PENNSYLVANIA. The first Lodge of which we have any au thentic historical record was estab lished in Philadelphia, in 1734. The deputation granted to Daniel Coxe as Provincial Grand Master for New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, iu 1730, naturally leads us to the belief, and particu larly when our impresPion is sus tained with notices in the public newspapers of the day, that lodges existed in Philadelphia anterior to 1734. Notwithstanding the doubts and discrepancies existing in regard to the early development of the mystic Order in Pennsylvania, we must content ourselves with the evidences of history as presented to us until the in sts that now sur round the temple shall be dispelled by the discovery of the truth. The history of St. John's Grand Lodge, at Boston, furnished the following extract: "A petition being pre sented from Benjamin Franklin and several brethren residing in Phila delphia, June 24, 1734, for a consti tution for holding a Lodge there, the K. NV. Grand Master (Henry Price), having this year received orders from the Grand Lodge in England to establish Masonry in all North America, was pleased to grant the prayer of the petitioners, and to send them a deputation, appoint ing the R. W. Benjamin Franklin their first Master; which was the beginning of Masonry in the State of Pennsylvania." July 10, 1749, Franklin received a similar ap pointment from Thomas Oxnard, Provincial Grand Master of New England, and the successor of Henry Price. In March, 1750, Wm. Allen presented a communication from the Grand Lodge of England as Pro vincial Grand Master of Pennsyl vania. Franklin afterward received a commission from England as Pro vincial Grand Master. "In 1758, Lodge No. 2 was constituted, by virtue of a warrant from the Grand Lodge of Ancient York Masons of England, the Earl of Blessington, Grand Master, and Laurence Der mott, Grand Secretary."* From the same source as the extract just quoted, we are informed "that a warrant for a Provincial Grand Lodge in Pennsylvania was issued by the Grand Lodge of England, in June 1'64, directed to William Ball, as Grand Master. From this period little is known of Masonry in Pennsylvania. The original ar chives of the Provincial Grand Lodges (for it seems there was more than one) were destroyed during the Revolution, and while Phila delphia was in the hands of the British. In 1779, the Masons of that
jurisdiction, feeling the evils result ing from the want of an organized body, re quested William Ball to convene the Masons of the State with a view of reorganization. In compliance with their request he summoned the brethren to assem ble in Philadelphia, Dec. 20, when Grand Officers were elected—Bro. Ball being chosen Gland Master. Sept. 13, 1786, thirteen lodges, by their Masters and Wardens, met in Philadelphia, and unanimously "Resolved, That it would be im proper that the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania should remain any longer under the authority of any foreign Grand Lodge?" whereupon, the Grand Lodge closed sine die. On the day following, the delegates of the thirteen lodges assembled in convention, and organized the present Grand Lodge of Pennsyl vania, and elected Grand Officers. From the reorganization of this Grand Lodge, down to the present day, the history of Masonry in that jurisdiction has been one uninter rupted course of prosperity and general harmony.
The GRAND CHAPTER was organ ized Nov. 23, 1795. Until about 1820 this Grand Chapter was in its government under the Grand Lodge, its Grand Master being es officio the Grand High-Priest of the Grand Chapter. It has since been a Grand Chapter with its own elective Grand Officers. It is sovereign and inde pendent, and has never acknowledg ed the supremacy of the General Grand Chapter of the United States. Previous to the formation of this Grand Chapter, a Master's warrant was sufficient authority for congfe gating a Chapter, and conferring any degree of Masonry the brethren had knowledge of.
The GRAND COUNCIL of Royal and Select Masters was organized Oct. 16, 1847. Previous to the formation of this Grand Council, it was cus tomary for the Chapters to confer the degrees on those who desired them as honorary degrees.
Masonic Knighthood was intro duced into Pennsylvania in 1793.• Prior to 1797 four Encampments were instituted in this State, viz : two in Philadelphia, one in Harris burg, and one in Carlisle. These bodies were under the authority of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania until the 12th of May, 1797, when a Grand Encampment was organized at a convention of delegates from the several Encampments. From this period Templarism has existed us an independent organization.