HISTORY

OF THE

BUNKER HILL MONUMENT.

It seems appropriate that a narrative of the early events of the war of the American Revolution should be accompanied with a history and description of the monument that gratitude and patriotism have raised to commemorate them. account must, necessarily, be brief.1

The

It was contemplated early to erect a monument to the memory of General Warren. He presided over the Massachusetts grand lodge of Freemasons from its organization until his death. This lodge, after the evacuation of Boston, applied to the Massachusetts Council for permission to take up his remains, and bury them with the usual solemnities of the order. A committee of the Council reported (April 4, 1776) in favor of this petition, provided the design was carried out in such a manner that the government of the colony might have an opportunity to erect a monument to his memory. Though there was a procession, and an oration was delivered by Perez Morton, in honor of General Warren, no measures were taken to build a monument. The time of war, and the period immediately after it, were unfavorable for such a work.

The anniversary of the battle of Bunker Hill, for several years, passed unnoticed. The earliest general parade on this day was in 1786. It was, however, a celebration of the opening of Charles River Bridge. The toasts, songs, and

1 The narrative in the text has been prepared from information derived from gentlemen who kindly communicated facts, from the records of associations, annual reports, letters, and newspapers. The documents in relation to the Bunker Hill Monument are voluminous.