As a background highlight, sketchy records still available reveal that after a comparatively short life Downingtown Lodge #174 had turned in its warrant or as the records indicate, was "vacated", on February 6, 1837.  Over a half century later our attention was again attracted to the same period by the discovery in 1912 among some scrap paper at a local paper mill of the minute books and certain working tools of Lodge #130 (reported to have been located near Brandywine Manor), which were turned over to the Pennsylvania Grand Lodge Museum, together with a stone bearing the "mark" of Downingtown Lodge #174 discovered and presented to Williamson Lodge by workers engaged in remodeling the rectory of St. James Church, formerly the property and place of meeting of the old lodge.

From the record it appears that on or about December 8, 1856, a group of unaffiliated Masons journeyed to Philadelphia, when the following petition was laid before the Grand Lodge:

A quote from"Charles H Pennypacker - History of Downingtown, Chester County, Pa.(page 14 of 18)"

Williamson Lodge, No. 309, was instituted Oct. 10, 1857, with Horace A. Beale, Worshipful Master ; J. Benner Evans, Senior Warden; J. Brown Morrison, Junior Warden. As the number (309) would indicate, it is the oldest existing Masonic Lodge in this section. It is in a flourishing condition, having a membership of about one hundred and twenty-five. The officers are as follows: Warren P. Keech, Worshipful Master; Samuel M. Davis, Senior Warden ; Edward W. Young, Junior Warden ; Howard B. Sides, Secretary; Samuel A. Black, Treasurer.

Downingtown Lodge, No. 174, Sanctioned by the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, on Monday, February 5, A.D. 1821; A.L. 5821

The Pennsylvania Freemason, Volume LVIII, May 2011, Number 2:
"On Feb. 6, 1837, at the height of anti-Masonic conflicts, Downingtown Lodge No. 174 went dark after just 17 years. Two decades later, Williamson Lodge No. 309, Downingtown, was constituted on Nov. 21, 1857. The lodge now has more than 200 members and participates in the Masonic CHIP program, supports the March of Dimes and began an annual pancake breakfast in 2010."

No discussion concerning Freemasonry would be complete without a discourse in the origins of the "craft" within Pennsylvania,

Freemasonry is the world's oldest and largest fraternity. Its history and tradition date to antiquity. Its singular purpose is to make good men better. Its bonds of friendship, compassion, and brotherly love have survived even the most divisive political, military, and religious conflicts through the centuries. Freemasonry is neither a forum nor a place for worship. Instead, it is a friend of all religions that are based on the belief in one God. Many of our nation's early patriots were Freemasons, as well as 13 signers of the Constitution and 14 Presidents of the United States, including George Washington.

Today, the more than three million Freemasons around the world come from virtually every occupation and profession. Within the fraternity, however, they all meet as equals. They come from diverse political ideologies, but they meet as friends. They come from virtually every religious tradition, but they all believe in one God. One of the fascinating aspects of Freemasonry has always been how so many men from so many different walks of life can meet together in peace, avoid political or religious debates, conduct their affairs in harmony and friendship, and call each other "Brother!" Freemasons are respectable citizens who are taught to conform to the moral code of society and to abide by the laws of the government under which they live. They are men of charity and good works. They care about the future of our country. (1)

By June 24, 1717 the first "Grand Lodge" was formed in London, England.

"So when did masonry begin in Pennsylvania?", you might ask. We cannot accurately say for sure, What we can say is that

Freemasonry began in Downingtown with the constitution of Downingtown Lodge, No. 174, Ancient York Rite Masons on Monday, February 5, A.D. 1821 (A.L. 5821) . The lodge flourished for several years, but in 1826 there began a period of political turmoil for all of masonry in the United States.

William Morgan (1774–1826?) was a resident of Batavia, New York, whose disappearance and presumed murder in 1826 ignited a powerful movement against Freemasonry. After Morgan announced his intention to publish a book exposing Freemasonry's secrets, he was arrested, supposedly kidnapped by Masons, and believed murdered. His disappearance caused some Anti-masons to claim that he had been kidnapped and murdered by Masons. A position which has to this day produced no evidence and was never substantiated.

Morgan's disappearance sparked a series of protests against Freemasonry, which eventually spread to the political realm. Under the leadership of anti-Masonic Thurlow Weed, an Anti-Jacksonist movement became (since Jackson was a Mason) the Anti-Masonic Party. This political Party ran presidential candidates in 1828 and 1832, but by 1835 the party had disbanded almost everywhere it had previously existed.

Morgan had attempted to join the Masonic lodge in Batavia but was denied admission for reasons unknown. Angered by the rejection, Morgan stated he was going to publish a book entitled "Illustrations of Masonry", critical of the Freemasons and describing their "secret" degree work in great detail. Morgan had also entered into a $500,000 penal bond with three men: David Cade Miller (a local newspaper publisher), John Davids (Morgan's landlord) and Russel Dyer at just about that same time.

Morgan had also stated that Mr. Miller had given him a sizable advance for the book work. Mr. Miller is said to have received the entered apprentice degree (the first degree of Freemasonry), but had been stopped from advancement by the objection of one or more of the Batavia lodge members. This may have inspired him to support Morgan's work, or may have been a ruse to acquire the "secret" knowledge for Morgan's book, either way the timing of these events is still unclear and an accurate determination cannot be produced.