c1850 NY MASONIC LEDGER w/ Rituals Handwritten

b>Condition/Details:Hardcover with marbled paper boards, this is a typical blank ledger sold during the mid-1800’s. This particular one was used by a Masonic chapter in Constable and bears the unusual distinction of containing 12 pages of handwritten script for the ritual of accepting a member. It is a strict script, clearly to be read verbatim. It is signed by the writer, the last name appears to be ‘Toley’. There is considerable content devoted to maintaining the secrecy of the organization, with punishment for those who violate this covenant such as: “being expelled from this order …. [being advertised as] a perjured, amasked traitor to God, and your country …. [should not] be employed and trusted …. or supported in any business traction as a person totally unworthy of the confidence of all good men, and as one at whom the finger of scorn should ever be pointed.” The text also explicitly and repeatedly outlines that Roman Catholics are to be shunned along with others: “to the exclusion of all aliens, foreigners and of Roman Catholics in particular.” There is an interview portion of the script which asks a series of questions probing for any affiliation anywhere in the applicant’s family with Catholicism. Following the ritual pages is a list of the names of 136 members. Also among those pages is an accounting page which includes the date, 1855. The back few pages of the book include hand-written recipes, presumably from another era of this ledger’s life.

This is a great buy, don't miss out! No reserve bid, very low start bid - this lot is here to be sold.NOTE: All orders shipping to New York State addresses are subject to 8% sales tax.

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