Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1901-10-17
On the Field Of Battle.

VU tne FIelo oI 0Sttcs
But the most important service, aft
er the Revolution was fairly launch
ed, was rendered by the lodges form
ed in the Continental Army. There
were ten of these lodges they were
scattered among the camps from Mas
sachusetts to North Carolina. aud
their growth was fostered and encour-
aged by the Commander In Chief,
Washington himself attended their
communications frequently--now as
, visitor meeting soldier brethren on o
ievel. and now as Master. sitting in the
oriental chair and bringing candidate
to Masonic light. L. was In one Of
these lodges--A American Union, at Nor.
ristown, N. THAT Lafayette Ia be-
Iieved to have received his degrees,
Lodge meetings were sometimes
held in officers cents and sometimes.
as in the case of the army cncamped
m the Hudson, In a permanent build
ing specially erected for that purpose.
And so active were these military Ma.
sons that movement was started, and
~ veral conventions held at Morris.
town. with q view to establishing an
American general grand lodge and
making Washington Grand Master OF
the United states.
| II IL difficult to overestimate the
strategic value OF these army lodges
In the first place they promoted fel
and sympathy between officers and
men. In an army where the humblest
private might sit in lodge on a level
with the Commander In Chief there
arose a spirit of self.sacrihce. mutual
helpiulness and devotion-an esprit
du corps--which no hireling soldiery
could have. Where the distinctions
of rank were lost In the ties Of broth
erhood. even the suferings Of that ter
rible Winter at Valley Forge might be
made enduraple. Again. the preva
lence of Masonry in the patriotic arm,
paign and fidelity in their execution
Councils of war. 1t Is said. were FIRE
quently held In the lodge room. wher'
theif deliberations were under tn
double seal of Masonry and patriot
ism. Generals could intrust their dis
patches to couriers who were brOthe
Masons. and feel certain that nothin
, would be divulge.. Thus our eight
, eenth century brethren formed tn
, strong army Of the continental Sci
, vice.
, II is claimed that nearly every Amel
/ lean General was Mason; certainl
|, the leading ones were. Even the a
i lies, Lafayette, the Frenchman, an
: Steuben, and DeKalb. the Germans
. were members Of the order. John Pa'
Jones. the founder Of our navy.
d known to have petitioned st. Be
= nard's lodge at Kirkcudbrigbt, SEQ
@ land. and probably was member OF
n Had the Freemasons been withdraw
If from the Continental forces, the Re
~ olutiOn must have been a dismal fa
A. IRE.
3. Masons Among British.
o. But we must never forget that not Q
=. Freemasons of the Revolution We
re enrolled in the patriotic ranks-th
r. they were numerous In the invadiI
O. army as well. Ross, t'S historian
ut the Grand Lodge Of New York. recOr
to as operating during the war In tn
p State alone more than thirty Britt
military lodges. And to the fact tn
IN Masons were actively engaged on DO
tt sides IL due some of the most gratil
IN ing Incidents Of the war. II IL "a
to that the fairest flowers are those tn
n. bloom over the wall Of party: but he
r. much more must be said OF those tn
he bloom amid the strife Of armies.
ne Early In the war an event occurr
lie tnat proved the strength Of the N
NJ sonic tie. At the Battle VI the Ceda
ia near Montreal, Col. John McKinstl
&c a Freemason. was captured by a ba
m Of Indians whose chiefs was the ce
* brated Joseph Brand. also Mast
RI In accordance with savage custom, [
ID prisoner was bound to q stake, faggC
n were piled about him. and the tor
ne was about to be applied. when
'r. gave to Chief Brant the sign viii
e. Masons know the world around-t
grand hailing sign Of distress. lndi
Oh though he was. the chief recognize
ar tue sign and ordered the torture
n cease. and he and his captor becaI
or fast friends for the rest of. their liv
In Again, in 1873, Joseph Burnham.
IT, Mason. who was held by the Britt
I'd al a prisoner of war In New FORK 81
or escaped and sought shelter in I
Green Bay Tree Tavern. kept by I
y, other Mason named Hopkins, whi
d served as meeting place for
It. Johns Lodge. which was compos
TX mostly OF British officers. The fu
ie tive was secreted In the tavern g
N ret, which was just above the lod
room. and while he was reclining
N night on the planks which formed I
ts garnet floor, these gave way and p
" cipitated the unfortunate guest II
"a. the center OF the lodge In the W
w midst Of its deliberations. The lal
u. lord, who was also the tyler was ca