1737 A similar decree ordained by the French govern ment. 15th Nov. Frederick, prince of Wales, father of George III. king of Great Britain, initiated in London. 1738 15th August, Frederick, afterwards denominated the Great, king of Prussia, admitted as a member in a lodge at Brunswick. 1739 Free masons prohibited from meeting in the papal territories, under pain of excommunication and other severe penalties, by pope Clement XII. 1740 A grand lodge established at Berlin, by Frederick the Great, on his accession to the throne. 1741 His serene highness, the margrave of Brandensburgh, established a lodge in the metropolis of his dominions, the inauguration of which was celebrated with great pomp. 1744 A regular correspondence established between the grand lodges of Berlin and England. 1745 8d March, by a decree of the republic of Berne, he who frequented a masonic assembly was to pay a fine of one hundred crowns. -1746 3d May, at a meeting of the grand lodge of England, a communication was received from the lodge at Calcutta, representing the prosperous state of masonry, throughout the territory of Bengal. 1747 30th April, a very handsome contribution to the general charity, received from the lodge at Gibraltar. 1750 Provincial patents, granted by lord Byron, grand master of England, for Denmark, Norway, Minorca, Pennsylvania, and New-York. 1753 13th September, the foundation stone of that elegant range of buildings, called THE NEW ExCHANGE OF EDINBURGH. laid by George Drummond, Esq. grand master of Scotland. 1754 Certain brethren, who assembled without any legal authority, under the denomination of ancient masons, expelled. 1755 October 7th, the marquis of Carnarvon, as grand master, granted more provincial patents than any of his predecessors. He, in particular granted a deputation for all the king's dominions in Germany, with power to choose their successors. 1762 Provincial patents issued for Jamaica, Armenia, Westphalia, Bombay, Brunswick, and many Islands in the West Indies. 1765 Their royal highnesses the dukes of Gloucester and Cumberland, initiated. 1768 January, two letters received from the grand lodge of France, expressing a desire to open a regular correspondence with the grand lodge of England. The request was readily agreed to, and a book of constitutions, a list of the lodges under the jurisdiction of the English grand lodge, with the form of a deputation, &c. elegantly bound, ordered to be sent as a present. 1769 While his grace the duke of Beaufort was grand master, the increase of foreign lodges was so great, that it was deemed expedient to appoint a provincial grand master general. 1770 25th April, Baron de Boetzelaer, grand master of the United Provinces of Holland, having requested that a firm and friendly alliance might be established between the grand lodges of England and Holland, and an annual correspondence carried on, the same was readily agreed to. 1772 The ties of union, which had existed for centuries, between the grand lodges of England, Scotland, and Ireland, drawn more closely. 1775 May 1, the foundation stone of the new FreeMason's Hall, in London, laid in solemn form, in the presence of a numerous company of the brethren, at which meeting, the office of grand chaplain was first instituted. 1776 May 23, the above mentioned hall was finished, and dedicated to Masonry, Virtue, and Universal Charity and Benevolence 1777 Free Mason's Calendar, first ordered to be printed, by authority of the grand lodge of England. 1779 His highness Omditul Omrah Bahauder, eldest son of the nabob of the Caruatic, was initiated into the masonic order, in the lodge, at Trinchinopoly, near Madras, and expressed the highest veneration for the institution. 1780 A representative of the grand lodge of Germany, received with distinguished honour, by the grand lodge of England; and the most intimate union. agreed on between the grand lodges of the two countries. 1784 The Roman Eagle lodge, in which all the business was carried on in the Latin language, instituted at Edinburgh. Noerthouck's edition of the book of constitutions, printed. 1785 1st August, lord Haddo, grand master of Scotland, accompanied by the lord provost, magistrates, and a great number of masons, laid the foundation stone of the South Bridge at Edinburgh, with the usual solemnities. 1786 9th March, his royal highness prince William Henry, now duke of Clarence, was initiated in lodge No. 86, at Plymouth. 1787 6th February, his royal highness the prince of Wales. was made a mason. 21st November, the duke of York, followed the example of his brother. 1788 The Royal Cumberland Free-Mason's School, instituted in London. 1790 His royal highness prince Edward, now duke of Kent, initiated in the Union lodge, of Geneva, and his brother prince Augustus Frederick, made a mason at Berlin* 24th November, in consequence of the death of the duke of Cumberland, the prince of Wales appointed grand master of England, in his stead. 1793 6th February, the grand lodge of England, present to the king, by their grand master, an address, expressive of their attachment to order, subordination and good government. 24th September, Gustavus, the late king of Sweden, initiated into the order, at the grand lodge of Stockholm, under the auspices of his uncle, the present king, who presided as grand master. *When the intelligent reader is informed, that so many of the royal family of Great Britain, are members, and that so many illustrious sovereigns, eminent clergymen, and distinguished persons, in all ages and countries, have deemed it an honour to wear the badge of a free-mason, he will pay but little attention to the assertion of professor Robertson, aud others, that it is an institution formed for the purpose of overturning all government and religion. 25th November, the prince of Wales, as grand master, laid the first stone of the new chapel at Brigthelmstone. 1798 July 12, Act of parliament passed for the suppres sion of seditious societies in Great Britain, but the free masons' are exempted from its penalties. 1808 Foundation stone of Covent Garden Theatre laid by the prince of Wales as grand master, attended by the grand lodge. 1813 His royal highness, the duke of Sussex elected grand master, on the resignation of the prince of Wales, who assumed the title of grand patron. OF MASONIC EVENTS, FROM THE FIRST INTRODUCTION OF THE ANCIENT AND HONOURABLE ART INTO AMERICA. 1730 A masonic lodge instituted at Savannah in Georgia, by virtue of a warrant from Lord Weymouth, grand master of England. 1733 30th July, The first grand lodge in America established in Boston, in consequence of a warrant from Viscount Montague, grand master in England, under the name of St. John's Grand Lodge. 1734 24th June, Masonry commenced in Pennsylvania, in consequence of a warrant from St. John's Grand Lodge of Boston, appointing the celebrated Benjamin Franklin their master. 1764 20th June, A warrant granted from the grand lodge in England, for the establishment of a grand lodge in Pennsylvania 1769 27th December, Another grand lodge established in Boston under a warrant from the grand lodge of Scotland, under the name of St. Andrew's Grand Lodge. 1771 The grand lodge of North Carolina first constituted, by virtue of a warrant from the grand lodge of Scotland. 1775 17th June, General Warren, grand master of Massachusetts, slain at the battle of Bunker's Hill. 1778 30th October, The grand lodge of Virginia instituted. 1781 September, Grand lodge of New-York established, in consequence of a warrant from the grand lodge of England. 1786 December, Grand lodge of New Jersey formed. 25th September, The brethren in the state of Pennsylvania declared themselves independent |