Happy Birthday Chancellor Livingston!

Robert had one child, Robert R. Livingston, who inherited this estate upon his father’s death. This Robert R. Livingston’s oldest child was also named Robert R Livingston, the subject of this biographical sketch. He was sometimes referred to as Jr. in various documents and Lodge minutes created during his lifetime. All of the following information refers to this Robert R Livingston. (It is intentional that there is no period after his middle initial, as this was the way he signed his name.)
Robert R Livingston was educated at King’s College, New York(renamed Columbia College after the American Revolution). He then studied law, first under William Smith and then with New Jersey Governor William Livingston. He was admitted to the bar and worked for a time with John Jay. In 1773, he was appointed Recorder of the City of New York, a position he kept for only two years because of his active sympathy with the American Revolutionists.
In 1776, he served as a delegate to the Congress of 1776, and was chosen, along with four others, to draft the Declaration of Independence. Also in 1776, as a member of the New York Provincial Congress, he was appointed to the committee to write a State Constitution. (de Peyster, 1876)

The Bible used for the inauguration was the altar Bible from St. John’s Lodge No. 1, New York, NY. This Bible is normally on display and can be viewed at Federal Hall, New York City, unless it is traveling for use in a ceremony.

During Robert R Livingston’s time as Chancellor, he was also appointed as Secretary of Foreign Affairs for the United States, serving as such from August, 1781 to August, 1783. In 1801, he resigned as Chancellor in order to accept an appointment as Minister Plenipotentiary to France, where he became friends with Napoleon Bonaparte.

During his time in Paris, Robert R Livingston negotiated the Louisiana Purchase, finalizing the agreement in 1803, with James Monroe arriving in time to affix his signature to the contract. (de Peyster, 1876)

Though given a New York State Charter in 1983, the Library has been in existence since 1885. In 1885, the Grand Master “appointed a Sub-Committee for the purpose of collecting – by gift or loan – Masonic and archaeological objects to be deposited in the Masonic Hall for the information of the Craft, as well to excite their zeal and interest as to gratify their commendable curiosity…The intention was and is to place on permanent exhibition antiquities and other objects of interest to the brethren, such as ancient medals and jewels, rare coins, minerals, old diplomas, certificates and documents; scarce books, and antique lodge furniture, valuable through age, association, history, or rarity; which are known to exist in the possession of lodges or individual brethren. Thus scattered they are of little utility, while, if united they would become of great interest and value…It is earnestly requested that your lodge, and any brother possessed of any article suited to the purpose in view, will place the same at the disposal of the Committee, by whom the safety of such objects will be carefully guarded.” (Lawrence, 1886)
There are over 60,000 titles in the Library, with many in different languages. Two-thirds of the books are Masonic in nature, and many are extremely rare, making the Library one of the finest sources for Masonic information in the world. The other third of the books is focused on related topics; biographies, histories and comparative religions.

While the Library is available to Masons as well as to the general public, in order to take any of the circulating books out of the Library, you must be a New York State Mason. There are 17 self-directed reading courses designed give an introduction to the books and that help focus use of the collection. Additional resources in the Library include subject, biography and Lodge folders.

When Robert R Livingston became Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of the State of New York, “[his]…election and installation actually closed the brief existence of the Provincial Grand Lodge and opened the history of the Grand Lodge of the State of New York…[He] was the third Grand Master under the Atholl Charter. His predecessors were British Subjects.” (Gosnell, 1983)
“When Robert R Livingston became Grand Master, there were only six lodges united under the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of New York, as all of the British military lodges had evacuated. Union Lodge No. 8 had been “healed” and admitted to Grand Lodge membership in 1783, and thus was the only lodge in New York City, except for perhaps Hiram Lodge No. 5 that could trace their authority to a warrant from the premier Grand Lodge of England. “The rest of the lodges in New York State were warranted out of the premier Grand Lodge of England, and were called “Moderns.” The contentions that divided Moderns and Antients [sic] in Great Britain never truly carried over into America. The Atholl Charter was the only valid official document authorizing Masons in New York to meet in Grand Lodge.
“Because Robert R Livingston had been Master of a lodge that originated through the premier Grand Lodge of England (the “Moderns”), it was easier for him to bring the rest of the New York State lodges (“Moderns”) into the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of New York (which had it’s authority through the “Antients”). (Lang and Singer, 1981)

“In March, I ventured upon what was here considered as a bold and hazardous measure, a direct and forceful address to him [Napoleon] personally on the subject of our claims [French spoliation claims] upon which, having received positive assurance that they should be fully and promptly paid, I began to look forward to this as a means of accomplishing my other object which I was sure he could not…in the case of war…find any other means of discharging it.” (Livingston, 1803)