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Article JOHN FITZ. ← Page 3 of 6 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
John Fitz.
He was aware , from prior information , that the meetings of the Lodge were held weekly , and concluded , that thc same night in each week was appropriated for that purpose . The following day , relentless of the consequences , he waited upon Justice Knaggs . a known creature of the Bishop of Winchester , and made known to him the meeting which had'taken place , in defiance of the orders of the government ,
disguising , however , the reasons which had actuated him to make the discovery . The course to be pursued in the matter was duly considered . At one time the Justice conceived it better at once to issue his warrant for the apprehension of John Fitz ; but , upon reflection , it was determined to wait until the following week , and by that means not only procure
direct evidence , but enable them to secure the whole of the parties practising the forbidden rites of Freemasonry . To carry into effect this double purpose , several officers were placed in the immediate neighbourhood ; their operations being superintended personally by Justice Knaggs , who was determined , if possible , to make an example , in order to prove his subservient allegiance to the proud and
vindictive Bishop . Robert Sprang was correct in his surmises . About the same number of persons arrived and were admitted into the house of Mr . Jonathan Slark : after a short delay , and when the
neighbourhood had generally retired to rest , the officers proceeded to their task . Having knocked at the door , it was opened by a porter belonging to Slark ' s establishment , whom they immediately took into custody , and desired him to conduct them to the room where the Freemason ' s Lodge was held , and where his master and friends were engaged in treasonable purposes , and for whose apprehension they had warrants . Unmoved b y
their threats , he refused to do so , telling them they were at perfect liberty to search the house , and would find themselves mistaken in supposing any meetings were allowed to be held in his master ' s house for treasonable purposes . Every habitable room in the house was searched without effect : it now remained for them to search the vaults , which were known to be
extensive . A considerable time elapsed before they could obtain torches for that purpose , and then they were under the necessity of procuring a crow-bar and using strong manual labour before they could force the first vault door . Long before this was effected , means had been successfully taken to preserve their secrets : the Brethren were perfectly aware of the dangerous predicament in which they were placed , and they
therefore readily used their utmost exertions in removing and clearing away their paraphernalia . It was then decided that the whole ofthe party should depart , it happening by a fortunate circumstance , that they were enabled to do so , bv
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
John Fitz.
He was aware , from prior information , that the meetings of the Lodge were held weekly , and concluded , that thc same night in each week was appropriated for that purpose . The following day , relentless of the consequences , he waited upon Justice Knaggs . a known creature of the Bishop of Winchester , and made known to him the meeting which had'taken place , in defiance of the orders of the government ,
disguising , however , the reasons which had actuated him to make the discovery . The course to be pursued in the matter was duly considered . At one time the Justice conceived it better at once to issue his warrant for the apprehension of John Fitz ; but , upon reflection , it was determined to wait until the following week , and by that means not only procure
direct evidence , but enable them to secure the whole of the parties practising the forbidden rites of Freemasonry . To carry into effect this double purpose , several officers were placed in the immediate neighbourhood ; their operations being superintended personally by Justice Knaggs , who was determined , if possible , to make an example , in order to prove his subservient allegiance to the proud and
vindictive Bishop . Robert Sprang was correct in his surmises . About the same number of persons arrived and were admitted into the house of Mr . Jonathan Slark : after a short delay , and when the
neighbourhood had generally retired to rest , the officers proceeded to their task . Having knocked at the door , it was opened by a porter belonging to Slark ' s establishment , whom they immediately took into custody , and desired him to conduct them to the room where the Freemason ' s Lodge was held , and where his master and friends were engaged in treasonable purposes , and for whose apprehension they had warrants . Unmoved b y
their threats , he refused to do so , telling them they were at perfect liberty to search the house , and would find themselves mistaken in supposing any meetings were allowed to be held in his master ' s house for treasonable purposes . Every habitable room in the house was searched without effect : it now remained for them to search the vaults , which were known to be
extensive . A considerable time elapsed before they could obtain torches for that purpose , and then they were under the necessity of procuring a crow-bar and using strong manual labour before they could force the first vault door . Long before this was effected , means had been successfully taken to preserve their secrets : the Brethren were perfectly aware of the dangerous predicament in which they were placed , and they
therefore readily used their utmost exertions in removing and clearing away their paraphernalia . It was then decided that the whole ofthe party should depart , it happening by a fortunate circumstance , that they were enabled to do so , bv