1839 . . .

1843 October. H. G. Sherwood went as ^to represent^ the W. M. [Worshipful Master] and L. N. Scovil as ^the^ S. W. [Senior Warden] when the Nauvoo Lodge was cited to appear before the Grand Lodge at Jacksonville with books and papers. Not being able to obtain a recommend from the Quincy Lodge to the Grand Lodge for Nauvoo Lodge to get a dispensation ^chapter^ on account of "our acquaintance with us as masons and other things," when they arrived the Grand Lodge wanted them to pay their dues to the grand Lodge. H. G. Sherwood remonstrated against paying ti by reason of being called there to answer to complaints against them. [illegible] ^Lucius^ Scovil urged to consent to it. Sherwood still refused on account of being there to represent the N. L. on trial, and did not feel we had a right to a seat in the grand Lodge under accusations. The Grand Lodge informed them if they would pay a certain sum they should have a seat in the lodge. They paid and took their seats accordingly, and presented their books and papers. The Grand Lodge appointed a committee of 3 to examine them and after several days examination reported them all fair, but recommended that the Grand Lodge should suspend the N. L. another year for fear there might be something

[Note to the side of the main text: B. Y. to regulate this by request of H. G. S.]

wrong Their G. M. [Grand Master] Jonas made a flaming speech in behalf of the N Lodge saying they were the fairest ^books and^ papers that had been brought from any Lodge to the Grand Lodge, and said that he went and installed it, and found the people as peaceable, quiet and genteel as any people he was ever among in his life, and he verily beleived [sic] that if they were not Mormons, that Lodge would stand the highest of any Lodge, that had come to that Grand Lodge. Dr. Ralston then got up and said he would be glad to do justice to that people notwithstanding their supposed delusions. Sherwood then replied that he had been long of the opinion it was by reason of being Mormons that we were kept at arms length, then alluded to the different members present, some being Presbyterians, Methodists, Jews, Mormons and other religions and did not know but that Masonry tolerated all religions inasmuch as they believed in a God, and knew of no supposed delusions to prohibit men from being Masons, and then brought up the denial of the Quincy Lodge refusing to recommend to the G. L. and said they could not recommend us by reason of "an unacquaintance with us and other things." that I supposed the other things meant Mormonism. Rodgers replied "other things" did not mean Mormonism. Sherwood demanded to know what it meant. Rodgers answered it was J. C. Bennett the Secretary whom they new to be an expelled member. Sherwood adverted to the injunction which said it was "from reliable information" that the N. L. was suspended and requested to know where that "reliable information" came from, and was answered "from the Quincy Lodge, who got it from the Hannibal Lodge, who obtained it from J. C. Bennett at the day ^day of ____^ Sherwood then shewed that at that time J. C. Bennett was an expelled ^member^ from the Nauvoo Lodge, having obtained the vouchers from the Grand Lodge of Bennett's being expelled in Ohio, after he was expelled from the Nauvoo Lodge he went to the Hannibal Lodge and made ^the^ complains who informed the Quincy Lodge who informed this G. L. and in consequence "of the credible information" of this expelled member J. C. B. they served the injunction believing an expelled member in preference to G. M. Jonas and called upon the G. M. to appoint a committee to go to Nauvoo and examine books and papers and N. Masons and ple^d^ged himself to fetch any one they wanted from a reasonable distance whether made in that Lodge or any other. The G. M. appointed G. M. Jonathan Nye, Col. Calvin A. Warren, Dr. Hiram N. Rogers, that committee, shortly after they came to Nauvoo, and called on Sherwood and Scovil. They held Sherwood to his pledge who furnished the books and papers which they examined and also many N. Masons. Col. Warren invited Sherwood to go with him to the ^Lodge at^ Montrose as it was all right and clear with the N. Lodge they accordingly went together, and sat in the L. there. Nothwithstanding [sic] all things were made clear and satisfactory to the Committee, the Grand Lodge prevented ^suspended^ the N. Lodge from working