THOMAS SMITH WEBB
To evaluate the position any Masonic leader has held in the affairs of the
Fraternity in the United States, or to place the importance -of his labors as
compared with any other, is at best a thankless task which results in little if
any good. Yet no such evaluation of Thomas Smith Webb, no consideration of the
effect of his labors, could be made which did not put both the man and his works
near the head of any list.
For to Thomas Smith Webb and his system of Masonic work, American Freemasons
owe a large part of the ritual of the "American Rite" (often miscalled the "York
Rite"). In practically all jurisdictions some of his words are used: in a
majority, all the "work" is Smith, or, more properly, Preston heard from the
lips of Smith.
Born of English parents, emigrants to Massachusetts, Thomas Smith Webb first
saw the light of day in October 13, 1771. Educated in the schools of
his birthplace, Boston, Webb became proficient in French and Latin as well as
his mother tongue. He was a rare combination of poet, dreamer, visionary, and
practical man of action, having much of the mental equipment and character
development which has been the foundation of inspired leadership throughout the
world's history. In another land, another age, he might have been prominent in
any one of a dozen lines of labor; in the environment in which he was born, and
in those places and times in which he lived, his genius found in Freemasonry
both an untitled field and an opportunity for expression of his poetry, his
idealism, his passion for improvement and for teaching.
He was either printer or bookbinder, or both-historians are a bit vague as to
which. His trade took him to Keene, New Hampshire, where, in Rising Sun Lodge,
on December 17th, 1790, he was made a Mason.
Not long after he married Miss Martha Hopkins, and went to live in Albany,
New York, where he owned and conducted a book store. Here he attended and worked
Masonically to such good advantage that he established both a Chapter of Royal
Arch Masonry and an Encampment of Knights Templary.
Just what other Masonic activities he had in Albany must be imagined, since
the records are scanty. But that he devoted much time and thought to Symbolic
Masonry is evident, since in 1797 he published the first edition of his
"Freemason's Monitor, or Illustrations of Masonry." The book, now comparatively
rare, although many copies are to be found in Libraries, bears no name as author
(it is "By a ROYAL ARCH MASON, K. T., K. of M., etc., etc.") But it is marked
"Printed at Albany for Spencer and Webb, Market-street," 1797," and subsequent
editions of the same work do bear his name. Thus, the edition of 1802, printed
in New York City, is "By Thomas S. Webb, Past Master of Temple Lodge, Albany,
and H. P. of the Providence Royal Arch Chapter."
The book has been of vast importance to American Grand Lodges, most of which
adhere rather strictly to his text, which is, of course, of the written or
exoteric work. Here the curious may find the 133rd Psalm in the charge at
opening" - here also is the familiar prayer at closing "May the blessing of
heaven rest upon us and all regular Masons, may brotherly love prevail, and
every moral and social virtue cement us." Here are those paragraphs which have
come down unchanged in many petitions for the degrees, in which the petitioner
"seriously declares upon his honor" that the petition is made "unbiased by
friends, uninfluenced by mercenary motives---a desire for knowledge and a
sincere wish of being serviceable to your fellow creatures, etc." Here, too, are
familiar prayers-"Vouchsafe thine aid, Almighty Father of the Universe ...Thou,
Oh God, knowest our down sittings and our uprisings . . ."
It is to Thomas Smith Webb that ritualists owe the necessity to memorize
those fine mouthfuls of paragraphs of the four cardinal virtues. It is Webb that
the Senior Deacon or other officer in the Second degree must memorize to utter
his description of Grammar, Rhetoric, Logic, Arithmetic, Geometry, Music and
Astronomy, not to mention the five orders of architecture and the five senses.
To Webb we owe the charges of the degrees and the words regarding many an
Emblem, including Bee Hive, Pot of Incense, Book of Constitutions, Sword and
Naked Heart, All Seeing Eve, Anchor and Ark, Forty Seventh Problem, Hour Glass
and Scytlie.
. And finally, in many a Grand jurisdiction, the installation of a newly
elected Master is conducted in the very words which Webb printed, with hardly a
deviation, from "You agree to be a good man and true" to "Do vou agree to these
charges---as masters have done in all ages before you?"
Much of Webb is really Preston. The point is not that Webb originated,
when as a matter of fact so much of his labor was but rearrangement,
abbreviation, and changing to fit American conditions, but that Webb published
an American book, for American Masons, and then put the driving
force of his personality, his zeal, his enthusiasms and his marked ability as a
teacher behind that which he had published. It is to Webb the teacher, the
Masonic zealot, to whom American Masons are indebted so heavily, not Webb the
originator or the inspired writer. The important angle is that Webb so believed
in what he did that he went out of his way to teach it, preach it, fight for it,
memorize it, make others memorize it, spread it. Freemasonry in early days had
little if any unity in work. While the essentials were the same, the variations
were enormous, and Ancient and Modern, Scottish and Irish, English and local
"work" was a veritable hodge podge throughout the colonies.
Webb and his labors brought, to some extent, order. The esoteric work of all
American jurisdictions differs-between some but little, between others, much.
But the printed work is markedly similar in a majority of our jurisdictions.
This is Webb's monument. He was clever enough to see the need of simplicity (as
men in those, days conceived simplicity, poet enough not to alter old
phraseology when it would serve his purpose, scholar enough to weave a thread of
continuity (where our printed and esoteric work is noncontinuous in thought the
fault may usually be traced to some early "committee on work" or "Grand
Lecturer" who cut, slashed and altered with no knowledge of what they or he did,
or to faulty memorize in the "colonization" days of the westward spread of
Masonry).
In 1801 Webb went to Providence, R. I., there to engage rather extensively in
the manufacture of wall paper. His reputation as a Masonic teacher and authority
had preceded him, so that a Committee from St. john's Lodge waited upon him, to
ask him to become a member. This he did; having been Master of Temple Lodge in
Albany, N. Y., he acquired membership in the Grand Lodge of Rhode Island, was
elected Junior Grand Warden in 1802, Senior Grand Warden in 1803 and for several
years immediately following, Deputy Grand Master in 1811, Grand Master in 1813
and 1814, declining a re-election in 1815.
His memory is revered in the Grand Lodge of his adoption, not only for his
character and attainments, his insight and his ceaseless activities in spreading
Masonic light, but also because he was intimately concerned in one of the
patriotic endeavors of that Grand Lodge.
From the History of Freemasonry in Rhode Island appears the following account
of this incident:
"At a Special Communication held in Providence, Sept. 27, 1814, the following
resolution was adopted:
'Voted and Resolved, That this Grand Lodge, sensible of the importance at all
times of aiding and assisting in the defense of our Beloved Country, and deeming
it important at this critical moment that the services of this society should be
tendered for the erection of fortifications, etc., do appoint the R. W. Dept.
Grand Master, Grand Senior Warden and W. Br. John Carlie a Committee to tender
the services of the members of the Grand Lodge, and of such of the members of
the subordinate Lodges under its jurisdiction as can conveniently, attend, to
the Committee of Defence, appointed by the Citizens of the Town.
'Voted and Resolved, that Tuesday the 3d of October next be the day upon
which the Grand Lodge will assemble for the purpose above named, provided it
should meet the sanction of said Committee of Defense, and that the aforesaid
Committee be requested to take the necessary measures to carry the same into
effect.'
"The Grand Lodge met pursuant to its purpose thus declared., and the
following is the official record of the day's doings---October 3, 1814:
'The Grand Lodge was opened in ample form. Present: M. W. Thomas Smith Webb,
Grand Master; R. W. Amos Maine Atwell, Dept. Grand Master; W. William Wilkinson,
Senr Grand Warden; W. John Davis, Junr Grand Warden; W. Benjamin Clifford, Grand
Treasurer; W. John Holroyd Grand Secry; W. John Snow, Senr Grand Deacon; W. Sam]
Jackson, Junr Grand Deacon; W. Ebenezer Johnson, Grand Marshal; Br. William P.
R. Benson, Grand Tyler,
'A great number of Brethren, Mt. Moriah, Friendship, Union, Manchester &
Morning Star Lodges and also many Brethren from Eastern Star Lodge, Rehoboth
(Mass) together with the members of St. Johns & Mount Vernon Lodges, at 8
o'clock A. M. the Grand Lodge with the members of the Subordinate Lodges about
two hundred & thirty in number formed a grand procession and accompanied by,
musick, moved to Foxpoint at the south part of the Town and commenced the
erection of a Fort as laid out by the Committee of Defence. At sunset they
completed their labours, having finished a Breastwork of about 430 feet in
length and about ten feet wide and five feet high, after which a Grand
Procession was formed and having marched several times upon the parapet from one
extremity to the other the M. W. Grand Master in the name of the Grand Lodge of
the State of Rhode Island, etc., gave it the dignified appellation of Fort
Hiram. In the evening the Grand Lodge waited upon his Excellency the Governor
and obtained his approbation of the proceeding and his sanction to the name
which had been given to the Fort. Perhaps in no instance has there been a
greater work accomplished in one day, by an equal number of persons than was
done on this ever memorable occasion---the day was remarkable fine and the
Brethren evinced that refreshment was designed only as an incentive to active
exertions when called to labour. At an early hour the Brethren separated
enjoying the consoling reflection of having done their duty.
'From the minutes of Mr. Holroyd.
WALKER HUMPHRY,
Dept. Grand Secretary.' "
If this Bulletin had more space, much might be utilized for retelling the
activities of this pioneer in American ritual, in the spread of Capitular and
Commandery Masonry. Such facts belong in any complete account of his life and
works. But here he is considered merely for his interest in and labors for
Symbolic Freemasonry. Suffice it to be said that his influence was largely felt
in the establishment of Chapters of the Royal Arch (instead of conferring the
Capitular degrees in Symbolic Lodges) and the General Grand Chapter of the
United States. He was successively Grand Scribe, General Grand King and finally
Deputy General Grand High Priest. He traveled much in the Middle West,
establishing Chapters and Encampments but never forgetting his love for Symbolic
Freemasonry, and spreading the light of his arrangement of Preston wherever he
went.
In general it may be said that few if any brethren have had a greater
influence upon the Craft in this country. His labors have stood the acid test of
time, a fact attested to by the well nigh universal use of exoteric work first
to be brought to American Freemasonic eyes through the justly famous Webb
Monitor.
On his retiring from the office, his Grand Lodge, by a unanimous vote,
expressed its grateful acknowledgment "for the great and signal services he has
rendered to Freemasonry in general, and particularly in this State."
Webb died suddenly, at Cleveland, Ohio, in July, 1819. Acting with other
Masonic organizations in Rhode Island, the Grand Lodge brought his body back to
Providence, and gave to it an honored Masonic burial at an Emergent
Communication held Nov. 8, 1819. The remains of this brilliant Freemason are
interred in the North Burial Ground, Providence, where an unpretentious memorial
erected by the Grand Lodge bears witness to the fame and usefulness of this
indefatigable laborer in the quarries.
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