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The history of Freemasonry in
Cambridge begins with the organization of Amicable Lodge, for which the preliminary steps were taken as early as February 6, 1805.
Even at this early period Masonry held an honored place in the community.
It had been of importance still earlier, in the days of the Revolution, and had assisted materially in the struggle which transformed a group of dependent colonies into a nation.
The quarter-century which had passed since the surrender of Cornwallis had not obliterated the memory of those days when
Washington was at the head of a lodge, and when
Joseph Warren,
Paul Revere, and other Revolutionary heroes were accustomed to meet at the Bunch of Grapes Tavern and talk of freedom as a Masonic principle.
The Masonic Association, which was inaugurated in
Cambridge by eighteen brethren on the 6th of February, 1805, was known at first as the
Aurora Society.
Meetings were held at Hovey's Tavern, on the southwest corner of Main and Douglass streets.
The original call included a statement of purpose signed by
Daniel Warren,
Asa Ellis,
Benjamin Bigelow,
Charles Parks,
Nathaniel Livermore,
Isaac Barnard,
Nathaniel R. Whitney, Jr.,
Nathan Crane,
Samuel Albee,
John Wheeler,
Andrew Adams,
Luke Hemenway, Elijah Learned,
Nathan Fiske,
Salmon Morton,
Ebenezer Watson,
Daniel Smith, and
William Warren.
This list includes many well-known
Cambridge names.
In accordance with this call, the first meeting was held on the 9th of February, and soon after by-laws were adopted and officers elected.
The by-laws provided that not more than seven new members should be admitted; that meetings should be held every Wednesday evening in ‘
Mr. Hovey's ’
