A Prayer used amongst the Primitive Christian Ma

sons.

THE might of the Father of Heaven, and the wisdom of his glorious Son, through the grace and goodness of the Holy Ghost, being three persons in one Godhead, be with us at our beginning, and give us grace so to govern us here in our living, that we may come to his bliss that never shall have end. Amen.

Another Prayer, and that which is most general at Making or Opening.

MOST holy and glorious Lord God, thou great architect of heaven and earth, who art the giver of all good gifts and graces, and hast promised that when two or three are gathered together in thy name, thou will be in the midst of them: In thy name we assemble and meet together, most humbly beseeching thee to bless us in all our undertakings, that we may know and serve thee aright, that all our doings may tend to thy glory and the salvation of our souls.

And we beseech thee, O Lord God, to bless this our present undertaking, and grant that this our new brother may dedicate his life to thy service, and be a true and faithful brother among us: Endue him with competency of thy divine wisdom, that he may, with the secrets of Free Masonry, be able to unfold the mysteries of Godliness and Christianity. This we most humbly beg, in the name and for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. Amen.

*AHABATHOLAM.

A Prayer repeated in the Royal-Arch Lodge at Jerusalem.

THOU hast loved us, O Lord our God, with eternal love; thou hast spared us with great and exceeding patience, our Father and our King, for thy great name's sake, and for our father's sake, who trusted in thee, to whom thou didst teach the statutes of life, that they might do after the statutes of thy good pleasure with a perfect heart: So be thou merciful to us, O our Father! Merciful Father, that sheweth mercy, have mercy upon us, we beseech thee, and put understanding into hearts, that we may understand, be wise, hear, learn, teach, keep, do, and perform all the words of the

*See Dr. Wooten on the Mishna.

Our

doctrine of thy law in love, and enlighten our eyes in thy commandments, and cause our hearts to cleave to thy law, and unite them in the love and fear of thy name; we will not be ashamed, nor confounded, nor stumble, for ever and ever.

Because we have trusted in thy holy, great, mighty, and terrible Name, we will rejoice and be glad in thy salvation, and in thy mercies, O Lord our God; and the multitude of thy mercies shall not forsake us forever: Selah. And now make haste and bring upon us a blessing, and peace from the four corners of the earth; for thou art a God that workest salvation, and has chosen us out of every people and language; and thou our king, has caused us to cleave to thy great Name, in love to praise thee, and to be united to thee, and to love thy Blessed art thou, O Lord God, who hast chosen thy people Israel in love.

name:

APPENDIX.

CEREMONY OF CONSECRATION.*

ON the day and hour appointed, the Grand Master and his officers, or some respectable PastMaster and brethren properly authorized to represent them, having assembled at some convenient place, proceed in form to the Lodge-room.

Silence being proclaimed the Lodge is opened in the third degree by the Grand Master.

The Grand Lodge form in order round the temple which is placed in the centre, covered with white sattin.

The chaplain or orator rehearses a preparatory

prayer.

Solemn music dignifies the ceremony while the preparations are made.

The Temple is uncovered, and the first clause of the consecration prayer rehearsed. The response is made "Glory to God on high."

Incense is scattered over the temple, and the grand honors are given.

The Grand invocation is then pronounced, with the honors: after which the consecration prayer is concluded, with the response and honors.

The temple is covered; solemn music is resumed, and the blessing given, with the response and honors as before.

An Anthem is then sung, toward the close of which the brethren of the Lodge, move in circular procession, do homage to the Grand Master, and the consecration ends.

*This ceremony is never to be used but when specially ordered.

MANNER OF CONSTITUTING A LODGE.

THE Grand Lodge, or their representatives, duly authorized for the occasion, having convened at some suitable apartment, walk in procession to the Lodge room. The Lodge is then opened in the third degree by the Grand Master, or his substitute, and an appropriate prayer repeated.

The dispensation, if the brethren have been acting under one, is read by the Grand Secretary, as is also the Warrant or Charter of constitution. The transactions of the New Lodge while under dispensation are then submitted, and, if approved, declared valid and constitutional.

An oration or address on the nature and design of masonry is then delivered; at the conclusion of which, the Grand Master advances and constitutes the new Lodge in the following manner:

"In this my exalted character, I invoke the name of the Most High, to whom be glory and honor, to be with you in all your labors; and by the divine aid I now constitute and form you, my worthy brethren, into a Lodge of FREE and ACCEPTED MASONS, from henceforth I empower you to act as a regular LODGE, constituted in conformity to the rites of the order and charges of our ancient and honorable fraternity: and may God be with you."

The Grand honors are then given, and the ceremony of installation succeeds.

CEREMONY OF INSTALLATION.*

THE Grand Master asks his Deputy, "If he has examined the Master nominated in the warrant, "and whether he finds him well skilled in the noble "science and the Royal Art?" The Deputy answering in the affirmative, by the Grand Master's order he takes the candidate from among his fellows, and presents him in front of the chair, saying,

Most worshipful Grand Master, I present my "worthy brother A. B. to be installed Master of this new Lodge. I find him to be of good morals

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“VIII. You promise to respect genuine brethren, and to discountenance all impostors and deserters from the original plan of Masonry.

"IX. You agree to promote the general good 'of society, to cultivate the social virtues, and to "propagate the knowledge of true Masonry."

On the Master Elect signifying his assent to these charges, the following regulations are read to him.

I. You promise to pay homage to the Grand Master for the time being, and to his officers, when duly installed; and strictly to conform to every edict of the Grand Lodge, or General Assembly of Masons, that is not subversive of the principles and groundwork of Masonry.

II. You admit that the power does not exist of making innovations in the body of Masonry, to the infringement of the ancient land-marks.

III. You promise a regular attendance on the committees and communications of the Grand Lodge on receiving proper notice thereof, and to pay attention to all the duties of Masonry on convenient occasions.

IV. You admit that no new Lodge should be formed without permission of the Grand Lodge, and that no countenance ought to be given to such irregular Lodge, or to any person clandestinely initiated therein, being contrary to the ancient charges of the Order.

V. You admit that no person can be regularly made a mason in, or admitted a member of, any Lodge, without previous notice and due inquiry into his character.

VI. You promise that no visitors shall be received into your Lodge without due examination, and producing the necessary vouchers.

The Grand Master then addresses the Master Elect:

"Do you submit to these charges, and promise to support these regulations as Masters have done "in all ages before you?”

The new Master having signified his cordial acquiescence, is bound to his trust by the obligation of the chair.

He is then invested with the badge of his office, and regularly installed by the Grand Master who thus salutes him:

Brother A. B. in consequence of your cheerful conformity to the charges and regulations of the order, and in compliance with the wishes of your brethren, I install you Master of this Lodge, placing full confidence in your care and capacity.

The Warrant is then delivered over to the new Master, and his station and duties explained; after which the holy writings, the square and compass, the book of constitutions, the jewels and insignia of the different officers, are separately presented to him, and charges suitable to each delivered.

The new Master is then conducted by the Deacons under a Grand salute to the left hand of the Grand Master, where he returns his becoming acknowledgments.

This ceremony being concluded, the Wardens and other officers being conducted in front of the chairs, are severally installed by the Grand Wardens,* invested with the badges of their offices, and instructed in their respective duties. They take their station by the side of the Grand officers of similar rank.

The members of the new Lodge then sing the installation ode, during the close of which they move around in procession, saluting their new Master and officers in the three degrees, and conclude with the Grand honors.

The ceremony of installation being concluded, the Grand Master gives the brethren joy of their officers in a short and suitable address.

The Grand Secretary proclaims the new Lodge three times with the honors of Masonry.

The Lodge being then called to refreshment, and a toast given by the Grand Master, and at his direction by the Grand Wardens, the chairs are resigned to the New Officers, the different Grand officers repairing to seats provided for them in the East.

After refreshing a reasonable time, the Lodge is called to labor, and the Grand Lodge takes leave, departing with the customary honors.

This is the usual ceremony observed at the con

*The new Master installs the Wardens and other officers at each subsequent installation.

stitution of a new Lodge, which the Grand officers may abridge or extend at pleasure, but the material points are on no account to be omitted.

INSTALLATION ODE.

[Tune-Rule Britannia.]

When earth's foundation first was laid,
By the Almighty Artist's hand,
'Twas then our perfect laws were made,
Establish'd by his strict command.

Chorus.

Hail mysterious, hail glorious Masonry!
That makes us ever great and free.

In vain weak man for shelter sought,
In vain from place to place did roam,
Until from heaven he was taught
To plan, to build, to fix his home.
Hail, mysterious, &c.

Illustrious hence we date our Art,

Our works in beauteous piles appear; Which shall to endless time impart, How worthy and how great we are. Hail, mysterious, &c.

Nor we less fam'd for every tie,

By which the human thought is bound;
Love, truth, and friendship socially,
Join all our hearts and hands around.
Hail, mysterious, &c.

Our actions still by virtue blest,
And to our precepts ever true,
The world admiring shall request
To learn, and our bright paths pursue.
Hail, mysterious, &c.

ANOTHER, USED BY SOME LODGES.

Hail Masonry divine;
Glory of ages shine,

Long may'st thou reign: Where'er thy Lodges stand, May they have great command, And always grace the land, Thou Art divine!

Great fabrics still arise,
And grace the azure skies,
Great are thy schemes:
Thy noble Orders are
Matchless beyond compare;
No Art with thee can share,
Thou Art divine!

I.

THE following remarkably interesting historical study was read at the Centennial of New Hartford, Oneida county, N. Y., June 27, 1888, and afterward printed in the "Transactions of the Oneida Historical Society." The author, the late R.. W.. Rees G. Williams, of Utica, also reprinted the essay in a limited. edition in pamphlet form, but it has become exceedingly scarce. Although much of the information it gives appears in the body of this work, the pamphlet as a whole is of such interest and shows such loving and painstaking research on the part of its lamented author that it has been deemed fitting to incorporate the whole of it in this book. Would that every section of our jurisdiction has found such a talented, painstaking and enthusiastic historian!

To-day we roll back the tide of history, and stand not amid the civilization and progress of the nineteenth century, but of the eighteenth, and among the men who shaped and formed and who set in motion the life of the region in which we live. For man of necessity is the grand agent, not alone to found institutions, to carry out principles, but to establish states and nations.

One hundred years ago, the Whitestown country, embracing nearly one-half of the State of New York, peopled to-day with more than two millions of inhabitants, then contained hardly five hundred. But under the spirit of adventure or quickening energies, New England poured in its stream of population to transform the place with new activities,

and fill it with the homes of men. And though seemingly unconnected with all this, Freemasonry took an important part in the shaping process, by which an uncultivated region became cultivated, and laid the foundation for the civilization and the enterprises which mark the life and progress of to-day.

July 30, 1733, the Right Honorable and Most Worshipful Anthony, Lord Viscount Montague, Grand Master of Masons in England, constituted and appointed Henry Price, of Boston, Provincial Grand Master of New England. His first act was to construct St. John's Lodge, in the city of Boston, in 1733.

June 24, 1734, a petition was presented by Benjamin Franklin and several brethren residing in Philadelphia to establish a Lodge in that city. The petition was granted by the Right Worshipful Grand Master Henry Price, who at this time received authority to establish Masonry in all North America, and Benjamin Franklin was constituted the first Master of the new Lodge. Almost at the same time the brethren in Portsmouth, N. H., petitioned for the erection of a Lodge there, which was also granted. But turning his attention to New England, Grand Master Price constituted Lodges in its various villages and towns. From these Lodges came the Masons who were the pioneers of this region and who influenced its civil and Masonic life even to the present hour.

April 6, 1792, the Grand Lodge of New York issued a warrant to establish a Lodge in Herkimer county. It was constituted by the name of Amicable Lodge, and situated in New Hartford. From 1792 to 1799 inclusive, the following members were admitted to the privileges of the Lodge:

1792—Jedediah Sanger, Jared Crittenden, Isaac Jones, Jonas Platt, Arthur Breese, Benjamin Merrills, Elias Kane, Jesse Woodruff, Evans Wharry,