The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-08-09
DIR. westwOOd and the Free nlasou,.
To The Editors Of the Iutelllgoneer. :

To the Editors ofthe Intelligeneer.
Free Masonry needs no defence for its
action at the grave Of one Of It's deceased
brethren on last Sunday afternoon, except
public statement, Of tsetay n An DR..
Westwood has madeA statement from the
pulpit Of his church, thereby forestalling
correct opinion, as well as by means OF
daily paper, l claim the indulgence Of
the reading public TO my statement OF the
"open conflict asI am Worshipfnl Mas.
ter of Ohio Lodge No. /, and was one of
the principal actors In that "conaict" A
conflict presuppoSes two. My language
was plain, but courteous, as l can bring
several witnesses to prove. l did not an
ticipate DR.. Westwood's movements nor
designs until the body Of the deceased
was lowered into the grayeS hence, Ihadc
no cause to treat him in any other man.
ner than with that Difference due to
minister Of the gospel consequently if
there was a conflict, 1t was oil DR.. West
woods. By private correspondence it
has been developed that the Doctor now
holds that "the choice Of burial service Is
sacred" but that the open conflict was
the result Of Q misunderstanding. 5-.u
The following letter signed by Mrs
Elizabeth Hamilton, WidoW2of the de-
ceased, will show whether misunder.
standing could exist IN the mind ofso In.
telligent person as the Doctor issuppos.
ed to be: 81 . 2 -.
Ar. II. Sterling:
In order to relieve YOU OF any doubt
relative 70 my desireas to my husband re.
ceiving 0 Masonic burial, ] hereby state
that on Saturday, the Sd inst, ] informed
DR.. Westwood Who called On me after
his return homel that desired him and
the Rev. McO luTe TO ofioiate at the house,
and the Masons totakechMgG 0fthe body
at the grave. 1t was not only mYexpress-
ed desire that MIR. Hamilton receive q
Masonic burial, but that # himself prior
70 his death. rEIIZkBET1 HAIuLToN.r
Wheeling, W4Fd., A,tgttsf 8, 1879. $40
Rev. I. B. Hughes, (the, same. gentle
man" alluded to In the Doctors aTtfeleIJ
Pastor of Zane Street N. E. Church and q
member OF my Lodge, was appointed
as Chaplain Tor The. occasion, who
was clothed as a Master Mason, and
rode with the Doctor. to the cemetery
having = Masonic text book Oil hishsnd
preparing. his patti Of the service. Upon
arriving at the grave, the sexton began 10
lower the body when l stepped forward
and requested him to desist; but before
could finish my sentence, hand was laid
on my shoulder and l was told "that
was right" The person who did this, l
do not know. ISthen asked Rev. Hughes
what Or. JWestWood was doing al me
head ofthe grave with q book opeh before
himS BE replied, "he intends to read his
burial service" told him he could not
do so, as 1t was not in conformity with
one Of the ancient landmarksf Of .the fra,
ternitY, and requested him TO s1inEorm the
Doctor. He replied II do not desire to
inform him." told him, (the Rev.
Hughes that was not personally &C.
quainted with the Doctor and still urged
my request. He again replied, az do not
desire TO inform him, but rather that you
would" II then became mstter Of
duty with me and stepping up to the
Doctor said; doctor you cannot read
your service" Il did not use the
words mot allowedO, but before
could explain, the Doctor said, with the
flush Of passion in his countenance, q
shake Of the head, and slur upon his
lips, all indicative Of anger-"If I live, I
will certainly do It" Not desiring an
open conflict, 1retired to consult my breth.
rem. Alter consultation, and while the
Doctor was reading his service, stepped
forward and told Brother Hughes to re.
quest the Doctor 10 pronounce the bene-
diction, as the exercises would then close.
then informed the Marshal of the Lodge
TO form the procession for our return.
Now, concerning the landmark Of the
fraternity whichI as Q MSsoniand Ma.
ter Of Lodge, was in duty bound to OBJ.
serve, there Is not a, Mason, In this city
who does not know that Freemhsonry
does not byany principls'orl prsdeps or
by any ceremony OF not, seek 10 mnote
the Church. Of God" or To offer n indig.
nifty or insult. On the contrary, he knows
perfectly we'll that not ,only, does, Free.
masonry inculcate the BIZ test morality,
but that It's symbolic teachings include
the cardinal and essential principles Of
Christianity itself. ~ ''-'-' al'1li-
Again, the law of Free Masonry Is I'm,
peraIive. No one Is buried with Masonic
ceremony unless heor his family makes
the request DR., Westwoody 90 o Free
Mason, must have knoisn this. He was
the aggressor. He offered the faStdti Il
! any was offered. And when . minister oil
the Gospel 80 fat iorgets hiy own dignity
or that Of his office as violate that law,
thenthe case becomes the more aggravat.
ing. We do not claim that the Masonic
service has precedence over Tue Christian
service, but do claim that wheno parties
make The request for q Masonic funeral
by virtue Of that request d our Sttend'
ance and oil our ritual tho preoedence 4
. ours, q right which Weuropose To exercise