Interesting trivia and other info about George Lippard's "Brotherhood of the Union"

[George_Lippard_Literary_Society]

Well, my ears perked last week or so while I was watching "So who do
you think you are" on the TV. It was all about Lionel Richie! Well
he had a G-G Grandfather who helped establish a Fraterna organization
called "Knights of Wise Men." It was an organization that arranged
for benefits for its members when they were sick and even to the
grave.

Hmmm...I thought this is similar to the Brotherhood of the Union, so I
went to the Library Company to see if I could find out more about the
B.U. And did I! They helped me find and I held the 200 page book
that George Lippard had written for the S.W. (Supreme Washington).
On the cover he warns that this copy is never to leave the hands of
the Supreme Washinton and must be used at every meeting. (Its a
description of the formal rituals, and the structure of the
organization as well as its bylaws and constitution). Its an
Hermenuetic Fellowship (H.F.) George says.

Interestingly he lists the names of the original first Circle of the
Brotherhood of the Union. George Lippard is number #1 and the 2nd is
Supreme Jefferson and its C.Chauncey Burr. Yep the same who was a
Unitarian Minister in Philadelphia and signed George Lippard's
marriage certificate.