William Hull (1753-1825), a member of multiple Lodges and the first Master of Meridian Lodge in Natick, Massachusetts, was an officer in the American Revolution and a Brigadier General in the War of 1812. Defending Detroit in that war reinforcements and supplies failed to reach WB Hull, forcing him to surrender. Made a scapegoat for these actions, Hull was tried, found guilty of cowardice and sentenced to death. In a bizarre twist, the court then sent Brother Hull home to Newton, Massachusetts, to await his execution! Upon receiving reports of the strange case, President James Madison realized Brother Hull had been set up and gave him a full pardon. History, indeed, regards William Hull as a hero, not a traitor.Thursday, June 7, 2012
The Scapegoat
William Hull (1753-1825), a member of multiple Lodges and the first Master of Meridian Lodge in Natick, Massachusetts, was an officer in the American Revolution and a Brigadier General in the War of 1812. Defending Detroit in that war reinforcements and supplies failed to reach WB Hull, forcing him to surrender. Made a scapegoat for these actions, Hull was tried, found guilty of cowardice and sentenced to death. In a bizarre twist, the court then sent Brother Hull home to Newton, Massachusetts, to await his execution! Upon receiving reports of the strange case, President James Madison realized Brother Hull had been set up and gave him a full pardon. History, indeed, regards William Hull as a hero, not a traitor.