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  • April 1, 1876
  • Page 38
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The Masonic Magazine, April 1, 1876: Page 38

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    Article BRO. DANIEL COXE—THE FATHER OF FREEMASONRY IN AMERICA. ← Page 3 of 4 →
Page 38

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Bro. Daniel Coxe—The Father Of Freemasonry In America.

Some of the information contained in this volume is remarkable , not only for its accuracy , but also for its geographical and national importance . For example , Ave read that "the Missouri river hath a course of 500 miles , navigable to its head

or springs , and which proceeds from a ridge of hills somewhat north of New Mexico . On the other sideare rivers which run intoa great lake , that empties itself by another great navigable river into the South Seas . " Now , the LeAvis and Yellowstone Rivers

clo head within a feAv miles of each other — a fact , however , that Avas not verified by other explorations for more than a century after Bro . Coxe ' s account was Avriften . Again we read of Corolana : " Cotton grows wild in the pod , and in great plenty ;

may be managed and improved as in our islands , and turned to as great account ; and in time , perhaps , manufactured either in this country , or Great Britain , Avhich may render it a commodity still more valuable . " Bro . Coxe here displayed Avonderful sagacity as to the importance of the cotton plantations of the South ,

which , afterwards , for so many years rendered Europe our debtor , and because one of the great regulators of our exchanges . The preface to "Carolana" also included suggestions ivhieh contain the fiist and

true foundation ideas of our American Union . Bro . Coxe proposed , for the more effectual defence of the British settlements against the French and Indians , that all the North American Colonies should be UNITED—that there should be a Supreme

Governor and a Great Council , consisting of two deputies from each Province , and that they should be convened by the Supreme Governor to consult and advise for the general good of all the Colonies . Grahame says truly , in his Colonial

History , "In this plan , Avhich was supported by great force of argument , we behold the germ of that more celebrated though less original project , which was again ineffectually recommended by Doctor Franklin in 1754 , and which , not many years after , was actually adopted . " We quote a part of Bro . Coxe ' s prophetic words :

" If the ancient Britons had been united among themselves , in all probability the Romans had never become their masters . So if the English Colonies in America

were consolidated as one body , and joined in one common interest , as they are under one gracious sovereign , and with united forces Avere ready and Avilling to act in concert , and assist each other , they would be better enabled to provide for and defend themselves against any troublesome

, ambitious neighbour , or bold invader . For Union and Concord increase and establish strength and power , Avhile Division and Discord have the contrary effect . " The reader Avill perceive that the contents of Bro . Coxe ' s book are of sufficient

importance to justify our extended mention of them . A reference to the Avork itself , Avhich may be found in any good public library , will more than substantiate all we have said of it .

Bro . Daniel Coxe Avas not only distinguished as an authcr , a legislator , a soldier , a lawyer , a jurist , and a Mason , but he was also an ardent and constant advocate of the advancement of religion in the Province of New Jersey . GEO . Ross , an Episcopal Missionary , in a letter to the

English Missionary Society , dated New Castle , August 28 , 1716 , and conveyed by Col . Coxe on his visit to England in that year , says , in a postscript : "This comes by Col . Coxe , of New Jersey , a good and constant friend of all

the Society ' s Missionaries in these parts , and I cannot but Avish that he may meet with that reception from all the members of that honourable body , that a person of his worth and merits , and one that is so hearty for the present constitution in

Church and State , is very deserving of , and has just pretensions to . " Again , later , Joseph Talbot , in another letter to the Society , dated Philadephia , Dec . 9 , 1723 , after speaking of the Church in BurlingtonN . J ., says : " Col . Coxe and

, Mr \ Trent have done their part towards the Society ' s house at Burlington . They have put it all in good order within and without . "

It Avill be noted that the first of these letters was written at the time of the height of the difference between Coxe and Governor Hunter . Bro . Daniel Coxe , the first Provincial Grand Master of Masons in Americadied

, at Burlington , N . J ., on April 25 th , 1739 , at the age of 65 years . He left two sons , John and Daniel Coxe , both of whom were distinguished . John

“The Masonic Magazine: 1876-04-01, Page 38” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 11 June 2025, django:8000/periodicals/mmg/issues/mmg_01041876/page/38/.
  • List
  • Grid
Title Category Page
Monthly Masonic Summary. Article 1
SONNET. Article 1
THE WILSON MANUSCRIPT CONSTITUTION. Article 2
AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF MASTER AND FREE MASONS. Article 7
AIMEE. Article 11
LIGHTS AND SHADOWS OF SCOTTISH FREEMASONRY. Article 11
LINES Article 14
THE ANTI-MASONIC VICAR Article 15
TO A SNOWDROP Article 17
"MILKLAT "—THE CITY OF REFUGE. Article 18
ODDS AND ENDS OF WIT AND HUMOUR. Article 19
CONTEMPORARY LETTERS ON THE FRENCH REVOLUTION. Article 24
ORATION Article 26
THE OLD FOLKS' PARTY. Article 28
BENEFIT MANKIND. Article 32
CURIOSITIES OF THE POST OFFICE. Article 32
THE WOMEN OF OUR TIME. Article 34
BRO. DANIEL COXE—THE FATHER OF FREEMASONRY IN AMERICA. Article 36
THE ORIGIN AND REFERENCES OF THE HERMESIAN SPURIOUS FREEMASONRY. Article 39
HALF-WAY DOIN'S. Article 42
GODFREY HIGGINS ON FREEMASONRY. Article 43
THE SITE OF SOLOMON'S TEMPLE DISCOVERED. Article 44
NOTES ON LITERATURE, SCIENCE AND ART. Article 46
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Page 38

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Bro. Daniel Coxe—The Father Of Freemasonry In America.

Some of the information contained in this volume is remarkable , not only for its accuracy , but also for its geographical and national importance . For example , Ave read that "the Missouri river hath a course of 500 miles , navigable to its head

or springs , and which proceeds from a ridge of hills somewhat north of New Mexico . On the other sideare rivers which run intoa great lake , that empties itself by another great navigable river into the South Seas . " Now , the LeAvis and Yellowstone Rivers

clo head within a feAv miles of each other — a fact , however , that Avas not verified by other explorations for more than a century after Bro . Coxe ' s account was Avriften . Again we read of Corolana : " Cotton grows wild in the pod , and in great plenty ;

may be managed and improved as in our islands , and turned to as great account ; and in time , perhaps , manufactured either in this country , or Great Britain , Avhich may render it a commodity still more valuable . " Bro . Coxe here displayed Avonderful sagacity as to the importance of the cotton plantations of the South ,

which , afterwards , for so many years rendered Europe our debtor , and because one of the great regulators of our exchanges . The preface to "Carolana" also included suggestions ivhieh contain the fiist and

true foundation ideas of our American Union . Bro . Coxe proposed , for the more effectual defence of the British settlements against the French and Indians , that all the North American Colonies should be UNITED—that there should be a Supreme

Governor and a Great Council , consisting of two deputies from each Province , and that they should be convened by the Supreme Governor to consult and advise for the general good of all the Colonies . Grahame says truly , in his Colonial

History , "In this plan , Avhich was supported by great force of argument , we behold the germ of that more celebrated though less original project , which was again ineffectually recommended by Doctor Franklin in 1754 , and which , not many years after , was actually adopted . " We quote a part of Bro . Coxe ' s prophetic words :

" If the ancient Britons had been united among themselves , in all probability the Romans had never become their masters . So if the English Colonies in America

were consolidated as one body , and joined in one common interest , as they are under one gracious sovereign , and with united forces Avere ready and Avilling to act in concert , and assist each other , they would be better enabled to provide for and defend themselves against any troublesome

, ambitious neighbour , or bold invader . For Union and Concord increase and establish strength and power , Avhile Division and Discord have the contrary effect . " The reader Avill perceive that the contents of Bro . Coxe ' s book are of sufficient

importance to justify our extended mention of them . A reference to the Avork itself , Avhich may be found in any good public library , will more than substantiate all we have said of it .

Bro . Daniel Coxe Avas not only distinguished as an authcr , a legislator , a soldier , a lawyer , a jurist , and a Mason , but he was also an ardent and constant advocate of the advancement of religion in the Province of New Jersey . GEO . Ross , an Episcopal Missionary , in a letter to the

English Missionary Society , dated New Castle , August 28 , 1716 , and conveyed by Col . Coxe on his visit to England in that year , says , in a postscript : "This comes by Col . Coxe , of New Jersey , a good and constant friend of all

the Society ' s Missionaries in these parts , and I cannot but Avish that he may meet with that reception from all the members of that honourable body , that a person of his worth and merits , and one that is so hearty for the present constitution in

Church and State , is very deserving of , and has just pretensions to . " Again , later , Joseph Talbot , in another letter to the Society , dated Philadephia , Dec . 9 , 1723 , after speaking of the Church in BurlingtonN . J ., says : " Col . Coxe and

, Mr \ Trent have done their part towards the Society ' s house at Burlington . They have put it all in good order within and without . "

It Avill be noted that the first of these letters was written at the time of the height of the difference between Coxe and Governor Hunter . Bro . Daniel Coxe , the first Provincial Grand Master of Masons in Americadied

, at Burlington , N . J ., on April 25 th , 1739 , at the age of 65 years . He left two sons , John and Daniel Coxe , both of whom were distinguished . John

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