USA > Vermont > Chittenden County > History of Chittenden County, Vermont, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 35
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With very few exceptions, the newspapers and other periodicals of Chit- tenden county have been edited with remarkable ability and judgment. Com- pared with their contemporaries, they certainly have been and are creditable to the people of the county, and may well be included among the best represent- atives of Vermont journalism, both of the earlier period and the present day.
CHAPTER XIV.
FREEMASONRY AND ODD FELLOWSHIP.1
Introduction of Freemasonry into Chitteuden County-Washington Lodge No. 7-Friend- ship Lodge-McDonough Lodge-Seneca Lodge-North Star Lodge-Patriot Lodge-Web- ster Lodge-Burlington Lodge No. 100-Army Lodges-Grand Lodge-N. B. Haswell's Manifesto-Royal Arch Masons-Royal and Select Masters-Knights Templar-The Scottish Rite-Other Organizations-Growth of Odd Fellowship in the County-Green Mountain Lodge-Winooski Lodge-Hamilton Lodge-Fayette Uniformed Encampment.
REEMASONRY was introduced into Chittenden county with the organ- ization of Washington Lodge No. 7, which was chartered Oct. 13, 1795, at Burlington, under authority of "The Grand Lodge of Most Ancient and Honorable Society of Free and Accepted Masons for the State of Vermont."
The Grand Lodge, "independent and governed solely by its own laws," was organized at Rutland in the State of Vermont at a convention held for that purpose duly called October 10, 11, 13, and 14, A. D. 1794, in accordance with an adjournment from a convention held in Manchester, Vermont, August 6 and 7, 1794.
Washington Lodge .- The petition for Washington Lodge was read in Gen- eral Lodge October 13, 1795, and below is a literal copy :
To the Right Worshipful Grand Master and Officers of the Grand Lodge in Vermont :
Observing with the greatest anxiety the decline of Masonry in this part of our State, we feel our- selves alarmed at the loss of one of our most inestimable blessings. From a landable ambition to re- trieve our lost benefits and priviledges, and revive the noble and benevolent Order of Antient Free Masons we are induced to prefer our petition for a charter of a lodge by the name of Washington No. - , to set at Burlington in the county of Chittenden. From the knowledge yon possess of our local situation, the number of bretheren within this vicinity, and the very great inconvenience attend- ing our visiting the most neighboring lodge - we avoid any comments on the propriety of our request, but respectfully hope it may be granted agreeable to the general wish of the subscribing bretheren - we have only to make this additional request that our worthy brother Ebenezer Marvin be appointed
1 The article on Freemasonry was prepared by W. H. S. Whitcomb; that on Odd Fellowship by C. A. Castle.
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HISTORY OF CHITTENDEN COUNTY.
master Lemnel Bottum S. W. and Solomon Miller J. W. for the time being- and when our prayer is granted we shall ever feel a spirit of emulation to vie with our neighboring bretheren in the true knowledge of antient Masonry and make an additional compensation for the attention of our grand master and officers of the Grand Lodge to our petition ; by our vigilance and assiduity in reviving and adding respectablity to the craft. We are with the greatest respect and brotherly love your most obedient servants, Ebenezer Marvin-master Mason. John White-master Mason. Solomon Miller -master Mason. Stephen Keyes-master Mason. Benjamin Marvin-fellow craft. Levi Allen- master mark Mason. Amos Morrill-master Mason. Samuel Mix-master Mason. Lemnel Bottom -master Mason. Joseph Griswold-master Mason. Gideon King-master Mason. Linns Atwater -master Mason. Stephel Pearl-master Mason. Elnathan Keyes-prentice.
The petition was signed by fourteen, but as only twelve were master Masons the charter was issued to them. The names of the twelve appear in the charter, which reads as follows :
The Grand Lodge of the most ancient and honorable society of Free and Accepted Masons in the State of Vermont : To all the fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons to whom these presents shall come, greeting : Whereas petition has been presented to us by Ebenezer Marvin, John White, Solomon Miller, Stephen Keyes, Levi Allen, Amos Morrill, Samuel Mix, Lemuel Bottom, Joseph Griswold, Gideon King, Linns Atwater, and Stephen Pearl, all Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, praying that they with such others as may by them be judged proper, be erected and constituted a regular lodge of Free and Accepted Masons under the name of Washington Lodge; with full power to enter apprentices, pass fellow crafts, and raise master Masons. Which petition appearing to us as tending to the advance- ment of ancient masonry and the general good of the craft, it has been agreed that the prayer thereof be granted. Now therefore know ye, that we, hy virtne of the authority vested in us by grand con- stitution, and reposing special confidence in the prudence, fidelity and skill in Masonry of our beloved brethren above named, to wit Ebenezer Marvin, John White, Solomon Miller, Stephen Keyes, Levi Allen, Amos Morrill, Samnel Mix, Lemuel Bottom, Joseph Griswold, Gideon King, Linus Atwater, and Stephen Pearl a regular lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, under the name, title and designation of Washington Lodge. Therefore by granting unto them and their successors, full power to convene and meet as Masons in the town of Burlington in the county of Chittenden, to receive and enter appren- tices, pass fellow crafts and raise master Masons, upon the payment of such reasonable compensation as may hereafter be determined by the Grand Lodge, conformably to the laws of the Grand Lodge, also to make choice of master, wardens and other office bearers annually, or otherwise as they shall see canse,-to receive and collect funds for the relief of poor and decayed brethren, their widows and chil- dren, and in general, to transact all matters relating to Masonry which may to them appear to be for the good of the craft according to the ancient usages and customs of Masons. And we do hereby re- quire the said constituted brethren, by their master and wardens for the time being or their proxies, to attend the Grand Lodge at the stated annual meeting and at such other special grand communications as may be appointed, to keep a fair regular record of all their proceedings proper to be written, and lay the same before the Grand Lodge when there-to required, and also to pay such customs and dues for the benefit of the Grand Lodge as shall from time to time be constitutionally required. And we do hereby declare the precedency of the said lodge in this Grand Lodge and elsewhere, to be number seven in this grand communication. And we require all ancient Masons, especially those holding of this Grand Lodge, to acknowledge and receive them and their successors as regularly constituted Free and Accepted Masons, and treat them accordingly. And we do accordingly appoint our truly and well beloved brother Ebenezer Marvin, Esquire, as first master, and our beloved brother Lemuel Bottom as senior, and our brother Solomon Miller as junior warden. This charter to continue and be in force till re- voked. Witness our Most Worshipful Grand Master Noah Smith, Esq. and others our grand officers, under the seal of the Grand Lodge affixed at Windsor this 13 day of October Anno Domini one thou- sand seven hundred and ninety-five and of Masonry 5795.
Noah Smith, G. M .; Enoch Woodbridge, D. G. M .; John Chipman, G. S. W .; Jotham White, G. J. W .; William Cooley, G. S. D ; Roswell Hopkins, G. J. D .; Nathaniel Brush, G. T .; David Fay, G. sec'y.
Officers to 1834 .- Master: 1796-97, Ebenezer Marvin; 1798, David Rus- sell ; 1799, James Sawyer ; 1800-02, David Russell; 1803, Joshua Isham ;
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FREEMASONRY AND ODD FELLOWSHIP.
1 804-05, no record; 1806-07, George Robinson ; 1808, David Russell ; 1809- 18, George Robinson ; 1819-20, no record ; 1821, Lemuel Page ; 1822-27, Nathan B. Haswell ; 1828, no record; 1829-34, Nathan B. Haswell.
Senior Warden : 1796-97, Lemuel Bottom ; 1798, John Pomeroy ; 1799, Martin Chittenden ; 1800, Medad Lyman; 1801, Solomon Miller ; 1802-1I, no record; 1812-13, James Dean; 1814-18, no record ; 1819, Lemuel Page; 1820-22, no record ; 1823, Henry Thomas; 1824-26, no record ; 1827, Tru- man Seymour ; 1828, Nathan B. Haswell; 1829, James L. Sawyer; 1830-34, David Russell.
Junior Warden : 1796-97, Solomon Miller ; 1798, Horace Loomis ; 1799, Solomon Miller ; 1800-01, no record; 1802, E. T. Englesby ; 1803-04, no record ; 1805, John Storrs; 1806-13, no record ; 1814-16, Lemuel Page ; 1817-18, no record ; 1819, E. B. Hastings; 1820-22, no record ; 1823, James Dean ; 1824, no record; 1825, James L. Sawyer ; 1826-28, no record; 1829- 33, S. Catlin ; 1834, Richard Fitzgerald.
After this date Washington Lodge was dormant until February 4, 1846, when it resumed labor, Nathan B. Haswell acting as master, Joshua Doane as senior warden, and Dan Lyon as secretary. The first election after resuming was held June 3, 1846.
Officers to Date .- Master : 1846-53, Nathan B. Haswell ; 1854-56, John S. Webster ; 1857-59, L. B. Englesby ; 1860-61, William G. Shaw ; 1862, L. B. Englesby ; 1863-67, C. W. Woodhouse; 1868-69, Edward A. Jewett; 1870, Homer M. Phelps ; 1871-74, C. W. Woodhouse ; 1875-78, C. W. Win- gate ; 1879, William Brinsmaid ; 1880-82, C. W. Wingate; 1883-86, M. W. Johnson.
Senior Warden : 1846-49, John S. Webster ; 1850-52, Joshua Doane; 1853, Eli Stearns ; 1854-56, L. B. Englesby ; 1857, William G. Shaw ; 1858, William H. Root; 1859, W. G. Shaw; 1860, W. H. Root; 1861-62, C. W. Woodhouse ; 1863-64, Louis Follett; 1865, A. F. Styles; 1866-67, E. A. Jewett ; 1868-69, H. M. Phelps ; 1870, A. C. Tuttle ; 1871-72, William Brinsmaid ; 1873-74, C. W. Wingate ; 1875-78, A. S Drew; 1879-80, A. B. Coggswell ; 1881, M. W. Johnson ; 1882-83, L. F. Englesby ; 1884-86, John A. Clapp.
Junior Warden : 1846-49, Joshua Doane ; 1850, George M. Hall ; 1851- 52, Eli Stearns ; 1853, L. B. Englesby ; 1854-56, W. G. Shaw ; 1857, W. H. Root ; 1858-59, George W. Beckwith ; 1860, C. W. Woodhouse ; 1861, Rob- ert S. Styles; 1862, J. W. Roby ; 1863-64, A. F. Styles ; 1865-67, H. M. Phelps ; 1868-69, P. D. Ballou ; 1870, William Brinsmaid ; 1871, J. H. Brooks ; 1872, C. W. Wingate; 1873-78, William Brinsmaid ; 1879-80, M. W. John- son; 1881, L. F. Englesby ; 1882-83, John A.Clapp ; 1884-86, H. C. Humphrey.
Washington Lodge has had the honor of enrolling many of the leading citizens of Burlington among its members. It has always held a high place in
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HISTORY OF CHITTENDEN COUNTY.
the good will and esteem of the citizens. It began a series of public addresses in 1800, the first of which, written and delivered by the president of the Uni- vesity of Vermont, was subsequently published, and can be found in the uni- versity library with others of later dates.
Friendship Lodge .- In the year 1800 petitions were presented to the Grand Lodge by Masons residing in the towns of Charlotte and Hinesburg, asking for lodges to be located one in each town ; these petitions were subsequently withdrawn.
In 1801 the brethren residing in and near Charlotte sent their petition to the Grand Lodge, which met at Newbury, October 9, 1801. Appended is an exact copy :
To the Right Worshipfull Grand Lodge of the State of Vermont :
We, your petitioners, do hereby show ; that we are all Free and Accepted Masons regularly initiated, and likewise that some of us now are and all have been members of a regularly constituted lodge.
Feeling anxious for the honour and prosperity of Masonry we are willing to exert ourselves to the utmost to promote and defuse the genuine principals of the noble art of Masonry, but dwelling re- mote from any lodge we are unable to attend so frequently as is necessary for our own benefit and for the honour of Masonry.
We, your petitioners have therefore agreed to form a next lodge by the name of Friendship Lodge and in consequence of this resolution we pray the Grand Lodge to grant us a warrant of constitution to em- power ns to assemble as a regular lodge in Charlotte in the county of Chittenden to discharge the duties of Masonry in a regular and constituted manner according to the original forms of the order and the laws of the Grand Lodge.
And we nominate and do recommend Brother Medad Lyman to be the first master, and Brother William B. Marsh to be the first senior warden and Brother Ezra Meech to be the first junior warden of the said lodge. Should the prayer of this petition be granted we promise strict conformity to all the constitutional laws and regulations of the Grand Lodge as in duty we are bound to do.
Charlotte, September 10th, 5801.
Fellow Crafts .- William J. Williams, Gideon Prindle, Timothy Read, Stephen Holister, Medad Lyman, 2d, Jonathan Lyman, Jonathan Breckenridge.
Master Masons .- Samuel Darrow, John Cobb, Curtis Lake, Joseph Hurlbut, jr., John Cunningham, Isaac Webb, Martin Lawrence, Russell Catlin, Morris Smith, Caleb Barton, Medad Lyman (Master), William B. Marsh (S. W.), Doctor Bostwick, Ezra Meech (Jr. W.), Ithiel Stone, Nathaniel Newell, Homer Towner.
This petition was granted the same day and a charter issued to Medad Ly- man, master ; William B. Marsh, senior warden ; Ezra Meech, junior warden, and others.
The printed record of the Grand Lodge shows1 that the charter was or- dered October 9, 1801, and it also shows 2 that its members subsequently petitioned for the privilege of holding one-half of their communications in the town of Hinesburg, and Grand Master Chipman instituted the lodge at Hines- burg February II, 1803.3
The following list includes the names of all the masters from the date of the dispensation to 1833:
1801, Medad Lyman ; 1802, William B. Marsh; 1803 to 1814 inclusive, Samuel Rich ; 1815, William Hurlburt; 1816, John Strong; 1817, William Hurlburt ; 1818, Joseph Hurlburt ; 1819, John M. Eldredge ; 1820, Rev. Joel
I Gr. Lodge Records, 1801, p. 87. 2 P. 93, 1802. 3 P. 93, 1802.
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FREEMASONRY AND ODD FELLOWSHIP.
Clapp ; 1821, John Strong ; 1822, no returns; 1823, M. Hinsdale; 1824 to 1833 inclusive, Lemon Judson.
The lodge ceased work from 1833, and in 1847 the Grand Lodge declared it extinct. In 1851 it was reorganized and a charter was obtained, numbered 24, and dated January 15, 1852, issued to Samuel Fletcher, Harry Newell, Orrin Read, Timothy S. Haskins, William M. Judson, Loring Pease, Myron Read, Caleb E. Barton, Solomon Pease, Henry S. Morse, Isaac Smith, George Saxton, Ezra Holt, John Strong, William R. Williams, Midas Prindle, Hinman Beers, Burke Leavenworth, David C. Gillette, Garrard Burritt, Aaron B. Webb.
The charter was signed by M. W. Philip C. Tucker, grand master ; R. W. Samuel S. Butler, dep. grand master ; R. W. Joshua Doane, gr. senior warden; R. W. Coit Parkhurst, gr. junior warden; R. W. Dan Lyon, gr. treasurer ; R. W. John B. Hollenbeck, gr. secretary.I
The following is a list of officers to date :
Master : 1851-54, A. B. Webb ; 1855-56, C. E. Barton ; 1857, A. B. Webb ; 1858-61, Luther D. Stone; 1862-65, H. C. Leavenworth ; 1866-73, J. H. Thorp; 1874, H. C. Leavenworth ; 1875-76, H. N. Newell; 1877-78, J. H. Thorp; 1879, Martin F. Allen ; 1880-83, W. H. H. Varney ; 1884-85, Harley D. Edgerton ; 1886, A. B. Stearns.
Senior warden : 1851-53, C. E. Barton ; 1854-56, A. C. Palmer; 1857, Luther D. Stone; 1858, H. C. Leavenworth; 1859, Harry Newell; 1860-64, S. Humphrey ; 1865, H. H. Beach; 1866, A. J. Burritt; 1867-70, H. N. Newell ; 1871, Joseph Barton ; 1872-73, W. H. H. Varney; 1874-76, Edgar Edgerton ; 1877-78, Dean Hosford; 1879, Joseph Barton; 1880-83, H. D. Edgerton ; 1884-85, A. B. Stearns; 1886, O. P. Ray.
Junior warden : 1851-53, Burke Leavenworth ; 1854, H. C. Leavenworth; 1855-56, Luther D. Stone ; 1857, A. C. Palmer ; 1858, Harry Newell ; 1859, S. Humphrey, jr .; 1860, T. J. Hoskins ; 1861, N. J. Allen ; 1862, C. L. Com- stock ; 1863-64, A. J. Burritt; 1865, J. H. Thorp; 1866, M. F. Allen ; 1867, Joseph Barton ; 1868-70, M. F. Allen; 1871, W. H. H. Varney ; 1872, Geo. Edgerton ; 1873 ;2 1874-76, J. W. Bradley ; 1877-78, Homer Irish ; 1879, W. H. H. Varney ; 1880-83, George W. James; 1884-85, O. P. Read; 1886, F. R. Stoddard.
Mc Donough Lodge No. 56 was chartered in 1821 in Essex, and held its communications there. It was instituted December 27, 1821, by George Rob- inson, deputy grand master.3
Masters from 1821 to 1834: 1821, Erastus D. Hubbell ; 1822, Samuel Page ; 1823, Billy B. Butler ; 1824, Roswell Butler; 1825, Eben Chittenden ; 1826, Eben Chittenden ; 1827, Billy B. Butler ; 1828, John Halbert; 1829, John Halbert; 1830, Eli Stockwell; 1831, Eli Stockwell ; 1832, Daniel Little- field ; 1833, Daniel Littlefield ; 1834, Daniel Littlefield.
1 Brothers Dan. Lyon and John B. Hollenbeck are living at this writing.
3 See Reprint Grand Lodge Proceedings, p. 267.
2 Deceased.
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HISTORY OF CHITTENDEN COUNTY.
It ceased work in 1834 and was dormant until 1846, when it was repre- sented in Grand Lodge by Ira A. Collamer, proxy for Daniel Littlefield, wor- shipful master; being unrepresented in 1847 and 1848, it was declared extinct in 1849.
In 1851 an effort was made to reorganize, which resulted in the following petition to Grand Master Philip C. Tucker:
To the Most Worshipful Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of the State of Vermont :
We, the undersigned, being master Masons of good standing, and having the prosperity of the craft at heart, are anxious to exert onr best endeavors to promote and diffuse the genuine principles of Free Masonry ; and for the convenience of our respective dwellings, and other good reasons, we are desirons of forming a new lodge, to be named MacDonongh Lodge.
We therefore, with the approbation of the district deputy grand master, and the lodge nearest onr residence, respectfully pray for a dispensation empowering us to meet as a regular lodge at Essex in the connty of Chittenden on the second Thursday of every month, and there to discharge the duties of ancient York Masonry in a constitutional manner according to the forms of the order and the laws of the Grand Lodge. And we have nominated and do recommend Brother Jesse Carpenter to be the first master, Brother Samuel Page to be the first senior warden and Brother Samnel Henry Boynton to be the first junior warden of the lodge.
The prayer of this petition being granted, we promise strict obedience to the commands of the grand master and the laws and regulations of the Grand Lodge.
Dated at Essex this 25th day of February, A. L. 5851.
Jesse Carpenter, Daniel Tyler, Amasa Bellows, Samuel Page, S. H. Boynton, Simon Tubbs, Ben - jamin Wiggins, John Sinclair, Nath'l Bouker.
This petition was recommended by Washington Lodge No. 3, by North Star Lodge No. 12, and by Deputy John S. Webster, of District No. 5, and a dispensation was issued as follows :
To all whom it may Concern, Greeting :
Whereas, a petition has been presented to me by sundry brethren, to wit: Brother Jesse Carpen- ter, Daniel Tyler, Amasa Bellows, Samuel Page, S. H. Boynton, Simon Tubbs, Benjamin Wiggins, John Sinclair and Nathaniel Bouker, residing in the town of Essex and its vicinity, in the county of Chittenden and State of Vermont, praying to he congregated into a regular lodge at Essex aforesaid, and promising to render obedience to the ancient usages and landmarks of the fraternity and the laws of the Grand Lodge; and whereas said petitioners have been recommended to me as master Masons in good standing by the recommendations of Washington Lodge No. 3, and of North Star Lodge No. 12, within Masonic district No. 5 (in which said town of Essex is situated, said lodges being the two nearest lodges to said town of Essex), for the establishment of the objects of said petition :
And whereas our worthy brother, John S. Webster, district depnty grand master for said Masonic district No. 5, hath approved the said petition and duly certified the same in his official capacity of dis- trict deputy grand master aforesaid, agreeably to the rules of Masonry and the requirements of the Grand Lodge ; therefore, I, Philip C. Tucker, grand master of the M. W. Grand Lodge of the State of Vermont, reposing full confidence in the recommendations and approval aforesaid, and in the Ma- sonic integrity and ability of the petitioners, do, by virtue of the anthority in me vested, hereby grant this Dispensation, empowering and authorizing onr trusty and well-beloved Brethren aforesaid, to form and open a lodge, after the form and manner of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and therein to ad- mit and make Freemasons according to the ancient customs of York Masons and not otherwise.
This Dispensation is to continue in full force until the next annual communication of our Grand Lodge on the second Wednesday of January, A. L. 5852, unless sooner revoked by me. And I do hereby appoint Brother Jesse Carpenter to be the first master, Brother Samuel Page to be the first senior warden, and Brother Samuel Henry Boynton to be the first junior warden of the said new lodge, and the said new lodge shall, during the existence of this Dispensation, be known and distinguished by the name of MacDonough Lodge. And it shall be the duty of the three first officers named as aforesaid, and they are hereby required, to return this Dispensation, with a correct transcript of all proceedings
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had under the authority of the same, together with an attested copy of their by-laws to our Grand Lodge aforesaid at the expiration of the time herein specified, for examination and for such further action in the premises as shall then be deemed wise and proper.
Given under my hand and private seal at Vergennes in the county of Addison this 26th day of March, A.L. 5851. PHILIP C. TUCKER, Grand Master.
The lodge records show the first communication to have been held under this authority April 10, 1851. A charter was voted January 15, 1852, to Mc- Donough Lodge, to be numbered 24.
Officers since 1851. - Master : 1851-53, Jesse Carpenter ; 1854, S. B. Bliss ; 1855, L. C. Butler ; 1856-60, Amasa Bellows; 1861, S. B. Bliss; 1862-65, Charles Hilton ; 1866-70, L. C. Butler ; 1871, Byron A. Stevens ; 1872, L. C. Butler ; 1873, B. A. Stevens ; 1874-78, L. C. Butler ; 1879-81, C. S. Palmer ; 1882, E. W. Hurlbut; 1883-86, W. S. Nay.
Senior Warden : 1851-53, Samuel Page ; 1854, L. C. Butler; 1855, Am- asa Bellows; 1856, L. C. Butler ; 1857, D. P. Squires ; 1858-59, Tyler Chase ; 1860, Daniel Tyler; 1861, Charles Hilton ; 1862-64, Daniel Tyler; 1865-67, Henry Hurlburt ; 1868-70, Byron A. Stevens; 1871, Ira F. Joyner; 1872, Henry C. Lavigne ; 1873, C. S. Palmer ; 1874, Adrian L. Lee ; 1875-79, John A. Percival ; 1880-81, E. W. Hurlbut; 1882, W. S. Nay ; 1883-86, T. W. Thorp.
Junior Warden : 1851-52, Samuel H. Boynton ; 1853, Samuel B. Bliss ; 1854, Daniel Tyler; 1855, J. W. Emery ; 1856, D. P. Squires; 1857, Tyler Chase ; 1858, Simon Tubbs ; 1859, Daniel Tyler ; 1860-61, W. H. Whitcomb ; 1862-63, W. E. Huntley ; 1864, J. Ellis; 1865, Henry Parker; 1866, Joseph B. Grow ; 1868, H. M. Fields; 1869-70, Ira F. Joyner ; 1871, Lucien B. Howe ; 1872, J. A. Percival; 1873, Dan Giddings ; 1874, Albert Nott ; 1875-79, War- ner B. Nichols ; 1880, Martin H. Packard ; 1881-82, W. B. Nichols; 1883-86, M. H. Packard.
McDonough Lodge held its communications in Essex until 1883, when it removed to Jericho, where it is now in its usual prosperous condition.
The following incident, furnished by Dr. L. C. Butler, shows something of the anti-Masonic spirit of the years 1826-36. In June, 1831, one Amos Bliss, jr., took the first and second steps of labor with Brother Daniel Dunlop for "holding friendship with Masonry," which he declared to be " contrary to the Gospel of Christ," and brought the matter before the Congregational Church, of which both were members. On the 22d of July the trial took place before the church and was the occasion of no little interest and excitement. The Morgan book was introduced and extracts from it were read to prove that Brother Dunlop had " transgressed the rules of the Gospel."
One Joseph Otis, of Bristol, a seceding Mason was then introduced, sworn, and he testified that what had been read was " in substance true though not in the same words." That he was a Mason fourteen years ; was expelled from the lodge before he seceded ; was excommunicated from the church for laboring
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HISTORY OF CHITTENDEN COUNTY.
on the Sabbath ; " was not bound by oath to secrete a Mason when guilty of murder or treason."
One Otis Bean, of Weybridge, also testified under oath that Masons were not required by their oath to do anything really wrong, but that he did; that " Masons were bound not to do certain immoral acts with reference to wives, daughters and mothers, but it does not give them any license to commit such acts against anybody."
One other seceder was examined, but he declined to say whether he believed in a state of future rewards and punishments, and his evidence was disregarded. The trial occupied a whole day; the men who were engaged in it have all passed away, the last survivor being Amos Bliss, of Burlington.
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