When, lo, a voice proclaimed to the slave, the abject, the low in despair, a New God's Word to the crushed suffering humanity: Liberty of thought, Equality of all in the Eye of God, a universal fraternity, a new doctrine; Truth uttered once again; a New Gospel!
Liberty, Fraternity, Equality
Justice is only found where the sovereignty of the individual has equal weight to all.
Tun Tavern, Green Dragon Tavern, Freemasons, US Marines, & Revolution
Misunderstood, Misaligned, Taverns Hold A Place in America's Fight for Freedom.
Philadelphia’s Tun Tavern Freemason Lodge holds an important place in the History of North America. Originally built as a brewery, Tun Tavern turned into a meeting place for early American leaders and association with Benjamin Franklin, one of the most influential founding fathers of the American nation.
Tun Tavern endows the Masonic center with glory and historical connotation and has the distinction of being the first recruitment point for the United States Marine Corps.
Tun Tavern Lodge: The Masonic Center
In 1685, Joshua Carpenter set up Tun Tavern, overlooking the historic waterfront of Philadelphia. This “First Brew House” of Philadelphia shot to prominence with its recognition as the seat of Masonic teachings in America: brotherhood, morality, justice, tolerance, citizenship, education, and freedom of ideas, of religious choice, and of expression.
Benjamin Franklin at Tun Tavern Lodge
The Tun Tavern Masonic center derives its most significant historical mileage from its association with Benjamin Franklin, the most prominent American of his time and pioneer of the united continental struggle for independence. Tun Tavern came to be identified with the vivacious personality of this great leader and his works as an author, politician, diplomat, Masonic scholar, and civil activist. Benjamin Franklin initiated the work for unity among masons and political groups to drive out King George III’s red coats and inspired them with the idea of a united and great nation.
In 1756, Tun Tavern Freemason lodge held a central position in Franklin’s efforts to create the Pennsylvania Militia. The tavern became the recruit point for the regiment that fought against the native tribes and secured life and property of settlers.
Role in War of Independence
Franklin hosted Thomas Jefferson and George Washington at the lodge a number of times that shaped the struggle for freedom and course of a new nation. Prominent leaders and statesmen met at the tavern during the first and second Continental Congress held in Philadelphia.
Tun Tavern was witness to the historic efforts by Franklin to bring all colonies under a single entity, steer public opinion on independence, and seek an egalitarian order free from dominance and racial feeling.
On November 10, 1775,
Masonic leader Robert Mullan was authorized by the Congress to raise the first regiment of the Continental Marines, the forerunner of the US Marine Corps. Capt. Samuel Nicholas, another Freemason, led the recruitment drive from the lodge and established two battalions that played a crucial role in crippling British supplies and boosting military power of the revolutionary army during the War of Independence.
The Sons of Liberty in Boston was largely made of Freemasons from the area. Although it was not a Masonic organization and did not have an exclusive masonic membership, many of the leaders of the organization were Freemasons. Originally known as the Loyal Nine, which consisted of nine Boston shopkeepers and artisans
(Image credits:
The Green Dragon tavern image as depicted in the Sons of Liberty miniseries.
Sources: Kestrel and Mental Floss
Attacks on Liberty: “as the great cities are evil; concentration of capitol in a few hands, oppressing labor, is an evil; as the utter annihilation of free-will…” Liberty falls victim.
LIBERTY, FRATERNITY, AND EQUALITY
It is sad, if not inevitable, that a man who so loved life, fellow men, and constantly called for toleration, brotherhood, and Constitutional rights should be branded as a bigot by those who would harm him, his reputation, his family, and his fraternity.
No, we are not speaking of the present, but may well be. The loudest of attackers, contemporary, and then, should be convicted traitors for their private political ambitions, their dubious integrity and moral degeneration. As the defender of the Constitution, this man was hated by his political party and became unpopular for his stand on individual sovereignty, liberty, equality, and fraternity.
From the political point of view, there is but a single principle, - sovereignty of one over oneself.
This sovereignty is called LIBERTY. Where two or several of these sovereignties associate, the state begins, a certain portion of the sovereignty. The concession of each to all is EQUAITY and is limited to the equal protection of each by all, - FRATERNITY. LIBERTY is the summit! EQUALITY is all vegetation on an equal field with society of big trees over stunted oaks; neighborhoods of jealousies emasculating each other with political and social power. Liberty, fraternity, and equality is civility, with all aptitudes having equal opportunities; politically all votes having equal weight; religious and all conscience having equal rights.
This man, branded as a bigot, wrote,
“Slavery is a disease” which lays upon America’s threshold even prior to the colonies. Even then, slavery was more than as defined today. That man said slavery is evil, “as the great cities are evil; concentration of capitol in a few hands, oppressing labor, is an evil; as the utter annihilation of free-will…”
We could be referring to the Arizona, Pennsylvania, and other states in the fall of 2022, the elections since 2000, or any time irregularities have given additional weight to some, and having the weight of votes counted unequally, but we are not. The man, who so loved life, fellow men, and constantly called for toleration, brotherhood, and Constitutional rights should be branded as a bigot lived nearly 200 years ago. The United States, still new on the world stage, oligarchs were suppressing LIBERTY, FRATERNITY, AND EQUALITY.
That man, and many since have been targeted because he believed and fought against tyranny for these following words.
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of happiness.”
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment as protecting the rights in the First Amendment from interference by state governments.
Custom and prejudice are blind guides for those who are non-thinking and those who coast along “doing no harm,” claiming to be patriots, constitutionalists, and supporting liberty, fraternity, and equality. Tyranny over the soul, the body, liberty of thought or action, is darkness. Our struggle is for Light: virtue, intelligence, knowledge, liberty of action and thought, guaranteed by God, our birth, and protected (not endowed) by the Constitution.
A good friend says frequently, “I voted, I have the right to complain.” In the analysis of that man from nearly two centuries ago and events of past four year (2018-2020), there is a right to complain, but then that is only “to do no harm.” To do no harm is a condemnation as it does not alter the course of tyranny, oligarchs, and authoritarian rule over LIBERTY, FRATERNITY, AND EQUALITY. Strength and power are in actions and deeds, not words.