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JOSHUA FLINT 1801-1864

Grand Master, 1835-1837

TERM

1835 1836 1837

NOTES

BIOGRAPHY

Joshua B. Flint was born in Cohasset, Mass., and died March 19, 1864. He was the son of Rev. Jacob (James) Flint, a true gentleman of the old school, and much beloved by his people. He was the clergyman of Cohasset previous to the time when the town was divided into parishes. Professor Flint was fitted for Harvard University at home, and graduated with honor in 1820. Soon after leaving the university, he became the assistant master of the English classical school in Boston, in which service he remained two years. At the end of that time he commenced the study of medicine as private pupil of Dr. John C. Warren, matriculating as a student in the medical department of Harvard University. He received the degree of Doctor of Medicine after completing the usual term of pupilage, and was immediately selected as a candidate for practice in Boston, where he resided until 1837.

During that year he received an invitation from the managers of the Louisville Medical Institute, then just going into operation, to occupy the chair of surgery in its first Faculty. He accepted the proposal, removed to Louisville, and remained there in the practice of his profession during the rest of his life. At the end of three, years, he resigned his chair in the Institute and a few years afterwards accepted the professorship of surgery in the Kentucky School of Medicine, at its commencement as a department of the Masonic College at Lagrange.

While in Boston he was for a number of years physician of the County penitentiary institution, and was appointed one of the medical commission to visit New York in 1832 for the purpose of making observations in the then novel pestilence - cholera. In 1827 or 1828, he established a course of popular lectures on anatomy, the first it is believed in the country, or even in the world, where that science was taught publicly and to miscellaneous classes illustrated by actual dissections.

At the times when an effort was to be made in the legislature of Massachusetts to legalize the study of anatomy he was elected as a representative from Boston with a special view to the services which a medical gentleman interested on that subject and well informed respecting it might render in its behalf. He was on the committee that proposed a report and submitted a project of law which led to the first legistative action promotive of human dissection, or the dissection of human bodies, which, probably, ever took place. He was continued in the legislature three years. He was, also, several times elected to the Common Council of Boston from the fourth ward, where he resided.

He was an ardent and influential member of the Masonic Fraternity and filled many places of trust and honor with credit to himself and with usefulness to those whom he served. He was made a Mason in Columbian Lodge, in this city, November 20, 1822, admitted a member March 6, 1823, and an honorary member in 1840. He served as Marshal in 1824; as Senior Deacon in 1825 and 1826; as Junior Warden in 1827; and as Master in 1828, 1830, 1831, 1832, and 1833. The latter office he resigned, October 20, 1828 on account of leaving the country; and again, October 3, 1833, probably because he had been appointed District Deputy Grand Master. He was the District Deputy Grand Master of the First District, in 1833, 1834, and 1835; and Grand Master in 1836 and 1837. The highest degree taken by him in Masonry is that of Master Mason. He delivered several Masonic addresses at the request of Brethren; one at the centennial celebration of St. John's Lodge, one for St. John's day, at Concord, and several before Columbian Lodge.

Page 1883-274; presentation of portrait.

PRESENTATION OF PORTRAITS OF PAST GRAND MASTERS.

W. Walter M. Cameron, Master of Columbian Lodge, of Boston, communicated a vote of that Lodge, presenting to the Grand Lodge the portraits of Past Grand Masters Joshua B. Flint and William D. Coolidge. Upon motion of R.W. Charles A. Welch, it was voted that these portraits be accepted and the thanks of the Grand Lodge be returned to Columbian Lodge for its most valuable gift.

In connection with this presentation, W. Brother Cameron submitted the following letter from W. Brother Wm. T. R. Marvin, containing an interesting sketch of the life of Past Grand Master Flint : —

BOSTON, December 12, 1883.
MR. WALTER M. CAMERON:

DEAR SIR AND WORSHIPFUL BROTHER, At a regular Communication of Columbian Lodge held on Thursday evening, December 6, it was unanimously voted, That the Worshipful Master be authorized to present to the Grand Lodge the portraits of R.W. Bro. Wm. D. Coolidge and R.W. Bro. Joshua B. Flint, now hanging on the walls of Sutton Hall.

It gives me personally great pleasure to communicate this vote, for two reasons: first, because both of these portraits were painted by order of Columbian Lodge during the time that I had the honor of filling the position you now occupy; and, secondly, because, having been honored by the Grand Lodge with the chairmanship of a committee specially appointed to obtain portraits of our Past Grand Masters, it is very gratifying to me to have my own Lodge give such valuable aid in carrying out this plan, and thus do its share towards restoring to its former completeness that gallery of portraits so unfortunately destroyed by the burning of our old Temple. R.W. Bro. Coolidge is now the oldest living Past Grand Master, and his services to Masonry ha\e long been known and appreciated by the Fraternity; long may it be before we must particularize them.

R.W. Bro. Joshua B. Flint was a native of Cohasset. He was made a Mason in Columbian Lodge, November 20, 1822, and served it as Marshal, Senior Deacon, Junior Warden, and Mastei. occupying the Oriental chair for five years, — in 1828, '30, '31, '32, and '33, resigning in the latter year to become District Deputy Grand Master of the first District, to which position he was appointed fifty years ago to-day, and which he filled most acceptably for three years, becoming Grand Master in February, 1835, and serving'in that capacity until September 1837.

This honor was conferred upon him at an earlier age, both as a Mason and a man, than on any one before, or, I believe, since. In writing to our late R.W. Bro. Heard, Bio. Flint said, in reference to it : —

"That office, at all times an eminently honorable and dignified one, was esteemed by me peculiarly honorable to myself, in view of the circumstances and considerations which determined my selection. The Institution was in the midst of a bitter persecution. Many of those who had been intrusted with responsible offices had been seduced by the allurements of political ambition, and betrayed the interests that had been committed to them by a confiding Fraternity, under assurances and engagements to fidelity which only the baseness of desperate villany could disregard. 'We must refrain fiom our usual practice of devoting to the Grand Mastership some Brother whose distinction in public life blends itself becomingly and favorably with the highest Masonic dignity,' said the Brethren. 'We can't trust such candidates for political promotion,— we must find a man who has no such temptation, and on whose fidelity we can rely.' Herein was the special honor of the office as it was conferred upon me.

"'He will not betray us,' said that vote of the Brethren of the Grand Lodge, who had known me well, — a vote by which I was placed in the most responsible and dignified Masonic position in the Commonwealth. This assurance of then confidence was better than the office, and has been felt by me to be so ever since. . . .

"During a large part of my Masonic experience in Boston, the Institution was passing thiough the ordeal of a relentless persecution. ' It tried the spirits.' It showed that many weak, and some wicked persons had unfortunately found admission to an Institution where the one class is almost as much out of place as the other. The former were too easily frightened or coaxed into a renunciation of their Masonic vows; — the latter took their 'thirty pieces of silver,' gave the treacherous kiss, and imitated their great prototype in all but the contrition, which was his only redeeming trait. But it showed also that there were good men and true, worthy disciples of that ancient Masonic martyr whom they had all once personified.

"With an intelligent appreciation of their rights as citizens, and a lively sense of their Masonic obligations, these men were unmoved alike by legislative dictation, the denunciations of the press, the counsel of time-serving friends, and by every other form of action which the impertinent rascality of anti-Masonry assumed. They were 'true as steel,' those Masons of Boston and Massachusetts who breasted that storm, and defied those who raised and ruled it. I shall always honor and love them, and be proud in the recollection of having been even one of the least of so resolute and faithful a band."

Rt. Wor. Bro. Flint was distinguished for his medical and surgical skill, having received his degree in 1825 fiom Harvard College, where he graduated in 1820.

He was Professor of Surgery at Louisville Medical Institute, and afterwards in the Kentucky School of Medicine, which was for a time connected with the Masonic College at La Grange. He is believed to have been the first in this country, if not in the world, to establish a course of popular lectures on anatomy, where that science was taught publicly and to miscellaneous classes. He filled various offices in the State and city government, as well as many honorable appointments in connection with his profession.

Rt. Wor. Bro. Flint died in 1864. He was beloved as a physician, skilful as a surgeon, a faithful friend, and an earnest and devoted Mason.

The portiaits were both painted by the well-known artist Billings. Of the fidelity of the likeness of Bro. Coolidge the Brethren are well able to judge, although, since it has taken, Time has been standing behind him, with his hands enfolded in his hair.

That of Bro. Flint was painted fiom a small carte de visite, which was the only available likeness the Lodge could obtain; but it has been highly praised for its fidelity, both by his early friends and members of his family.

Fraternally yours,
W. T. R. MARVIN,
Secretary Columbian Lodge.

(See also Historical account of Columbian Lodge page 513.)

CHARTERS GRANTED

None.

Grand Masters