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Article MASONIC ANECDOTES. ← Page 2 of 3 →
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Masonic Anecdotes.
thunder , to which anguish and fear hacl given a supernatural power , threw himself before the guns of the artillery under his command . In the few words that he addressed to his friends , he pointed out to them that Frenchmen stood before them , who , although they differed , were not enemies —were countrymen devoted , like themselves , to the land of their birth , were at that moment about to shed their blood for that same empire as themselves . His powerful aud pathetic appeal soon convinced
the guards of the truth of his reasoning , of the error they were about to commit , and they yielded to his eloquence by allowing the troops opposed to them to disperse . Few among those present could understand the inducements or objects of such proceedings , but to his Masonic brethren he explained the cause . When the unfortunate battalion had arrived at the trap prepared for it , and saw that every avenue for escape had been closed—that not a hope remained—one manwith desperate resolve ,
, appealed by a sign of distress to the sympathy of his opponents;—Laurent Michel ' s eagle eye watched the motion of his brother ; to see , to recognise , and to place his life in the most imminent clanger to save others , was the work ofthe moment . The sequel we know . May such an achievement find its place with annals of history , ancl posterity will place the name of Laurent Michel , captain of artillery , among the heroes of France and the friends of mankind .
CAPTAIN OHAPIN SAMPSON , OP WEST GARDNER , MAINE . * In the year 1795 , the ship Betsy , which belonged to Wm . H . Boardman , Esq ., a distinguished merchant of Boston , sailed from this port . The ship was commanded by Captain Chapin Sampson , who is now eighty years of age , ancl is living in West Gardner , Maine . He has still "a sound mind in a sound body . " He was entered an Apprentice
Mason in Liverpool , England , August 15 , 1793 . Was made a Royal Arch Mason in June , 1801 . His Royal Arch diploma is endorsed , "Ancient Lodge , No . 25 . B . Thornton , —Z . —Liverpool , 11 th June , 1801 . "
His ship was taken off Malaga , by a Tripolitan Xebec , ancl the vessel ancl all on boarcl carried into Tripoli . Here Captain Sampson ancl his crew were stripped of their clothing , except a slight bit of cotton about their waists . JBeing the first American carried into Tripoli , he and his men were 'driven through the city chained , and were pelted by every offensive missile . He was then thrown into a dungeon , where he was kept a number of days . After that , he was taken out , and was set to
work taking the cargo out of his ship . While Captain Sampson was engaged in this business , a Tripolitan officer , called Hassan Bey , and sustaining a high official station in Tripoli , made himself known as a Freemason . He said that he should do for him all in his power , but that if it were knoivn he favoured him , even his own life might be the forfeit . Captain Sampson was soon liberated , was clothed , and furnished with many comparative comforts . An opportunity of releasing him was found , and when lie was about leaving Tripoli , Hassan Bey , still mindful of his Masonic duties , made him many presents . This worthy Tripolitan and faithful Brother , was , as he said , made a Freemason in France .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Anecdotes.
thunder , to which anguish and fear hacl given a supernatural power , threw himself before the guns of the artillery under his command . In the few words that he addressed to his friends , he pointed out to them that Frenchmen stood before them , who , although they differed , were not enemies —were countrymen devoted , like themselves , to the land of their birth , were at that moment about to shed their blood for that same empire as themselves . His powerful aud pathetic appeal soon convinced
the guards of the truth of his reasoning , of the error they were about to commit , and they yielded to his eloquence by allowing the troops opposed to them to disperse . Few among those present could understand the inducements or objects of such proceedings , but to his Masonic brethren he explained the cause . When the unfortunate battalion had arrived at the trap prepared for it , and saw that every avenue for escape had been closed—that not a hope remained—one manwith desperate resolve ,
, appealed by a sign of distress to the sympathy of his opponents;—Laurent Michel ' s eagle eye watched the motion of his brother ; to see , to recognise , and to place his life in the most imminent clanger to save others , was the work ofthe moment . The sequel we know . May such an achievement find its place with annals of history , ancl posterity will place the name of Laurent Michel , captain of artillery , among the heroes of France and the friends of mankind .
CAPTAIN OHAPIN SAMPSON , OP WEST GARDNER , MAINE . * In the year 1795 , the ship Betsy , which belonged to Wm . H . Boardman , Esq ., a distinguished merchant of Boston , sailed from this port . The ship was commanded by Captain Chapin Sampson , who is now eighty years of age , ancl is living in West Gardner , Maine . He has still "a sound mind in a sound body . " He was entered an Apprentice
Mason in Liverpool , England , August 15 , 1793 . Was made a Royal Arch Mason in June , 1801 . His Royal Arch diploma is endorsed , "Ancient Lodge , No . 25 . B . Thornton , —Z . —Liverpool , 11 th June , 1801 . "
His ship was taken off Malaga , by a Tripolitan Xebec , ancl the vessel ancl all on boarcl carried into Tripoli . Here Captain Sampson ancl his crew were stripped of their clothing , except a slight bit of cotton about their waists . JBeing the first American carried into Tripoli , he and his men were 'driven through the city chained , and were pelted by every offensive missile . He was then thrown into a dungeon , where he was kept a number of days . After that , he was taken out , and was set to
work taking the cargo out of his ship . While Captain Sampson was engaged in this business , a Tripolitan officer , called Hassan Bey , and sustaining a high official station in Tripoli , made himself known as a Freemason . He said that he should do for him all in his power , but that if it were knoivn he favoured him , even his own life might be the forfeit . Captain Sampson was soon liberated , was clothed , and furnished with many comparative comforts . An opportunity of releasing him was found , and when lie was about leaving Tripoli , Hassan Bey , still mindful of his Masonic duties , made him many presents . This worthy Tripolitan and faithful Brother , was , as he said , made a Freemason in France .