Freemasonry in America Prior to 1750 - Being an Address #263500

This has led some argumentative Brethren to assert that there is naught but tradition of duly constituted Masonry in America prior to 1750. And it has led me to attempt a chronological compilation of all the real known facts of Masonry in America prior to the middle of the eighteenth century with references to the original evidence, most of which I have personally examined. Now and then are also included, for convenience of the student, references to cer tain things which even some of our best historians and their readers have swallowed with much consequent ptomaine poisoning. No pretension is made that this is complete. It does con tain, however, everything for which the investigations of the writer have disclosed credible and authentic evidence. It is hoped that others may be stimulated to publish all possible facts of the period for which they can and do cite authority worthy of and available for examination and test as to historical accuracy.