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the English podges , on the contrary , being decidedly for his dethronement . These last carried the day , and when James took to flight he was accompanied by many of the nobles and Jesuits ,
From that time to the present Freemasonry has gradually increased in importance . It has spread its humanizing influence over most parts of the globe . The principles of civilization which it has advanced , and the doctrine of universal brotherhood which it inculcates , have sometimes so alarmed crowned heads and their
satellites , that they have done all in their power to stop its progress . In the middle of the eighteenth century edicts were published in Ejissia , Sardinia , Austria , Rome , Florence , and many other countries , forbidding the holding of Lodges on pain of the terrors of the inquisition , the galleys , death , imprisonment for life , or excommunication , according to the habit of the several governments , and these prohibitions still remain in some places , but ineffectually as ever .
The numbers of Lodges in the four quarters of the globe may , at a moderate computation , be reckoned at 5 , 000 , of which 3 , 000 flourish in Europe , 1 , 400 in America , and the remainder spread over less important places . Although , perhaps , there may
be some modifications in its forms and ceremonies , its benefit to the human race is undoubted , and a brother is recognised and aided in any part of the world , whether the government be a republic , a monarchy , or an oriental despotism . In illustration of this the two following anecdotes may not be unacceptable .
A French officer , at the battle of Austerlitz , had , with his company , been separated from his regiment at the commencement of the action After performing prodigies of valour , seeing the devoted band cut to pieces , and the officer dangerously wounded , he still refused to give up his sword , until , exhausted by loss of blood , he fell , making the
Masonic sign . The Prussian officer in command , who was one of the initiated , on perceiving this , ran forward and drew off his men , who , in their fury , were preparing to strike the death-blow . Faithful to his Masonic principles , he had his Brother , no longer his enemy , carried to his own tent , where his kindness and attention was so
great that his prisoner was in doubt whether he ought not to bless his glorious defeat . "When his health was completely restored , he perceived the necessity of complying with the laws of war , and prepared to depart to the place assigned to the prisoners ; but he first demanded an interview with his captor . "What was his gratitude and astonishment to learn that he was free ! The Prussian
officer had managed to get his name placed on the first list of those who were to be exchanged . Again , in the time of the late war , the Prussians infested the frontiers of France , and committed all sorts of outrages . They one day entered a chateau , and after insulting the inmates and
destroying everything they could lay their hands on , seized a box containing a large sum of money . The owner , on trying to prevent their taking his property , would have fared very hardly had he not , on a sudden thought , made the sign . The officer , who was a Mason
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Untitled Article
the English podges , on the contrary , being decidedly for his dethronement . These last carried the day , and when James took to flight he was accompanied by many of the nobles and Jesuits ,
From that time to the present Freemasonry has gradually increased in importance . It has spread its humanizing influence over most parts of the globe . The principles of civilization which it has advanced , and the doctrine of universal brotherhood which it inculcates , have sometimes so alarmed crowned heads and their
satellites , that they have done all in their power to stop its progress . In the middle of the eighteenth century edicts were published in Ejissia , Sardinia , Austria , Rome , Florence , and many other countries , forbidding the holding of Lodges on pain of the terrors of the inquisition , the galleys , death , imprisonment for life , or excommunication , according to the habit of the several governments , and these prohibitions still remain in some places , but ineffectually as ever .
The numbers of Lodges in the four quarters of the globe may , at a moderate computation , be reckoned at 5 , 000 , of which 3 , 000 flourish in Europe , 1 , 400 in America , and the remainder spread over less important places . Although , perhaps , there may
be some modifications in its forms and ceremonies , its benefit to the human race is undoubted , and a brother is recognised and aided in any part of the world , whether the government be a republic , a monarchy , or an oriental despotism . In illustration of this the two following anecdotes may not be unacceptable .
A French officer , at the battle of Austerlitz , had , with his company , been separated from his regiment at the commencement of the action After performing prodigies of valour , seeing the devoted band cut to pieces , and the officer dangerously wounded , he still refused to give up his sword , until , exhausted by loss of blood , he fell , making the
Masonic sign . The Prussian officer in command , who was one of the initiated , on perceiving this , ran forward and drew off his men , who , in their fury , were preparing to strike the death-blow . Faithful to his Masonic principles , he had his Brother , no longer his enemy , carried to his own tent , where his kindness and attention was so
great that his prisoner was in doubt whether he ought not to bless his glorious defeat . "When his health was completely restored , he perceived the necessity of complying with the laws of war , and prepared to depart to the place assigned to the prisoners ; but he first demanded an interview with his captor . "What was his gratitude and astonishment to learn that he was free ! The Prussian
officer had managed to get his name placed on the first list of those who were to be exchanged . Again , in the time of the late war , the Prussians infested the frontiers of France , and committed all sorts of outrages . They one day entered a chateau , and after insulting the inmates and
destroying everything they could lay their hands on , seized a box containing a large sum of money . The owner , on trying to prevent their taking his property , would have fared very hardly had he not , on a sudden thought , made the sign . The officer , who was a Mason