~ AYM+MM=AFM ~
By Rodney S. Swinson, Past District Deputy Grand Master
The following article was edited from the 1994 Edition of Transactions published by The South Carolina Masonic
Research Society.
Our Grand Lodge, as we have it today, came from
the merger of two old Grand Lodges. As our Grand Master, Most Worshipful Brother
Reid expressed it, A Y M + M M = A F M, Ancient York Mason plus Modern Mason
equal Ancient Free Mason. The equation is simple. However, as we look back, we
find that the solution was not a simple one.
In the early seventeen hundreds, Freemasonry
had fallen into neglect in England. At this low ebb, a split developed and
battle lines drawn between "Moderns" and the "Ancients." The
Ancients charged the Moderns with "defection from the ancient
landmarks." The Free and Accepted Masons of South Carolina had been a
Provincial Grand Lodge under the Grand Lodge of England, the Moderns. In 1777,
they became independent by resolution throwing off any provincial or subordinate
character to the Grand Lodge of England.
The Athol Grand Lodge, or as it was sometimes
called, the Grand Lodge of Ancient Masons, chartered lodges in Pennsylvania,
which in turn, as a Grand Lodge, chartered lodges of Ancient York Masons in
South Carolina. In 1787, five lodges chartered by other Grand Lodge of Ancient
York Masons, united in forming the South Carolina Grand Lodge of Ancient York
Masons. Beginning with only five lodges, four years later the York Grand Lodge
had thirty-five lodges while the Free and Accepted Masons, after fifty-five
years of existence had accomplished only one-third of that amount of work.
From this time two independent Grand Lodges
existed within the state. Both bodies met regularly, granted warrants for new
lodges and conducted the normal business. However, there was no fraternal
communication or visiting between them. In 1791, both bodies applied for and
received acts of incorporation dated December 20.
After the organization of the Ancient York
Masons, discord and dissension grew between the rival Grand Lodges. It reached
such a degree of bitterness that some of the more prominent members of the
parties began to see the necessity of an agreement or union in order to preserve
the integrity and usefulness of the fraternity. While some said that there was
little difference in the work or discipline, most felt that this was not the
case. Although it was in violation of their regulations the Moderns sometimes
admitted Ancients to their meetings. No reciprocation on the part of the
Ancients was allowed as they strenuously refused to admit Moderns. Their
feelings were expressed in the following quote "Those Modern or new Masons,
we know not, neither indeed can we, since he that cometh not in by the door
agreeably to our ancient landmarks, but climbeth over the wall or some other way
is a thief and a robber."
As early as 1807, steps were taken to
inaugurate a union of the two Grand Lodges. Exertions were frequently made by
individuals of both sides with propositions advanced and urged. This did not
bring the intended results but it did open and prepare the way for a better
mutual understanding.
The results so strongly desired seemed near
achievement. On July 9, 1808, the Grand Lodge of Ancient York Masons appointed a
committee "to meet any committee that might be appointed by the Grand Lodge
of Free and Accepted Masons for the purpose of inquiring into the eligibility of
forming a union of the Two Grand Lodges and to report thereon at the next stated
meeting." On the same evening the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons
adopted a similar course and appointed a committee for the same purpose.
After several meetings on September 5, 1808,
the joint committee adopted and recommended the Articles of Union of Free and
Accented and York Masons.
The articles were presented to both Grand
Lodges and solemnly adopted by each, the Ancient York Masons on September 24,
1808, and three days later by the Free and Accepted Masons.
The Articles of Union were printed and placed
in the hands of the members. As soon as the Ancient York Masons had had an
Opportunity of really examining the articles, many of them raised strong
objections to the Seventh Article which allowed the Modern to visit the Ancient
York Masons. This, they believed, violated their obligation and compromised
their landmarks.
On December 17, 1808, the two Grand Lodges met
in their respective chambers for the purpose of making the preliminary
arrangements for a final union. At the meeting of the Ancient York Grand Lodge,
Samuel Nobbs, Master of Lodge No. 31, under instructions of that Lodge and with
the assistance of his wardens, made every effort to have the article repealed
but without success. The Grand Master declared the motion for repeal out of
order. Following this ruling of Order, the York Grand Lodge resolved to receive
the committee of the Free and Accepted Grand Lodge in open lodge. Upon adoption
of this motion the Master and Wardens of Lodge No. 31 governed by the same
scruples which led them to move the repeal of the Seventh Article, retired from
the lodge room.
The Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons
were then introduced, the union having been duly ratified, the United Grand
Lodge proceeded to the election of officers. The newly elected officers were
installed on December 31, 1808 and the newly united Grand Lodge began its legal
Masonic Existence with the commencement of the year 1809.
No sooner had the union been completed, then
St. John's Lodge No. 31, held a meeting condemning the Ancient York Masons who entered the union and
then began the steps necessary for the revival of the Old Grand Lodge of Ancient
York Masons. Accordingly, on January 7, 1809, a letter was addressed to the
Lodges formerly under the jurisdiction of the Ancient York Grand Lodge. The
letter expressed in detail their position against the action of the York Grand
Lodge in the union and asked that the other lodges unite with them in their
effort, quote, "to hold our integrity as Ancient York Masons."
Favorable replies were received and a number of lodges joined under the
leadership of St. John's Lodge No. 31.
In a move against the seceding lodges the new
Grand Lodge adopted a resolution by which such members of the subordinate lodges
as should refuse to take or affirm to the oath of secrecy when required to do so
the Worshipful Master, were to be prohibited from visiting or sitting any lodge
under its jurisdiction until they should have taken the same. To test the
resolution a committee from St. John's
Lodge No. 31 Lodge No. 8, an Ancient York Lodge which had submitted to the Grand
Lodge. On demanding admission but refusing to take the test oath, they were not
permitted to enter. On reporting this back to the lodge, St. John’s Lodge No.
31 passed a resolution that they would not acknowledge the Grand Lodge of South
Carolina nor admit any of its members that have taken the oath of secrecy for
Moderns.
As a final act, the Grand Lodge of South
Carolina passed stringent resolutions declaring every warrant or constitution
for holding a lodge for making Free Masons in this state, not issued by them was
null and void and that all persons raised by these lodges were clandestine
Masons. A part of that resolution was as follows, "That the lodge in this
city, calling itself St. John’s Lodge No. 31, Ancient York Masons, acting
under a warrant of constitution which is null and void, be, and the same is
hereby, declared to be a clandestine lodge and the members thereof be expelled
from the true craft."
The decree of expulsion by the South Carolina
Grand Lodge placed the rebelling Masons in a position where they were compelled
to either surrender their warrants, acknowledge themselves clandestine, organize
a new or revive the old Grand Lodge of Ancient York Masons. They determined to
adopt the last course.
Accordingly, at the invitation of St. John’s
Lodge No. 31, sixteen lodges met in Columbia on May 1, 1809, to reconvene and
perpetuate the Grand Lodge of South Carolina Ancient York Masons.
Thus, after only four months, discord was
lifting its head and two Grand Lodges were again dividing the Masonic
jurisdiction in South Carolina. The Grand Lodge of South Carolina consisted of
all the lodges of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons and the few York
Lodges that agreed to the union. The Grand Lodge of Ancient York Masons
consisted of all the York Lodges that did not submit to the new Grand Lodge.
Apart from the Seventh Article of union which
caused the greatest breach in the joining of the Grand Lodges, the
recommendation of the first articles were not complete at this time. As by the
petition of the new Grand Lodge the Senate passed an act repealing the acts of
incorporation of the two Grand Lodges and in lieu thereof incorporating the new
single Grand Lodge. The House of Representatives did not act on the measure due
to the strong resistance of several York Masons who were then members of the
House. Even without the act of incorporation, the Grand Lodge was organized and
began its attempt at complete Masonic Jurisdiction within the state.
In the revival of the Grand Lodge of Ancient
York Masons, strength was added with the rulings of the Honorable Henry
DeSaussure, Judge of the Court of Equity for South Carolina. As a result of a
case to recover monies thought due the Grand Lodge of South Carolina, Judge
DeSaussure ruled against them saying that the subordinate lodges were not given
sufficient notice on such an important question nor did they have proper
representation. He also ruled that action of the officers and members of the
York Grand Lodge in joining with the Free and Accepted Masons was only an act of
resignation and that the objecting lodges were within their rights to
re-establish the grand lodge in all legal rights of the incorporation.
Article 1 of the union of the Grand Lodges was
completed on December 20, 1814 when the new Grand Lodge of South Carolina was
granted a charter of incorporation. The act was granted over the strong
objections of the legislators who were members of the rival Ancient York Grand
Lodge.
Even though the union of 1808 was short lived,
it can be said that good came of it. Of the committee to instruct and direct the
lodges in a uniform system of work and initiation, three of them including the
chairman, a Past Grand Master, were all of the Ancient York Masons. This insured
the adoption of the Ancient York Mode of Work. Also Anderson's
"Constitutions" which had been the authoritative code of the Grand
Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons was abandoned and the new Grand Lodge made use
of Daicho's "Ahiman
Rezon". This was in many portions a compilation from the Dermott Ahiman
Rezon which was the book of Constitutions used by the Ancient York Masons. These
two acts by the Grand Lodge of South Carolina made any future effort of a union
an easier task for both Grand Lodges were now using the same mode of work and
under the same system of Masonic jurisprudence and discipline.
In 1816, efforts were renewed for a restoration
of harmony and reestablishment of the union. There was no Grand Lodge of Modems.
It was true that two Grand Lodges were in existence but for reasons as stated
above, they could be considered as having emanated from the old York Masons. In
this, one of the major stumbling blocks barring a new union was removed. All
Masons in South Carolina were now working from the same trestle board, all were
governed by the same Book of Constitutions.
Again, each of the Grand Lodges appointed a
committee and the two committees were charged "to meet together in free and
brotherly conference on the subject of a union so mutually desirable." We
are told that each member brought to the deliberations, a true Masonic spirit,
and a reciprocal desire to bring about an event so pleasing to the heart of all
good Masons".
The committee found no difficulty to be
reconciled with regards to work. Encouragement was received in securing the
union from the inequity in the two bodies. At the time of union the York Grand
Lodge numbered thirty-five lodges, while the South Carolina Grand Lodge numbered
only fifteen. It was as the larger and stronger rival receiving the advances for
reconciliation of a weaker opponent. The deliberations of the committee
terminated January 11, 1817, in a joint report of articles of union to be used
as the basis of all subsequent proceedings. The report recommended to their
respective Grand Lodges, the adoption of the following convention as a basis and
plan for a perfect union of the Grand Lodges into one Grand Lodge to be called,
‘The Grand Lodge of Ancient Free Masons of South Carolina’ to be forever
deemed, held and taken as the true and only lawful Grand Lodge of Free Masons in
South Carolina, and to obtain the true and supreme Masonic authority thereof.
As the 4th Article Provided, the Grand Lodges
were called into special communication on the evening of May 30, 1817. Following
the requirements as outlined in the article, the joint committee reported quote,
"That from the reciprocal examinations by several committees already had in
Grand Lodge, it doth appear that their exists no difference in the mode of
entering, passing and raising, instructing, obligating and clothing brothers, in
the respective Grand Lodges.
Following the agreeing report, the question was
put in each Grand Lodge and they unanimously accepted and confirmed the articles
of union in both bodies.
The subordinate lodges were given notice of the
proceedings and the joint committee reported that under the jurisdiction of the
Ancient York Grand Lodge, twenty-five of the thirty-five lodges had ratified the
articles. Also, it was reported that fourteen of the fifteen under the South
Carolina Grand Lodge had ratified the articles.
Upon notice of the ratification the Grand Lodge
assembled in joint communication December 26, 1817, with Thomas W. Bacot
presiding as Grand Master, whereupon he made the following declaration in a loud
voice:
"I do now solemnly declare and
pronounce in the name of the Grand Architect of the Universe, and the Most
Worshipful Grand Lodge assembled in joint meeting in virtue of the 6th Article
of the Convention, just ratified by the two late Grand Lodges, that the union of
said Grand Lodges to wit: ‘The Grand Lodge of South Carolina Ancient York
Masons’ and ‘The Grand Lodge of South Carolina’, is complete and that the
new ‘Grand Lodge of Ancient Free Masons of South Carolina’ is now ready to
proceed to ballot for its officers."
Following the declaration, the Grand Lodge,
thus united, elected officers with Thomas W. Bacot as Most Worshipful Grand
Master.
The next day was the Festival of St. John the
Evangelist, and as viewed by Brother Mackey, "must have been a day
celebrated with peculiar emotions of pleasure for it was the first time since
1787 that a single altar had been built in the state for the common oblation of
an undivided craft."
On this day, December 27, 1817, the Grand Lodge
assembled with representatives of twenty-six subordinate lodges for the
installation of officers, whereupon, Most Worshipful Brother Thomas W. Bacot was
installed as the first Grand Master of the New Grand Lodge of Ancient Free
Masons of South Carolina. Following a religious service conducted by Dr. Dalcho,
the Grand Chaplain, Most Worshipful Brother Bacot addressed the craft calling
forth the unusual events which constitute such a great part of the history of
our great fraternity.
The Grand Lodge of Ancient Free Masons of South
Carolina was then closed in ample form.
Copyright © 2002 by South
Carolina Masonic Research Society. All rights are reserved. No part of this article may be reproduced without the
express written consent of the South Carolina Masonic Research Society. The opinions expressed herein represent
those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of SCMRS or the Grand
Lodge of Ancient Free Masons of South Carolina.
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