The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-02-09
A DELIGHTFUL PAPER
ON JOHN MARSHALL
Mr.. R A. Brock Makes Marsh;
Occasion of a Review of a Noble.
Mans Interesting Career.
LIFE LINKED WITH RICHMOND LODGE

4. u. and 4. NJ, was the address OF Mr..
Il. A. Brock. on John Marshall as a
Man" The paper WAS regarded by ali
who heard it as masterpiece. ine
name OF its author IS u guarantee OF ~
merit. II follows here:
Among the teeininS. and still multiply
ing discourSes on the life and character
OF lhc just and acute cSreundcr, scarce
know Of one which touches upon MS eS-
.mpi:iicaticn as ~ Mason or of his con-
Tection with our ncneficent fraternity
Indeed, the desired facts Scent not fcad-
Sly accessible or TO have been preset|ed'
With which 10 invest with due Settlns
and new and trlnscendilS art this bfii-
liant OF our ancient and honorable craft
This may DC due, r%e:haiis, 10 an s!i
reasoning DISTRICT OF s,asohrS E eiicliES
as a seGrs, organization, IN Il neT'od
succeeding The emerging Erom tsiraidonl
OF o,,. rrc-c1.inent asylum q freedom
for the oppressed of tic UoljG
II WAS IcEs. q very 'bug-peaf wan
which TO alright The crcdulot's by III
acranuJous politicians.
One can only smile at G.lis day at inc
f viruience OF the assaults upon IN insu-
hutton. the virtuou3 teachings OF which
have been oilly :nSo;iatlrc of coSsistesit
,norai;ty and .:i.;Ctary Tor nlhilo ana
private wcai.
Washington, rs you al Know, was a.
4 aiason, Yet. Notwithstanding his bound
I champion cf freedom, You. who may not
DC familiar with the aspersions ahd dc
,lunc;ations OF the newspapers OF ne
,,arty opposed 10 hiE:. may not haze Tie
Jaiincst conception.
The Philadelphia Aurora and other &c
Enb;ican" organs OF the period of his IL
.l;mtency as President We're ceplete with
terms of reproacn. suck as we would not
atuw apply 10 the most hardened criminal
10 be a Mason, then. even with ar1nor
oi constant ir@ctitude. did not shield from
assault from The Nenal partisan.
Alas. how light a cause may move.
Jojszsr,sicr butwceI; ncar;s That love!
Hearts that the world III vain haze tried
land sorrow but 1nor, closely tied
/, That stood il.e storm when waves wero
rouge,
1ot IN the Summer hour fall off,
Thus IL is that there may be dearth
OF ledge record andI publication and mem
lra,shi; of Masonry in the carly days of
sltr republic.
As many OF you present know, some
sgars ago ] was. by Your kind partially,
designated by YOU to prepare d history of
cur venerable lodge. and had III my pos
session for some time such OF its rec
.yrds as were thought TO have been pre-
4 served.
MET WITH DIFFICULTIES.
Several causes have conspired to prevent
iliS performance OF: a grateful office. but
may state that at the outset of my cf-
forts j was confronted with the want of
record of the proceedings Of the lodge
from its Very institution to period nearly
n score Of years subsequent thereto. and
/ was also in a puZZlinS chaos as TO its
membership.
Now, whilst born with plain powers and
1ninvested with the thrill of silver speech.
] must in evidence Of appreciation of
Your honorinS request, essay some re-
.ouittal and / would pray your patience in
The presentation of some simple data with
which you may not BE familiar and which
may, therefore, for their Verify, be re-
;sardsed
The list of members referred 10 compre
l,ends lbs names. OF the constituent
worth and dignity of these brothers and
of the influence cxerted by them and some
others of u period almost Immediately
succeeding You may form idea in the
rehearsal OF their names.
L may in this connection remind you OF
The tritc adage that like seeks like,
horor Graves honorable association land
in one parcular at least ii may be modest
~ mine to point a moral.
OF officers i'll the American Revolution
more than a score who We're prominent
may lie identified. 1 may mention the
following:
General Robert Lawson. Colonies Rich
ard Clough Anderson, edward Carrington
Samuel Jordan Cabell and William Latin
am. iors Cuthbert Bullitt. Richard
Claiborne Captains John Marshall. john
Royd. Mn Claiborne. Mayo Darlington,
Clement Read. Anthony New, John Tyler,
ST.. Samuel Tinsley Marks Nanderwati,
Thomas Mcriwetlicr, Surgeons James NC
,rlIirE and Alexander skinner. Chaplain
.AleNandcr Balmain, D. d., and others OF
upper rank. among whom was trancis
Graves. and Samuel Jones. There were
still many others whom / hesitate 10
fdcntify positively.
In this connection | beg Your attcn-
lion to u glowing tribute To The potent
iufiucncc of Masons i'll the American
Revolution, and subsequent thereto, as
:.iyen in an ''oration. before the Grand
Lodge OF Nebraska. at ITS 1ofty-ioufth
annual communication, at Omaha, June
5 1901 by Brother Charles sumner
/ obirtger. lie stated. rs is well known,
shat .at the outbreak OF the Revolution.
Masonic lodges in America We're few
and feeble and further, that ct The
lodge Of st Andrew, at Boston, MasS..
founded in 1876, Joseph Warren WAS
Master and Paul Revere an carly Snit:-
:iie. and shat on its rolls were the names
ot Joh, Hancock and other 'apostles Oh
tiaerty.''
Eut The most important service after
ihe Revolution was fairly launched was
rendered by the lodges formed III the
Continental, Army. 9 1t was in one
OF these lodses. American Onion, a, at
NIcrristown. \. J., that Lafayette Is be-
lieved TO have received his degrees. :
lie urges further: 1T is difficult 10 over
estimate the strategic ralnc OF these
army lodges. In The first place. they
promoted fellowship and solidarity in
The ranks. a,,l sympath. between officers
and mau."
lodge meetings were sometimes held
in officers tents. and sometimes, as IL
the case OF the army encamped on the
hudson. III n permanent building, spe-
ciaily erected for the purpose. And so
active were these military Masons that
!, movement was started and several
conventions held at Morristown, with a
view to establishing an American Gene
raj Grand Lodge. and making Washing.
ION Grand Master OF the United States
In an army where the humbiest pri-
x;,te might sit in a lodge on Level with
The commander-in-Chicf. there arose
Sc f,tryl f,nff lf,g .