The Jews and Masonry in the United States Before 1810
The Jewish role in the formation and leadership of Scottish Rite Masonry
-- by: Samuel Oppenheim, 1910-02, source: American Jewish Historical Quarterly, Vol 19
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4. Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut
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MAINE, NEW HAMPSHIRE, AND VERMONT.
Maine and Vermont Masonic lodge proceedings, accessible to the writer, show no reference to Jews before 1810.
In New Hampshire, Abraham Isaacs is noted [39] as present at a Grand Lodge meeting in 1798. In 1799 he was appointed as one of the Grand Stewards, and also acted in that year as Junior Grand Deacon. In 1801 he is noted as member of Washington Lodge, No. 13, of Portsmouth, and in 1803 again as Grand Steward. His name appears as one of the signers on November 15, 1799, of a petition to the General Court of the State of New Hampshire, by St. John's Lodge, F. & A. M., for leave to become incorporated. [40]
No other printed reference to Jews is found for this State.
CONNECTICUT.
In Connecticut, Solomon Pinto is met with as a Mason in New Haven, in 1762. From December of that year to December, 1764, he was Junior Warden of Hiram Lodge, No. 1, organized in 1750, and was probably a member some time before becoming Junior Warden. In 1770 he is noted as Secretary. [41]
He served during the Revolution as an officer from Connecticut. [42]
Ralph Isaacs was also a member of the same lodge, of which he was elected Secretary in December, 1762, and Master in 1770. [43]
Benjamin Isaacs is mentioned [44] as the first Master of St. John's Lodge of Norwalk, constituted May 23, 1765.
David Marks, as Senior Warden of Aurora Lodge, No. 35, of Harwinton, is noted as present at a Grand Lodge meeting in 1799, and later is noted as Junior Warden of his lodge. [45] His name is suggested as possibly Jewish.
Fontaine Raphael, who may have been a Jew, was admitted a member of St. John's Lodge, of Hartford, on August 26, 1789. [46]
Notes
39. Reprint of "Proceedings of Grand Lodge of N. H., 1789-1841".
40. Leon Hiihner, Publications of the American Jewish Historical Society, No. 11, p. 98, makes mention of this petition, and gives other facts in regard to Isaacs. His authority spells the name Isaac.
41. Centennial Celebration of Hiram Lodge, No. 1, at New Haven, Sept. 5, 1850. Address by Benjamin Huntoon, and Historical Sketch by Francois Turner.
42. Leon Hiihner, "The Jews of New England," Publications of the American Jewish Historical Society, No. 11, pp. 93-95.
43. Centennial Celebration of Hiram Lodge, No. 1, supra, and see infra, p. Ill, article by Leon Hiihner, "Jews in Connection with the Colleges of the Thirteen Original States Prior to 1800."
44. E. C. Storer, "Records of Freemasonry in the State of Connecticut", New Haven, 1859, p. 54.
45. Storer, supra, pp. 18, 123.
46. "Constitution and By-laws of the Grand Lodge of Connecticut and By-laws of St. John's Lodge, No. 4, of Hartford", published at Hartford, 1861.