fraternity held a lodge & initiated a Number of
blacks. After the Peace they sent to
England
& obtained a Charter, under the authority of the
Duke of Cumberland & signed by the Earl of
Effingham.
[The original charter engrossed on Parchment with
the signature & seal has been shewn to me, & tho'
I am not one of the Fraternity, yet I have been
assured by Gentlemen of candour & credibility
who do belong to the Craft it, that this charter is
authentic.] This Lodge at present consists of
about 30 Persons, & care is taken that none but
good moral Characters are admitted. One of the kidnapped negroes mentioned
under Qu 5. was of this Lodge & was acknowledged
by some of ye Fraternity in St Bartho: [Some white
brethn have visited this lodge, but none of
the
blacks have yet been admitted to visited the Lodges
of the white brethren, nor do I know that they have
ever applied & been refused.] I shall add to
this acco the following note which has been sent
me
by a white Mason of good Character respecting this
matter. "The African lodge in
Boston tho' possessing
a Charter from
England, meet by themselves, & white
Masons not more skilled in Geometry than their