Document set 'Letter from Benjamin D. Hyam to Jacob Norton, 1879 October 13'
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4 / 4Washington D. C. Octr 13. 1879
Jacob Norton Esq.
Dear Sir Bro /
Happening to meet Mr Simon Wolf
of this city on Saturday. he informed
me: that you some little time back;
enquired of him "Whether I was a
Mason". Secondly "Whether I was
descended of Jewish Parents"
His reply as I understood him. was:
"That he did not Know" could not
furnish a satisfactory answer."
You will as a Mason (as I believe you are one) pardon me. for addressing you. "to ask: what interest talent or otherwise you had in me, being an entire stranger to you: to propound the aforesaid conundrum. If Washington D. C. Oct<sup>r</sup> 13. 1879
Jacob Norton Esq.
Dear Sir Bro /
<p-bgn>Happening to meet M<sup>r</sup> Simon Wolf
of this city on Saturday. he informed
me: that you some little time back;
enquired of him "Whether I was a
Mason". Secondly "Whether I was
descended of Jewish Parents"
His reply as I understood him. was:
"That he did not Know" could not
furnish a satisfactory answer."<p-end>
<p-bgn>You will as a Mason (as I believe
you are one) pardon me. for addressing
you. "to ask: what interest talent
or otherwise you had in me, being
an entire stranger to you: to propound
the aforesaid conundrum. If
You will as a Mason (as I believe you are one) pardon me. for addressing you. "to ask: what interest talent or otherwise you had in me, being an entire stranger to you: to propound the aforesaid conundrum. If Washington D. C. Oct<sup>r</sup> 13. 1879
Jacob Norton Esq.
Dear Sir Bro /
<p-bgn>Happening to meet M<sup>r</sup> Simon Wolf
of this city on Saturday. he informed
me: that you some little time back;
enquired of him "Whether I was a
Mason". Secondly "Whether I was
descended of Jewish Parents"
His reply as I understood him. was:
"That he did not Know" could not
furnish a satisfactory answer."<p-end>
<p-bgn>You will as a Mason (as I believe
you are one) pardon me. for addressing
you. "to ask: what interest talent
or otherwise you had in me, being
an entire stranger to you: to propound
the aforesaid conundrum. If
you really desire to ascertain the facts:
Especially if it will subserve a good
purpose in the role of a humanitarian[?]
which I understand you are. I stand
ready to tell You whether I am Jew
or Gentile -- Skeptic or Dogmatist,
Parsee or Buhddist. Mahometan
or Pagan. As to my Masonry
or my status therein -- my record[?]
is before the world. after nearly
35 years service in its Temples. &[?] I
assuming from you so constantly
favoring the paters with your lucrubations
both in the U. States and
England: that you at least would
have Known: that I am not a drone
in the hive. What would you
think of me. if I were to address
one or more of the 33° rds[?] in Boston
you really desire to ascertain the facts:
Especially if it will subserve a good
purpose <unclear>in the role of <sup>a</sup> humanitarian</unclear>
which I understand you are. I stand
ready to tell You whether I am Jew
or Gentile -- Skeptic or Dogmatist,
Parsee or Buhddist. Mahometan
or Pagan. As to my Masonry
or my status therein -- my <unclear>record</unclear>
is before the world. after nearly
35 years service in its Temples. <unclear>&</unclear> I
assuming from you so constantly
favoring the paters with your lucrubations<note>lucubrations</note>
both in the U. States and
England: that <und>you</und> at least would
have Known: that I am not a drone
in the hive. What would you
think of me. if I were to address
one or more of the 33° <unclear>rds</unclear> in Boston
Especially if it will subserve a good
purpose <unclear>in the role of <sup>a</sup> humanitarian</unclear>
which I understand you are. I stand
ready to tell You whether I am Jew
or Gentile -- Skeptic or Dogmatist,
Parsee or Buhddist. Mahometan
or Pagan. As to my Masonry
or my status therein -- my <unclear>record</unclear>
is before the world. after nearly
35 years service in its Temples. <unclear>&</unclear> I
assuming from you so constantly
favoring the paters with your lucrubations<note>lucubrations</note>
both in the U. States and
England: that <und>you</und> at least would
have Known: that I am not a drone
in the hive. What would you
think of me. if I were to address
one or more of the 33° <unclear>rds</unclear> in Boston
or some others in Symbolic. or Capitular
masonry: making a similar Enquiry.
merely to gratify an insensate curiosity?
You surely would be authorized to
demand of me a categorical reason
for so doing-- And I am the
more surprised at your procedure, when
I have before me "Loomis' Musical
"Masonic Journal of July 1879". P 233
in which you wrote of me in rather
disparaging terms: apparently at
same time knowing that I was a P∴ G∴ M∴
Not that I object to your strictures. or
because I am a P∴ G∴ M∴ but, that
aware as You must have been in July
last. that I was a "Mason" otherwise
could not have been a P∴ G∴ M∴ you applied
to Mr S. Wolf to ascertain my status.
Your Explanation may possibly set
the matter right. But as to what
my faith -- or descent is. I really for
the very life of my inner soul,
or some others in Symbolic. or Capitular
masonry: making a similar Enquiry.
merely to gratify an insensate curiosity?
You surely would be authorized to
demand of me a categorical reason
for so doing-- And I am the
more surprised at your procedure, when
I have before me "Loomis' Musical
"Masonic Journal of July 1879". P 233
in which you wrote of me in rather
disparaging terms: apparently at
same time knowing that I was a P∴ G∴ M∴
Not that I object to your strictures. or
because I am a P∴ G∴ M∴ but, that
aware as You must have been in July
last. that I was a "Mason" otherwise
could not have <add>been</add> a P∴ G∴ M∴ you applied
to M<sup>r</sup> S. Wolf to ascertain my status.
Your Explanation may possibly set
the matter right. But as to what
my faith -- or descent is. I really for
the very life of my inner soul,
masonry: making a similar Enquiry.
merely to gratify an insensate curiosity?
You surely would be authorized to
demand of me a categorical reason
for so doing-- And I am the
more surprised at your procedure, when
I have before me "Loomis' Musical
"Masonic Journal of July 1879". P 233
in which you wrote of me in rather
disparaging terms: apparently at
same time knowing that I was a P∴ G∴ M∴
Not that I object to your strictures. or
because I am a P∴ G∴ M∴ but, that
aware as You must have been in July
last. that I was a "Mason" otherwise
could not have <add>been</add> a P∴ G∴ M∴ you applied
to M<sup>r</sup> S. Wolf to ascertain my status.
Your Explanation may possibly set
the matter right. But as to what
my faith -- or descent is. I really for
the very life of my inner soul,
cannot unravel the motive which
impelled the Enquiry. I look
for that frank reply. which I believe
you will give: as from the style
of your writing or essay --- & of which
I have read many. I look upon
you as an open handed -- clear headed
man: even if you occasionally do
turn your pen into a sword, and
your words into spears. But. you
have no quarrel with me. You
Know me not. Hence; the duty I
owe to myself prompts this letter, &
sending to you: that courtesy which
is so marked in the true votary.
I remain
Truly Your Fratl[?]
B. D. Hyam
cannot unravel the motive which
impelled the Enquiry. I look
for that frank reply. which I believe
you will give: as from the <und>style</und>
of your writing or essay --- & of which
I have read many. I look upon
you as an open handed -- clear headed
man: even if you occasionally do
turn your pen into a sword, and
your words into spears. But. you
have <und>no</und> quarrel with me. <und>You</und>
Know me not. Hence; the duty I
owe to myself prompts this letter, &
sending to you: that courtesy which
is so marked in the true votary.
I remain
Truly Your Frat<unclear><sup>l</sup></unclear>
<und>B. D. Hyam</und>
impelled the Enquiry. I look
for that frank reply. which I believe
you will give: as from the <und>style</und>
of your writing or essay --- & of which
I have read many. I look upon
you as an open handed -- clear headed
man: even if you occasionally do
turn your pen into a sword, and
your words into spears. But. you
have <und>no</und> quarrel with me. <und>You</und>
Know me not. Hence; the duty I
owe to myself prompts this letter, &
sending to you: that courtesy which
is so marked in the true votary.
I remain
Truly Your Frat<unclear><sup>l</sup></unclear>
<und>B. D. Hyam</und>