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 PROVINCIAL 
 GRAND MASTER OF MASONS 
 
 OF AND FOR AMERICA 
 
 FROM JANUARY 14, A. D. 1771 TO 
 MARCH 26, A. D. 1776 
 
 HIS LODGE AND TEMPLE 
 
 
 BY 
 
 HARRY W. GOWEN, 32 
 
 AND MEMBER SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION 
 HALIFAX, NORTH CAROLINA 
 
Library 
 
 OF THE 
 
 University of NortH Carolina 
 
 This book was presented by the family 
 of the late 
 
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 President of the University of North Carolina 
 from 1876 to 1890 
 
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 VINCIAL GRAND MASTER OF 
 SONS, OF AND FOR AMERICA 
 | FROM A. L. 5771 TO A. L. 5776 
 HIS LODGE AND TEMPLE 
 
 
 
 HARRY W. GOWKN, 32 
 ID MEMBER OF THE SONS OF THE AMERICAN 
 REVOLUTION 
 HALIFAX, NO. CAROLINA 
 
WHICH HAS INSPIRED THIS WORK, IT IS 
 REVERENTLY DEDICATED 
 
 COPYRIGHT I907, BY 
 
 HARRY W. GOWEN 
 
 HALIFAX, NO. CAROLINA 
 
*• JOSEPH MONTFORT was born in 
 
 (~\ H England in 1724, of noble lineage, and 
 fe fl* was made a Mason in England before 
 ^^^ sailing for America, where he settled 
 in Halifax, Province of North Carolina, which 
 was then one of the most important and flourish- 
 ing places in the South, being at the head of navi- 
 gation of Roanoke River. Here, was held the 
 Provincial Congress, and here was printed the 
 Colonial money. He was a man of great promi- 
 nence politically and socially and a splendid 
 orator. He began at once upon his arrival in 
 America to promote the interests of Masonry, as 
 the following story will show. 
 
 Joseph Montfort was closely connected with 
 Royal White Hart Lodge from the time of his 
 arrival at Halifax, N. C, until the time of his 
 death. The first record we have of a meeting 
 of Royal White Hart Lodge is on April, 20th, 
 1764, which was held at the house of David Lon- 
 don in the town of Halifax, Province of North 
 Carolina. Joseph Montfort was present at this 
 meeting. At this time there were two Masonic 
 Lodges in Halifax, Royal White Hart Lodge was 
 then working under a dispensation, and it is evi- 
 dent from the size of the Lodge and the amount 
 of its funds, that it had been in existence for 
 many years. In 1765, we have a record of a 
 meeting in which a committee was appointed 
 "with full power to settle and make division of 
 all moneys or matters belonging to the former 
 """ White Hart Lodge, and to settle the proportions 
 r^ due to each lodge on such terms as they should 
 deem just and equitable and report their proceed- 
 ings to the next sitting here." 
 
From 1764 until 1772 and from 1783 to the 
 present day there is an unbroken record of the 
 meetings of Royal White Hart Lodge, but from 
 1772 until 1783 the records are missing. It is 
 believed that these records were carried home 
 by some member for safe keeping during the 
 Revolutionary War period, and diligent search 
 is now being made for them in the old Colonial 
 mansions of Eastern North Carolina. 
 
 On May 20th, 1768, an important meeting of 
 Royal White Hart Lodge was held. "Present: 
 Joseph Montfort, Master; James Milner, Sr. 
 Warden; Andrew Miller, Jr. Warden; John 
 Thompson, Treasurer; Matthew Brown, Secre- 
 tary; William Martin, one of the Stewards; 
 Joseph Long, Peter Thompson, John Martin, 
 David Stokes, Charles Pasteur, John Geddy and 
 James Auld, memebers." "The lodge being opened 
 in ample form, the Worshipful Master produced 
 a charter from the Grand Master of England, 
 to-wit: Henry Somerset, Duke of Beaufort and 
 Grand Master of Masons in England, appointing 
 the above named Joseph Montfort, Master, Joseph 
 Long, Sr. Warden and Matthew Brown, Jr. War- 
 den, a regular constituted lodge of free and ac- 
 cepted Masons by the name of Royal White Hart 
 Lodge at the town of Halifax and Province of 
 North Carolina, the same bearing date at London 
 the 21st of March A. L. 5767, the same being 
 No. 403 in the list of English lodges, regular con- 
 stituted, upon which the question was put whether 
 the same should be admitted and it was then 
 unanimously and gratefully received, and it was 
 ordered that the Secretary write a letter to the 
 Grand Lodge of England, returning thanks for 
 the honor which the Grand Master had been 
 
pleased to confer on them. Then, in order that 
 the lodge should be opened agreeable to the said 
 Charter, this Lodge was closed." Signed, Joseph 
 Montfort, Master. 
 
 It is noticeable that all the old minutes of the 
 meetings were signed by the Worshipful Master, 
 and the utmost care was taken in their prepara- 
 tion. Among the by-laws, we read: "To laugh 
 in Lodge, fine Five Shillings," "To whisper in 
 Lodge, fine Five Shillings." 
 
 In April 1769, a meeting of Royal White Hart 
 Lodge was held, at which it was resolved to 
 build the Masonic Temple at Halifax and the fol- 
 lowing are a part of the fascinating minutes of 
 that meeting: "Whereas we, the subscribers es- 
 teem it publicly beneficial to promote society and 
 laudably to increase the means of obtaining bene- 
 fit and happiness to those whom we are most 
 nearly connected, and whereas it is proposed and 
 agreed to improve a lot in the town of Halifax, 
 to wit: No. in, so that the accommodation 
 thereon may serve for various purposes, particu- 
 larly that of a Masonic Hall and Assembly room, 
 we therefore obligate ourselves, our Heirs, Ex- 
 ecutors and Administrators respectively, to pay 
 or cause to be paid on demand, to John Thomp- 
 son, Esq., his Executors or Administrators, the 
 sums annexed to our respective names, for the 
 purpose of improving the said lot, he with the 
 approbation of the Royal White Hart Lodge shall 
 think proper. Joseph Montfort, a lot and house, 
 deed executed. Andrew Miller, ten pounds, J. 
 O. Long, ten pounds, Frederic Schulzer, ten 
 pounds, John Thompson, ten pounds, Alexander 
 Telfair, ten pounds, James Milner, ten pounds, 
 Charles Presten, five pounds, William Martin, 
 
 5 
 
five pounds, F. Stewart, ten pounds, David Stokes, 
 five pounds, Peter Thompson, five pounds, Joseph 
 Campbell, five pounds, James Auld, three pounds." 
 We now know that the house and lot which was 
 given by Joseph Montfort was at that date worth 
 $1,500.00, therefore at this one meeting was 
 raised the sum of $2,000.00 for the purpose of 
 erecting the Masonic Temple. This was cer- 
 tainly an enormous sum for those poor colonists 
 to subscribe and shows their intense devotion to 
 the cause of Masonry. After each subscription 
 on the record is written the word "Paid". 
 Surely no Mason reading this splendid subscrip- 
 tion list of our ancient brothers can fail to be in- 
 spired to contribute liberally to the building of 
 Masonic Temples or Homes. The Temple is 
 square, 30 x 30, two stories. The lodge room is 
 on the second floor, and the lower story they 
 fitted for a public school with two recitation 
 rooms, with blackboards, which are today black 
 and glossy. There are hundreds of school rooms 
 in America today not half so good; although the 
 last day of school was taught in this temple in 
 1829. 
 
 The next meeting of special interest was held 
 by Royal White Hart Lodge, No. 403, in the lodge 
 room at Halifax on Friday, March 13th, 1772. 
 "Brother Joseph Montfort visited the Lodge and 
 produced a Charter from the Grand Master of 
 England, the Duke of Beaufort, etc., dated Janu- 
 ary, 14th, A. L. 5771, A. D., 1 771, appointed him 
 Provincial Grand Master of America, which was 
 recognized, and he was accordingly congratulated 
 by the Lodge and offered the Chair, which he 
 declined." For the third time we see this notable 
 figure entering this grand old lodge : First, with 
 6 
 
the charter from the Grand Lodge of England; 
 Secondly, generously giving to Royal White Hart 
 Lodge, a house and lot worth $1,500.00 towards 
 the erection of the Masonic Temple, and now en- 
 tering the lodge with his appointment as Grand 
 Master of and for America and in his modesty, 
 declining even a seat in the East. 
 
 Joseph Montfort, besides being the most promi- 
 nent figure in Masonry in America at this time, 
 was also the first Clerk of Court of Halifax 
 County, Treasurer of the Province of North 
 Carolina, Colonel of Colonial Troops and dele- 
 gate from Halifax to the Provincial Congress. 
 He was also the father of Mrs. Willie Jones, 
 wife of the Revolutionary Statesman, Willie 
 Jones, a man educated in European universities 
 and of great wealth, owning many large planta- 
 tions and so many slaves that it was said of him 
 "he didn't know his own niggers." His mansion, 
 which is to-day grand even as a ruin, was built 
 ready for setting up in England, shipped to Ameri- 
 ca and erected on a sightly elevation in a beautiful 
 grove in Halifax and christened by him "The 
 Groves." He was an infidel and composed the 
 following inscription for the tomb of his little 
 daughter, Mary Montfort Jones, who died on 
 June 29th, 1 781, and whose grave is but a few 
 yards from the mansion : 
 
 "Venus gave all the Graces, Pallas formed the 
 
 mind 
 With rival art to make the first of womankind. 
 Jove of the wondrous work too soon enamoured 
 
 grown, 
 Sent the stern tyrant Death, and claimed her for 
 
 his own 
 
The spirit soared to Jove, the fine cold senseless 
 
 clay, 
 Shined in spight of Death, as bright as Orient 
 
 day." 
 
 It was the custom of Willie Jones to take his 
 family to Virginia in summer and in 1772 he 
 became acquainted while there with a young 
 Scotchman who became a great friend of both 
 Mr. and Mrs. Jones and accepted their invitation 
 to return with them to "The Groves" where for 
 the next three years he spent much time as an 
 honored guest. 
 
 The war clouds of the Revolution were hover- 
 ing on the horizon at this time and his great de- 
 sire was to receive an appointment in the Ameri- 
 can navy — navy in name only — and this desire 
 Willie Jones determined to gratify, using his 
 great influence with the statesmen of that day, 
 particularly with Hon. Jos. Hewes, he secured 
 him an appointment as Lieutenant. To reward 
 this noble family in some measure for this ser- 
 vice and their generous hospitality, he deter- 
 mined to adopt their name, to carry it forth to 
 war in defence of their country and surround it 
 with a halo of eternal glory, and, so before a 
 brilliant company in the magnificent ball room 
 of "The Groves" John Paul announced to the 
 assemblage that he would henceforth be known 
 as John Paul Jones, and the tradition has been 
 handed down from brother to brother in Royal 
 White Hart Lodge that the presentation of the 
 beautiful sword given him by the Jones family 
 on that occasion, '(now in the library of the navy 
 in Washington) was made by Joseph Montfort. 
 Who shall doubt that his devoted son-in-law 
 8 
 
called upon this distinguished orator to perform 
 this service. 
 
 John Paul Jones was made a Mason in Scot- 
 land in 1770. He was a frequent visitor at 
 Fredericksburg Lodge No. 4, Fredericksburg, Va., 
 of which George Washington was then a mem- 
 ber. He went from Halifax to Portsmouth, N. 
 H., to fit out "The Ranger" and there visited St. 
 John's Lodge, No. 1, afterward uniting with the 
 "Three Sisters Lodge" in Paris, of which Benja- 
 min Franklin was also a member. As I have 
 told you, the records of Royal White Hart Lodge 
 at this period are lost, except one record in 1774 
 of no importance, but they must have met regu- 
 larly as Masonry was at its zenith in Halifax at 
 that time, and if these lost records are ever 
 found the tradition in Royal White Hart Lodge, 
 that John Paul Jones was a frequent visitor, will 
 certainly be proven true, as he visited Masonic 
 Lodges wherever he went and his intimate asso- 
 ciation with Grand Master Montfort gave him 
 every incentive to visit his lodge. John Paul 
 Jones took only the first degree in Masonry in 
 Scotland, in Kilwining Lodge, No. 122 in Kirken- 
 bright, Scotland, the fellowcraft and master ma- 
 son degrees he took somewhere in America, but 
 when or in what lodge is unknown. If the lost 
 records of Royal White Hart Lodge are ever 
 found, I believe it will be found that he took 
 them here. 
 
 Mrs. Willie Jones lived to a great age and was 
 visited by Lafayette at "The Groves" in 1824. 
 Her granddaughter, Mrs. Mary E. Alston, a lady 
 of great age but wonderfully active, highly edu- 
 cated and thoroughly versed in the history of her 
 ancestors is alive to-day, and ready to refute any 
 
and all stories that John Paul Jones took the 
 name Jones for any other reason than in honor 
 of the Jones family of Halifax. 
 
 Joseph Montfort died on the 25th of March, 
 1776 while the Revolutionary War was in its 
 early stages. He was but fifty- two years old at 
 this time, and being an ardent patriot and colonel 
 of Colonial troops, would have no doubt been 
 found gallantly supporting Washington had he 
 lived. He is buried in the old Colonial bury- 
 ing ground in Halifax on the left of the church 
 to which he so often marshalled his lodge in a 
 body for worship, and which is still standing as a 
 ruin. 
 
 No stone marks his resting place, a condition 
 that shall not long exist. Marshall DeLancy 
 Heywood says his death was due to what is now 
 known as appendicitis. On March 10th, 1772, he 
 attended a meeting of Royal White Hart Lodge 
 and presented the lodge with a beautiful Masonic 
 chart, painted on heavy cloth, and it is at this 
 chart to-day that the eyes of the entered appren- 
 tice are directed in Royal White Hart Lodge. 
 The beautiful silver candlesticks used by this 
 lodge were purchased on Feb. 26th, 1784, and cost 
 eleven pounds. The magnificent chair was pur- 
 chased on May, 20th, 1765. Visiting brothers say 
 that we have the finest ballot box they have ever 
 seen, but this is hardly worth mentioning, being 
 so modern, it having been purchased on April 1st, 
 1820. March 19th, 1812, Brother Epps of Royal 
 White Hart Lodge carried the commission of 
 Joseph Montfort to the Grand Lodge of North 
 Carolina at Raleigh and took a receipt for the 
 same from the Grand Master, Robert Williams. 
 The closing words of which are as follows: 
 
"This piece of parchment, or Charter, I receive 
 as a loan made to me for the purpose of having 
 it entered in the Archives of the Grand Lodge of 
 North Carolina and Tennessee, and which shall 
 be returned to the Royal White Hart Lodge No. 
 2, whenever the same shall be requested." 
 
 (Signed) "Robert Williams" 
 
 About one week later, March 27th, 1812, Grand 
 Master Williams wrote a letter to Royal White 
 Hart Lodge, of which the following is a copy: 
 
 "To the Officers and Members of Royal White 
 
 Hart Lodge No. 2, Halifax, N. C. 
 Right Worshipful Sirs and Brothers : 
 
 Lately I have received into my possession, as a 
 loan, a commission signed by Charles Dillon, 
 Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of 
 England, impressed with a coat of arms of the 
 Duke of Beaufort, Grand Master thereof, dated 
 January 14th, A. L. 5771 A. D., 1771, constituting 
 and appointing Joseph Montfort, Esq., Provincial 
 Grand Master of America. Brothers, it is from 
 this authority that our Grand Lodge now holds 
 the tenure of its sovereignty, that this Provincial 
 Grand Master, did by virtue of his said commis- 
 sion, constitute and establish lodges in his then 
 Majesty's Provinces: That after the Revolution 
 was over, these regularly constituted lodges met 
 in convention at Tarboro, when the present 
 Grand Lodge of North Carolina and Tennessee 
 became constituted and organized. I do now, in 
 behalf of myself and our Grand Lodge solicit the 
 Right Wodshipful White Hart Lodge No. 2, 
 Halifax, that they would be so good as to sur- 
 render the possession of this instrument to our 
 Grand Lodge, as it is the original Charter 
 from whence we are all deprived. We are em- 
 boldened to ask this of your Right Worshipful 
 Body as the possession thereof by you cannot be 
 supposed in any manner to add to the authority 
 by which you sit and perform business. The 
 granting of this request by you will be gratefully 
 acknowledged, and received by our most Wor- 
 
 <m 
 
 
shipful Grand Lodge and particularly by your 
 most obedient servant and brother, 
 
 Robert Williams. 
 Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of North Car- 
 olina and Tennessee." 
 
 This request was not granted by Royal White 
 Hart Lodge, as the records show, but the above 
 letter will show how priceless a document this 
 commission is. 
 
 The second charter of Royal White Hart Lodge, 
 under which it works to-day, was issued by the 
 Grand Lodge of North Carolina on the 27th day 
 of December, A. D., 1800. Royal White Hart 
 Lodge retained its English allegiance thirteen 
 years after its sister lodges were working under 
 the Grand Lodge of North Carolina, because it 
 bought and paid ten pounds for a charter giving 
 it No. 1. After the Grand Lodge received the 
 money, they changed their minds and wrote out 
 another charter, giving Royal White Hart Lodge, 
 No. 2. For years there was a most bitter feeling 
 in regard to this matter, but as Royal White 
 Hart Lodge is well launched on its second cen- 
 tury of faithful allegiance to the Grand Lodge 
 of North Carolina, far be it the intention to re- 
 vive the controversies of other ages, but merely 
 as a faithful historian, to record the truth. 
 Royal White Hart Lodge was incorporated in 
 1800. 
 
 Roanoke Council, No. 1 was organized in Hali- 
 fax on the 13th day of February in the year of 
 Deposit 3821, A. R. A. M. 2521 A. D., 1821. 
 Roanoke Chapter No. 1, R. A. M., was organized 
 in Halifax in 1822. Both of these bodies worked 
 in the Masonic Temple, which was thoroughly 
 fitted up for chapter work when it was built. 
 12 
 
Grand Master Montfort issued charters for 
 Royal Arch Chapters as well as for Blue 
 Lodges. He issued a charter for a Royal Arch 
 Chapter on April 13th, 1775, at Cabin Point, Va., 
 and it seems that some years afterwards the 
 Grand Lodge at Richmond questioned the legal- 
 ity of the charter of this chapter and in order to 
 satisfy the companions, Mr. Henry Montfort sent 
 them Joseph Montfort's commission, which was 
 later returned with the following letter : 
 
 "Cabin Point, Va., May 15th, 1789. 
 Worthy Brothers : 
 
 As a safe conveyance of papers of consequence 
 from this place to Halifax is seldom to be met 
 with, I enclose to the particular care of Dr. 
 John I. Amon, your Charter, which was brought 
 into this place by my son who received it from 
 Mr. Henry Montfort, in order to satisfy the 
 Grand Lodge at Richmond concerning some 
 doubts, concerning a degree of Masonry of the 
 Cabin Point Royal Arch Lodge, which proved 
 perfectly satisfactory. In the name of our lodge 
 I return you sincere thanks for the use of your 
 Charter and wish it safe to hand. 
 I am with appreciative esteem, worthy brother 
 Your most obedient and humble servant, 
 
 James Belcher, Sr. 
 Master, Cabin Point, Royal Arch Lodge." 
 
 Brother Belcher called this a Charter, but he 
 refers to Joseph Montfort's Commission as Pro- 
 vincial Grand Master of America. It is also 
 worthy of note that he signs himself "Master" of 
 a Royal Arch Lodge, while today his title of 
 course would be High Priest of a Royal Arch 
 Chapter. Mr. Henry Montfort, here referred to, 
 was the only son of Grand Master Montfort. He 
 was a prominent Mason and member of the 
 Grand Lodge of North Carolina. He married 
 
 13 
 
Miss Sarah Edwards, but died leaving no 
 decendants. 
 
 There are many amusing instances recorded in 
 the old records. At one of the early meetings it 
 was voted to appoint a committee of one to fur- 
 nish at each lodge meeting "One gallon each of 
 gin, rum and brandy, one boiled ham, one cheese 
 and some crackers to be charged to the candidate 
 for the night." 
 
 The members of this lodge were deeply relig- 
 ious, observing the feast days regularly and on 
 Sundays attending church in a body. Copies of 
 the sermons preached to them at church and at 
 the burial of their Brothers are carefully pre- 
 served. 
 
 It was the custom of Joseph Montfort on the 
 feast days of the Saints Johns to assemble his lodge 
 in the temple before sunrise and he had notices 
 printed which were sent to each member, notify- 
 ing him to be at the temple at 5 A. M. or 6 A. M. 
 according to the season. Several of these printed 
 notices are reverently preserved in our archives. 
 He would proceed to open his lodge until he came 
 to "The Master's Station," etc., when the opening 
 stopped and a brother was stationed at the east 
 window to signal the first appearance of the orb 
 of day, and as the sun arose over the Roanoke at 
 that instant so arose the only Grand Master that 
 America ever had, to open and govern the only 
 Grand Lodge of America that ever existed. 
 
 It is true that the Grand Lodge of England 
 which was organized in 171 7, had, before this 
 time appointed many provincial Grand Masters in 
 America, but they were all appointed for some 
 special province and their authority was limited 
 to the province for which they were appointed, 
 
 14 
 
or to territory where no other Provincial Grand 
 Master exercised authority and they were all 
 subject to the Provincial Grand Master for 
 Foreign Lodges at London, an appointee of 
 the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of 
 England. The Provincial Grand Master for 
 Foreign Lodges at this time was John Devig- 
 noles and not Joseph DeVinold, as a Masonic 
 Historian has recently stated, but at this time 
 America was becoming great and important, and 
 Masonic America was knocking at the door of 
 the Grand Lodge of England for the appointment 
 of a Provincial Grand Master of America. The 
 Grand Lodge of Boston, known at Saint Johns' 
 Provincial Grand Lodge urgently sought the 
 honor of becoming the Grand Lodge of America, 
 but only succeeded in obtaining authority to 
 establish lodges in those parts of America where 
 no local Provincial Grand Master held authority. 
 Joseph Montfort's authority was absolute and 
 supreme in all parts of America, then British 
 possessions, and he established lodges and chap- 
 ters within the jurisdiction of local Grand Mas- 
 ters at his will and pleasure, and he attained the 
 highest Masonic position ever held by any man 
 on this continent when he received his apooin- 
 ment as Grand Master of and for America. In 
 1733 Henry Price of Massachusetts received from 
 the Grand Lodge of England an appointment as 
 Provincial Grand Master of New England and 
 we may consider him the second highest Mason- 
 ic official that ever held sway in America as his 
 jurisdiction covered what are now the six New 
 England States. A beautiful monument marks 
 his grave at Townsend, Mass., and the Masonic 
 fraternity of America very justly honor his mem- 
 
 15 
 
ory on every possible occasion. That the (?rand 
 Master of America to whom he and all other 
 local Provincial Grand Masters were subordin- 
 ate remains unhonored by the Masonic Fraternity 
 of America is, I am certain, due to ignorance of 
 his exhaulted position and distinguished services, 
 and it is my purpose in this work to dispel this 
 ignorance that he may be honored and revered 
 as he deserves. There are many reasons why he 
 was selected for this great honor. His social 
 and political prominence, the splendid and exact 
 work which he did, his prompt and regular re- 
 mittances to the Grand Lodge of England, which 
 example was not followed to any extent by the 
 majority of American Masters and Lodges at 
 this time and his idea of building a Masonic 
 Temple which was absolutely new, both in Eng- 
 land and America, made a deep impression upon 
 the Grand Lodge of England when they re- 
 ceived the report and it undoubtedly inspired 
 them to build Free Mason's Hall in London for 
 they at once began raising funds for this 
 purpose and four years later completed that 
 structure. Free Masons Lodge erected in Phila- 
 delphia by Benjamin Franklin and his associates 
 a short time before, §g/^gg^jjJBt^UM^^ on the 
 north side of Chestnut street, between 7th and 
 8th streets, was the first Masonic Temple to be 
 erected in America or in the world, and the 
 Temple at Halifax was the second. Up to 
 this time, it was the custom of the Masonic 
 Lodges to meet in taverns, the Grand Lodge 
 of England at this time held its meetings at 
 the Crown and Anchor in the Strand, London, 
 and until the erection of the temple at Halifax, 
 Royal White Hart Lodge met at "Brother 
 16 
 
 Phil*. TemDlotorn down 1801 
 
William Martin's Tavern at the Sign of the 
 Thistle." Martin had a forty room two story 
 hotel and fitted them up a lodge room in the 
 second story and furnished all banquets and re- 
 freshments. He didn't lose any money by the 
 operation. In 1766 the Duke of Beaufort was 
 elected Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of 
 England, the Province of North Carolina had 
 honored the Duke of Beaufort by naming a city 
 and a county, Beaufort, North Carolina, (where 
 to-day, the United States government has the 
 finest Marine Biological laboratory in the world,) 
 and in this fact, we find another reason why 
 Montfort received this appointment, the Duke of 
 Beaufort choosing a North Carolina man for 
 Provincial Grand Master of America in return 
 for this honor. It is easy to be seen why Mont- 
 fort was the last as well as the first Provincial 
 Grand Master of America. The Revolutionary 
 War completely separating the two countries, 
 politically and Masonically. This Grand Lodge of 
 America should be revived. The Masonic Fra- 
 ternity of the United States are entitled to the 
 honor of a Supreme Grand Lodge of America, 
 which should be composed of the Grand Masters 
 of the Grand Lodges now in existence, which 
 Grand Bodies should, of course, continue their 
 existence under allegiance to the Grand Lodge of 
 North America and this Grand Lodge should en- 
 force uniform work and practices in every lodge 
 room. 
 
 The following copy of the proceedings of the 
 Grand Lodge of England on February 6, 1771, 
 will doubtless be of interest. This report was 
 mailed in London to Joseph Montfort at Halifax, 
 North Carolina and all the English Grand Lodge 
 
 17 
 
reports during this period were regularly mailed 
 to him and are on file in our archives. 
 
 "At a quarterly communication of the Most 
 Ancient and Honorable Society of Free and 
 Accepted Masons under the Constitution of Eng- 
 land, the Most Noble Prince Henry Somerset, 
 Duke of Beaufort, etc., Grand Master, held at 
 the Crown and Anchor in the Strand, February 
 6th, 1771. Present: The Hon. R. W. Chas. Dil- 
 lon, Esq., D. G. M. as G. M. ; Rowland Holt, Esq., 
 S. G. W. as D. G. M.; Sir Watkyn Williams 
 Wynne Bart, J. G. W. as S. G. W. ; Chas. Tay- 
 lor, Esq., PJ.G.W. as J.G.W. ; Mr. Henry Jaffray, 
 P. J. G. W.; John Allen, Esq., Prov. G. M. for 
 Lancashire; John Devignoles, Esq., Prov. G. M. 
 for Foreign Lodges; Rowland Berkley, G. T. ; 
 James Haseltine, G. S. ; William Smith, Grand 
 Sword Bearer; and the Masters and Wardens 
 of several lodges, when the following contribu- 
 tions were paid into the general fund, viz : 
 
 Then follows a list of fifty-five subscriptions 
 aggregating one hundred and twenty-six pounds, 
 the largest of which is as follows : "Joseph Mont- 
 fort, Esq., of North Carolina ten pounds and ten 
 shillings." This was Joseph Montfort's contribu- 
 tion towards the building of Free Mason's Hall 
 in London, as the funds raised during these 
 years and at this time were applied to that pur- 
 pose, and the Grand Lodge of England was so- 
 liciting subscriptions from Masons all over the 
 world. 
 
 On November 7, 1753, Grand Master Montfort 
 married Priscilla Hill, daughter of Col. Benja- 
 min Hill of Nansemond County, Virginia. They 
 had three children, Henry Montfort, his only son, 
 Mary who married Willie Jones and Elizabeth 
 who married Col. John Baptista Ashe. Refer- 
 ence is made in another part of this work to Hon. 
 and Mrs. Willie Jones. 
 
 18 
 
In the summer of 1776, Halifax, N. C, together 
 with the balance of America was anxiously await- 
 ing the signing of the Declaration of Independ- 
 ence and Royal White Hart Lodge arranged for 
 a grand celebration of the event as soon as the 
 news should reach Halifax. Grand Master Mont- 
 fort having recently been admitted to the Grand 
 Lodge above, they secured the services of Corne- 
 lius Hartnett whom Joseph Montfort had ap- 
 pointed Deputy Grand Master of the Grand 
 Lodge of America as orator of the day. Jo. 
 Seawell Jones in his defence of North Carolina 
 says : "At miday Cornelius Hartnett assended a 
 rostrum which had been erected in front of the 
 Court House, and, even as he opened the scroll 
 upon which were written the immortal words of 
 the Declaration, the enthusiasm of the immense 
 crowd broke forth in one loud swell of rejoicing 
 and prayer. The reader proceeded to his task 
 and read the Declaration to the mute and impas- 
 sioned multitude with the solemnity of an appeal 
 to Heaven. When he had finished, all the people 
 shouted with joy, and the cannon, sounding from 
 fort to fort, proclaimed the glorious tidings that 
 all the Thirteen Colonies were now free and inde- 
 pendent states. The soldiers seized Mr. Hartnett 
 and bore him on their shoulders through the 
 streets of the town, applauding him as their 
 champion and swearing allegiance to the instru- 
 ment he had read." 
 
 The July, 1907 number of The Journal of 
 American History published at Hartford, Conn., 
 referring to this celebration of the signing of 
 Declaration of Independence, says : "This was the 
 first celebration of this event held in America." 
 The priceless records of this Jamestown of 
 
 19 
 
American Masonry are carefully preserved in 
 the vaults of the Bank of Halifax by Brother 
 Fletcher H. Gregory, the cashier. Brother Greg- 
 ory's petition for membership in Royal White 
 Hart Lodge is filed with that of his father, 
 grandfather and great grandfather. We doubt 
 if there is another man in America who can 
 boast of such a Masonic honor. As the historian 
 reverently unfolded these records, many of 
 which had lain undisturbed for more than a cen- 
 tury, the seasand, with which the ink was 
 sprinkled ran out with a glad musical sound say- 
 ing : "As the Lives of these patriots were without 
 blot, without blot have I preserved the record of 
 their deeds." Here met the Grand Lodge of Amer- 
 ica from 1772 to the death of the Grand Master. 
 On receiving his appointment, as Grand Master, 
 Montfort appointed as subordinates in the Grand 
 Lodge several of his brethren of the Royal White 
 Hart Lodge; Marshall Delancy Heywood in his 
 splendid work "The beginning of Freemasonry 
 in North Carolina and Tennessee," records the 
 lives of the members of this Grand Lodge and 
 the great services they rendered the American 
 cause during the Revolutionary War. At the 
 death of Grand Master Montfort the Grand 
 Lodge of America ceased to exist although 
 Deputy Grand Master Cornelius Hartnett sought 
 to continue that body and assume the office of 
 Grand Master, but the subordinate Grand Lodges 
 refused to recognize his authority and indeed he 
 possessed none. 
 
 These old brothers were very careful about 
 admitting visiting brothers as many instances 
 show. In November, 1782, one James Cole Mont- 
 florence applied for examination and was refused 
 
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admittance. He then wrote the following letter 
 and signs his name with great flourishes in a very 
 flowery style. 
 
 "The 5th day of the nth month of the 
 Gentlemen: Year of Light, 5782: 
 
 I cannot but have been exceedingly effected at 
 not being introduced in the temple, and, as a 
 Mason (though some of your members will not 
 acknowledge me as such) I am to insist on your 
 impropriety of refusing me admission. It is 
 probable, it is evident that your manner of testing 
 is quite different to that in use in France and 
 Italy, but as I am sure you are Masons, having 
 seen your charter, I must desire you to reflect 
 that the three fundimental points of discovering 
 the initiated are by the sacred word, the signs and 
 the taking of the hand. Perhaps my expressions 
 are improper in English, but every good Mason 
 will certainly understand me, neither the sacred 
 word nor the sign have been required from me, 
 and these two tokens I insist to be the most 
 essential ones. Masonry is and ought to be uni- 
 versal, and of whatever country may be a brother, 
 he has undoubted right to his admission in the 
 temple. A few demands, not capital ones may 
 be introduced in the initiations of each lodge by 
 some of their particular regulations, but this does 
 not constitute a Mason, therefore I beg you will 
 appoint a committee of some of your brothers to 
 discourse with me and if I satisfy them in the 
 principal parts, I insist, you cannot as Masons 
 refuse me admission. I, offering after the said 
 examination to renew my oath and take another 
 of my having been initiated in a lodge regularly 
 constituted. 
 
 I am, gentlemen (you will not allow me the 
 appellation of brother), 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 James Cole Montflorence." 
 
 On January 30th, 1783, no less a personage than 
 the Marquis De Britagney visited Royal White 
 Hart Lodge, and addressed the brethren request- 
 21 
 
ing that Montflorence be re-examined, and a com- 
 mittee of three was appointed for this purpose, 
 and ordered to report at the next meeting. On 
 February 20th, 1783 they reported as follows: 
 "The Committee appointed to re-examine Mr. 
 Cole Montflorence, report as their opinion that he 
 ought never to be admitted into this Lodge:" 
 So it seems that neither his flowery appeal nor 
 the influence of nobility could swerve these 
 brothers from Masonic duty, from all of which 
 we of this day and generation may learn valuable 
 lessons. 
 
 "Hart" is spelled in the old records "Heart," 
 until the arrival of the charter from England. 
 In this charter this word is spelled "Hart" and 
 from this time on all the records conform to this 
 spelling. 
 
 It is proposed as soon as possible, to erect a 
 fire-proof history room, where the interesting old 
 documents of this temple may be safely shown in 
 glass for the entertainment of visitors. 
 
 Halifax, North Carolina is on the main line of 
 the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, the popular 
 tourist route to Florida, eighty miles south of 
 Richmond, Va., and is annually visited by many 
 patriotic Masons. 
 
 From 1764 until 1907, Royal White Hart Lodge 
 has had but thirty-one Masters, and the present 
 popular Master, Brother Charles H. Hale, has 
 faithfully served us for nearly ten years. His 
 cordial southern welcome to visiting parties, who 
 come to do reverence at this shrine, is one they 
 do not soon forget. 
 
 During the early years of the records a 
 Brother died in the West Indies, and by his will, 
 left a slave, a negro woman to Royal White Hart 
 22 
 
Lodge. The Lodge loaned the slave to Mrs. 
 Taylor, a Mason's widow and after a few years 
 appointed a committee "To recover the slave and 
 her increase;" but whenever the committee went 
 after the woman, Mrs. Taylor would hide her. 
 The chase was ineffectually kept up for a few 
 years, finally abandoned, and was most amusing. 
 
 After 1790, the lodge became very prosperous 
 financially; they paid five dollars per pair for 
 gloves ; ten dollars a plate for banquets and gave 
 pensions of twenty-five dollars a month to needy 
 widows; surely they never dreamed of the com- 
 ing railroad, the abandonment of river traffic, the 
 decline of the town and lodge and the decay of 
 their temple. We have a description of the tem- 
 ple written in 1820, when it was in a perfect state 
 of preservation; the roof was slate color; the 
 building white with green blinds, red brick chim- 
 ney and foundation, and mahogany doors ; the 
 ceiling of the lodge room (which is arched) was 
 blue; the wood work white, excepting the doors, 
 which were mahogany. 
 
 We shall restore the temple as it was when 
 erected. Under the massive oaks which sheltered 
 alike the Colonial and British armies, by the 
 rolling Roanoke in this Ancient Grand East of 
 America, sleeps Joseph Montfort; but he shall 
 again return, and in the uniform he honored, with 
 the Grand Master's jewel upon his breast, and 
 with uplifted gavel, in imperishable bronze, he 
 shall forever guard his restored temple, and when 
 the words are spoken, and the folds of the starry 
 banner fall asunder, let -every Masonic Grand 
 Master on this continent do himself the honor 
 to there stand uncovered in his presence. 
 
 Thus saith Cyrus, King of Persia: "All the 
 Kingdoms of the Earth hath the Lord God of 
 
 23 
 
Heaven given me, and he hath charged 
 build him an House in Jerusalem, whicl 
 Judah. Who is there among you of all hj 
 pie, the Lord his God be with him, and 1| 
 go up." 
 
 So mote 
 
UNIVERSITY OF N.C. AT CHAPEL HILL 
 
 00036704361 
 
 FOR USE ONLY IN 
 THE NORTH CAROLINA COLLECTION 
 
\