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Article MASONIC CHIT-CHAT. ← Page 3 of 6 →
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Masonic Chit-Chat.
to think that a standard was about to be raised . He considered it as an omen of the religious feeling which was growing up in both services . It was clear that legislation would not put a stop to it ; for though it was an offence punishable by existing law , it was constantl y committed . Under these circumstances , an appeal to the sovereign was the only available course . —Lord ROBERT GROSVENOR seconded the motion . Dryden had truly
said" A virtuon ; cunt the wor . d to virtue draws . " It was therefore to the higher classes , who in some sense might be said to be above public opinion , that the association looked for sanction and co-operation . He was aware that some scruples would for a time tend to retard the progress of the cause ; but if men of honour and character resolved to stand by each other , the supposed necessity for duelling would cease to exist . —The memorial was then unanimousladopted . —
y Admiral AUSTEN moved that a deputation be appointed to wait on Sir R . Peel , with a request from the association that he would present the memorial to her Majesty . The gallant admiral said that duelling was not only an unjust , but often an unfair mode of settling a quarrel ; for one of the combatants , being an adept , could hit a shilling or snuff a candle , whereas his opponent might never have fired a pistol . He knew of an officer who commanded a frigate that practised shooting
fowls in the hen-coops , and though lie had fought many duels he lost his life in one at last . True courage was shown , not in fighting a duel , but in avoiding to give offence , or having given one , in making honourable reparation—( hear . )—Admiral OLIVER seconded the motion .
IN consequence of a most deplorable event , the practice of duelling has recently been justly reprobated and stigmatised by that mighty leviathan—the public press ; and if true honour , humanity , and religion continue to be of no avail , " it is a consummation devoutly to be wished " that some legislative enactment may at once and for ever put a stop to this most monstrous and barbarous usage . In the meantime , however , as much interest on the subject exists , the following curious letter from
Sir William Herbert , father-in-law to the famous Lord Herbert , to a gentleman of the name of Morgan , the original of which is in the British Museum , may be amusing , and in some degree instructive : — " Sir , —Peruse this letter in God ' s name : be not disquieted : I reverence your hoary hair . Although in your son I find too much folly and lewdness , yet in you I expect gravity and wisdom . It hath pleased your sonlate of Bristolto deliver a charge to a man of mineon behalf of
, , , a gentleman ( as he said ) as good as myself ; who he was , he named not ; neither do I know . But if he be as good as myself , it must either be for virtue , for birth , for ability , or for calling and dignity . For virtue 1 think he meant not ; for it is a thing which exceeds his judgment . If for birth , he must be the heir of an earl ; the heir in blood to ten earls ; for , in testimony thereof , I bear their several coats . Besides , he must be of the blood-royalforb grandmother DevereuxI am lineall
; , y my , y and legitimately descended out of the body of Edward the Fourth . If for ability , he must have a thousand pounds a year more in possession , a thousand pounds a year more in expectation , and must have some thousands in substance besides . ] f for calling and dignity , lie must be a knight , and lord of several seignories in several kingdoms , and likewise of his county , and a councillor of a piovince . Now , to lay all cir-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Chit-Chat.
to think that a standard was about to be raised . He considered it as an omen of the religious feeling which was growing up in both services . It was clear that legislation would not put a stop to it ; for though it was an offence punishable by existing law , it was constantl y committed . Under these circumstances , an appeal to the sovereign was the only available course . —Lord ROBERT GROSVENOR seconded the motion . Dryden had truly
said" A virtuon ; cunt the wor . d to virtue draws . " It was therefore to the higher classes , who in some sense might be said to be above public opinion , that the association looked for sanction and co-operation . He was aware that some scruples would for a time tend to retard the progress of the cause ; but if men of honour and character resolved to stand by each other , the supposed necessity for duelling would cease to exist . —The memorial was then unanimousladopted . —
y Admiral AUSTEN moved that a deputation be appointed to wait on Sir R . Peel , with a request from the association that he would present the memorial to her Majesty . The gallant admiral said that duelling was not only an unjust , but often an unfair mode of settling a quarrel ; for one of the combatants , being an adept , could hit a shilling or snuff a candle , whereas his opponent might never have fired a pistol . He knew of an officer who commanded a frigate that practised shooting
fowls in the hen-coops , and though lie had fought many duels he lost his life in one at last . True courage was shown , not in fighting a duel , but in avoiding to give offence , or having given one , in making honourable reparation—( hear . )—Admiral OLIVER seconded the motion .
IN consequence of a most deplorable event , the practice of duelling has recently been justly reprobated and stigmatised by that mighty leviathan—the public press ; and if true honour , humanity , and religion continue to be of no avail , " it is a consummation devoutly to be wished " that some legislative enactment may at once and for ever put a stop to this most monstrous and barbarous usage . In the meantime , however , as much interest on the subject exists , the following curious letter from
Sir William Herbert , father-in-law to the famous Lord Herbert , to a gentleman of the name of Morgan , the original of which is in the British Museum , may be amusing , and in some degree instructive : — " Sir , —Peruse this letter in God ' s name : be not disquieted : I reverence your hoary hair . Although in your son I find too much folly and lewdness , yet in you I expect gravity and wisdom . It hath pleased your sonlate of Bristolto deliver a charge to a man of mineon behalf of
, , , a gentleman ( as he said ) as good as myself ; who he was , he named not ; neither do I know . But if he be as good as myself , it must either be for virtue , for birth , for ability , or for calling and dignity . For virtue 1 think he meant not ; for it is a thing which exceeds his judgment . If for birth , he must be the heir of an earl ; the heir in blood to ten earls ; for , in testimony thereof , I bear their several coats . Besides , he must be of the blood-royalforb grandmother DevereuxI am lineall
; , y my , y and legitimately descended out of the body of Edward the Fourth . If for ability , he must have a thousand pounds a year more in possession , a thousand pounds a year more in expectation , and must have some thousands in substance besides . ] f for calling and dignity , lie must be a knight , and lord of several seignories in several kingdoms , and likewise of his county , and a councillor of a piovince . Now , to lay all cir-