Blog from a Brother - Post 5

“Blog from a Brother” is a space for brethren of Lodge No. 2 to articulate what Freemasonry means to them, their families and their communities. This blog is meant to serve as a sounding board for the lessons inculcated by the fraternity and how it impacts our daily lives, by allowing members to contemplate, philosophize and advocate their experience in the fraternity. If you’d like to contribute to our blog, feel free to reach out to our Webmaster here.

THE COMPLETE STORY OF THE BOSTON TEA PARTY:

or If You Like To Have Coffee Thank The Freemasons.  

Part 3

In Part 2 we became acquainted with the individuals of this story.  In Part 3 we will see how the story continues.

 
As the three ships full of tea lay in Boston harbor the colonists were determined to boycott the tea by not permitting the tea to be unloaded from the ships.  Brothers Warren and Revere (St. Andrew's Lodge) form the North End Caucus a group of patriots whose resolution is "to oppose the vending of any tea sent by the East India Company with our lives and fortunes.” Under threat of personal harm the patriots 'request' that the Consignees give up their positions and send the tea back to England.  In the cities of New York, Philadelphia and Charleston the Consignees compiled and sent the tea back, but in Boston they refused. The Town Committee of Selectmen is a group of tradesmen formed by Brother John Hancock (St. Andrew's Lodge). Brother John Rowe (Grand Master and member of St. John's lodge (Moderns)) is also a member of the Selectmen. He is a loyalist and the owner of the tea ship Eleanor but wants the tea ships to return to England. Representatives from the Selectmen meet with the Cosignees and ask them to send the tea back but the Consignees refuse again.  By law, the Tea Act, if the tea is not unloaded by December 17th it will be seized by Customs and sold to pay the tax. Normal rules don't apply when faced with a crisis and the patriot's backs were against the wall.  But... on the night of December 16th something strange and wonderful happened.  A band of Mohawk Indians appeared out of nowhere boarded the tea ships and dumped all of the tea into the harbor. They cleaned the ships of the mess they made and disappeared into the night never to be seen again. There is speculation that Freemasons and the Sons of Liberty were dressed as Indians that night but to my knowledge no one knows who all of these Indians supposedly were. Needless to say, the British Crown was angry.  They replaced the Governor with a general (and troops) and blocked Boston harbor.  They decreed the the harbor would not open until all the tea was paid for and the perpetrators were brought to trial. In the end, no money was ever paid and there was no trial.  Coffee replaced tea as the common drink in the colonies and if you went to the Green Dragon Tavern and ordered tea you were a Tori but if you ordered coffee you were a Patriot. And so, if you enjoy your coffee today thank the Freemasons.   

Epilogue  

Nowadays, the British are our friends and allies. Both countries enjoy coffee and tea equally.   

Sincerely & Fraternally,

Bro. Wilhelm B. Offenwright