian Fuller continues, "Many who joined were no doubt primarily interested in the convivial, social side of Masonry. For them it was more another men's club than a lodge for the dissemination of ancient, esoteric spiritual wisdom" (Fuller, 2001, p. 22). While many joined for the social activities, the teaching of Enlightenment ideals and beliefs help focus members' attention on democratic and idealistic ideals of government and life. Many historians believe Freemasonry was essential in developing the ideals that led to the fight for independence in the United States.

Another historian notes, "Freemasons engendered among 'a limited but very prominent class of people a feeling of American unity without which American liberty could not have developed-without which there would have been no United States'" (York, 1993). It is well-known that such prominent Americans as George Washington and Benjamin Franklin were Freemasons, as were many others who fought for independence and then led the country after independence was achieved.

It was not easy to join the Freemason community. Members who hoped to join the organization had to be nominated by existing members, all existing members had to approve the nomination, and they had to agree to abide by all the "Charges" written in the Freemason Constitution. Only then could they begin to attend the secret meetings and learn the rituals of the Freemasonry organization (York, 1993). This is perhaps one of the most controversial aspects of the organization. All of their meetings are held in secrecy, and there are many complex rituals that members must undergo as they move up the ladder of the organization. There are several levels for members to attain within the lodge that coincide with career levels in stonemasonry. Members reach "degrees" in the organization, and these degrees are apprentice, fellow craft, and master mason.

There was a division in the Masonic Order in the mid-eighteenth century. The rift began in Britain and spread across the Atlantic fairly quickly. Essentially, the argument began over religion and its place in the lodges. Those who were devout Christians supported a version of the Masonic Constitutions written by Anderson in 1738 (called Ancients), while those who were less devout, or agnostic supported a version written in 1723 (called Moderns). Author York continues, "Ancients were obliged to obey Christian precepts regardless of where they lived; Moderns abided by the prevailing religious belief of their homeland" (York, 1993). When the controversy reached America, it all but eliminated some lodges in some areas. In Pennsylvania, some Modern lodges converted to Ancient, and Modern lodges virtually disappeared in the state within a few years.

After the first lodge began in Boston in 1733, many others sprung up throughout New England. Historian York notes, "At least three regular lodges took shape in Boston and over twenty were organized elsewhere in New England, all nominally presided over by Boston's grand lodge of St. John [Boston]" (York, 1993). In 1761, the debate came to Boston, and a new lodge for Ancients was created in Boston, under the name of St. Andrews. Eventually, the two lodges merged in 1792, but the division tended to follow political lines, as most of the St. Andrews members were patriots, such as John Hancock and Paul Revere, while most of the St. John members were loyalists - loyal to the British Crown. The St. Andrews lodge owned a tavern called the Green Dragon, and held its' meetings there. Many historians believe many patriot plots, such as the Boston Tea Party, were planned by Masons at the Green Dragon (York, 1993). It is interesting to note that the two lodges did merge after the Revolutionary War, but that during the war, there was a strong movement to unify all the American lodges under George Washington as the Grand Master, but that never came about. In fact, even today, American lodges are grouped by state, with state leaders but no national leader or organization (York, 1993).

In the late 1700s, the Prince Hall Freemasonry was established for African-Americans who wished to become Masons. In addition, Freemasonry began to become much more popular and spread across the United States and the population moved westward. As Freemasonry gained notoriety, some people began to question its methods, especially its secret meetings and rituals. While the English lodges merged in 1813, during the split between Ancients and Moderns many "daughter" lodges had sprung up around the world that represented one or the other belief. To this day, in America and around the world, there is diversity between some lodges in how they celebrate and perform rituals and the three degrees of Masonry. This has also led to some confusion about Masonry and its purpose. This actually led to a decline in Freemasonry and its acceptance in the mid-nineteenth century.

This backlash against Freemasonry actually began in 1826 near Batavia, New York. A man named William Morgan disappeared after claiming he was going to expose Freemasonry and its secret rites. Morgan was never found, and when his kidnappers were found, they were punished very lightly. Many people felt this was because the Masons had stepped in, or had even orchestrated his disappearance, and a great backlash against the Masons took place. Two years later, author Henry Dana Ward published an expose on the group, causing further outrage and misunderstanding. Americans began to speak out against Freemasonry, and the number of Freemasons declined for several decades. Later, in 1847, John Quincy Adams also wrote a book bashing Freemasonry, so this schism continued for quite some time, and led to misunderstandings and false assumptions that still plague Freemasonry today. Because of this, many modern Masonic lodges offer tours to the public where non-Masons can visit the lodge and learn more about Masonic activities (Rich & Merchant, 2003).