once Speaker of that body. He had the Scotch "knack" of holding on to whatever he acquired, and long before he died, in 1725, he was regarded as one of the wealthiest and most influential citizens of the colony.

Robert Livingston married the widow (née Schuyler) of a minister, a member of the Van Rensselaer family, and this union brought him into social relations with the oldest and most dignified Knickerbocker families of the colony. By her he had three sons and several daughters. The eldest son, Philip, succeeded to the principal family possessions and added to them mainly by his success as an Indian trader, and among his sons was Peter Van Brugh Livingston, who was President of the New York Congress; Philip, one of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence, and William, Governor of New Jersey. It was to one of his descendants that Robert Fulton, the engineer and steam navigation pioneer, was marrieda marriage to which was due the necessary financial backing to make the "Clermont" a success. From the second son, Robert, who acquired the estate of Clermont, perhaps the most noted branch of the family was descended. His son, Judge R. R. Livingston, was the father of the famous Chancellor, R. R. Livingston; Henry B. Livingston, who was one of the bravest officers in the Revolutionary army, and Edward Livingston, Secretary of State under Andrew Jackson, and whose services in the acquisition of Louisiana are still gratefully remembered. He was probably the ablest man of his family after their ancestor of Ancrum, but his life, on the whole, was too full of disappointments to be a happy one. One of his sisters was married to Gen. Montgomery of Quebec fame, another to Secretary of War Armstrong, and a third to Gen. Morgan Lewis; all three being members of the Masonic Fraternity. A score or more names of other American descendants of the persecuted Scotch preacher might be named as illustrious examples in various and honored walks in life, but enough has been said to show that

the influence of the humble Scottish manse led to wonderful results in the New World. Probably no family on record ever had so many distinguished representatives within the space of a few generations as that of this branch of an ancient Scotch house.

Before leaving the Livingston family we may here recall the stormy career of Colonel James Moncrieff, another member of the Fraternity, who was related to Gov. William Livingston and other Americans by marriage. He was born in Fifeshire about 1735 and was educated at Woolwich as a military engineer, but seems to have faced the world for himself in the capacity of a captain of a privateer. He was in New York when the Revolutionary turmoil culminated in hostilities, and it was thought that he would cast in his lot with the Colonists, but he declined to throw off his allegiance to the Crown. In 1776 he served under Lord Percy on Staten Island, and two years later was taken prisoner at Flatbush, L. I. Afterward he performed valuable services for the royal forces at Savannah, and it was he who planned the defensive works at Charleston when the British held that seaport. He was commissioned Lieutenant Colonel in 1780, and certainly deserved that recognition of his endeavors, but it is a pity that his memory should be tarnished by some grave charges which have never been satisfactorily cleared away-notably one of shipping 800 slaves from Charleston to the West Indies with the view of profiting by the sale of these human beings. He certainly was a brave man and an able soldier, but he did not seem to impress his military superiors very favorably or to be generally well liked. Of his closing years nothing is known beyond the fact that he died in France in 1793.

Briefly stated, the leading events in the career of Chancellor Livingston were as follows: He was born in the city of New York in 1747 and educated at King's College, now Columbia University, graduating in 1764. After studying for the bar and entering upon

the practice of that profession he acquired considerable local prominence, not alone by his forensic and oratorical abilities but by the outspoken zeal with which he espoused the patriot cause and the active manner in which he threw himself into every movement calculated to advance the liberties of the people. He was one of the delegates to the first Colonial Congress, in 1765, the others being John Cruger, Philip Livingston, William Bayard and Leonard Lispenard. He was prominent in its deliberations, although Colden, the Royal Lieutenant Governor, pronounced it "unconstitutional, unprecedented and unlawful," and he helped to draw up the "Declaration of Rights," which

LIEUT. GOV. CADWALLADER COLDEN.

presented the claims and grievances of the Colonists, especially demanded such measures as the Stamp Act, and plainly stated that the colonies could best be governed by their own legislatures. He also served in the State Assembly or Provincial Congress, and in 1776 was elected to the Continental Congress. On June 6 of that year the following memorable resolution was introduced into that body, and after a long discussion passed by the votes of seven out of the thirteen States. "That the united colonies are, and ought to be, free and independent States; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British crown, and

that their political connection with Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved." Livingston was one of those who voted for this resolution and after its passage was one of a committee (Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and Roger Sherman being the others) appointed to draw up a Declaration of Independence. This duty he fully attended to, but he had to hurry back to New York before the document was submitted to and approved by Congress, and so his name did not appear on the immortal roll of Signers of that certificate of the birth of a Nation.

When the Continental government was constituted Livingston was appointed Secretary of Foreign Affairs and held that office until 1783, when he was appointed Chancellor of the State of New York. In 1788, when the question of the adoption of a Federal Constitution was before the people, he warmly supported it and in the following year when that constitution went fully into effect by the inauguration of George Washington as President he administered the oath of office to that hero. Of that memorable scene more anon. In 1801 President Jefferson appointed Livingston minister of the United States at the court of Napoleon, and while there he successfully negotiated for the purchase of Louisiana. While in Paris he became acquainted with Robert Fulton, the famous engineer, and became deeply interested in his experiments in steam navigation. Livingston saw at once the advantage which would accrue to his own country could the projects of the inventor be put to practical use and he believed that to be quite possible; as a result he backed up Fulton with his influence, his social standing and his wealth. Fulton came to America with Livingston on the latter's return to the country in 1807, and the inventor and his patron found their highest anticipations realized when the first practical steamboat to navigate American waters made. a voyage from New York to Albany, on the noble Hudson, in thirty-six hours, against wave and tide. The closing years of Chancellor Livingston's life were mainly spent at his

country seat, Clermont, Columbia County, but to the last he never wearied in the public service, in fulfilling all the requirements of his lofty station, and in performing all the duties of the good and faithful citizen and his death, on Feb. 26, 1813, was bewailed as a State calamity. "His person," wrote his biographer, Dr. John W. Francis, who knew him well, "was tall and commanding and of patrician dignity. Gentle and courteous in his manners, pure and upright in his morals, his benefactions to the poor were numerous and unostentatious. In his life he was without reproach in death, victorious over its terrors."

Such was the illustrious personage who, in 1784, became the leader in the Masonic life in New York, the leader who carried the Grand Lodge from the state of being merely Provincial to sovereign independence, who elevated it above all other civil societies, who extended its ramifications all over the State and reared it from the status of a mere society of good fellows into an association whose purposes and powers were devoted to the moral upbuilding of the Commonwealth, and to the promotion of all that patriotism, morality and brotherly love could inspire or suggest, or conceive to be for the common good of all.

St. George's, Schenectady. St. John's, Clarks Town.

-, Long Island.

All the above were "Modern" Lodges with the exception of the one on Long Island. It is questionable, however, if it did more than merely organize under its charter. Certainly we find no details of its having any history or even life.

The importance of the election of Chancellor Livingston was at once apparent to the Craft and he had no sooner announced his acceptance of the office of Grand Master than the sense which the brethren entertained of the significance of the arrangement found expression in many suitable ways. For instance, Lodge No. 169 then, and for long afterward, undoubtedly the most influential body in the jurisdiction, expressed the sentiments of its members in the following communication to the new leader:

To the Right Worshipful and Honorable Robert R. Livingston, Grand Master of Ancient Masons in the State of New York, and Chancellor of the Same, &c., &c., &c.:

We, the Master, Wardens and Brethren of Lodge, No. 169, highly pleased with your appointment as Grand Master of Ancient Masons in this State, beg leave to congratulate you and the Craft in general on that happy event, and to assure you of our Concurrence and Support in whatever may tend to the good of that Ancient and Honorable Society.

Universal Benevolence, Charity and Urbanity, being the grand characteristics of Masonry, under the protection and patronage of a gentleman so distinguished for these virtues and high station in

which your country has so deservedly placed you, with inexpressible pleasure we look forward with firmest hope that unanimity, concord and harmony will universally prevail amongst the Royal Craft in this State.

And may its benign influence soon extend thro' the whole continent, a blessing to themselves and mankind in general to the latest posterity.

That you may long live to see the universal influence of Masonry and the prosperity of this country, and enjoy every other happiness, is the ardent wish of Lodge No. 169.

SAMUEL KERR, Master.

THOS. TUCKER, Sen. Warden.
PETER MCDOUGALL, Jun. Warden.
New York, March 8, 5784.

Here is another document of a similar character from Lodge No. 210, a Lodge which unfortunately was destined to give the Grand Lodge, and as a result the Grand Master, more than an ordinary share of worriment if not of anxiety:

To the Right Worshipful the Honorable Rob. R. Livingston, Esqr., Grand Master of the State of New York:

The humble address of the Masters, Wardens and Brethren of Lodge No. 210, Ancient York Masons.-Right Worshipful Sir and Brother: Permit us, the Master, Wardens and Brethren of Lodge No. 210, A. Y. M., to testify in the most unfeigned manner our happiness in having a gentleman of your exalted character and ability placed in the Chief Chair of Masonry in this State, and to exult in the idea of the Craft's thus receiving so great an additional ornament.

We return you our warmest acknowledgements for your expressions of regard for Masonry in general, but more particularly for the excellent instructions we have received on your taking the chair. Your good example cannot but have an extensive influence over the conduct of every individual, making Harmony, Friendship and Brotherly Love the rule by which they square their actions, and the good of the community, the centre to which they all tend, and we have everything to hope and expect from your precepts.

We, for our part, promise you all due obedience, and every assistance in supporting the honor of the Craft and the dignity of your station, and can with justice assert that it is our inclination as well as duty so to do.

May the Grand Architect of the Universe take you, our Worthy Brother, into His Holy Protection

and Keeping, is and ever shall be the sincere prayer of, Right Worshipful Sir,

Your Affectionate Brother,

ANDW. MORRIS, Master.

New York, March 9, 5784.

These documents, apart from their testimony to the satisfaction that was so general at the accession of Chancellor Livingston, are important for several indications they give of other matters. They show that Livingston had only just come in among the "Ancients," and that while the distinctions between the Ancients and Moderns still existed, was in fact still sharply drawn, there was some hope that by his election "unanimity, concord and harmony will universally prevail," by which we can understand that the olive branch was held out more prominently than ever to the "Moderns" to cast off their allegiance and enter the Ancient fold. They show too that the old order of things political had passed away, that the colonies were a thing of the past, that the State, so far as New York and its twelve sister commonwealths were concerned, had taken their place and that the once potent British sentiment had passed away. Some have thought that by calling the order the "Royal Art," the brethren still clung to monarchial forms in a country which had thrown off monarchial rule. But the word, Royal, in connection with symbolic Masonry, does not mean anything pertaining to a family, or an office, or a system. It goes further back and simply uses the word in its true meaning: "If ye fulfill the royal law according to the Scriptures, 'thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself,' ye shall do well." There are indications also in these documents that the brethren considered themselves as belonging to an independent Grand Lodge although they still bore the numerical designations of the "Ancient" Grand Lodge across the sea. It was, however, inexpedient to raise that question just then, doubtless by the wish of the leaders of the craft.

Chancellor Livingston was installed in person into the Grand Master's chair on March