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       GRAND LODGE OF THE UNITED STATES of AMERICA ?????

     Morristown New Jersey, the Green (yes, the townsquare is still there),
on the west side, a blue sign, like traffic sign but in the middle of the
block, "Arnolds' Tavern, site of Jacob Arnolds Tavern, used as Washingtons'
headquarters Jan through May 1777. " Park under the sign, step out and look
up at a two story brick business building (name tastefully across the top
Reynolds Building), walk up to the double doors, high on the left is another
Bronze sign, " Continental Army Encampment, Site Of Arnolds Tavern.
Headquarters of General Washington, Jan-May 1777.
     Get goose bumps when you think about what happened 213 years ago...
     The American Union Lodge, the main Lodge of the Continental Army,
often met at Arnolds Tavern in 1777 and at their regular meeting on the
15th of December 1779 it's Master Major, Jonathan Hart, was appointed
one of a joint committee from all the Lodges present to 'take into
consideration some matters for the good of Masonry."
     On St Johns Day, the 27th of December, 1779, a meeting was held
at Arnolds' Tavern. General Mordecai Gist read a petition calling for
the formation of a General Grand Lodge for all the United States.
Attendance included all the Lodges in the area and included Washington
and his staff. From this a committee was appointed to prepare and
circulate the petition to all known Military & Grand Lodges. (At
that time Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts had working
grand Lodges). This committee met on Feb 7th 1778 and prepared
copies of the Petition for circulation.
     However on Jan 13th 1780 at a emergent meeting of the Grand Lodge of
Pennsylvania it was passed that a Grand Master be elected to serve entire
United States. Using due process George Washington was then duly elected.
A committee was then appointed to advise all other jurisdictions of the
action. The matter was passed back & forth through the slow mail and
finally died with a resolution by  Mass. that the decision should wait
until general peace again take it's place upon the continent. It has
been stated that Washington on hearing of this said he would decline
as he had not served as a Warden.
     Jacob Arnold was the Colonel of "Arnolds Light Horse" Cavalry,
Washington's body guard while in New Jersey in 1777 and 1779. He was
also a charter member (1803) of Cincinnati Lodge # 17 (now # 3).
From Bro. Tom W. Thornton of  Cincinnati Lodge No.3, New Jersey.


      Fraternal greetings from SE Pennsylvania!!
          o  George S. Robinson, Jr., PM  o
         /^\    Mt. Pickering Lodge      /^\
       \/ G \/    No. 446 F & A M      \/ G \/
       / \./ \  G.L.of Pennsylvania    / \./ \
          ^                               ^

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 * Origin: Del Ches Systems BBS - Exton,PA 610-363-6625 Since 1983 (1:273/323)