St. John's Lodge (New York)

St. John's Lodge No. 1 A.Y.M. in New York City, United States, is the oldest operating Masonic Lodge under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of New York Free and Accepted Masons. The lodge was originally warranted as St. John's Lodge No. 2 on December 7, 1757 by George Harison, Esq. of the Provincial Grand Lodge of New York under the Grand Lodge of England (Moderns).[1][2]

St. John's Lodge No. 1 A.Y.M.
George Washington Inaugural Bible
MottoFollow Reason
FormationDecember 7, 1757 (1757-12-07)
Location
  • New York City, New York
AffiliationsGrand Lodge of New York
Websitewww.stjohns1.org
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Overview

History

The lodge originally met on Ann Street in New York City. In 1770, a fire destroyed St. John's Lodge room, along with their lodge jewels and furniture. A new set of by-laws was adopted in 1773 and was signed by 70 members of the lodge. The lodge purchased a new altar bible in November 1770 which was used in the first Presidential Inauguration and is now known as the George Washington Inaugural Bible.[3][4][5][6]

At the start of the American Revolutionary War in 1775, the members of St. John’s Lodge who supported the Colonies’ independence seized the lodge’s warrant, and fled New York City. These exiled members held gatherings at the Fishkill Supply Depot in Fishkill, NY until the end of the war in 1783, when they returned to New York City with the warrant, while many Masons who supported the British fled to Canada.[7]

In 1789, St. John’s was acknowledged as the oldest Masonic lodge in New York State, and was designated as Number 1. A new charter was then conveyed to St. John’s Lodge, under which charter the lodge is still working.[8]

Notable members

Notes
  1. Heinmiller, Gary. "Craft Masonry in Manhattan, New York County, New York" (PDF). Onondaga & Oswego Masonic Districts Historical Societies.
  2. "Oldest Lodges in the United States". The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons of Florida.
  3. "The Bible". St. John's Lodge No. 1 Foundation.
  4. "The very first inauguration". YouTube. CBS News.
  5. "Washington Inaugural Bible". YouTube. City of Plano Texas.
  6. "George Washington's Inaugural Bible In Tulsa Today Only". YouTube. KJRH-TV, Tulsa, Channel 2.
  7. Early History and Transactions of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of New York, 1781-1815, Volume 1. Masonic and Miscellaneous Publishers. 1876. p. 47.
  8. "History of St. John's Lodge No. 1". St. John’s Lodge No. 1 A.Y.M. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
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