Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1860-09-08
PARKER PILtsBURY.
H0N0Rs PAID TO JOHN BROWN IN
FRANCE,

49, W.
lowing generous and hearty tribute to John Broom
from the Free-Mdsons of France-all the more
magnanimous MS he was not a member of the Or
der.
The following extract is translated from the
January number Of the Monde Mac6nni9ue, INA
sonic World Paris -
John Browns death has made almost as pro-
found a sensation in Europe as oD the other side
Of the Atlantic. England and France, who
are no longer directly interested in the Question of
slavery, are still as deeply moved as at the time,
not far back, when the slaves were not yet eman.
cipated in the colonies of either Of these two prin-
cipal European nations, and when the interests Of
both, opposed to emancipation, made one fear the
indefinite postt onement of the triumph of reason
and justice.
The death Of John Brown is a last warning Civ
en- to the United States; danger is at hand, and
they should make haste to follow England who
gave them birth, and France who gave them liber'
ty, in the path where these have had the honor
and courage to lead.
One will see by the letters quoted below, and
taken from La PyeSSe, the effect produced in
America by the sentence and execution of John
Brown and his companions. This effect is immense,
far beyond what anybody could have reasonably
expected. In this conflict between transient and
individual interests, and the eternal principles Of
human rights, it is needless to tell on which side
are our sympathies. With those of all Free Ma
sons, they have followed, 20 their last moments,
John Brown and his four com panions, Cook, Cop
pic, Green and Copeland; they are with the gener-
Gus ard freedom-loving North against the feudal
and pro.slavery South.
OF all the words Of our motto, FRATERNITrYY is the
one most deeply engraven on the heart of every
true Mason. In our view, John Brown is q martyr
to FRATERNITY, and for this we should honor his
memory. So thought the Lodge 81. Vincent-de-
Paul, and it was at their Solstitial WInter.f feast,
celebrated the 9Th of January, that Monsieur u
bach expressed the feelings of all the Masons there
assembled, offering the following sentiment, in q
speech which was interrupted, from time to time,
by the unanimous applause Of the audience i
'BRoTHERs ! If our object in these assemblies
were only pleasure, if this were merely d convivial
meeting, | should refrain from Offering the senti-
ment which I am about to propose. I would not
insult q holy cause by naming il iu the midst of
decorous festivities or social enjoyment; nor would
l sadden, by TOO grave words, hours devoted to
joys SO short and SO feeting. But we are seated
at a banquet sacred as a sacrifice, and you are
men of free thought whom serious subjects do
not %startle. and who, in celebrating with full g05;
lets, with smiles and garlands of flowers, the feast
of Life, do not forget the triumph of Death.
Let me, then, speak to you of death, and evoke
here, in the midst of our clasped hands, Of Our
hearts united in the bonds of brotherhood, mid
the vows we utter and the hymns we chant, let us
evoke that gibbet on which they have just hung
an homes; man, a martyr to Equality and Faterni-
ty-JoHN Brown!
Brothers, it Is to the memory of John Brown
that ] drink this toast. know all the reserve that
is due here in regard to events which are not yet
history l know AL the prudence of which Free
Masonry has need in order to avoid giving offence;
but know also, what | owe my soul when a grand
sight is shown it I know what counsel, what en-:
couragement, what ~frate-nal aid we owe each 9th.
eer. l know that when a man dies anywhere in
maintaining the principles Of our Order, we ohgh,
to weep for him, bu. to weep as they weep who
believe in the Future and in Justice His is an
example we ought to treasure, an encouragement
we ought to take to ourselves. Yes, an encourage
ment. There is still, then, upon this old earth, al
ready stepped in blood and tears, room for tho in
quisitor and for the gibbeta So much the better
The idea which they thus resist is very near it,
triumph. Alas America hides chains in TIT
folds of her banner, blue as the sky Alas! wher
a man rises and says to the slaves, Children, awake
the slaves are silent and the masters rebel What
this ~infatny-making martyrs Of the apostles o
hrOthnrlV lOva-naD nYiak a rnOn0 a rapnhlioan nao
pie in this our enlightened age II God permits
such a sight, it is not to discourage reason, but tt
give it the last warning.
That scafold erected beyond the sea, whose
shadow stretches even to us, America, with all hel
glory. cannot hide, 1t must stand as q protest til
the last link that binds the last slave is sunk in thu
ocean. 1t stands a constant appeal TO all noble anG
earnest men. And, on our part, let us respond
with On anathema and with plaudits, q curse OF
the impious murderers who fried TO extinguish a di
vine fame in snotherihg a human soul who
thought to strangle God in hanging a man. Lei
us applaud the majesty of that sublime death, Of
that voluntary sacrifice let us receive into the
purest sanctuary Of our thoughts, Of our regrets
of our love, this just man who smiled IN dying,an
who gave his life to hasten even by one day. the
reign Of Justice.
I had wished to describe to you the work and
the death of John Brown; but il would need pages.
and l have only time for a word. Besides, you
have all read, brothers, the details of that %austere,
devoted life which fought bravoly, and which sac
ri6ced itself without shrinking, manifesting the
b~rotherly love of Abel, even under the heel OF
Cain
l will not interrupt with a long discourse this
family festival; I wished only that a noble spirit,
a hero's spirit. might come to Join our circle Of
union, TO speak to Us Of self sacrifice and Of yir.