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GRAND LODGE OF MARYLAND.

Until the year 1788, the lodges in Maryland, which had become numerous, derived their authority from, and were subordinate to the grand lodge of Pennsylvania; on the 17th day of June in the same year, a convention was called, who held their session at Talbot Court House, to take into consideration the propriety of establishing a statistical jurisdiction. Among the eminent characters who attended this meeting, we find, on perusing the documents to which we have been kindly admitted free access, the late Rev. brother William Smith, D. D. Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, Hon. Levin Winder, late governor of Maryland, and others. Among other proceedings, a resolution was unanimously passed, that the convention deemed it a matter of right, and that they ought to form a grand lodge for the state of Maryland, independent of any other jurisdiction.

At a grand convention held at the same place, on the 31st of July, in the same year; the respective representatives being clothed with full powers, proceeded to the formation of a grand lodge, by electing grand officers, when the following respectable selection was made: viz. Brother John Coates, G. M. who was pleased to appoint Brother James Kent, D. G. M. brother Thomas Bourke was chosen S. G. W. brother William Forrester, J. G. W. brother Charles Gardiner, G. S. and brother William Perry, G. T.

An interesting correspondence was then opened between the grand master elect and the constituted authorities of the grand lodge of Pennsylvania, on the subject of the separation. We regret that we cannot, without transcending our limits, publish these letters at large, which arc in their kind very excellent.

The grand lodge of Maryland continued to hold their sessions at the town of Talbot, until the year 1794, when masonry having by this time extended its benign influence throughout the state, a number of lodges having been established in the town of Baltimore and on the Western Shore of the state, it became convenient to remove the grand lodge to Baltimore: the first session under this new arrangement was held in the month of May, in the above year, and has since continued to meet there semi-annually in the months of May and October.

Under the auspices of the late venerable and revered Jolm

Crawford, M. D. who for a long series of years presided as grand master, masonry continued to flourish in this state. The death of this venerable seer was attended with such circumstances as will not soon be eradicated from the minds of his brethren, who, with the community at large with whom he associated, were wont to respect him for his Christian and masonic virtues: perhaps, since the days of the celebrated Howard, that man has not appeared on the stage of life, whose character has no nearly approached that celebrated philanthropist as the late Dr. Crawford.

The circumstances above alluded to are as follows: at the last session he delivered, as was his custom, an original charge, lengthy and luminous, the production of his own rich imagination, couched in the most affectionate and parental language, at the conclusion of which, he intimated to his brethren his wish to retire from office, pleading his long services and advanced age; he then resigned the oriental chair to his associate, and passing through the adjacent room, gave the tyler an affectionate shake by the hand observing, that the door which had just closed upon him would never again be opened for his reception; wishing him, at the same time, happiness here and hereafter.

The first act of the grand lodge, and it was the spontaneous act of each individual composing it, was to give him an unanimous vote of continuance, but heaven had decreed what the venerable subject of our history seemed to have a full presentiment of, that his work was finished; for the same grand lodge who heard his valedictory address, who unanimously recalled him to the chair, where called upon before the session adjourned, to follow his remains to the tomb.

On this occasion the present grand master of Maryland, Tobias Watkins, M. D. delivered an oration, which it was our intention to have incorporated in this work; the reasons why we have not done so are too obvious to require explanation.

The grand lodge passed a resolution, and appropriated the necessary sum to erect a monument to his memory, which is completed, and is to be placed in the vestibule of the masonic hall, which has been commenced in Baltimore.

It is a triangular pedestal of stone, on a triangular base, with marble pannels; on the top an urn, from which proceeds

*It is to be regretted that the excellent charges of this excellent man, have been either destroyed by himself or have been otherwise so disposed of as that they caimot be published for the edification of posterity.

a flame of incense; on the respective 'sides, a heart pierced with a dagger, the hour-glass, and friendship represented by the two hands closely grasped.

The following is the inscription:

To the Memory of

JOHN CRAWFORD, a citizen of Baltimore. He was born in Ireland, on the 3d May, 1746, and rendered up his soul to his creator, on the 9th May, 1815, Aged LXVII years.

He received the degree of Doctor of Medicine from the faculty of Leyden; served as surgeon in chief, in the employment of the British government, in both the Indies; was for many years Physician General

to the Dutch colony of Demerara;

a member of the Medical and Chirurgical faculty of Maryland:
and for XIII. years GRAND MASTER of MASONS in this state:
In these employments, self was wholly forgotten,
in his zeal to be useful.

His virtues rendered him worthy of a father,
who was a model for all Christians;
his talents rendered him worthy

of his illustrious brother ADAIR, one of the most brilliant ornaments of Medicine and Philosophy in England: his urbanity sustained the honour

of the distinguished family from which he sprung; and his unwearied charity, his forgetfulness of injuries, and his social virtues, rendered him

a model for all ranks.

His time, his labours, his cares and his fortune, were devoted to the cause of suffering humanity. His name alone will constitute his eulogy. He was the father of the poor, the brother of the stranger, the friend of the friendless.

His MASONIC BRETHREN of the state of Maryland, have raised this monument to his memory, as a testimony of their respect and eternal regard.

Cassia Lodge, No. 45, within the same jurisdiction, voted a sum to have his portrait engraved, which has since been presented to the compiler to ornament this work; it fronts page 119; the plate was engraved from a portrait painted by Charles Peale Polk, about twenty-five years before the Dec

tor's death; making the necessary allowance for age, it may be considered a capital likeness.

Let us not be charged with partiality to our place of abode, by being thus verbose; want of imformation more than a desire to do general justice, is our apology for not having noticed all the different grand lodges more at large. Besides, Crawford has done more for masonry, by the pattern he has left us, than would the laboured productions of the most euridite writer.

List of Lodges Subordinate to the Grand Lodge of Maryland.

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Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia.

On the 11th day of December, A. M. 5810, a convention was called, and delegates attended from most of the lodges in the District of Columbia, they held their session in the city of Washington.

The following lodges were duly represented, viz:

FEDERAL LODGE, No. 15.

BROOK LODGE, No. 47, city of Alexandria.

COLUMBIA LODGE, No. 3.

WASHINGTON NAVAL LODGE, No. 41.

POTOMAC LODGE, No. 4.

These lodges had heretofore worked under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodges of Maryland and Virginia.

The convention proceeded to the choice of a chairman, when brother Alexander M'Cormick was chosen.

A number of resolutions were passed, among others, one expressive of the right and expediency of establishing and organing a Grand Lodge at the seat of the national government. On the 8th day of January, the convention proceeded to the

election of officers, when the following brethren were duly chosen,

viz:

VALENTINE REINTZEL, R. W. G. Master.

JOHN KINCAID, R. W. D. G. Master.

ALEXANDER M'CORMICK, R. W. S. G. Warden.
JOSEPH CASSIN, Jr. R. W. J. G. Warden.
CHARLES JONES, R. W. G. Secretary.

The grand lodge thus organized continued to meet by adjournment, from time to time, during the intervals of which a correspondence was entered into with the Grand Lodges of Maryland and Virginia, on the subject of the contemplated separation, when at a stated meeting held on the 14th of January, A. L. 5812, the following brethren were elected to the respective offices attached to their names, viz:

ALEXANDER M'CORMICK, R. W. G. Master.

AMOS ALEXANDER, R. W. D. G. Master.

JOSEPH CASSIN, R. W. S. G. Warden.

ALEXANDER L. JONCHEREZ, R. W. J. G. Warden.
JAMES HEWITT, W. G. Secretary.

THOMAS HALIDAY, W. G. Treasurer.

The lodge then proceeded to the election of the subordinate officers, by nomination, when the following brothers were duly elected, viz:

ANDREW T. McCORMICK, G. Chaplain.

NINIAN BEALL, S. G. Deacon.

SHADRACH DAVIS, J. G. Deacon.
WILLIAM O'NEAL, G. Marshal.
VINCENT KING, G. S. Bearer.
P. D. STELLE, G. Pursuivant.
BARNEY PARSONS, G. S. and G. T.

Lodges subordinate to the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia.

Federal Lodge, No. 1.

Brook Lodge, No. 2.
Columbia Lodge, No. 3.

Washington Naval Lodge, No. 4.

Potomac Lodge, No. 5.
Union Lodge. No 6.
Lebanon Lodge, No. 7.

The meetings of this Grand Lodge are held semi-annually, in January and July.*

The Grand Royal Arch Chapter for the State of Maryland and District of Columbia,

Is holden annually, on the second Monday in November, alternately at Baltimore and the City of Washington.

We have been the more particular in recording a history of this Grand Lodge, for notwithstanding it is held at the seat of the Grand National Council, it is the youngest Grand Lodge in the Union, and has not until now, been noticed in any of the standard books.

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