The Lodge of St. Andrew owned the building that housed the Green Dragon Tavern in Boston. The second level of this building was used for lodge meetings and rooms were made available to various resistance groups. Loyalist Governor Thomas Hutchinson referred to the Green Dragon as a “nest of sedition.” Daniel Webster referred to it as the “Headquarters of the Revolution.” It was within this building that plans were made for the Boston Tea Party. John Hancock, a member of the Lodge of St. Andrew and colonel of the Governor’s Cadet Corps ordered his corps to guard the ships to prevent the tea from being unloaded and thus available to sell. Paul Revere aided Hancock’s corps by providing men from the north end of Boston to assist.
St. Andrew’s had their lodge meeting scheduled for the night of the “Tea Party.” Officially, the lodge took no part in the destruction of the tea, but it seems that Warren and many of his fellow Masons were involved as he rescheduled the meeting to the following day due to low attendance. A rallying song written and sung by some who took part in the destruction of the tea included Warren and Revere’s names, seemingly revealing their presence on the tea ships:
Rally, Mohawks – bring out your axes!
And tell King George we’ll pay no taxes
on his foreign tea!
His threats are vain – and vain to think
To force our girls and wives to drink
His vile Bohea!
Then rally boys, and hasten on
To meet our Chiefs at the Green Dragon.
Our Warren’s there, and bold Revere,
With hands to do and words to cheer
For Liberty and Laws!
Our country’s “Braves” and firm defenders
Shall ne’er be left by true North-Enders,
Fighting Freedom’s cause!
Then rally boys and hasten on
to meet our Chiefs at the Green Dragon.”
Even though Warren and Revere were implicated in the song—and General Gage was determined to identify those involved—there is no indication that Warren or Revere were ever questioned by British authorities. In response to the destruction of the tea, King George III sent 4,000 British troops to Boston. Warren presided over the Masonic military lodges.
Next: Great risks Warren casually and frequently took!
