USA > Pennsylvania > Luzerne County > Wilkes-Barre > A history of Lodge no. 61, F. and A. M., Wilkesbarr?, Pa. with a collection of masonic addresses > Part 36
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"October 18th, 1831.
* * I received your short note. I have received your re- publication of Mr. Wirt's letter to the anti-Masonic convention at Baltimore, with your declaration and that of several of your Masonic brethren, that you concur entirely in the sentiments of that letter.
"The definite object of the anti-Masons of the United States is the abolition of the Institution. In consenting to be their candidate Mr. Wirt approves this object, and the means by which they are avowedly endeavoring to accomplish it-that is, by acting upon popular elect- ions. Gen. Peter B. Porter and Mr. W. B. Rochester in New York have expressed the same opinion, by advising the surrender of the Charters by the Lodges.
"You have seen by my letters to Edward Ingersoll that this is more than I-anti-Mason as I am-would absolutely require; though I earnestly desire it, and believe it the best course for the Masons to adopt both for themselves and for their country. But that they should discard for ever all oaths, penalties and secrets I deem indis- pensable, and until that is accomplished I shall be a determined anti- Mason !
"Although in my letters to Mr. Ingersoll I made repeated mention of your name, I did not anticipate that he would communicate them to you. I authorized him to show them to Mr. Welsh, because he had denounced me to the public as a madman for my anti-Masonry. But if you, and Washington, and others whom I love and revere, have taken the Masonic oath, and bound yourselves by the Masonic penal- ties, I can only say
"There's nothing ill can dwell in such a temple.
If the ill-spirit have so fair an house Good things will strive to dwell with 't.'
"A difference of opinion with you will always be to me a subject of regret, but will never impair the regard and esteem with which I am, Dear Sir,
"Your friend and servant,
"J. Q. ADAMS."
"Idem velle atque idem nolle, ex demum firma amicitia est."
-Cataline, in "Sallust."
"Amicus Socrates, Amicus Plato, sed magis Amica Veritas." -Cicero.
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"Say, brother ! will thy heart maintain The Roman's maxim still, That nothing brightens Friendship's chain Save unity of will ? Ah no! unhallowed was the thought ; From perjured lips it came, With treachery and falsehood fraught- Not Friendship's sacred flame.
To Roman virtue shall we turn To kindle Friendship's fires ? From purer sources let us learn The duties she requires ; To Tully's deathless page ascend, The surest guide of youth-
There we shall find him Plato's friend, But more the friend of truth.
And thou to me and I to thee This maxim will apply, And leaving thought and action free, In friendship live and die. Be thine the compass and the square, While I discard them both- And thou shalt keep and I forbear, The secret and the oath."
The letter of Mr. Wirt, and the "declaration" of Brother Miner and his Masonic associates, referred to by Mr. Adams in the foregoing letter, had been published in The Village Record of October 12th, 1831, and were as follows :
"TO THE CITIZENS OF CHESTER COUNTY.
" You have seen our names gibbetted to public view, in the Anti- Masonic Register [edited and published by Joseph and Samuel M. Painter] of this borough. You have seen us, with other Masons of your county, proscribed as Murderers, Robbers and Pirates ! You have seen us repeatedly charged with supporting an Institution that binds its members to avenge the violated secrets of the Lodge, by the infliction of death on the offender. You have seen us charged with holding allegiance to the Lodges as of higher obligation than our alle- giance to our country. These charges we have denied again and
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again ; and as often have they been repeated. Once more we say to you that they are wholly destitute of the slightest foundation.
"We solemnly declare, for ourselves, and, so far as we are acquainted with the sentiments of the Masons of Chester county, for those who are not present, that the following letter of Wm. Wirt contains our opinion of Masonry to the line and the letter. His words are our words and his opinions our opinions.
"Friends, neighbors and kinsmen ! if the sentiments contained in the letter of Mr. Wirt are such as would hold him up to public view as highly competent for the highest office in your gift, will they not permit us to enjoy the sanctity of a good name among you ? To you we appeal for the answer."
[Signed] "Matthias Pennypacker, "Wm. H. Dillingham,
"Townsend Haines, "Richard Evans,
"Sam'l C. Jefferis,
"Charles Miner," and twelve others.
Then followed-occupying more than two columns of the paper-the " Reply of William Wirt, Esq.,* to the Anti- Masonic Convention held in Baltimore, which nominated him as a candidate for the Presidency." The portion of Mr. Wirt's "reply" to which the "declaration" of the West Chester Free Masons referred, was as follows :
«* * * But, gentlemen, although your resolution asks of me no pledges or promises, yet the name and style of the convention from which it proceeds-Anti-Masonic Convention-may be considered
* William Wirt was born at Bladensburg, Md., in 1772, was ad- mitted to the Bar at the age of twenty, and at the age of twenty-seven was elected clerk of the Virginia House of Delegates. In 1803 he published in the Virginia Argus his "Letters of a British Spy." He was retained to assist the United States attorney in the prosecution of Aaron Burr for treason. From 1817 to 1821 he was Attorney General of the United States. In 1832 he was the anti-Masonic candidate for President of the United States, having been nominated in September, 1831. (See pages 83 and 86, ante). He died at Washington in 1834. He took considerable time from his law practice to devote to literary pursuits. His best known productions are "The Letters of a British Spy," and "Sketches of the Life and Character of Patrick Henry." The latter was published at Hartford in 1817, and ran through fifteen editions.
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both by yourselves and our fellow-citizens at large, as necessarily in- volving by implication such promises and pledges ; and it is therefore proper that I should be perfectly open and candid with you, that there may be no misapprehension between us, and that you may be able to disembarrass yourselves at once, by changing your nomination, if you find that you have acted under mistake in passing this resolution.
"You must understand then, if you are not already apprised of it, that in very early life I was myself initiated into the mysteries of Free Masonry. I have been told by Masons that my eyes were not opened, because I never took the Master's degree ; but my curiosity never led me that far, and, although I soon discontinued my attendance on Lodges (not having entered one from curiosity for more than thirty years, I believe), it proceeded from no suspicion on my part that there was anything criminal in the Institution, or anything that placed its members, in the slightest degree, in collision with their allegiance to their country and its laws.
"On the contrary, having been, before my initiation, assured by a gentleman in whom I had implicit confidence, that there was nothing in the engagement which could affect either my religion or politics (which I considered as comprehending the whole range of my duties- civil and religious-and as extending not to the first degree only, but to the whole Masonic Order), and being further informed that many of the most illustrious men of Virginia, with General Washington at their head, belonged to that Order, and had taken the degree of Mas- ter, I did not believe there could be anything in the Institution at war with the duties of patriots, men, and Christians ; nor is it yet possible for me to believe that they could have understood the engagement as involving any such criminal obligations.
"I have, thenceforward, continually regarded Masonry as nothing more than a social and charitable club, designed for the promotion of good feeling among its members, and for the pecuniary relief of their indigent Brethren. I have, indeed, thought very little about it for thirty years. It had dropped from my mind so completely that I do not believe I should have been able to gain admittance into any Lodge at all strict in their examination, where I should have had to depend alone on my memory ; and so little consequence did I attach to it, that whenever Masonry has been occasionally introduced as a subject of conversation, I have felt more disposed to smile than to frown.
"Thinking thus of it, nothing has more surprised me than to see it blown into consequence in the Northern and Eastern States as a political engine, and the whole community excited against it as an
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affair of serious importance. I had heard, indeed, the general rumor that Morgan had been kidnapped and very probably murdered by Masons, for divulging their secrets ; but I supposed it to be the act of a few ignorant and ferocious desperadoes, moved by their own im- pulse singly, and without the sanction or knowledge of their Lodges ; and thus thinking, I have repeatedly and continually, both in con- versation and letters of friendship, spoken of Masonry and anti- Masonry as a fitter subject for farce than tragedy, and have been grieved at seeing some of my friends involved in what appeared to me such a wild, bitter, and unjust persecution against so harmless an Institution as Free Masonry !
" I have thought, and repeatedly said, that I considered Masonry as having no more to do with politics than any one of the numerous clubs so humorously celebrated in the Spectator; and that with regard to the crime in Morgan's case, it was quite as unjust to charge that on Masonry as it would be to charge the private delinquencies of some professing Christians on Christianity itself. Thus I have thought, and thus I have continually spoken and written in my private letters to several of my friends." * * * *
Throughout the entire period during which the crusade against our Fraternity was waged, Brother Miner fearlessly and zealously championed the cause of Masonry, publishing in the Village Record many addresses and editorials on the subject. (See Chapter VI., post, for address, "Anti-Masonry -Masonry.") In an editorial, July 13th, 1831, he wrote- referring to the "crusade": " I ask no favor in this contest, I seek no quarrel ! I have borne long, but thank God I am able to defend myself, and when necessary have the spirit to do it. The tribunal to judge is a free, high-minded peo- ple, and to their opinion I cheerfully submit whatever relates to my public or editorial conduct."
July 27th, 1831, he wrote and published the following, after reading the letter of the Hon. Richard Rush to the anti-Masonic committee of York, Penn'a, and the proceed- ings of the anti-Masonic convention at Harrisburg :
* * " It is painful to be the object, in common with a consid- erable number of my fellow-citizens, of his keenly severe and-I hope to be pardoned for saying it-I think, unmerited denunciation. I am
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a Mason and a printer! In the presence of Heaven and the world- in the panoply of conscious innocence-I declare that in relation to the crimes alleged I am guilty neither in thought, word, nor deed; and that the denunciations of public disfavor imprecated on my head, and those who stand on the same ground, are felt to be unmerited and unjust.
"Gladly would I leave our vindication to a more able pen-but pale fear is abroad in the land ; Masons are a proscribed sect ; Prudence whispers, 'Cower before the storm, for that peradventure it may pass over, and the cautious be not personally scathed. Much may be lost, and nothing gained by the conflict !' But having, two years ago, briefly expressed my opinions on the subject in public [see address, Chapter VI., post]-when the anti-Masonic standard was first unfurled in Pennsylvania-I seem, in the absence of an abler champion, to be called upon to sustain the opinions then expressed, the correctness of which I have never for a moment doubted.
"The maxim of my life has been-' Do your duty, and trust in God!' Many a storm has passed over me-the billows have rolled below, and the lightnings played above."
At another time, referring to the address issued by the anti- Masonic convention of Harrisburg, Brother Miner wrote:
"'No man should be supported for any office, who is not a known and active anti-Mason !' Such is the clear and emphatic language of the address. In other words, it is declared as the fundamental creed of the anti-Masonic party that no citizen who happens to be a Mason - however pure his patriotism, elevated his character, powerful his talents, or faithful his services-shall hold any office of honor, trust, or profit, in the Government of his country. That he shall so far forth be utterly disfranchised ! He shall neither defend his country in war, nor maintain her rights in peace, in any official station, but be de- graded, exiled from her confidence, and be forever despised and dis- graced. Nay, more, this proscription stops not here !
"There are those who do not see the propriety of visiting the sins of the guilty upon the heads of the innocent, and refuse to join in the anathema maranatha against all Masons. 'There shall be no neu- trals!' said Napoleon, in the pride of his victorious career. ‘There shall be no neutrals!' proclaim the anti-Masonic party. 'We em- blazon the motto upon our standard : Cursed be every member of the Masonic Fraternity, and cursed be he that will not join to curse them !' "
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In the last years of his life Brother Miner's recollection dwelt upon the pleasant social gatherings of the old mem- bers of LODGE 61, most of whom he had outlived. His heart warmed with affection towards the memory of all the Brothers, without regard to sharp political differences that had existed outside of the Lodge.
The following interesting and heretofore unpublished sketch of the Lodge and its members (circa 1802-'10), the writer extracted some years ago from the diary of Brother Miner. It was written by him about the time of the publi- cation of his " History of Wyoming."
"I was a man of full age and under the tongue of good report, and longed to have disclosed to me the secrets of a Free and Accepted Mason. Judge Fell led me (Oh, how my poor heart panted !), and John Paul Schott, Esq., as Master of the Lodge-which was then holden in the house now occupied by Mr. Lord Butler, opposite Judge Bennett's store [on North Main street]-brought me to light. (I may premise that Luzerne county, at the time I speak of-1802 to '10-was the seat of much contention, the great land dis- pute raging between the Pennsylvania claimants and Con- necticut settlers.)
"I cannot and will not withold the declaration here, now, in the time of its depression, that many of my pleasantest hours have been spent in the Lodge.
"LODGE No. 61, which I joined, was composed of a curious and heterogeneous mass of materials-either as members or frequently visiting Brothers-such as could nowhere else be found in social and fraternal union. I shall not mention the names of all who attended the Lodge, but will particu- larize a few. There was Captain SCHOTT, a German and an officer of Frederick the Great; he had served with distinc- tion in the Revolutionary War, under Baron Steuben, and in politics was a Democrat. Capt. SAMUEL BOWMAN, a brave and faithful officer through the whole of the Revolutionary
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War, a man simple in heart, and of kindly affections as Uncle Toby himself, yet sensible and well informed. He was from Massachusetts, and was a Federalist, and an Epis- copalian. Judge FELL, a 'Friend'-perhaps not then be- longing to Meeting, but one in education, in principle, in feeling, and in all that renders that Society so estimable-a zealous Pennamite, and a Federalist. ALLEN JACK, a respect- able Irish merchant, a Catholic, I believe, and a zealous Democrat. Major ELEAZER BLACKMAN, one of the old Wyoming sufferers. EZEKIEL HYDE, born in Connecticut, a zealous land speculator, a leader among the Yankee settlers ; moderate in politics, but inclined to the Democratic interest. JEAN FRANCIS DUPUY, a French gentleman from St. Do- mingo, exiled from thence by the success of the blacks ; very estimable and intelligent ; a Catholic; took no part in politics. Capt. ANDREW LEE, an officer of the Revolution in the Pennsylvania Line. ARNOLD COLT, from Connecti- cut, Sheriff, and the most popular man of the day ; a most estimable man of great benevolence, a Federalist, and a Presbyterian. ISAAC BOWMAN, Esq., since then holding every office he desired, which popular favor could bestow. Col. ELIPHALET BULKELEY, from Colchester, sixteen times a mem- ber of the Connecticut Assembly. Gen. JOHN STEELE, born in Lancaster county ; Commissioner to settle titles under the Compromising Law ; an officer in the Revolution ; a deacon of the Presbyterian Church, and a Democrat. But I must stay my pen-all cannot be enumerated. Those I have selected have been set down chiefly for the sake of contrast. "There was much intelligence there congregated, and an intimate knowledge of the world. Pennamite and Yankee, Democrat and Federalist, French, German and Irish-it seemed almost impossible that such a variety of characters, tastes, and opinions could anywhere else be brought to- gether. Yet there they met it perfect harmony, the radical differences brought into combination, seeming to mingle
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felicitously, as the opposing ingredients in punch-all tend- ing to increase its excellence. There was the free expres- sion of opinion, the courteous reply, the cheerful, unreserved unbending; as if care and prejudice were left behind, and good-fellowship with good cheer-but without intemperance -were within.
" It was understood that all sectarian principles, all per- sonal animosities, all political differences, were to be ex- cluded from the Lodge. The meetings were held in great harmony, and I still think, as I thought then, aside from the pleasure of such mingled, intelligent society, and the ben- efits of repeated moral lectures, there was positive good pro- duced to the public at large by the removal of prejudice, the kindling of harmonious feelings among those active and influential men, whose interests, religion, and politics, natu- rally led to conflict and variance.
"Mr. DUPUY, from having been a wealthy planter, reduced for a time to rely on personal labor, in the Lodge forgot his misfortunes ; and there and nowhere else, that I ever saw, assuming the proper station of an intelligent French gentle- man-instructing and entertaining us by his philosophical views, occasionally peculiar, as well as by the numerous facts the state of the country he had lived in enabled him to bring into conversation.
"Of that excellent man Judge FELL I may truly say that, pleasant and intelligent everywhere, in the Lodge he seemed a new man ; every agreeable trait in his character appearing spontaneously to well up and flow in a fountain of cheerful good sense and innocent gaiety.
" Besides bringing together a mass so heterogeneous, allaying prejudices, smoothing by delightful intercourse the asperities growing out of different creeds and opposing inter- ests, much positive good was done by charitable dispensa- tions unostentatiously made. We had our songs, too, and the heart must be colder and more callous than mine, that
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could listen, even now, to Burns' 'Adieu ! a heart-warm, fond adieu !' without emotion. Lectures, prepared with care, were frequently delivered, and always listened to with ap- propriate decorum. I say it sincerely, not a sentiment did I ever hear uttered inconsistent with our duty to our God, our country, or the interests of our fellow-men. Ministers of the gospel of different denominations frequently attended, and were always called upon to perform such religious du- ties as the time and occasion rendered suitable. The Lodge was always opened with a solemn invocation for 'the bless- ings of Heaven.' Members of various Churches, in strictest faith and communion, mingled with us; and the idea that we were violating any duty to God or our fellow-men never crossed the threshold of my thoughts. If men wearing the Masonic name have done evil (and I mourn to say the evi- dence is too clear to admit of doubt), the crimes they com- mitted were not in accordance with the precepts of Masonry, but in direct, outrageous, unpardonable violation of them.
"Time and death have made sad inroads in that little so- ciety. Most of those I have named sleep with their fathers. They lived worthily, performed faithfully their parts, civil and social, to their families and their country, in council or in the bloody field, where duty called, and died never dreaming that, in being Masons, they had given offense to God or man !
"'Adieu ! a heart-warm, fond adieu ! Dear Brothers of the mystic tie !
* *
*
*
One round-I ask it with a tear- To him, the friend, that's far awa' ' "
The following copy of a letter written by Brother Miner April 19th, 1845, may be appropriately introduced here :
"To the Worshipful Master, Senior and Junior Wardens, and the rest of the officers and Brethren of LODGE No. 61 :
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"I have just received a notice from Brother H. Colt, your Secretary, to be present at a meeting of the Lodge this day, to attend the funeral of our late worthy Brother, Capt. Hezekiah Parsons .*
"I beg leave to say that my respect for LODGE No. 61, in whose convocations for many years I passed so many happy hours, would lead me at all times, as a matter both of duty and pleasure, to obey its summons. The sincere regard with which I cherish the memory of my excellent friend would be a strong additional inducement. But my health is so impaired that I cannot walk in procession without great pain, and therefore, though present with you in spirit, I must ask to be personally excused.
* HEZEKIAH PARSONS was born in Enfield, Conn., March 25th, 1777, the son of John Parsons, who was fifth in descent from Benjamin Par- sons of Oxfordshire, England, who came to Connecticut about 1645. Hezekiah Parsons was a clothier, or cloth manufacturer, having worked at the business continually from his fourteenth year. He came from Connecticut to the Wyoming Valley in 1813, and settled at Laurel Run, Wilkesbarré (afterwards Plains) township, where now is the flourishing borough of Parsons. He erected there in the Summer of 1814 one of the first fulling-mills in Luzerne county, and operated it until his death.
He was one of the Commissioners of Luzerne county in 1822-'24.
He was initiated into LODGE 61 March 24th, 1821, and in the fol- lowing December was elected Treasurer of the Lodge. He was re- elected in December, 1822, 1823, 1825, and 1827 ; and upon the re- organization of the Lodge in October, 1843, he was again elected Treasurer. He was an original member of the Mark Lodge, working under the Warrant of LODGE 61, and was its Treasurer during the whole period of its existence.
He was, for several years, a captain in the Pennsylvania Militia.
Captain Parsons married Eunice Whiton, born in Ashford, Conn., September 12th, 1778, daughter of Stephen and Susannah (Dana) Whiton. Stephen Whiton was an early settler in Wyoming, and was a school teacher in Kingston. In 1778 he was Deputy Sheriff of West- moreland. He was killed in the battle of Wyoming July 3d, 1778. Susannah Dana, his wife, was a daughter of Anderson Dana, Esq., mentioned on page 229, ante.
Capt. Calvin Parsons, born April 2d, 1815, is the son of Capt. Heze- kiah and Eunice (Whiton) Parsons. He resides at his ancestral home in Parsons, and is a well-known and highly respected citizen of the Wyoming Valley.
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"With the best wishes for the prosperity of LODGE No. 61, and prayers for the happiness of each individual Brother,
I subscribe myself
"CHARLES MINER,
"with the honorable addition, 'A Free and Accepted Mason.'"
Between Brothers Miner and John N. Conyngham existed a strong friendship. In June, 1851, Brother Conyngham was to deliver an address* before St. John's Lodge, Pittston, and he submitted his manuscript to Brother Miner for ex- amination and criticism. This called forth the following let- ter from the latter :
"HON. JOHN N. CONYNGHAM.
"Dear Sir and Brother :- I am extremely obliged by your confidence and kindness in permitting me to peruse your address in anticipation of its delivery. I have read it with great pleasure. My judgment and heart coincide in opinion-that it is a lucid and beauti- ful exposition of the principles of our Order, and of the duties they impose on its members.
"In reference to the sentiments on page 13, to which you directed attention, I would say that they are not only just, but especially ap- propriate, since misapprehension in respect to them has been enter- tained by many good men (and some weak-minded Brethren), and the true doctrine should be often and distinctly inculcated. To God, first, to our country, its Constitution and Laws, our obligations are paramount ; and yet a wide and charming scope is left for the exer- cise and enjoyment of all our Masonic relations, and the practice of all its cheering, solacing, and ennobling virtues. No, I would not change 'a letter or type of a letter !'
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