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Article AMERICA, (UNITED STATES). ← Page 2 of 2
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
America, (United States).
of him is lost , and the general belief is , that there he perished by violence . That such an outrage on the liberty and life of a citizen should be followed by public indignation was natural and rig ht . That punishment should fall on the guilty was right ; and the guilty in this case , so far as they eould be discovered , were punished . But an extraordinary excitement prevailed throughout all ranks of the community . Great numbers were believed to have been concerned in the abduction and
catastrophe , who were shielded and protected by Masonic influence in high places . The whole Masonic Fraternity were charged with guilt ; the institution and its members were denounced as dangerous ; churches , families , and friends , were divided ; and the whole social system was , for a long time , uprooted and dismembered . Every man of eminence in the state , known to be a Mason , was called upon to renounce his connection with the society , or stand branded as a traitor to the laws of his country .
The Grand Lodpe was charged with the crime of aiding the guilty to escape from justice , by the use of its funds ; and no means were neglected to bring the Order to disgrace and ruin , right or wrong . The fears of the timid and ignorant attributed the crime of the guilty to a necessary consequence of Masonic obligation ; the political intriguant revelled in the prospect of the overthrow of bis prosperous rival ; the myrmidons of society breathed vengeance ; and the crafty political Jesuits laboured in their vocation at the polls . Now all this excitement against
Masonry was founded upon false premises . No Masonic duty interferes with , the duty of a man to his country . The abductors of Morgan were as much without excuse as though they had not been Masons , and their crime was never palliated , or defended , by the Fraternity in general , nor by the GRAND LODGE in particular ; nor was there ever a dollar of the funds appropriated , knowingly , to aid or shield the guilty . " In 1837 , the Deputy Grand Master , Van Benschoten , suppressed all
Masonic processions , ivhich gave rise to a very warm discussion , but the resolutions approving the same , were carried in the affirmative . A subsequent investigation appears to have taken place as to the conduct of several Brethren who , having disregarded the proclamation , were attainted of indiscipline , and other practices contrary to the law ; much time was expended , and many meetings were held . It further appears that clue consideration was given to each case ; evidence was entered into ,
and subsequently produced ; suspension followed in some cases , with subsequent restoration ; and , in a few instances , expulsion was deemed needful . In June 1 S 39 , the report of the Grand Secretary was very satisfactory ; the state of the Order was clearly exposed , its financial operations explained , and its prospects examined ; among them the project of a new Masonic hall . Various communications from the several Grand Lodges of the United States were also read in Grand Lodge , all declaratory of union , and approving the course adopted by the Grand Lodge of New York on the
late occurrences . The form of a commission , issued to the representatives of the Grand Lodge of New York in foreign Grancl Lodges , was settled ; and the Grand Lodge of Ireland having intimated its desire to cultivate the most intimate association , the Grand Lodge constituted and appointed Bro . John Norman its representative in the Grand Lodge of Ireland . The Jewel to be that of a Past Master , surrounded by a wreath of palm and laurel , and the collar and apron the same as worn by the Grand Officers of the Grand Lodge .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
America, (United States).
of him is lost , and the general belief is , that there he perished by violence . That such an outrage on the liberty and life of a citizen should be followed by public indignation was natural and rig ht . That punishment should fall on the guilty was right ; and the guilty in this case , so far as they eould be discovered , were punished . But an extraordinary excitement prevailed throughout all ranks of the community . Great numbers were believed to have been concerned in the abduction and
catastrophe , who were shielded and protected by Masonic influence in high places . The whole Masonic Fraternity were charged with guilt ; the institution and its members were denounced as dangerous ; churches , families , and friends , were divided ; and the whole social system was , for a long time , uprooted and dismembered . Every man of eminence in the state , known to be a Mason , was called upon to renounce his connection with the society , or stand branded as a traitor to the laws of his country .
The Grand Lodpe was charged with the crime of aiding the guilty to escape from justice , by the use of its funds ; and no means were neglected to bring the Order to disgrace and ruin , right or wrong . The fears of the timid and ignorant attributed the crime of the guilty to a necessary consequence of Masonic obligation ; the political intriguant revelled in the prospect of the overthrow of bis prosperous rival ; the myrmidons of society breathed vengeance ; and the crafty political Jesuits laboured in their vocation at the polls . Now all this excitement against
Masonry was founded upon false premises . No Masonic duty interferes with , the duty of a man to his country . The abductors of Morgan were as much without excuse as though they had not been Masons , and their crime was never palliated , or defended , by the Fraternity in general , nor by the GRAND LODGE in particular ; nor was there ever a dollar of the funds appropriated , knowingly , to aid or shield the guilty . " In 1837 , the Deputy Grand Master , Van Benschoten , suppressed all
Masonic processions , ivhich gave rise to a very warm discussion , but the resolutions approving the same , were carried in the affirmative . A subsequent investigation appears to have taken place as to the conduct of several Brethren who , having disregarded the proclamation , were attainted of indiscipline , and other practices contrary to the law ; much time was expended , and many meetings were held . It further appears that clue consideration was given to each case ; evidence was entered into ,
and subsequently produced ; suspension followed in some cases , with subsequent restoration ; and , in a few instances , expulsion was deemed needful . In June 1 S 39 , the report of the Grand Secretary was very satisfactory ; the state of the Order was clearly exposed , its financial operations explained , and its prospects examined ; among them the project of a new Masonic hall . Various communications from the several Grand Lodges of the United States were also read in Grand Lodge , all declaratory of union , and approving the course adopted by the Grand Lodge of New York on the
late occurrences . The form of a commission , issued to the representatives of the Grand Lodge of New York in foreign Grancl Lodges , was settled ; and the Grand Lodge of Ireland having intimated its desire to cultivate the most intimate association , the Grand Lodge constituted and appointed Bro . John Norman its representative in the Grand Lodge of Ireland . The Jewel to be that of a Past Master , surrounded by a wreath of palm and laurel , and the collar and apron the same as worn by the Grand Officers of the Grand Lodge .