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MASONS AS PRISONERS OF WAR THE WORLD of 150 to 200 years ago was a changing and disturbed world. Steam power was replacing the horse on land and the sail at sea, just as the idea of political and religious liberty had commenced to wipe out serfdom and bigotry in civilized lands. The United States was proving its right to independence and self-determination, and even then was preparing for the great internecine struggle of the Civil War. It was an age of expanding horizons and increasing vision, of strident revolution, mighty nations, and even mightier conflicts. It was also the time of a remarkable demonstration of Masonic diligence and fraternal toleration to an unheard of degree. During the Seven Years War and the Napoleonic Wars (1740 to 1814), approximately 200,000 members of the French Army were taken prisoner and held in captivity in England. Not all of these prisoners were French, although they were members of the French Army. How many Poles, Germans, Italians, and Spaniards there were in this group cannot be said, but there must have been a considerable number. As a guide, one might use the half million men that Napoleon led into Russia in the abortive campaign of 1812. Only 200,000 of these soldiers were French. In view of this, the Masonic diligence they displayed takes on an interesting international tinge. About 50,000 of the war captives were held in Britain in eight principal land prisons; the rest were incarcerated in prison ships that were literally floating coffins. The officers among the ship-bound prisoners were considered in a category separate from the others. Those who would give their parole were allowed to live in one of the designated 'parole towns.' They received a weekly allowance from the British Government of a half-guinea, about $1.50 at today's rate of exchange. This allowance, it should be understood, was given only to those who would give their parole. The rest got nothing, bad food, rags for clothing, pestilence and chains. |
Contact info: Aff1@justdosh.comLocation: Cyberspace Copyright: 2009 MasonicWord Author: Master Mason
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