This Committee issued the celebrated address:
"To the RIGHT WORSHIPFUL, The Grand Masters of the several Lodges in the Respective United States of America.
"UNION——FORCE——LOVE."
This address was signed by representatives of no less than seven states, viz.: Maryland, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts Bay, New York and Delaware; in addition to those of the American Union Lodge, Artillery, St. John's Regimental Lodge and the Staff of the American Army.
It was further ordered that the foregoing address with an exact copy of these proceedings signed by the President and Secretary, be sent to the respective Provincial Grand Masters in the United States.[85]
It was not until the middle of October that a reply was received from the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts to the circular letter sent out by the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, and then only in response to a letter written by our Grand Secretary, Rev. Brother Dr. William Smith.
This matter led to more or less correspondence between the Grand Lodges of Pennsylvania and Massachusetts and was in abeyance, until January, 1781, when the following letter was received from Joseph Webb, Grand Master of Massachusetts.[86]
"Boston, Jany 17, 1781.
"Revd Sir and
"Respected Brother