The Sun.
London, England, 1842-02-01 00:00:00

THE MASONS' STRIKE.

An extremely large public meeting was held last night
in the large room of the White Conduit House Tavern,
for the purpose of taking into consideration the present
position of the masons, and also for the purpose of con-
sidering the best means to be adopted in supporting them
in their present struggle.
Mr. Wakley was one of the first who ascended the
platform.
Mr. DUNNING, a bookbinder, was called to the Chair.
He said that in taking the chair that night lie felt the
greatest pleasure. The strike had then continued
20 weeks. In the strike there bad been 375 persons, of
whom oul) five had proved false to the cause. The cir-
cumstances peculiar to the trade which then solicited
their support, rendered that support at that moment the
more essential, as the masons, at that time of the year,
were generally out of employment from one end of the
kingdom to the other. Therefore it became those of the
other trades to come forward and assist them (the ma-
sons), which would enable them to get over the present
period ; and when that period was got over, there was
no fear as to the result of the struggle, because the New
Royal Exchange, the Museum, and various other public
buildings, would be commenced, and when that took place
they might depend upon the•victory.—(Cheers.) He need
not go into the case of the masons since their strike.
They had taken a high moral stand—a stand the result
of education. He hoped they would still adhere to the
cause, and soon bring it to a successful termination. He
would conclude by calling on Mr. Golton to move the
first resolution.

Mr. GOLT.:::, painter, said he rose with much pleasure
to propose the following resolution:—" That it is the
opinion of this meeting that the steady, upright, and
manly conduct of the. masons during such a long and
arduous struggle pre-eminently deserves the utmost
praise, and our additional support."—(Cheers.) He
would endeavour to lay before them such facts as would,
he was sure, cause them to carry out this resolution, and
which would not only prove to them that the masons
deserved their applause, but all the support they could
possibly bring to them. It had been stated to them that
375 men were on the-strike, and of that number not one
had broken the laws of his country. They had never
seen any police reports inserted in any of the papers
respecting them. Their struggle was founded on Chris-
tian and humane principles, to resist the oppression of
a being who was not worthy the name of an Englishman,
who had been raised to his office for the sole pur-
pose of pursuing a system of slave-driving. He (Mr.
Golton) would endeavour to show that the masons'

interest was the interest of the masters. He then went
into the various details relative to the strike, and which
finally led to the men leaving their employment, all of
which details have appeared in our reports of the various
speeches delivered at the earlier meetmc,ms of the masons.
He concluded a very long speech by calling on them-to
use their utmost exertions in supporting the masons, and
then they would not have to return to their work com-
fortably with Allen, as Mr. Grissell had last Wednesday
said they would. He had said that "in the course of
three weeks they will be all comfortably back again.
" But," he had also added, " I must confess these men
of principle were the best men I ever had in my life."
Mr. WAK.LEY briefly seconded the resolution, which
was put and carried unanimously.
Mr. CLARKE, a painter, said he felt great pleasure in
calling tbe,ir attention to a subject of the highest im-
portance to them as men—a subject they had met that
evening to advance—that of obtaining for the working
man that moral, that social, and political standing, the
the sons of labour, the'creat.ors of all wealth, were so
fully, fairly, and justly entitled to. They had been
opposed by the combination of capitalists, but, owing
to the united efforts of the trades, they bad
been able to stand against theni—(Hear, hear)
—and if they still held together, they must, and
would be successful. Many perhaps at this moment
would ask " what have we to do with that strike, we are
not masons—we have nothing to do with stone," but he
would endeavour to show that they had to do with it,
that they were attacking the strong hold of corruption,
and what was the masons' situation then might be theirs
to-morrow. Let them come forward and break the chain
of tyranny asunder.
Let us unite with hearts sincere in truth,
Our mental might to this enabling work,
The mind's regeneration, and become
Messiahs in the cause of liberty,
Nor cease until from out the book of life

We.blot the name of tyrant and of slave.—(Cheers.)
The resolution he had to propose was, "That it is the
opinion of this meeting, that the bold and decisive con-
duct adopted by the Quarry-men, in nobly refusing to
prepare stone for the supply of Messrs. Grissell and
Peto, until justice has been conceded to the injured
masons, thereby sacrificing their employment, deserves
our cordial thanks, and creates in us a greater stimulant
to exertion."

Air. THOMAS briefly seconded the resolution, which,
on being put to the meeting, was carried amidst loud
applause.
Mr. Feargus O'Connor then entered the room, and was
received with a tremendous burst of cheering, which
lasted a considerable time.

Mr. BUTLER said he could assure them that he had
always anticipated success with respect to the question at
issue, and he was now still further confident of the re-
sult from that meeting. The resolution he had to
propose- 'was something of • a political character
" That it is the opinion of this meeting, that the partial
conduct of the Commissioners of Woods and Forests,
and the Board of Admiralty, in assisting Messrs.
Grissell and Peto, against the masons now on strike,
clearly proves that the Government is determined to
oppress the working classes ; and therefore it is abso-
lutely necessary that extensively organised unions should
exist for the purpose of protecting ourselves against
the combined efforts of those who live upon the fruits of
our industry."—(Loud cheers.) H e did not think he
need be under any apprehension in that resolution being
received by them. They knew perfectly well that Lord
Lincoln and other great men in the Government had
done all in their power to starve the men into submis-
sion, but he trusted the good men of the trades of the
metropolis would never allow them to become the easy
tools of such a base faction.—(Cheers.)
Mr. BAKER seconded the resolution without comment.
Mr. A. WavroN rose to speak to the resolution. The
resolution just submitted to them, condemnatory of the
Commissioners of Woods and Forests and the Board of
Admiralty, he trusted, would meet with their entire
concurrence. He rejoiced at their again assembling on
that occasion. It was a proof that they felt the deepest
interest in that struggle—that they were fully sensible
of the fact that the Commissioners of Woods and Forests
and the Board of Admiralty had rendered their services
to Grissell and Peto, fOr the purpose of oppressing the
masons. They (the masons) wrote to the Commissioners
of Woods and Forests, and they sent an answer to the
letter, stating that they could not interfere, while they
were actually • holding a secret correspondence with
Grissell and Peto ; and when a deputation of the masons
waited on the Earl of Lincoln, for the purpose of explain-
ing the stri':e, he said they were decidedly opposed to
trades unions or combinations. Grissel and Peto were
left to do what they thought proper and they were pro-
tected. The quarrymen heard of the conduct of Allen,
and immediately refused to produce anymore stone until
he was dismissed. The Commissioners of Woods and
Forests immediately wrote a letter by their.. agents,
Messrs. Burgess and Walker, stating to Messrs. Grissell
and Pete, that they might get 'stone from any part:of the,
country they chose. He (Mr. Walton) called their at
tention to the systematic union :amongst. those..parties,
whilst the Earl of Lincoln was condemning union amongst
the workingclasses. The Times had said that if they
could not get stone from any part of England they could
get it from South America. He (Mr. W.) thought it
would be rather an unprofitable speculation.—(Laugh-
ter.) The Times had recommended the Government to
re-enact the combination laws, but if ever they attempted
to crush trades' unions, that would raise such a tem-
pest round their heads as would with some difficulty be
quelled.—(Cheers.) The Government ought not to have
interfered ; and, if they did so, they should have made
inquiries into the merits of the case. The masons had
at all times been ready, and were so still, to submit the
case to arbitration ; and if the reporter of the Times was ,
in that room, he trusted he would take that declaration,
and let them know the fact. But they would never get
justice from the present Government, nor would they
ever get justice from their representatives, until they
were made responsible to the people for their actions.—
(Loud cheers.) They might as well expect to find the
sun in darkness—they might as well expect to find the
great universe acting in opposition to the established laws
of nature, as expect the Government to have any thing
like sympathy for the people while that Government was
based upon a system of class legislation. He would
endeavour to show to them the extent of union which
existed amongst them, as they could appreciate the
value of union as well as the Government. He would
endeavour to show them the absolute necessity of uniting
for their own protection. All classes of society, except
the working men, were protected by law. He would take
for instance the solicitor, the physician, the surgeon, all
these were under the protection of the law, and no one
could practice in either unless he had taken his degrees.
But where was the protection for the honest and indus-
trious working man ? He would tell them what their
protection must be. It must be union—union which
would tend to their own welfare and be the means of
bettering their condition, and which would be the instru-
ment of their own regeneration. For this union it was
indispensably necessary that delegate Committees should
exist as in London through the provinces. In every
town in England they should be formed, and the whole
of these unions, directed by intelligence, would show to
the world that they were not that bloody and sanguine
mob they were represented to be, but an upright and
generous people determined to be free.—(Loud cheers.)
The resolution was put and carried with loud cheers.
Mr. DUNBAR proposed the next resolution:—" That
this meeting do, individually and collectively, declare
their determination to assist the masons while the strike
lasts."—This resolution was received with loud cheers.
Mr. TRIBE seconded the resolution.

Mr. ANDERSON having spoken to the resolution, it
was carried unanimously, and with vehement cheering.
The CHAIRMAN then stated that a meeting would be
held every Monday evening at the Craven Head, Drury-
lane ; and every Tuesday evening at the Prince's Head,
Prince's-street, Westminster.
Mr. WALTON said it was the intention of the Com-
mittee to have had a ball on Wednesday week, but, as
that was Ash Wednesday, the landlord gad been threat-
ened with the loss 'of his license, and therefore the ball
was postponed till the Monday following. Perhaps it
would be thought strange that they came so far from
the centre of the town, but the proprietor of the room
had given it gratuitously.—(Loud cheers.)
Mr. WAKLEY then presented himself, and was re-
ceived with cheering, which continued for some minutes.
As soon as silence was restored he said he could assure
them that he had attended there that night for the purpose
of witnessing their proceedings, with unspeakable satisfac-
tion. Nothing could be more grateful to his feelings than
that of discovering that a large portion of his countrymen
were struggling for their rights with a fixed determina-
tion of being victorious. In the speeches they had heard,
which had been delivered for their information, were the
details of grievances which the men employed ,on the
Houses of Parliament had endured ; and he would ask
them, and he was bold to make the appeal not only to
them but to the whole of England, whether it was possible
for one man to possess an honest English heart who did
not sympathise with the hardships these men had en-
dured? It was an easy thing for those who had capital,
which had been accumulated by the labour of the people,
to say that unions were mischievous, and that the working
men were acting tyrannically. They had heard of
physic being protected by law ; they might go further,
and say, the Church also ; in fact, the aristocracy of
England were united as one man against the interests
of the working man. If they wanted a clergyman for
their parish, could they have him ? No ; he was set
down as a black.—(Laughter.) The Church said they
would not have your black, but would have a black of
their own.—(Cheers and laughter.) Take the law, of
which Mr. F. O'Connor was a member, and they knew
how he had taken up the cause of the people, and, so the
law sent him to Coventry.—(Cheers.) SuppoSe they
wanted him (Mr. Wakley) to plead their cause in any
court of law, could they have him ? No. It would be a
very bad thing for them if they did. But that was not
to the point. Could they exercise their own will and
judgment ? No ; because the benchers would denounce
him (Mr. Wakley) as a black in law ; they would
not have his coif and gown, as it would not be
according to their liking.—(Laughter and cheers.) Take
the practice of physic, and look to the Apothecaries' Com-
pany. They were a voluntary company at first, but they
had a charter granted to them by James, and then came
the 53d of George 111., by which Act any man who dared
to prescribe a dose of rhubarb or jalap, unless he was a
member of the said society, must forfeit 20/. for that very
grave offence. Yet the parties who created these unions
denounced the working men of London as tyrannical be-
cause they had the sagacity to stand up for their own
protection. Who did not feel the spirited conduct of the
men at the two Houses of Parliament ? they had taught
even hospitality to Grissell and Peto, for they had had a
dinner party, and one thousand seven hundred of their
workmen had dined at the Horns Tavern, at Ken:
nington, and those men obtained a good dinner by
means of the masons' strike.—(Loud cheers.) He never
could believe that nearly 300 men would throw them-
selves out of employment, at a season of privation and
distress, without feeling that they were right in doing
so. The Hon. Gentlemen then went on at considerable
-length, urging upon them each to subscribe a weekly
sum, so that the masons might have a permanent income
that would last as long as the strike lasted. He was
willing, as long as had a shilling in his. pocket, to
contribute his share. The political unions in the House
of Commons were such, that he had seen, in close divi-
sions, the leaders of adverse factions bring in idiots
and lunatics to give their votes. He pledged his word
and honour that he had seen idiots and lunatics voting
in making laws for this empire. These were the men who
had denounced their unions, and were prepared to de-
nounce them still, and who would, if they allowed them,
pass laws for the abolition of all Trades' Societiei. The
Hon. Gentleman then went into very lengthy details re-
specting the Dorchester labourers, and his exertions in
their behalf. The Hon. Gentleman concluded an ex-
tremely long speech by calling upon them to assist heart
and hand in the masons' cause, and then to form associa-
tions for the purpose of obtaining Universal Suffrage, and
'never to rest till they had obtained it.
Mr. FEARGUS O'CONNOR then rose, and said, if the
concluding advice of Mr. Wakley had been taken and
acted upon some few years ago, the masons would not
have been in the painful position of being obliged to look
to that meeting for‘ support. He rejoiced in making
one of them there that night. He rejoiced the more in
consequence of the last sentence he had heard from Mr.
Butler, when he (Mr. Feargus O'Connor) entered the
room. He told them that the motion bore something of
a political complexion, and this it was that gave him (Mr.
Feargus O'Connor) so much satisfaction. As Mr.
Wakley had said, it was not so much the
aristocracy who pressed upon the working classes
as the middle classes of society, who trampled on
the people.. No truth could be plainer than the
rights of these 400 men who had given up the sources
of their own maintenance rather than injure their trade,
or allow these tyrants to have the victory over them.
He had told Lord Grey, Lord Brougham, Lord Stanley,
and the rest, at the time of the Dorchester labourers
case 'was_ brought before the. House of Commons, that
they ought to be in the convicts' dress, and going on
board the hulks. They were now in a'position to assert
their rights, and to go at oncc to the root of the class
legislation. Mr. Wakley would be going down to the
House of Commons, and he hoped he would stand
there the leader of those who were master-arm of the na-
tion. Union was necessary in order to effect
triumph. The King of Prussia was going down to
tha opening of Parliament, and would sit by the side of
the Queen in that House of Incurables. What would
he think if he was told by Mr. Wakley, that in the
other House idiots and lunatics voted in making the
laws ? He would think that one was an Hospital
of Incurables, and the other an Hospital for Lunatics.
He (Mr. F. O'Connor) had been in the Queen's
Bench, and he never found a man there that was in debt;
he had been in York Castle amongst thieves and vaga-
bonds, and he never found a thief or a vagabond there
yet; and so in the House of Commons and the House of
Lords, they would never find an enemy to the poor. The
present time put him in mind of that when Charles
James Fox accepted office. They then contended
for all the six points which he (Mr. O'C.) did, but when,
they got on the other side of Downing-street, all they
did was to remove a few contractors from Parliament,
and deprive revenue officers of their votes. It was like
the old lady when she got her feet on the fender, she did
not think the poor people could be cold, So when C. J.
Fox and his party were in office they thought the state
of the nation was not half so bad as when they were
out. lie concluded an extremely long -speech; of
which we are only able to give the heads, by expressing
a hope that those men who had taken the place of those
in strike, would get the new Houses of Parliament built
by the time the Reformed Parliament was ready to take
possession of it.—(Loud cheers.)
A vote of thanks was then passed to the Chairman,
and the meeting separated.

[ADVERTISEMENT.]
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Srri—ln the Times of Wednesday last, the 26th inst.,
there appeared an article from its Editor replete with
scurrility and misrepresentation respecting the means we
have taken to prosecute, to a successful issue, our strike.
In reply to this, with a view to disabuse the public mind,
an article, of which the following is a copy; has by its
professedly " fair play" editor, been refused insertion.
We, therefore, respectfully solicit you to• favour us with
its insertion in your next edition.—We are, (Sir, yours
respectfully, THE MASONS' SOCIETY,
THOMAS SHOHTT, Hon. Sec.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES. •
Sir,—Our attention has been arrested by an article
from your pen, in reference to our strike at the' New
Houses of Parliament, and other public works, which ap-
peared in your columns of Wednesday,. the 26th inst.,
prejudicial to the cause of humanity, in vyhich we are en-
gaged, and not strictly true; we, therefOre, now
what in a spirit of fairness-sve rely +on your giant-
viz., permission, through the sauce .zolumns which
-your article appeared, to lay before the public the other
:and true side of the question.
• Whether our efforts to annihilate cruelty the most
consummate " has been simply defeated" in London or
not—whether " open houses are provided by the union"
for the quarrymen who, in various localities, manifest
such a humane 'feeling towards their cruelly ill-treated
fellow-men or not—or whether our delegates proceed
from place to place in the performance of their " labour
oflove," "mounted" or otherwise, are questions upon which
we shall riot waste our time, or seek to occupy your
pages in animadverting upon. Suffice to say, that, satis-
fied with the justness of our cause, we are as determined
now as at the first moment, and shall persevere, by
every lawful means, to succeed.
To " die of atrophy," that is, from the want of nou-
rishment, is what we do not fear, the period of a "con-
summation so devoutly wished for" by our opponents is
" very remote ;" and respecting " club law " or " new
police" law, the one we abhor, and the other we
have no intention to offend. It is by sober,
reflecting, and purely moral means, by " surround-
ing those" who, in ignorance of the sacred duties
of man to man, passively submit to insult and cruelty,
" with a moral and social influence" that we intend to
pilot ourselves to the desired haven. Contrast this with
the following paragraph in your article :—" But for
such a movement as the present, founded on misre-
presentation, and forming part of a systematic at-
tempt to establish a dangerous and unconstitutional
tyranny, we have no compassion or sympathy ;
and repeat, that it must meet with no compro-
mise, but be put down thoroughly and unflinch-
ingly, even though its progress were only to be checked
by a general stoppage of trade throughout the country."
Our business now, Sir, is to show that we have not used
" misrepresentation." We preferred several serious
charges against George Allen, foreman to Messrs.
Grissell and Peto, our late employer, and which they re-
fused to redress. We then courted, by every means
at our disposal, public inquiry into them, and
preferred, through the medium of The Sun, Morn-
ing Advertiser, and other of the daily and
weekly press, to submit the whole case to arbitration; a
deputation waited on Mr. Grissel, and informed him that
if he would concede our request, if by the evidence of
Allen's victims and others who had witnessed his unfeel-
ing conduct, we proved that his conduct towards us had
been such as we had attributed to him. Mr. Grissell
refused, asserting that he had lowered his dignity in
deigning even to hold converse with them ; and this, Sir, is
not much like " misrepresentation" or a desire " to esta-
blish a dangerous and unconstitutional tyranny." The
following, Mr. Editor, are the charges we allege against
George Allen; we are prepared to submit them to any
just arbitration, and to be content with the result:-
Ist. Locking up the pump, or rather the door leading