December - Grand Encampment of Knights Templar, USA

knight templar
Letters to the Editor
Concerning the article “An investigation
of Masonic Inspiration” in the July
2011 issue, the author of this article perpetuates
a myth as it relates to the socalled
“Boston Massacre.” The British
soldiers attacked were not “guarding the
Customs House in Boston.” They were
returning to quarters after having been
relived from duty. The “rocks” being
thrown at them included cobblestones
and those snowballs included rocks and
sharp objects. The individuals throwing
these and verbally taunting and threatening
those British soldiers were not fine
and upstanding colonists. Rather they
were street rabble.
One of the dead, actually the second
in the sequence of shooting was a Natick
Indian by the name of Crispus Attucks.
He was resurrected later by abolitionists
and recreated as black and a former
slave when they needed a black hero
for their own purposes. Attucks was not
positively identified until a week after
his death because his companions knew
him only by his street name.
Those British soldiers were put on
trial before a civilian jury at which they
were defended by two well-known proindependence
lawyers at least one of
whom is reputed to have been a member
of the Sons of Liberty. The upstanding
citizens of Boston sitting on that jury
found these shooting to be justified, and
all charges against those British soldiers
were dismissed.
One of the witnesses testifying at that
trial, speaking in favor of the soldiers,
and against the town rabble involved
in this incident, actually was a negro
slave. The citizens of Boston widely condemned
the actions of that street rabble.
The term “Boston Massacre” was not
used at the time of this incident. It was
invented later for propaganda purposes,
along with the highly inaccurate etching
which is still used to illustrate this event.
The myth of the “Boston Massacre”
needs to be put to rest.
Joseph F. Connolly, II
M.W. Brother Palmer,
I generally read the Knights Templar
Magazine from cover to cover and have
announced on several occasions the
great job that you are doing as Managing
Editor.
I was struck this morning while reading
the “Chat with the Managing Editor.”
Your analysis of “they” was so much on
point that I was inclined to thank you
for the comments. It should be required
reading for all Masons.
I too, choose not to be a victim.
Fraternally and sincerely,
Terry W. Posey
Past Grand Master
Grand Lodge of Ohio
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