St. John's Lodge, Portsmouth, New Hampshire

St. John's Lodge in Portsmouth, New Hampshire is the first Masonic lodge in New Hampshire [page 6, History of Masonry in North America from 1730 to 1800 by Henry Whittemore, republished by Kessinger Publishing, 2003, ISBN 0766154386, ISBN 9780766154384] and was one of two founding lodges of the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire. [ [http://nhgrandlodge.org/WilliamPitt/williampitt.html The William Pitt Tavern] , from the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire's webpage] It was founded either in 1734 ["Freemasonry was introduced into New Hampshire, in June 1734, by the constitution of St. John's lodge at Portsmouth" Entry for New Hampshire, page 599, Albert G Mackey, Encyclopedia of Freemasonry] or in 1736Freemasonry in the Thirteen Colonies, by J. Hugo Tatsch Republished by Kessinger Publishing, 1995, ISBN 1564595951 p. 193] and claims to be the oldest continuously operating Masonic lodge in the Americas, [ [http://www.stjohnslodge1.org/about.htm St. John's lodge home page] ] a title also claimed by Solomon's Lodge in Savannah, Georgia, which was founded in 1734. [America's Oldest Continuously Operating Masonic Lodge" [http://www.angelfire.com/ga/Solomon/home.html Home Page of Solomon's Lodge] ] [Mark Talbert, "American Freemasons", New York University Press, p.34, Request quotation|date=October 2008]

History

In 1735, six freemasons, who claimed to be of the "Holy and exquisite Lodge of St. John," applied to the Grand Master of the Society of Free and Accepted Masons in Boston to be authorized as a lodge. In their application, dated to both February 5, 1736 and June 25, 1735, they claimed that they had a constitution formed, and it was believed that the petition was granted soon after. [Hughan, William and Stillson, Henry. "History of the Ancient and Honorable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons", New York: The Fraternity publishing company, 1890. p. 230] According to the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire, "Robert Tomlinson, by virtue of a deputation from the Earl of Loundon, Grand Master of Masons in England, did. in the year 1736, erect and constitute a regular lodge of Free and Accepted Masons in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, by the name of St. John's Lodge." [Hughan and Stillson 1890. p. 231] Although the exact date of when the lodge was established is unknown, it is certain that it existed since 1736 and it is the only lodge in the area to be chartered by another group besides the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts until 1790. [Mackey, Albert. "The History of Freemasonry" New York: The Masonic History Co., 1898. p. 1643]

They would be the only lodge in New Hampshire until March 20, 1762, when the Grand Lodge of St. John's allowed for Portsmouth New Hampshire to have a second lodge, St. Patrick's which was not acted upon until March 30, 1763. When St. Patrick's Lodge discontinued in 1790, its remaining members merged with the St. John's Lodge. [Hughan and Stillson 1890. pp. 227–228, 231]

In 1789, representatives of five lodges, including St John's, gathered at Portsmouth and resolved, "That there be a Grand Lodge established in the State of New Hampshire, upon principles consistent with and subordinate to the General Regulations and Ancient Constitutions of Free- masonry." [Hughan and Stillson 1890. p. 231] Soon after, the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire was formed and was finalized on April 8, 1790. Until that time, St. John's was under the Massachusetts Grand Lodge and applied for a transfer to the New Hampshire lodge on April 28, 1790. During the meetings determining the foundation of the New Hampshire Grand Lodge, only a representative from St John's Lodge was present at each. [Hughan and Stillson 1890 p. 232]

Prominent Members

Prominent members have included:

* signatory of the declaration of independence William Whipple [ [http://www.freemasonry.bcy.ca/anti-masonry/anti-masonry05.html Anti-masonry Frequently Asked Questions] ]
* Revolutionary General and Governor of New Hampshire John Sullivan [ [http://bessel.org/gwgenmas.htm George Washington's Generals & Freemasonry] , Paul Bessel]
* Statesman Henry Dearborn. ["In Portsmouth was old "St. John's Lodge No. 1" of Free Masons. The leading men of the town were members of that sturdy body, and the young physician of rural Nottingham wished to learn the mysteries of Freemasonry. He received the first and second degrees March 3, 1774 (in company with Maj. Andrew McClary, who was killed by a cannon ball at Bunker Hill)." [http://www.hampton.lib.nh.us/hampton/biog/henrydearborn3.htm A Sturdy Oak of New England Life] , The Granite Monthly, October 1903, Volume XXXV - Number 4 - Page 182, By Gilbert Patten Brown]
* Joseph Cilley - Revolutionary general [http://98.130.226.167/synoptichistory.htm A Synoptic history of St. John's lodge] ]
* Nathan Hale (colonel) and Alexander Scammel, Revolutionary officers
* Nicholas Gilman, signatory of the Constitution and Senator
* Samuel Livermore, President pro tempore of the United States Senate
* Woodbury Langdon, Member of the Continental Congress
* Pierse Long, colonel in the Continental Army
* Edward St. Loe Livermore, Representative from Massachussets
* Clement Storer, Senator
* George Sullivan (representative), U.S. Representative from New Hampshire
* John Adams Harper, U.S. Representative from New Hampshire
* Henry Hubbard, Governor of New Hampshire and U.S. Representative and Senator from New Hampshire
* Samuel Cushman, U.S. Representative from New Hampshire
* Frank Jones, U.S. Representative from New Hampshire
* Ichabod Goodwin, Governor of New Hampshire
* Wesley Powell, Governor of New Hampshire

In addition twelve members of the lodge have been mayor of Portsmouth.

References