Birthplace Of Masonry In America: One Making A Difference

by Midnight Freemasons Contributor

W.B. Gregory Knott

In a series articles WB Gregory Knott will tell the story of his visit to the Freedom Trail in Boston, MA which was not only the birthplace of American freedom, but also of American Freemasonry.  Readers will be able to decide for themselves how Freemasonry has influenced the formation of the United States. 

Bro. Henry Price (G.L. of Massachusetts)

The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of A.F. & A.M. of Massachusetts was founded over 275 years ago by Boston merchant Henry Price (1697-1780) who received a deputation from the Grand Lodge of England to form the first Provincial Grand Lodge in the Western Hemisphere on July 30, 1733.   Brother Price had traveled to England in the summer of 1733 with a petition signed by 18 Boston men for the purpose of forming a lodge.  The petition was granted and freemasonry in America was off and running.

  

Brother Price was a tailor and merchant who soon constituted First Lodge, which later became the Royal Exchange Lodge and finally St. John’s Lodge, which is still in operation today.  The first meeting place of the new grand lodge was the Bunch of Grapes Tavern on King Street.   

Grave of Henry Price

Can one person make a difference?  Brother Price, through his actions of gaining a dispensation for beginning Masonry in America did.  He started something that has spread to all 50 states, has influenced millions of good men to seek self-improvement by becoming a Freemason.  Those values that Freemason’s espouse; individual liberty, self-enlightenment, charity, and self-governance are the foundation of our society today.  

I firmly believe that these values influenced the men who were the patriots who lit the torch of liberty for America.  As we travel the Freedom Trail in the weeks ahead, you will be able to make your own decision.

~GK

WB Gregory J. Knott is the Past Master of St. Joseph Lodge No. 970 in St. Joseph (IL) and a plural member of Ogden Lodge No. 754 (IL), and Homer Lodge No. 199 (IL). He's a member of both the Scottish Rite, and the York Rite, and is the Charter Secretary of the Illini High Twelve Club in Champaign-Urbana. He's also a member of the Ansar Shrine (IL). Greg is very involved in Boy Scouts--an Eagle Scout himself, he serves the Grand Lodge of Illinois A. F. & A. M. as their representative to the National Association of Masonic Scouters.