The recent Tea Parties across the nation advocating the return to traditional values and principles (I dare say Masonic values and principles) bring to mind the lead up to the original one in Boston on December 16, 1773. The following are some excerpts from "Freemasons In The American Revolution" by Charles S. Lobingier:
"At the outbreak of the Revolution, Masonic Lodges in America were few and feeble. The oldest of them had existed less that half a century and the membership was exceedingly small. But what was lacking in members was more than supplied in quality. The Freemasons of that period included the flower of colonial citizenship and their very fewness was a source of strength. In a small lodge all could know and trust each other. Hence it is not strange that some of these colonial lodges became the centers of revolutionary thought.
Foremost among these was the Lodge of St. Andrew at Boston. Founded in 1756 and chartered by the Grand Lodge of Scotland in 1760, it began its career independent of English influence and just in time to share in the opening scenes of the war for independence. Joseph Warren was its Master, and on its rolls were the names of John Hancock, and James Otis and many others who are now recognized as the leading characters of that eventful epoch. And almost every important movement in the patriotic cause in Boston, preceding and precipitating the Revolution, may be traced back directly or indirectly to St. Andrew's Lodge.
The famous "Sons of Liberty," organized in 1765 to resist the enforcement of the Stamp Act, were but an offshoot of this Lodge, and was also the "North End Caucus" to which was committed the execution of some of the most daring plans of the patriots. Both of these organizations met at the Green Dragon Tavern which was owned and occupied by St. Andrew's Lodge, and the members of the latter were leaders in the former. It was at this tavern that the historic Boston Tea Party was planned by Warren, (Paul) Revere and other members of St. Andrew's. The records of the lodge disclose that on the evening after the tea-laden ships arrived in Boston harbor there was an adjournment on account of small attendance and the secretary adds the significant note that "consignees of tea took the brethren's time." The minutes of December 16, 1773, the date of the tea party, show that the lodge was again adjourned until the next evening. Its members were among that band of enthusiasts who had boarded the ships and were rapidly heaving the obnoxious tea into the waters of Boston Harbor.
In the days that followed it was Paul Revere of St. Andrew's Lodge who earned the title of :The Patriotic Mercury" or "The Messenger of the Revolution."
