Three impressive obelisks were gifts to the countries of England, France & the US and retaining them seems to have been politically or financially motivated.
The one in Paris is the tallest and its sister remains in Luxor. It was raised at the Place de la Concorde in 1833.
The one at Westminster was gifted many years before, but with the proviso that England pay to move it! It sat in the Egyptian sands for 40-odd years before the funds were provided privately to deliver it.
Through convoluted financial maneuvering the City of New York, having heard about the London Needle, secured its sister "as a gift" the following year. (W.H. Vanderbilt put up the $100-k necessary to deliver it) The trend at that time was: "If London and Paris can have one, we should have one too!"
So therefore, IMHO, I'm pretty sure there's nothing of Secret Societies, The Occult, or anything particularly Sinister involved in them being either obtained or in their placement.
(BTW - New York isn't part of New England)
Best,
Feanor
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