The object of the following pages is to give in simple language a general survey of the historic development of Freemasonry in the State of New York. The introductory chapters deal, in the most summary fashion, with the beginning of present day Freemasonry in the British Isles and the American colonies. Just enough is told to pre pare the way for a better appreciation of the story of the Craft in New York. Detail has been eliminated, except where it seemed desirable to clarify a difficult situation, as, for example, the anti-masonic excitement at the begin ning of the second quarter of the nineteenth century. Official records have been consulted throughout to the end that the presented facts may be accepted as reliable. The chapters dealing with most recent affairs are even more condensed than the rest, and personal references have been avoided altogether here. Nothing has been sup pressed; though much has been omitted, which directly interested brethren might wish to have seen included. All that is claimed for the survey is that it is as accurate as careful historic research of one man can make it.