The Wilmingtonian. (Wilmington, Del.) 1882-188?, 1884-08-30


The announcement in our last Freemason
that the "matter of the Freemasons" had
been RENTED by the Pope's order to the
Inquisition, must have caused a smile to
pass over the countenances of all our readers
everywhere. The time has gone-and
gone, let us believe, forever-when such
brutum fumcn could affect the comfort or
hinder the advance of the Masonic body.
Happily for us all, that once dreaded
Institution has lost its terrors; its power has
departed, its place on earth knows it no
more. Some fanatic members of the Roman
Catholic Church, have, it is true, sought to
defend the massacre of Bartholomew, and
some might be easily found apparently
really to uphold the "iiery mercies" of
Dominic. But for the mass Of think
ing men, the very name of the luqusi-
tion is an abomination and a loathing, Hav-
ing scandalized the world with its abomi-
nable crueltes and unreliable baseness, hav-
ing dishonored religion and denied every
principle of truth and mercy, justice and
right, it has indeed left behind it most
unsavory reputation, has most truly earned
for itself the anathema of humanity. At
one time, no doubt, its name was great its
arms long, and its influence felt.
Brother Coultos underwent its most cruel
tortures, like other poor Freemasons at Lis
bon, over 100 years ago, until demanded by
the English Government, and TO be a Free
mason and fall into the hands of the Inqui-
sition then was simply the passport to
shameful fortunes and an awful death.
There can be no doubt, from numerous
accounts and authorities that many Free
masOns have suffered death at the hands of
the inquisition rather than disavow Free
masonry To-day however, Freemasons
everywhere will be disposed to smile at this
last outburst of petuant and childish ill
hnmor, and will continue to move ON and
march on, upholdng its own benehcent and
mercful principles in wondruus and blessed
contrast to the avowal and hidden designs
of that most hateful of secret societies,
which has ever dishonored the name of God
and religion, just as it has brought suffering
and ignominy upon man.
We trust that some foreign jurisdictions
will also take note of the present position
of affairs and guide their steps and control
their words accordingly. There can be no
doubt that in some countries the profess
sons and acts of some Freemasons are
utterly unjustifiable and un-Masonic, alto
gether opposed to the traditions and genius
of Freemasonry, and only serve to weaken
the confidence of their own associations, and
to array against them the conclusions OF
the moderate, the sympathies of the serious,
and the abnormal uneasiness of authority,
government and police.
One question affecting the correctness OF
a statement Of Anderson in 1888 has received
unexpected and easy solution by an entry in
the minutes of Grand Lodge, under date
March 2, 1889, and which entry Anderson,
no doubt, saw and based his statement prop
erly upon it. 1t certainly supports in marked
measure his "bona fides" and accuracy. An
derson states that in 1895 the Duke of Rich.
mond, Master of Lodge at Chichester, com
ing to the annual assembly, and there wa!
chosen Grand Master, with Sir Christopher
Wren as his Deputy.
II seems to be doubted by Brother Goult
whether there is any foundation for such ;
statement; indeed, he says as regards thi
very assertion of Anderson and other semi
lar ones Up. 12), ''not one of the foregoing
statements can be cited as an historical
fact" Yet the following extract from thu
silently-speaking minutes of Grand Lodg
shows that on one point Anderson wa
perfectly correct, and by the implication
supports the contention that he was als'
correct in others. 1t appears that Brother
L. Hall, March ID, 1881, was relieved b.
Grand Lodge with &c 6s., having been mad
a Mason thirty-six years before, by TIL
father of the Duke of Richmond (Grant
Master of 1924, then present. The Lodge
was held al the Swan, Chichester. Thi
would take us back to 1905, and, of course
earlier.
Thus any doubt as to the first Duke c
Richmond having been a Freemason an
Master of Lodge at Chichester is removed
and the actually Of his having been Gran
Master is, we think, materially strengthen
ed despite the opinion of our able Brothe
Gould. Remembering the usual inaccurac
of verbiage and carelessness OF detail
which characterized all such documents an
entries $50 years ago, it is but fair to Al
derson to assume that as he is foun
to be clearly correct in one point, he
equally to be credited in the other. 1t is
very serious question, the upsetting by ne
alive evidence and argument, long accre'
tied traditions, and we rejoice to publis
this partial confirmation of Anderson
statement in 1873, just as we doubt not tht
''tme and circumstances will tend to u
hold and verify many other impugncd ass
verations of our earliest Masonic writer.