E. H. ADDINGTON

OF FREEMASONRY IN LOUISIANA. 83
I Gandeur No. 12, of Charleston, S. C, and a charter obtained from the
I Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania for that purpose; but proving unsuccessful,
• some of its members and others united and formed Charity Lodge, which
| also received its charter from the same Grand Body.
In 1803, the United States purchased Louisiana from France.- This
transfer of sovereignty was distasteful to the old inhabitants, who looked
with aversion upon the new-comers who obtained all offices of trust and
profit: political quarrels intensified national prejudices, and in a few years
the line of demarkation between the citizens of Latin and Anglo-Saxon origin
was so clearly defined that it is not yet entirely obliterated, and the feelings
then engendered have in more than one instance exercisd a baneful influence
on Freemasonry. . *
In February, 1806, refugees from San Domingo re-established the Loge
la Reunion Desiree in New Orleans, which had been originally located at
Port au Prince, under the auspices of the Grand Orient of France: during
the same year a number of American Masons applied to the Grand Lodge
of New York for a charter, which was granted them in September, 1807,
under the distinctive title of Louisiana Lodge No. 1. Of the five lodges
thus established, three worked in the York and two in the Modern or
French Rite. During the same year a charter for-a Rose Croix Chapter
of the latter Rite was obtained from the Grand Orient of France, and the
body when constituted was attached to Polar Star Lodge. Up to this
time, with the exception of a difficulty that had arisen between the lodges
Perfect Union and Polar Star, the greatest harmony appears to have
existed between the brethren and lodges of the two Rites: but in 1808, for
some reason not stated in its records La Reunion Desire' Lodge ceased to
work the French Rite, and obtained a York Rite charter from the Grand
Lodge of Pennsylvania.
A large number of San Domingo refugees had settled in Cuba. The invasion
of Spain by Napoleon in 1808 was followed by an edict of the
Spanish authorities expelling them from that island, and they arrived at
New Orleans in great numbers in 1809. This occasioned a further estrangement
of the American citizens from those of French birth or descent. Many
of these refugees were Masons, some belonging to the York and others to
the Trench Rite: this, however, did not prevent them uniting together and
forming two York Rite lodges—Concord and Perseverance—with Royal Arch
Chapters attached, obtaining charters therefor in 1810 from the Grand
Lodge of Pennsylvania, which at a later date in the same year granted a
charter to a number of American Masons under the name of Harmony
Lodge No. 122.
Difficulties soon arose: the misunderstanding that then existed between
the Lodges Perfect Union and Polar Star had not extended to the other
lodges, but the question of Rites was now agitated, although in all probability
political and national prejudices instigated the movement. At the
instance, it is believed, of Harmony Lodge, the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania
ordered the lodges under its jurisdiction to-hold no Masonic communication
with the Masons or lodges of the Modern or French Rite. Polar Star Lodge
was the only lodge in Louisiana working in that Rite, and in order to
preserve harmony it applied to the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania for a
York Rite charter, and obtaining it ceased to work the French Rite, October
13, 1811. A few months previous to this date, a number of San Domingo .
Masons lately arrived from Jamaica, obtained a charter from the Gran9 Consistory
of that island, and formed themselves into a lodge under, the name
of Bienfaisance Lodge No. 1. This was the first Scotch Rite Lodge in
Louisiana, but, it ceased to exist May 27, 1812, its members affiliating with
Concord Lodge. La Reunion Desirfe Lodge had dissolved in "March of the