Career 175px|thumb|left|Coat of Arms of Joel Barlow Barlow was an ardent patriot in the American Revolution. He was engaged in the Battle of Long Island and served as a chaplain for the 4th Massachusetts Brigade from September 1780 until the close of the Revolutionary War.Goetzmann, William H. (2009) Beyond the Revolution: A History of American Thought from Paine to Pragmatism, New York: Basic Books, Perseus Books Group, p. 142Schama observes that "he had found schoolmastering too humdrum, Yale too sober, and a chaplaincy to a Massachusetts regiment of the line during the American Revolution had not survived his natural irreverence" (Schama 1995:248). He was an original member of the Society of the Cincinnati in the State of Massachusetts (and Connecticut).Metcalf, Bryce. Original Members and Other Officers Eligible to the Society of the Cincinnati, 1783-1938: With the Institution, Rules of Admission, and Lists of the Officers of the General and State Societies (Strasburg, Va.: Shenandoah Publishing House, Inc., 1938), p. 44. He was a Mason"Enlightenment and Freemasonry", Commonwealth Books. http://www.thomasjeffersonsenlightenment.org/Freemasonry.html and he became a good friend to Thomas Paine. In 1809, Barlow was elected as a member of the American Philosophical Society in Philadelphia.
career 175px|thumb|left|coat of arms of joel barlow barlow was an ardent patriot in the american revolution he was engaged in the battle of long island and served as a chaplain for the 4th massachusetts brigade from september 1780 until the close of the revolutionary wargoetzmann william h (2009) beyond the revolution a history of american thought from paine to pragmatism new york basic books perseus books group p 142schama observes that "he had found schoolmastering too humdrum yale too sober and a chaplaincy to a massachusetts regiment of the line during the american revolution had not survived his natural irreverence" (schama 1995248) he was an original member of the society of the cincinnati in the state of massachusetts (and connecticut)metcalf bryce original members and other officers eligible to the society of the cincinnati 1783-1938 with the institution rules of admission and lists of the officers of the general and state societies (strasburg va shenandoah publishing house inc 1938) p 44 he was a mason"enlightenment and freemasonry" commonwealth books http//wwwthomasjeffersonsenlightenmentorg/freemasonryhtml and he became a good friend to thomas paine in 1809 barlow was elected as a member of the american philosophical society in philadelphia