FREEMASONRY IN THE ENGLISH ARMY
Freemasons Monthly Magazine -
1842
MANY of the armies of Europe have Masonic
Lodges
attached to them. They are holden under what
are technically termed "Travelling Warrants," and the Brethren
composing them are authorized to open and transact all regular
Lodge business, in any part of the world where they may happen to
be stationed. Prior to the Revolutionary war, this was the case
with many of the English and French armies employed in this
country. And it was also true of several American regiments. In
1779, a charter was granted by the Massachusetts Grand
Lodge to General PATTERSON, and others, to hold a
travelling Lodge in the American army, called "Washington
Lodge:" In 1756, the R. W. RICHARD GRIDLEY, was commissioned
by his brother, JEREMY GRIDLEY, Esq. "to congregate all Free and
Accepted Masons in the expedition against Crown Point, and form
them into one or more Lodges;" and a Lodge was subsequently held
at Crown Point, under Col. JOSEPH INGERSOL. In 1738, a warrant
was granted by St. John's Grand Lodge, (Boston), to hold a Lodge
in His Majesty's 28th regiment, stationed at Louisburg. And on
the April following, the R. W. ABRAHAM SAVAGE was authorised to
congregate all Free and Accepted Masons in the expedition
intended against Canada, at Lake George, or elsewhere, into
one or more Lodges." These Lodges, however, are at the present
time more common in the English regiments than in those of any
other nation. And their utility and importance in softening the
rough features of the soldier's character, and in meliorating the
evil passions and morose feelings, almost necessarily excited by
the duties of the field and the operations of war, are
beautifully and touchingly illustrated by the well authenticated
anecdotes which follow. We find them in the London Review
for 1834. The annals of Lodge No. 227, under the Grand
Lodge of Ireland, held by the distinguished 46th Regiment,
furnish, (says the Review,) some facts which are alike
honorable to the Craft and to the human heart. "During the
services of this regiment in America, GENERAL WASHINGTON was
initiated into Masonry in, their Lodge. Well can we imagine the
gush of holy feeling with which his benevolent mind, so deeply
imbued with the love of his fellow creatures, received the
sublime tenets of our Order. That the impression was of a highly
wrought character, his after conduct proved; for when war broke
out between the States and the Mother Country, and he became
divided from the Brothers of his adoption; in feeling,
in communion of soul, he was their Brother still. The Masonic
chest of the 46th, by the chance of war, fell into the hands of
the Americans: they reported the circumstance to Gen. WASHINGTON,
who embraced the opportunity of testifying his estimation of
Masonry in the most marked and gratifying manner; by directing
that a guard of honor, under the command of a
distinguished officer, should take charge of the chest, with
many articles of value, belonging to the 46th, and return them
to the regiment. The surprise, the feeling of both
officers and men may be imagined, when they perceived the
flag of truce that announced this elegant compliment
from their noble opponent, but still more noble brother. It was
a scene of moral beauty; a triumphant vindication of
the parity of Masonic principles. The guard of honor with
their flutes playing a sacred march - the chest containing
the constitution and implements of the Craft born aloft,
like another ark of the covenant, equally by Englishmen
and Americans, who, lately engaged in the strife of war,
now marched through the enfiladed ranks of the
gallant regiment, that with presented arms and colors hailed
the glorious act by cheers, which the sentiment
rendered sacred as the hallelujahs of an angel's
song." This Lodge offers another proof of the excellence
and useful influence of Masonry. When in Dominica, in the year
1805, the 46th regiment was attacked by a French force, which it
gallantly repelled; but in the action had the misfortune again to
lose the Masonic chest, which the enemy succeeded in securing on
board their fleet, without knowing its contents. Three years
afterward, the French government, at the earnest request of the
officers who had commanded the expedition, returned the chest
with several complimentary presents; offering by that act
the acknowledgment and homage of an enlightened nation to the
purity, value, and usefulness of Masonry. In 1834, there
were, says the Review, but twelve Masons attached to the Lodge;
one only of whom was among the number of its original members.
These twelve, however, in that year, petitioned and obtained from
the Grand Lodge of Ireland, a renewal of their original charter.
This circumstance elicited the interesting facts, which are
here given from their records. back to top
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