Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Are Not Authors Generally Freemasons?
Captain Chaumier , JR . K ., in his nautical novel " The S pitfire , " does not acknowledge himself to be a Freemason , but yet he so draws the attention of his readers to the subject as would lead one to consider that he may have been initiated . The ladies are told that " there ' s a freemasonry in love , " which doubtless will dispose those who are not yet allured by the sly god to indulge their curiosity by examining the quiver from whence the shaft will issue that shall ive them so much painful
g pleasure . Certes , our author gives a most interesting description of the handsome Spaniard and a beautiful young girl ; the former , a Mason , turns out a villain , the latter his victim . There are good and bad in all sections of the world : the bad passions may be subdued by masonic principle , but often they are too deeply rooted to yield to the highest moral admonition .
Again , this said Spaniard , when in disguise , attracts the attention of the liveried lacquey , and his companions in the kitchen . Our author becomes jocular on Freemasonry , by making the footman give certain ' masonic signs , " such as poking his finger in his mouth , and tapping liis paunch with his hand—a jocular satire . In due time , however , the Spaniard , who is a pirate , and who as such has taken a most revolting oath to maintain secrecy and faith with his fellow pirates , becomes attainted of murderhis si
; gns as a Mason are recognized by the jailor ; who , however , only renders him some service in matters of comfort , and consents to introduce a priest , who turns out to be his captain , a man of high honour , and who , true to his oath , tries every expedient to release him , even at the hazard of his own safety . The scheme fails , and the Spaniard , forgetting the safety of the crew in his own selfishness , offers to denounce them on condition that his own vile life be Fortun
may spared . e favours the brave captain and crew , who escape by a miracle , and the wretch is led out to execution—he stands forth on the scaffold—there is none near him but the man in the mask , the executioner , when a friar ascends the platform , waves the masked man aside , approaches the criminal , and tells him that he deserves his late , as much for breaking his oath to his fellow pirates , as for his lawless acts , and beckoning to the executioner , the culprit is no more . Ihere is a moral in the scene : the priest is the captain—circumstances have compelled him to join the crew—the culprit was a libertine and a murderer and his death-gurgle was made more dreadful bv the
presence and security of Ins intended victim . The moral does not tell against f reemasonry , but simply proves that virtue can reprove vice , whatever garb it may assume . „ J ^ - dVer f M ly many , Masons - who do not trouble themselves with the practise of Masonry the tenets of which they profess to observe , often ri ^ liT ^\ V'hen ' f pubIic writers * the > ' at a loss to express themselves with adequate force . Theodore Hook , in particular , may be quotedWe have forgotten allusions
. some in " Jack Bragg , " and other of his works , but are reminded in the article "Fathers and Sons , " of his propensity to be " Snug and tiled , as we Afasons say . " We do not quarrel with one of the most talented , if not one of the wittiest , men of the day , for his peeping out from under the cowl ; but we regret that with such advantages , we are onl y reminded of his having neglected the cultivation of masonic literature .
« Z ° rtUa f an ? ? llicia in 1836 . —A Mi gualite mob at Setuval sePrn r-7 ; n r , T ? g S knCeS i Were bellt upon me ' many Persons seemed inclined to stop me , and were only prevented by the hurried
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Are Not Authors Generally Freemasons?
Captain Chaumier , JR . K ., in his nautical novel " The S pitfire , " does not acknowledge himself to be a Freemason , but yet he so draws the attention of his readers to the subject as would lead one to consider that he may have been initiated . The ladies are told that " there ' s a freemasonry in love , " which doubtless will dispose those who are not yet allured by the sly god to indulge their curiosity by examining the quiver from whence the shaft will issue that shall ive them so much painful
g pleasure . Certes , our author gives a most interesting description of the handsome Spaniard and a beautiful young girl ; the former , a Mason , turns out a villain , the latter his victim . There are good and bad in all sections of the world : the bad passions may be subdued by masonic principle , but often they are too deeply rooted to yield to the highest moral admonition .
Again , this said Spaniard , when in disguise , attracts the attention of the liveried lacquey , and his companions in the kitchen . Our author becomes jocular on Freemasonry , by making the footman give certain ' masonic signs , " such as poking his finger in his mouth , and tapping liis paunch with his hand—a jocular satire . In due time , however , the Spaniard , who is a pirate , and who as such has taken a most revolting oath to maintain secrecy and faith with his fellow pirates , becomes attainted of murderhis si
; gns as a Mason are recognized by the jailor ; who , however , only renders him some service in matters of comfort , and consents to introduce a priest , who turns out to be his captain , a man of high honour , and who , true to his oath , tries every expedient to release him , even at the hazard of his own safety . The scheme fails , and the Spaniard , forgetting the safety of the crew in his own selfishness , offers to denounce them on condition that his own vile life be Fortun
may spared . e favours the brave captain and crew , who escape by a miracle , and the wretch is led out to execution—he stands forth on the scaffold—there is none near him but the man in the mask , the executioner , when a friar ascends the platform , waves the masked man aside , approaches the criminal , and tells him that he deserves his late , as much for breaking his oath to his fellow pirates , as for his lawless acts , and beckoning to the executioner , the culprit is no more . Ihere is a moral in the scene : the priest is the captain—circumstances have compelled him to join the crew—the culprit was a libertine and a murderer and his death-gurgle was made more dreadful bv the
presence and security of Ins intended victim . The moral does not tell against f reemasonry , but simply proves that virtue can reprove vice , whatever garb it may assume . „ J ^ - dVer f M ly many , Masons - who do not trouble themselves with the practise of Masonry the tenets of which they profess to observe , often ri ^ liT ^\ V'hen ' f pubIic writers * the > ' at a loss to express themselves with adequate force . Theodore Hook , in particular , may be quotedWe have forgotten allusions
. some in " Jack Bragg , " and other of his works , but are reminded in the article "Fathers and Sons , " of his propensity to be " Snug and tiled , as we Afasons say . " We do not quarrel with one of the most talented , if not one of the wittiest , men of the day , for his peeping out from under the cowl ; but we regret that with such advantages , we are onl y reminded of his having neglected the cultivation of masonic literature .
« Z ° rtUa f an ? ? llicia in 1836 . —A Mi gualite mob at Setuval sePrn r-7 ; n r , T ? g S knCeS i Were bellt upon me ' many Persons seemed inclined to stop me , and were only prevented by the hurried