Gould's History of Freemasonry Around the World - Lodge Prudentia

OF CANADA AND NEWFOUNDLAND 3 1already appointed ." Comins was one of the New England traders, and sinceat that time there were no Masonic Lodges among the French in Cape Breton,the appointment must have been made with a view to benefiting the hundredsof New Englanders who frequented both Louisbourg and Canso, at which latterplace at least a nucleus for a Masonic meeting existed among the officers ofPhilipps' Regiment .On March 18, 1744, France declared war against Great Britain, and wordwas immediately sent to Louisbourg by a fast sailing vessel . At once the Frenchgovernor fitted out an expedition for the purpose of capturing Canso . The expeditionwas successful, and Canso surrendered to the French forces on May24, 1744 . Among the vessels engaged in this expedition was one commandedby Lewis Doloboratz (or Delabraz), who had charge of its ninety-four men .After the capture of Canso, Doloboratz then cruised along the coast of NewEngland, searching for evidence of the enemy's commerce . In course of time heencountered Captain Edward Tyng, in the Prince of Orange, Massachusetts' firstman-of-war . After a spirited running fight which lasted from nine o'clock onemorning until two o'clock the following morning, Tyng overhauled the Frenchvessel, compelled Commander Doloboratz to lower his colours, and broughtship and crew into Boston as a prize of war . While there, Doloboratz was alloweda great deal of liberty, and on October 1o, 1744, Bro. Henry Price proposedhim as a candidate for Masonry in the " First Lodge of Boston ." Onthat occasion, Bro . Price " acquainted the Lodge " that Doloboratz was " agentleman, who, being a prisoner of war, was thereby reduced, but as he mightbe serviceable (when at home) to any Brother whom Providence might cast inhis way, it was desired he might be excused the expense of his making, providedeach Brother would contribute his cloathing, which the Rt . Worsh'1Mas'r was pleas'd to put to vote when it was carried in affirmative by Dispensationfrom the Rt . W . Master & Warder . Upon acct . of his leaving the Provincevery soon, he was ballotted in, introduced, & made a Mason in due form . Bro .P. Pelham moved that the Sec'r grant Bro . Delabraz a letter of recommendation. "The French raid on Canso and their attack against Annapolis aroused themost intense feeling against France in the New England colonies, where theaccounts, brought by traders and other travellers, had already caused no smallamount of alarm . Believing that Louisbourg would be made the base of operationsagain the British colonies in America in the coming war, the NewEnglanders at once adopted the bold course of making an effort to reduce thegreat stronghold . For this purpose a force of some 4300 men was raised inMassachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Connecticut . This forcewas then placed under the command of Colonel William Pepperell, who wasto undertake the enterprise in co-operation with a British squadron under thecommand of Commodore Warren . Among the officers in the New Englandforces was a surprisingly large number of Freemasons, several of whom wereto win distinction in the Craft later on .