Freemasonry Anecdotes.

Manawatu Herald, 1 October 1904, Page 3

Freemasonry Anecdotes.

To the regular soldier or volunteer who is also a Freemason —and he is to be found in every regiment and in every corps in the British Army-the history of “The Apron and the Sword,’’ as told by Mr R. F. Gould, barrister-at-law, late of the 31st Foot, and a Past Senior Deacon of the Grand Lodge of England, in his book, “ Militry Lodges ’’ (published by Gale and Polden, Aldershot and London), will be found to be a story ot the most absorbing interest. Especially interesting are the scores of anecdotes he relates showing the influence of Masonry in wartare, and we have abstracted, almost at haphazard, a few of the anecdotes for reproduction in these notes. SAVED HIS LIFE. When Marshal Ney was defending Gutstadt, General Platoff passed the Aller and surprised an enemy’s post; the French commanding officer saved his life by making a Masonic sign just as a Cossack lance was about to pierce him—a Brother was near,_ and by an exertion saved him. anecdote, which was related by Sir Robert Wilson, a distinguished British General, whose high reputation for Courage and ability was acquired under Moore, Abercrombie, and Wellington, was described by the editor of a leading London journal as an incident so incredible that no amount of evidence could induce him to believe it. The story, however, is well authenticated. ’ Here is another of a similar kind, a story of which the truth was vouched for by Sir A. Alison. The talented author of the “ History of Europe ” told how in the assault of the Redan an English officer led a small party of soldiers up to one of the guns placed in a recess, and lost most of his men before the fire with which they were received. The remaining lew were met by a body of Russians, and the English officer was about to be bayoneted when he chanced to catch the hand of the Russian officer, and had presence of mind enough to give a Masonic grip. Instantly the Muscovite struck up the bayonets of his soldiers, led his newly-found brother to the rear, and treated him with the kmdt ness of a Mason. . ) A story connectod with the same historic assault is told of the late Captain Herbert Vaughan, 90th Foot, of whom a brother officer (the present Viscount Wolseley) wrote as follows “ It was quite true that poor Vaughan was the only English officer removed at once from the Redan to the hosEital. and this he owed to the fact that e was a Mason.” A PIRATICAL BROTHER. In the year 1797, the American ship ' Betsy, under the command of Captain Chapin Sampson, was captured off 4 Malaga by a xebec from Tripoli, and carried with all on board into that pori. There, the captain and crew Were stripped of their clothing, except a strip of cotton around their loins. Being the first Americans brought into Tripoli, they were driven through the ■ city chained, and were pelted with every offensive missile. The captain was thrown into a dungeon, but after a few days was taken out and set to work clearing the cargo from his ship. While thus engaged, an officer named Hassan Bey, occupying a high station in Tripoli, made hi iself known as a Freemason. Captain Sampson was soon liberated, clothed, and furnished

with many comforts. An.opportunity of releasing him was found, and when he was about to leave, Hassan Bey, still mindful of Masonic duties, made him numerous presents. Captain Sampson was admitted into Masonry in August, 1793, in what is known as the St. George’s Lodge of Harmony, No. 32, meeting in the Adelphi Hotel, Liverpool, and the senior lodge in the Masonic province of West Lancashire. THE MYSTIC TIE AT WATERLOO. A French officer, so wounded as to be unable to keep up with his regiment, was discovered by a Scottish dragoon, who put spurs to his horse and galloped up to despatch him. But just as the Scotsman was about to strike the fatal blow, the officer gave the Masonic sign of distress. This was recognised by the dragoon, whose arm. was immediately unnerved. Love and sympathy were depicted in his countenance, and, as he turned his horse to ride away, he was heard to exclaim, “ The Lord bless and protect thee my Brother ! ” The fraternal regard was not all on one side. Two days before Waterloo, at the moment when the allied army commenced a retrograde movement, a Scottish field officer, who had been seriously wounded at Quatre Bras, was left on the field of battle. Trampled on by the French cavalry, he thought but of death, when he perceived the enemy’s patrol in search of wounded. Rallying the little strength that remained, he cried out in a faint tone, and implored the assistance of nis brethren. This attracted the attention of the Freneh surgeon, who instantly hastened to the aid of a brother Mason. The surgeon first dressed the wounds which presented the greatest danger, then raised and carried the patient to the sick quarters, placed him on a pallet (the surgeon’s own), watched by his side, and directed him to be conveyed to Valenciennes, to some of his (the Frenchman’s) mends, from whom the officer received the kindest attention, and by whose care he was completely restored to health.— From “Volunteer Notes,’’ m the Liverpool Daily Mercury.