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JOSIAH BARTLETT

Grand Master, 1798-1799; 1810.

TERM

1798 1799

1810

NOTES

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

From remarks by Past Grand Master Charles T. Gallagher, at the Feast of St. John 1909; Proceedings, Page 1909-227:

"Brother Josiah Bartlett was a physician of high character and standing, and is known in the Middlesex, Suffolk, and Massachusetts Medical societies as a very eminent man. Dr. Thacher said of him that he probably did more for the Massachusetts Medical Society of his time than any one has done for it since. He was trhe personal friend of Dr. John Warren our Past Grand Master, the founder of that latter body. Brother Bartlett was born in Charlestown in 1759, and was a charter member and the first Master of King Solomon's Lodge in 1783, being less than twenty-four years old, and it is remarkable to note the amount of work that he did, the influence which he had, and the position which he took in the Grand Lodge as well as the community at large, at a time when Masonry was almost in its formative state in this country.

"He began an active career at an early age. At sixteen he was at Bunker Hill, holding the position of Surgeon's Mate to Dr. John Warren. He was made a full Surgeon soon after and served through the rest of the war in our American Army. The year 1783 was one which marked three important events in his life; it was the year when he got through with the Revolutionary War and took up civil life; the same year he was married, and also entered Masonry; apparently he did well in all these things; for besides being a successful physician and high in Masonry he had had at the time of his death sixteen children by that marriage.

"Time will not permit in an address the enumeration of details that would enlarge this speech to the dignity of a biography but I have seen thirteen of his addresses and orations, each scholarly and of great moment, while his ordinary speeches and papers were unnumbered. But it is as a Mason that we are especially interested in him. In 1786 he delivered his first public oration at the founding of Warren Hall in Charlestown; his last was as chairman of a reception committee when President Monroe visited Charlestown in 1817. He held almost evely position of prominence in his town, military, civil, and magisterial. He was a Major, school committeeman, selectman, moderator, civil magistrate, Representative, Senator and Councillor, besides being one of the committee to build Charlestown Bridge, and the founder of the Harvard Congregational Church; in three medical societies he held honorable positions.

"I think in his day Charlestown included what is now Malden, where we get Grand Masters and other men who compose our Grand Lodge; I believe we have seven men living in Malden who hold office in it now ! (Laughter.) If this goes on we may have to move the Grand Lodge over there. (Laughter.)

"While Dr. Bartlett was installed Grand Master in 1809, one hundred years ago to-night, he was previously installed on the twenty-seventh of December, 1798, and again in 1799; he was one of the Committee of three, consisting of Dr. John Warren, Paul Revere and himself, deputed by the Grand Lodge to receive from Martha Washington that lock of hair of our immortal patriot and foremost Mason, which is kept in the golden urn fashioned by Paul Revere, and cherished as one of our most precious possessions to be received as a sacred trust by the incoming Grand Master at each new installation.

"He was one of the pall-bearers at the funeral of Dr. John Warren, and later delivered an oration on his life and character in the presence of our Grand Lodge at an open meeting which was attended by the Governor, State and city officials and very many people of note; the oration is spoken of as an extremely fine literary production and one that will go into history as a classic.

"I find in his address when he was elected Grand Master in 1798, these quaint words, It is my purpose to attend with punctuality the meetings of this Grand Lodge, but some inconveniences may arise from my not residing in Boston . . . if I do not attend the meeting, in half an hour from the time affixed, you will consider me necessarily absent, and that the business may commence under the Deputy Grand Master.

"However, for two years he attended every meeting except the last two, and apparently he absented himself from these because he did not wish to be re-elected. He was, however, re-elected later and was acting Grand Master several times in after years, and there are few names that occur as many times as that of Josiah Bartlett in the printed volume of our Grand Lodge records; the installation service composed by him covering three or four printed pages, which he used in installing Timothy Bigelow, is a jewel of literary composition. He was Master of his Lodge at twenty four, and from then almost to the day of his death, March 3, 1820, he was not only active and deeply interested in Freemasonry but he enriched its literature and crystallized its landmarks in our jurisdiction as few have done before or since.

"In a brief and hasty sketch of this Brother, I have outlined something of his value, but we cannot think too much or consider too long the good that he accomplished in his time and by his deeds. After all he simply did what all the old worthies of his time tried to do; unselfish and patriotic, each gave all his talents to his associations, his church and the public weal; and it is increasingly brought home to us by the lives of such men how much we owe to them for what they did for us; all honor to these men of a hundred years ago; may their names be sung at least annually and their memories honored continually, so that we and those who come after us may be incited to present duty and future thought. The tribute of Dr Thacher on Dr. Bartlett is appropriate in closing:

"He was remarkable for industry, activity and intelligence. He never declined any duty which was assigned him, and always executed it speedily and thoroughly.

"Thomas Hopkins said of him: He was eminent in his profession, skillful in his practice, and his helping hand was always ready and open to aid in public improvements and private charities."

From Moore's Freemason's Monthly, Vol. XVIII, No. 6, April 1859, Page 169:

Hon. JOSIAH BARTLETT, M. D. Was the third Grand Master of Massachusetts, after the Union in 1792, and was the son of George Bartlett and Katharine Whittemore. He was born in Charlestown, August 11, 1759, where he died March 3d, 1820. He entered the American army, as physician and surgeon, at the commencement of the revolutionary war, and on its termination, he resumed the practice of his profession in Charlestown. He was a member of the Mass. Medical Society, in 1794; of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences; and of the Historical Society. He represented the County of Middlesex in the Senate of Massachusetts one or more years. He was Senior Grand Warden in 1792 and 1793; Deputy Grand Master in 1794; and Grand Master in 1793, 1799 and 1810. He was a member of King Solomon's Lodge, over which he presided for a time, as Master.

SPEECHES

ADDRESS AT ST. ANDREW'S LODGE, APRIL 1810

From Moore's Freemason's Monthly, Vol. XXXII, No. 7, July 1873, Page 199:

A VOICE FROM THE PAST.

The following address was delivered before St. Andrew's Lodge, at the old Green Dragon Tavern in Boston, on the 12th of April, 1810, by Dr. Josiah Bartlett, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of this Commonwealth, and we take pleasure in laying it before our readers as a chaste and elegant production. The author was a fine scholar, and in his day was one of the most distinguished members of the medical profession. He had previously been Grand Master, and served in that capacity in the years 1797 and 1798, when he retired, but was again elected to the same office in December 1809 and held until the following December. He was a charter member of King Solomon's Lodge, Charlestown, where he resided for many years, in the practice of his profession. He was the first Master of the Lodge in 1783, and presided over it in the years 1783, '84, '87, '92 and 1808. He died in 1820. St. Andrew's Lodge, before which the address was delivered, was chartered by the Grand Lodge of Scotland in 1756, and was mainly instrumental in the organization of the second Grand Lodge in Boston, known as the "Massachusetts Grand Lodge," in contra-distinction to the " St. John's Grand Lodge," previously established under the English authority. At the union of these two bodies in 1792, St. Andrew's Lodge declined to recognize the compact, and resumed its connection with the mother Grand Lodge of Scotland, which connection was continued until December 1809, when, the objections being removed, it came under the jurisdiction of the United Grand Lodge. In April following, the M.W. Grand Master Bartlett paid it his first official visit, on which occasion he delivered the following address. It is a model °f 't8 kind, and will be read with interest, especially by many of our older brethren who are conversant with the early history of the institution in this Commonwealth :—

ADDRESS.

My Respected Brethren:— When I recollect that within these walls were displayed the early specimens of Masonic eloquence in our conntry; that beneath this venerable Arch, the distinguished badge I so unworthily wear, was first suspended on our illustrious Warren, whose life and death were instructive lessons of benevolence and patriotism; that around this ancient altar, commenced the labors of the late Massachusetts Grand Lodge, the influence of which, in connection with a similar institution (the late St. John's Grand Lodge) has extended from the limits of this Metropolis to every section of our territory; and especially when I indulge a pleasing fancy, that your respected predecessors are viewing with complacency, an official visit from your adopted patron, whilst at the same time they bestow a grateful remembrance on your distant parent, I feel sensations easier for you to conceive than for me to describe, and which you can but reciprocate by expressive silence.

In the appropriate duties of this occasion, I shall only remark, on the Masonic history, that its doctrines and precepts may be readily traced from the luxuriant garden of paradise to the magnificent city of Jerusalem, where, the capacious mind of the illustrious Solomon, comprehending the traditions of the most remote antiquity, applied the instruments of operative Masons to illustrate the principles of our Order, and establish a system, which for six thousand years, has resisted the influence of ignorance, superstition and political contention; whilst its genial power in every age, has softened the calamities of war, and alleviated the miseries of man.

Reverence to.the Supreme Architect of the Universe, a dignified obedience to the civil authority, an affectionate regard to the characters and interests of our brethren, justice to our neighbors, and unfeigned benevolence are its avowed objects; to preserve and cherish these as far as we are able, is the duty of all who are united by its solemn obligations.

The erection of Lodges, the adoption of general regulations, and an uniformity in practice, so far as the habits and customs of different countries will allow, have been always inculcated; and the formation and support of Grand Lodges, whose authority should comprehend a convenient territory, have been found by long experience, to promote the prosperity of the Fraternity. No arguments are necessary to confirm this fact in the United States. A regular intercourse among the brethren has extensively diffused its benefits, and the flourishing state of eighty-six Lodges within this jurisdiction, evinces, at least au equal progress with other establishments, for the promotion of public and private happiness.

Among the various duties of the Grand Lodge, that of visiting the Lodges is by no means the least important. With the power of "examining their records and proceedings, and seeing that no innovations are committed," we are enabled to judge of the care and qualifications of those who are appointed to govern and instruct the brethren; and by inculcating a strict obedience to the Constitution and Laws, we contribute our aid to preserve the ancient land-marks.

A punctual attendance at the stated meetings, when your necessary avocations will permit; caution in the admission and advancement of candidates; discretion in the election of officers; a judicious improvement of the lessons you are taught, and a prudent appropriation of your funds, are indispensable; for in vain we may extol the beauties of Masonry, or boast of its numerous advantages, if we are not distinguished by a correspondent conduct.

The R. W. Master and Wardens will permit me to require a constant attendance at the Grand Lodge, either by themselves or a well-informed representative, especially at the election of officers; this is among the most essential duties of their appointment, for it is by punctuality, candour, moderation and unanimity, that every institution is respected and prosperous.

We now, my respected brethren, congratulate you on the present situation of St. Andrew's Lodge, and from the result of this auspicious interview, we are bound to remark, that the wisdom of your by-laws, the accuracy of your records, the regularity of your proceedings, and the respectful address of your R. W. Master, discover a continuance of that laudable zeal, which for nearly sixty years has been successfully exerted for its respectable support. The cradle of its infancy was rocked with anxious solicitude, its blooming youth was defended with vigilance and assiduity, and its revered manhood, cherished by industry and perseverance, will conduct it to an honourable old age, which is not confined, like the fleeting days of man, to a single generation. Your knowledge of the nature and design of our institution ; your experience in its ceremonies, and a strict observance of the precepts which, from a pressure of other associations, I have barely hinted at, will best preserve and extend its usefulness. Erected on the rock of Charity, and cemented by beneficence, it will remain unshaken, when you, and your successors, are numbered with its venerable founders, whom we humbly hope, are participating in the pleasures of that exalted Grand Lodge, tiled with impenetrable secrecy, and from whence no traveller returns.

EXTRACT FROM 1790 ORATION

CHARTERS GRANTED

1798-1799

• 03/13/1798 Marine, Falmouth
• 03/14/1798 Mount Moriah, Reading
• 03/16/1798 Social, Ashby
• 03/16/1798 Eastern Star, Rehoboth
• 06/12/1798 King David, Taunton

1810

• 03/12/1810 Fredonia, Northboro
• 06/11/1810 Mystic, Lanesboro

Grand Masters