Free Masons will be interested in Mr. Grumman’s account of the making of American Union Lodge, among the officers of the Continental Line while the right wing of the Continental Army lay in winter quarters in Redding, 1778–9. “During the siege of Boston,” he says, “the meetings of the Grand Lodge ... were suspended and a commission was granted by John Rowe (the successor of Gen. Joseph Warren as Grand Master), to Col. Joel Clark of the Connecticut troops to establish a lodge within the army, which was to hold its meetings whenever convenient as the army moved from place to place.” This lodge was to be designated “The American Union Lodge.” It was accordingly organized, but the change of base to New York and the stirring events which followed seem to have prevented further meetings. Its Master, Col. Clark, died after the Long Island campaign and the Lodge appears to have lapsed until the encampment at Redding brought the Connecticut officers together with leisure to renew their fraternal relations. For this purpose the Lodge was convened early in February, in conformity to the following notice: “On the application of a number of gentlemen, brethren of the Ancient and Honorable Society of Free and Accepted Masons, to the members of American Union Lodge held by authority under the Right Worshipful John Rowe Esq. Grand Master of all Masons in North America, where no Grand Master is appointed, requesting that the said American Union Lodge meet for the purpose of re-establishing the Ancient Craft in the same. Agreeable to which a summons was issued desiring the members of the American Union Lodge to meet at Widow Sanford’s, near Reading Olde Meeting House, on Monday the 15th of inst. February at 4 o’clock post m. and an invitation sent to the others, the brethren of the Ancient and Honorable Society of Free and Accepted Masons to attend at 5 o’clock Post m. JONATHAN HEART, _Secretary_.” At this first meeting Gen. Samuel H. Parsons was elected Master in place of Col. Clark, deceased. Several meetings of the Lodge were held while the Army lay at Redding, two of which were attended by Washington (though Mr. Grumman does not note the fact). On March 22 it held a dinner at Esq. Hawley’s, “the Rev. Dr. Evans and a number of gentlemen and ladies being present,” and a “Grand Banquet” on April 7th, four days before orders came for the Army to prepare to leave. A very full account of this is given by Mr. Grumman in a quotation from the Lodge records: It having been voted to dine at three o’clock, at half past one the procession began as follows: 1. Br. Whitney, Outside Tyler. 2. The Wardens with white rods. 3. The youngest Brother with the Bag. 4. The Brethren by Juniority. 5. The W. Master with his Rod.