Bromwell, Henry P. H.

Originator of the Free and Accepted Architects designed to preserve the lost rituals of the Ancient Craft; and author of Restorations of Masonic Geometry and Symbology, said to have been begun in 1884 and worked on by that author 16 hours per day for 6 years and 2 months, and one chapter of which occupied 2 years and 2 months. This is a rather extravagant story to be credited, since there is not enough known or ascertainable about the working of ancient or medieval lodges, including those up to the middle of the 18th century to occupy an author more than a few days for the telling of the whole story. The fact that the five lodges established by Brownell soon lapsed and that the entire subject matter, including the book, is entirely forgotten, except for encyclopedic items, sufficiently indicates the lack of value in the work. The author was born at Baltimore, Md., August, 1823 and died at Denver, Colorado, January 9, 1903. He was admitted to the Bar in Illinois in 1853, was a Representative in Congress from 1865 to 1869 and, after re-moving to Colorado in 1870, was elected to the Legislature in 1879 and 1881, and was appointed commissioner to revise the state statutes. He was Grand Master of Illinois in 1864, Grand Orator of Colorado in 1874 and Honorary Grand Master in 1889.