BALTIMORE CONVENTION, 1843
(This Bulletin is an abstract from the scholarly study made
by R. W. Henry C. Chiles, Junior Grand Warden, Grand
Lodge of Missouri, to whose courtesy and cooperation the
ASSOCIATION is indebted for kind permission to adapt and
use his work in this much abbreviated form.)
The "Baltimore Convention of 1843", held May 8 to 17,
attempted to agree upon a "mode of work" to recommend to
the various Grand Lodges, that Masonic ritual might become
uniform throughout the nation.
The catechism form of lectures came to this country with
Freemasonry. The system originally arranged by Anderson
and Desaguliers was revised and "improved" by Martin
Clare, Thomas Dunkerly, William Hutchinson and, most
important, William Preston, who suggested, if he did not
exactly teach, the esoteric parts of the "work" by illustrations
of symbols and emblems, depicted on "floor clothes" or
"carpets" - even today we retain a reference to "The
Master's Carpet".
The Prestonian work was largely spread in this country by
Thomas Smith Webb, who published his first "Freemason's
Monitor" in 1797. He is supposed to have had the Prestonial
work from a pupil of Preston's, John Hanmer. Almost every
Jurisdiction (Pennsylvania excepted) adopted some or all of
Webb's modifications of Preston. Webb's labors were
greatly aided by Jeremy Cross, whose "True Masonic Chart"
(illustrated by the Connecticut engraver Amos Doolittle) is
the foundation of those often terrible examples of art seen
today on Masonic charts and lantern slides.
In the early days of Masonry in this country a ritual, with
every word prescribed, had not been evolved. According to
Rob Morris: "The catechism being committed to memory the
learner was supposed to possess the method of work, that
is, the drill and drama. Or ceremony of Masonry, which was
made literally to conform to the lectures."
Dr. Mackey, in his Lexicon said of the lectures: "These
constitute the simple text of Masonry, while the extended
illustrations which are given to them by an intelligent Master
or Lecturer constitute the commentary, without which the
simple text would be comparatively barren and
uninstructive."
A joint committee report recommending the adoption of the
Webb lectures to the Grand Lodges of Massachusetts and
New Hampshire, in 1806, stated: "In the three degrees every
Master of a Lodge should be indulged with the liberty of
adopting historical details, and the personification of the
passing scene as most agreeable to himself, his supporting
officers and assisting Lodge."
That "the lectures" meant a catechism which the Baltimore
Convention wished to make uniform throughout the nation,
is revealed in its official printed proceedings of Wednesday,
May 8, 1843:
"The Chairman of the Standing Committee on work, stated
that the Committee had, after mature deliberation, decided
on the lecture of the first Degree, and proceeded to report, -
Br. Moore citing the answers."
In the first quarter of the nineteenth century the
establishment of Lodges rapidly followed the westward
march of the pioneers. Many prominent, substantial and
influential men became Masons. But the second quarter saw
the Fraternity almost wiped out of existence. The excitement
created by the disappearance of William Morgan, of Batavia,
New York, in September, 1826, ripened into a nationwide
and extraordinarily bitter anti-Masonic movement, a crusade
which became relentless persecution.
Anti-Masonic newspapers, pamphlets, almanacs and
addresses were distributed in large quantities. Iterenant
lecturers traveled the country over, each striving to outdo
the other in denunciation of the Institution. In public
exhibitions before large audiences, crusaders purported to
open "Masonic Lodges" and confer "Masonic Degrees" upon
disreputable persons. Exposes, pretending to reveal the
secrets of Freemasonry, were published.
These widespread persecutions nearly wrecked the
Fraternity. A very large number of Lodges either gave up
their Charters, or became dormant. Grand Lodges ceased to
meet. Masonry was seriously affected everywhere.
During the years of the Morgan warfare against the Craft
little Masonic work was done, and the older and more skilled
members either died or lost their proficiency. Professional
Masonic lecturers sought other means of livelihood. So that
when the tide receded and petitions once more were
presented to Lodges, the younger generation often received
only imperfect instruction.
On the defensive, the Fraternity was obliged carefully to
guard against cowans and evesdroppers. Evidence of
membership of a would-be visitor was critically tested.
Examining committees proceeded on the theory that the
presumption of regularity was against the would-be visitor.
Under such conditions lack of uniformity of masonic work
among the several Grand Lodges, or even among Lodges in
the same State, was a formidable obstacle to fraternal
intercourse.
Possible relief from these chaotic conditions it was thought
might be found in uniformity of the lectures. Identification of
members could thus be the more readily made and lodges
could discontinue turning away visitors, among whom many
must have been in good standing, even if unable to prove
themselves.
In 1840 the Grand Lodge of Alabama requested all (Grand
Lodges in the nation with which she was in fraternal
intercourse, to send a delegate to meet in a general
convention the first Monday in March, 1842, in Washington,
D. C. "for the purpose of determining upon a uniform mode
of work throughout all the Lodges of the United States, and
to make other lawful regulations for the interest and security
of the Craft."
As a result, representatives of Alabama, Connecticut,
District of Columbia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New
Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, South Carolina and
Virginia, convened.
On March 9, a committee of five; John Dove, Charles W.
Moore, James Herring, William Field and Isaac E. Holmes,
appointed "to revise and suggest a uniform mode of work"
reported that, among its members, "there exists a
satisfactory degree of uniformity", but because many Grand
Lodges were unrepresented, it recommended that "every
Grand Lodge in the United States appoint one or more
skillful brethren to be styled Grand Lecturers, who shall
meet and agree upon the course of instruction necessary
and proper to be imparted to the Lodges and the Fraternity
in their several Jurisdictions."
Following the adoption of this report, the Convention
"Resolved, That should the Grand Lodges or a majority of
them determine to adopt the recommendations contained in
the report of the Committee, respecting the appointment of
Grand Lecturers, that it be further recommended by this
Convention that the first meeting of said Grand Lecturers be
held in the City of Baltimore, on the second Monday in May,
1843."
The Baltimore Convention met Monday, May 8 1843, and
remained in session (Sunday excepted) to and including
Wednesday, May 17. Delegates and visitors were as
follows:
Alabama, Edward Herndon, P.G.M.; District of Columbia,
Nathanial Seevers, G.L.; Florida, Thomas Hayward,
P.D.G.M.; Georgia, Lemuel Dwelle, G.L.; Louisiana E.
Cruben (a visitor); Maryland, Daniel Piper, G.L.; W. E.
Wyantt, Chaplain of the Convention: Charles Gilman, G.M.
(a visitor); Cornelius Smith, S.G.W. (a visitor); and Joseph
K. Stapleton. D.G.M. of Grand Encampment (a visitor);
Massachusetts, Charles W. Moore, G.S.; Missouri, Stephen
W.B. Carnegy, P.G.M.; Joseph Foster, S.G.W.; Fred'k L.
Dillon, P.G.S. (a visitor) and Hiram Chamberlain, G.C. (a
visitor); Mississippi, John Delafield (of Memphis) G.L.; New
Hampshire, Thomas Clapham; North Carolina, John H.
Wheeler, G.M.; New York, Ebenezer Wadsworth, P.G.S.;
Ohio, John Barney, G.L. and W. J. Reese, G.M. (a visitor);
Rhode Island, William Field; South Carolina, Albert Case,
G.C.; South Wales, Edward John Hutchins, P.P.D.G.M. (a
visitor); Virginia, John Dove, G.S.
On the opening day Dr. Dove was elected president and
Rev. Albert Case, Grand Chaplain of the Strand Lodge of
South Carolina, Secretary.
On the second day, agenda were adopted declaring the
objects and purposes of the Convention to be:
1. To produce uniformity of Masonic work.
2. To recommend such measures as shall tend to the
elevation of this Order to its due degree of respect
throughout the world at large.
To accomplish the first object, four Committees were
appointed, viz:-
1. On the work and lectures in conferring the degrees.
2. On the funeral service.
3. On the ceremonies of Consecration and Installation.
4. On Masonic Jurisprudence.
To accomplish the second object, three Committees were
appointed, viz:-
1. To report on the expediency of adopting a regularly
authorized Masonic Trestleboard anal further to report on
the propriety of publishing a work of antiquarian research
and learning on the origin and history of the Order, of such a
character as shall exhibit the excellence and antiquity
thereof in its true light.
2. To report on further measures necessary to carry out the
programme of the Washington Convention of 1842, in
reference to Grand Lodge certificates.
3. To report on the expediency of issuing a letter addressed
by this Convention to the Fraternity throughout the United
States on the general state of Masonry, etc.
The Committee "on the work and lectures in conferring the
degrees" was appointed on the second day of the
Convention, Tuesday, May 9, and consisted of Dr. Dove of
Virginia, (Chairman), Moore of Massachusetts, Barney of
Ohio, Wadsworth of New York, and Carnegy of Missouri. It
made its first report the next morning. Except as to one
member, a "satisfactory degree of uniformity existed."
The official printed proceedings of the Convention show fully
all of the matter printed relative to the reports of this
Committee: the Proceedings state:-
"The Chairman of the Standing Committee on work, stated
that the Committee had, after mature deliberation, decided
on the Lecture of the first Degree, and proceeded to report, -
Br. Moore giving the answers."
Herndon, Past Grand Master of Alabama, offered the
resolution: "That the Lecture on the first degree of Masonry,
as reported by the Committee, be by this Convention now
adopted, as the authorized work in that degree, to be
recommended to the Fraternity throughout the Union." The
proceedings then state. "After an animated discussion, the
question was taken on the Resolution, and it was adopted,
14 to 1, the delegate from New York (Wadsworth of the
Committee) dissenting."
On Thursday morning, May 11, "The Chairman of the
Committee on Work, reported on the opening and closing
ceremonies of the first degree," which was adopted.
Then, "The Chairman of the Committee on Work, assisted
by Br. Moore, reported the Lecture of the second degree".
"Br. Wadsworth moved an amendment to the report, which
was rejected." The resolution to adopt the report was then
adopted.
Then, "The Chairman of the same Committee reported on
the opening and closing of a Lodge in the second degree.
After some discussion, in which several brethren took part,
the report was adopted. Br. Wadsworth requested to be
excused from serving longer on the Committee on Work.
Excused, and Br. Herndon of Alabama substituted."
On Friday morning, May 12, "The Committee on Work
presented a verbal report on the opening of the third
degree" which was adopted.
Then, "The Chairman on the Committee on Work presented
a verbal report on the 1st section of the lecture in the third
degree", which was adopted "after a slight amendment."
At the afternoon session of the same day, "Br. Moore from
the Committee on Work reported the second section of the
lecture in the third degree. Br. Case moved an amendment,
which was adopted." The report as amended was adopted.
Then, "Br. Moore from the same Committee reported the
third section of the Lecture in the third degree", which was
adopted.
At the afternoon session, Saturday, May 13, "The Committee
on Work reported another section of the work of the third
degree." "On motion the report was adopted by a vote of 12
to 1, Wadsworth of New York dissenting.
On Monday evening, May 15, "The Committee on Work
exemplified the opening and closing of the Lodge in the third
degree." And on Tuesday morning, May 16, "The lecture of
the first Degree was given and repeated."
What was it that the Baltimore Convention adopted and
recommended to the various Grand Lodges of the country?
In a letter written twenty years after the Convention, quoted
in The Builder, June, 1916, R. W. Charles W. Moore said:.
"The work and lectures of the first three degrees, as
adopted and authorized by the Baltimore Convention, in
1843, were, with a few unimportant verbal exceptions,
literally as they were originally compiled by Bro. Thos. S.
Webb, about the close of the last century, and as they were
subsequently taught by him during his lifetime, and also by
his early and favorite pupil, Bro. Benjamin Gleason, from the
years 1801-2 until his death in 1847. * * * I had the honor to
be a member of the Committee, and to report the
amendments and the lectures as amended, to the
Convention. This I did without alterations from the original;
and these are now in my possession. They are mostly
verbal, few in number, and not material in their results. The
only change of consequence was in the due guards of the
second and third degrees, which were changed and made to
conform to that of the first degree in position and
explanation. This was analogically correct."
To the Grand Lodge of Vermont Grand Master Phillip
Crosby Tucker said, at the annual communication of 1861:-
"There can be no doubt then that the Lectures
communicated by (Henry) Fowle to (John) Barney were the
genuine Lectures taught by (Thomas Smith) Webb and
(Benjamin) Gleason: the same which Gleason received from
Webb in 1801 or 1802; the same which he taught as Grand
Lecturer of Massachusetts from 1805; the same that I found
among the Boston Masons in 1823 or 1824; and the very
same which are taught there now."
A.L. Kress, in The Builder September, 1926, stated:-
"In 1760, what is now the EA sign was called the EA's due
guard or sign. What are now the EA and FC DG's were
unknown or at least not used as such. There was only one
sign each in the EA and FC degrees. Some time about 1800
(the date is indeterminate) it occurred to someone to
incorporate one movement or action to be known as the due
guard, and the other as the sign. These were as follows: In
the EA degree, what is now the due guard was then termed
the sign and what is now the sign was called the due guard.
In the FC degree, the two were given almost as now, except
they were never given separately. In the MM degree, the
due guard was given with the right hand only. In 1843, a
convention was held at Baltimore, Md., to agree on a
uniform ritual. Among other things, they reversed the
procedure in the EA degree. What was then the due guard
they made our present sign and vice versa. In the MM
degree, they adopted the use of both hands in giving the
MM due guard."
Under the title "Immovable Jewels" Dr. Mackey's Lexicon
says:
"According to the old system in England, the immovable
jewels of the Lodge are the Rough Ashlar, Perfect Ashlar
and Trestle Board; but in this Country, by the decision of the
Baltimore Convention, in 1843, they are made to consist of
the Square, Level and Plumb."
Apparently only three major changes of importance were
adopted by the Baltimore Convention. The third is seen in
"The Masonic Trestleboard" the manual or monitor issued by
the authority of the Convention (the same may be seen in
many modern manuals and monitors) On Plate 3 appeared
the following cryptic figures:
7 (3/4); 5 (3/2); 3.
An explanation by Dr. James W. S. Mitchell. P.G.M. (Mo.) in
his magazine, "The Masonic Signet and Literary Mirror" for
March, 1852, reads: "About the time of the rage of anti-
Masonry various schemes and devices and non-essential
changes were proposed, among which it was gravely
suggested that all members of Lodges must be M. Ms., that
the business of the Lodge should be done in the third
degree, which would require all applicants to visit to prove
themselves to be M. Ms. In some Jurisdictions this system
was adopted, in others, the good old way was adhered to."
Doubtless the reasons which impelled the Convention to
take this action were those which had moved it to adopt the
other changes or amendments to prevailing words and
practices.
However that may be, it seems clear that the Baltimore
Convention adopted, with only three major changes of
importance, the lectures as taught by Thomas Smith Webb,
and recommended their adoption by the several grand
Lodges then in existence.
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