A Masonic Duel And Its Consequences.

A MASONIC DUEL AND ITS CONSEQUENCES .

TpHE curious episode of a duel between a Grand Master of Kentucky I ( William H . Richardson ) , and a Past Master ( Benjamin W . Dudley ) , both of Lexington , Kentucky , formed a subject of conversation among Kentucky Masons twenty-five years since , though but few are living now who recall ifc . Tho case is tho most interesting to

us because tho charges wero brought by Samuel If . Woodson G . M . in 1819 , when Henry Clay ( who was G . M . in 1820 ) was Chairman ol tho Committee of Reconciliation , and the Grand Lodge assumed original jurisdiction over tho matter . Tho Grand Lodge met thafc year afc Lexington , 3 lst August to 5 th September ; thirty-seven Lodges being represented . This is tho year in which tho Grand

Lodge of Indiana was organised by the delegates of six chaffered Lodges , all emanating from the Grand Lodgo of Kentucky . Tho circumstances which lod to the duel are not important to narrate ; I give only the facts of the trial . On the second day of tho session , the two parties were cited to appear before Grand Lodge , under tho following resolution , proposed by Samuel H . Woodson , viz .: " Resolved

that in the opinion of this Grand Lodgo , it is entirely improper , and entirely repugnant to tho principles of Masonry for any of its members to engage in personal conflicts with each other , with deadly weapons or otherwise ; and whereas it hath been signified and made known to this Grand Lodge that a duel hath lately taken placo between Grand MasterW . H . Richardson and Past Master Benjamin

W . Dudley , Resolved , that they bo cited to appear before tho Grand Lodge at ten o ' clock on Thursday next , to answer for the above departure from the principles of the Craffc . " The parties obeyed the citation and then , after due consideration , tho following order was made by Grand Lodge : " Resolved , That tho Grand Lodge have jurisdiction and ought to inquire into the charge exhibited against

Bros . Richardson and Dudley for having fonght a duel , they being both members of the Grand Lodge . " On Friday following the motion of Henry Clay was adopted : " Resolved , That a Committee of five bo appointed to confer with Bros . Richardson and Dudley for the purpose of endeavouring to produce a reconciliation between them . " Tho Committee consisted of Henry Clay G . M . 1820-21 , William T .

Barry Grand Orator 1821 , Samuel H . Woodson G . M . 1819-20 , and David G . Cowan G . M . 1822-23 . The Committee promptly reported thafc " they had discharged the duties delegated to them , and were happy to inform the Grand Lodge that their efforts had been successful . " Bufc the members of Grand Lodgo wore far from being afc one in their notions of Masonic discipline . John A . Gordon , of

Harrodsburg , Kentucky , offered the following resolution : "Thafc this Grand Lodge deeply deplores the unfortunate difference between M . W . Grand Master William H . Richardson and P . M . B . W . Dudley , in which they were so unmindful of their Masonic principles and duties as mutually and deliberately to engage in a duel , thereby prostrating and sacrificing one of the great fundamental principles of our Order

to the false notions of honour , by which a deluded world has been too long influenced . Resolved , therefore , that ifc is tho opinion of this Grand Lodge thafc the said M . W . William H . Richardson , aud the said Past Master B . W . Dudley bo and are hereby expelled from the immunities and privileges of the Order of Masonry . " This is well said , aud as between two ordinary Masons would have

been adopted by Grand Lodgo . Bufc there now drops out tho argument duello vs . antiduello . Clay had fought a duel , —perhaps more than one . It was the fashion of the period . " Tho false notions of honour , " was a hard hit from tho hands of John A . Gordon , and doubtless stiffened up the Committee and their friends to make a personal point of ifc . I shonld like to have heard the debate on Gordon ' s

resolution . It was " ordered to lie upon tho table . " Saturday morning , Henry Clay offered a resolution , which being amended was adopted . It is in his usual style of compromise . " Resolved , That this Grand Lodge deepl y deplores tho unfortunate difference between Bros . G . M . William H . Richardson and P . M . Benjamin W . Dudley , and the unhappy combat to which it has led . This Grand Lodge cannot bufc

condemn in the strongest terms , thafc those brethren should have so far forgotten the obligation and duties of Masons as to havo engaged in such a combat . But in consideration thafc the said brothers have , by the intervention of this Grand Lodge , become perfectly reconciled the one to the other , and of their correct and uniformly good deportment , and that a mitigation of the punishment which might

otherwise be due is thereby rendered expedient , therefore , Resolved , that the said Brothers Wm . H . Richardson and Benjamin W . Dudley be suspended from the privileges of Freemasonry duriug the pleasure of this Grand Lodge . " I cannot find in the subsequent proceedings of the Grand Lodge that this order of suspension was ever removed . No expression s of regret on the part of the actors for the heinous offence

they had committed are even hinted at , and the probability is that this suspension was perpetual . The Grand Lodge of Kentucky had a precedent upon its records in a curious case thafc came up in 1814 from Daviess Lodge , No . 22 , at Lexington . One of its members had borno a challenge to a duel between two Master Masons , and " had taken no measures to adjust the difficulty . " Ho was tried by No . 22 , and

suspended for a year for a breach of Masonic covenant . From this no appealed to Grand Lodge , and tho matter was referred iu due course to a Committee . Their report gives us an insight into the state of society afc that period , which is startling . They say thafc while they shudder at the disastrous consequences which might have Rrown out of the affair , yefc the course pursued by Masons heretofore

n similar cases , without incurring censure or animadversion , goes far to extenuate the offence . The frequency and multiplicity of such occurrences , unprohibited and uninvestigated , may be construed as almost tantamount to a permission ! " Grand Lodge set aside the Punishment , and commanded him " tr , annenr before the Grand Lodge

and receive from Grand Master a lecture on the impropriety of his conduct ! " The Committee who thus trifled with their own obligations and the laws of the Craft was composed of John Speed Smith Ibrand Master 1824-1825 ) , B . F . Depuy and Samuel F . Bowen . No wonder that four years later the Grand Master himself engaged in a ¦ - inniar affair . Another caso of duelling between Masons came before

A Masonic Duel And Its Consequences.

Grand Lodgo in 1825 ; a duel between Jonathan Stout and Edmund Irvine , Master Masons . The Grand Lodge , iu view of the decease of Irvine , and the suspension for several years of Stout , restored the latter to Masouic privileges . My readers must not suppose thafc Kentucky alone has been afflicted with this murderous spirit . The Grand Lodge of Indiana announced by circular , 10 th October 1813 ,

that their Grand Master John Sheets " having in a rencontre unfortunately killed his opponent , he had absented himself from tho meetings of Grand Lodge '" At Richmond , Virginia , about tho year 1 S 50 , a leading Mason was killed iu a duel , and although everything in the bloody affair was conducted " strictly accordant with the laws of honour , " yet the Brethren refused him Masonic burial . This fact suggested the following lines by myself : —

Hark ! how the air resounds with death ! Lo , to the tomb a Mason comes ! But where is the Badge tho Mason hath , Type of a life beyond the tombs P

Ia there not one in all the band Owns him a Brother now ? Speak , ye thafc weep around the bier , And sav , where the honours are hia due .

How ho was loved these tear-drops show , How ho was honoured midst our band ; For ho had a heart for every woo , Fo . r each distress a liberal hand ;

Bright in the East our rising sun , Proud we viewed his career ; But now to-day his race his run , Wo fling no cassia on his bier .

Whispering low the cause we yield , History of his unworthy death ! False honour called him to the field , And death tho erring brother met !

No dirge from us can o er him swell , No banners around him wave ; Emblems of faith we dare nofc strew Upon the sad self-murderer ' s grave .

Cease the knell of sorrow now , Bnt long will the heavy sigh be drawn : Vacant the East—ah ! heavy the woe , Our Wisdom , Strength , and Beanty gone ;

But worst the grief this thought will bring To our fraternal home ; Bright and dearest , he has passed , Dishonoured , to untimely tomb ! Rob . Morris , in Masonic Revievi

Provincial Grand Lodges.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGES .

WE must remind our readers that to-day ( Saturday ) is fixed for the annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodgo of Middlesex . Unusual interest will attach to this particular occasion , as we understand tho opportunity will be taken to present to Sir Francis Burdett , Bart ., the respected Grand Master of tho Province , a handsome testimonial for the long and valuable services which that worthy and Right Worshipful brother has rendered to the cause of

Freemasonry in this Metropolitan county . When Middlesex was erected into a Province , Sir Francis , then Lieut .-Col ., Burdett was chosen by the late Earl of Zetland to preside over its destinies . There can be no question as to tho wisdom of the choice . Of the thirty or so Lodges , which constitute the Province , some twenty , or two-thirds , have been warranted during his Prov . Grand Mastership ,

aud whether we have regard to tho diligence with which the Lodges fulfil their duties , or the zeal of the brethren in supporting our grand Masonic Institutions , Middlesex is undoubtedly the model of a wellordered and enthusiastic Province . The meeting will take place afc the New Assembly Rooms , Teddington , at 2 . 30 p . m ., and the banquet will follow at 5 p . m . We have every reason to anticipate a numerous and successful gathering .

The Annnal Meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Hants and tbe Isle of Wight will be held on Tuesday next , tho 3 rd prox ., at tho Town Hall , Andover , at 1 . 30 for 2 p . m ., and tho Banquet which follows , will be served at 3 . 30 p . m ., at the Foresters' Hall . As this is a strong Province , and Ithe Prov : Grand Master ~ R . W . Bro . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., is a deservedly popular chief , there will no doubt be a strong muster of brethren , in spite of the counter-attractions offered by the Yachting fraternity at Cowes and Southampton .

Essex , under the presidency of Lord Teaterden , K . C . B ., its respected Provincial Grand Master , though always playing its part well both in Masonic work and Masonic Charity , appears to hare entered on a fresh career of energy . We may , therefore , look to a considerable attendance of tho members of the different Lodges in the county at the Town Hall , Colchester , on Thursday , the 5 th prox ., the

day appointed for the annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodgo . One question outside the usual routine of business on these occasions will come under consideration , namely , the appropriation of the balance remaining in the hands of the Installation Committee , whoso arrangements , when Lord Teaterden was iustalled P . G . M . last year , gave so much satisfaction . The banquet will be served at the Cups Hotel at 4 . 30 p . m .

In tho city of New York there are 159 Lodges , 26 Chapters , 9 Commanderies , and 9 bodies of tho A . and A . Rite ; in Brooklyn , and vicinity , 62 Lodges , 13 Chapters , 4 Commanderies , and 4 bodies A . and A . Rite ; in Jersey City , and vicinity , 21 Lodges , 6 Chapters , 1 Commandery , and 4 bodies A . and A . Rite .