Masons and Sherlock Holmes?

Greetings! I have included the following information I found regarding Masons and a possible connection between them and Sherlock Holmes, as well as others! Read on!

Masonry, also called Freemasonry, is the first largest fraternal organization. It fosters personal growth and helping to improve the lives of others. Masons believe that they each have a duty to better the world. In the Middle Ages, Masons were highly skilled stone workers who were hired as free agents to build cathedrals and castles in Scotland and England.

It began when stonemasons started to join together to build orphanages, homes for widows, and homes for the elderly. At the time, there was no social “safety net” and people were on their own without aid from the government. Eventually, other men wanted to join because of the advantages, and that is how it began to change to a fraternity.

Key features of Masonry are the strong values of self improvement, and helping others, as well as being charitable to the community. Members are concerned with spiritual and moral values. Masons each have their own faith, and members respect the beliefs and opinions of all people. Tolerance, kindness, generosity, freedom are a large part of Masonry. Freemasonry also values the idea that every man can think for himself and expand his knowledge.

Throughout A Study in Scarlet, the actions of Brigham Young and Drebber correlate with the beliefs of Masons. For example, when Lucy wants to marry Jefferson Hope, both Drebber and Young do not approve. Jefferson Hope was a gentile, not a Mormon. It was against the religion for a person to marry outside of it. Young and Drebber’s dedication to their religion, show signs of a Mason, who are deeply concerned with spiritual and moral values. Also, when Lucy and John Ferrier are rescued from the wilderness, they are taken in by Brigham Young and cared for. He showed immense kindness and generosity, two key features of Masons.

There is a connection to both the author Arthur Conan Doyle and Sherlock Holmes. Doyle became a mason in 1887 at the age of 27. He became a Master Mason in the same year he joined. He then left the organization in 1889, only to rejoin in 1902. This background as a Mason is reflected in his work, although there is no direct connection to his character of Sherlock Holmes. In A Study in Scarlet, Gregson states, “We have it all here,...Gold ring, with masonic device.” He says these words to Holmes while detailing the pockets of Drebber. Further supporting that Doyle was knowledgeable about Masonry.

Sources Used:

http://freemasonry.bcy.ca/history/lds/mormonism.html

https://www.freemason.org/discoverMasonry/index.htm

http://bessel.org/whatfmy.htm

http://www.msana.com/historyfm.asp

http://themastersmasons.homestead.com/masons.html

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Mormons Research

Hello again! I was cleaning out my desk today and found this old research I did a while back for a case I was working on. Thought you would enjoy reading it!

The mormons are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was organized in 1830. They are called “Mormons” because they believe in The Book of Mormon, as well as the Bible. They worship Jesus and God as two separate beings.

Joseph Smith is the founder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He is believed to be a prophet who received visions from God to establish the Church. He wrote The Book of Mormon, and passed on God’s teachings through himself. He was murdered in 1844 along with his brother by a mob in Carthage, Illinois.

Brigham Young joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1832, and became an apostle in 1835. When Joseph Smith was assassinated nine years later, he was chosen to lead the Mormons, and kept the position until his death. He directed the migration of 16,000 Mormons from Illinois to Utah and founded Salt Lake City.

The Mormon community has rules which its members are expected to follow. They are not allowed to smoke or drink alcohol. They must keep the Sabbath as a day of rest and go to church. Mormons are to dress professionally and modestly. Mormons must avoid anything that is immoral or violent. The rules address many aspects of their lives such as health, spirituality, clothing, appearance and the way they interact with other people.

Plural marriage is the practice of an individual marrying more than one person. Joseph Smith and Brigham young, as well as some others practiced plural marriages in the early 19th century. Today, they are illegal in Canada.

I believe John Ferrier’s reversal is justifiable. He believes in the Mormon faith, but does not agree with polygamy. He takes no wives, and doesn't want Lucy to become one. John sees how they are wrong, and he wants the best for his daughter.  He breaks the sacred promise he made to uphold the Mormon religion because he feels their rules are unreasonable and unethical. He makes the decision to leave Salt Lake City with Lucy and Jefferson Hope.

In some societies polygamy is acceptable, especially in developing countries. In rural areas, a man might wed more than one wife to have a large family who can help with the labor. Also, there may be a lack of men in the region. Polygamy is banned in Canada because of the harm it causes to women, children, and untimely to society.

A norm in my family is that we all say grace before eating. For instance, the whole family must be sitting reverently and they must focus on the prayer of thanks and not anything else. Also, at christmas or during a birthday party, we always open gifts in front of the guests. This allows the guests to be individually recognized and thanked.

Lucy’s nickname, “the flower of Utah” illustrates her beauty and innocence. Lucy’s dilemma is that she must marry into a Mormon household. She is against it, as she is deeply in love with Jefferson Hope, who is a gentile and not recognized by the mormons. I feel a strong sense of compassion for Lucy, because she doesn't have the freedom women today take for granted. She is treated as an object by the Mormon community and is forced into a marriage with Drebber. Ultimately she dies of a broken heart after only a month.

Lucy was married against her will. As she is the only woman in the story, it is revealed that the other women in the community are treated as objects and as less important than men, just as Lucy is. Doyle portrays the Mormon community as being very strict and controlling, as well as oppressive. For example, Jefferson Hope says, "She was forced into marrying that same Drebber, and broke her heart over it." This is stating that the Mormons did not grant Lucy much freedom.

Sources Used:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/mormon/history/josephsmith_1.shtml

http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/Christianity/Latter-Day-Saints/2002/01/Who-Are-The-Mormons.aspx

Joseph Smith. History & Belief of the Mormon Prophet | Mormon.org

http://www.pbs.org/americanprophet/joseph-smith.html

http://www.history.com/topics/brigham-young

http://www.mormon.org/faq/practice-of-polygamy

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/canada-s-polygamy-laws-upheld-by-b-c-supreme-court-1.856480

Jefferson Hope Releases Confession

This just in! The criminal Jefferson Hope has just released his full confession for the atrocities he committed and how he went about doing it. I have included it here so read on!

I, Jefferson Hope, confess that I have killed Enoch Drebber of Salt Lake City, Utah. It all happened about twenty-one years ago. I was driving some cattle from the Nevada mountains to Salt Lake City. We were traveling down a long road on the outskirts of the city. The cattle were a huge lot, and were blocking the whole path. Up ahead in front of me, I figure on horseback galloped toward us and try to push their way through the cattle. All of a sudden, the horse gave a violent rear, snorting and prancing. I don't know what came over me, but something told me to go to the horseman's aid at once. I spurred my horse to a gallop and came up beside the terrified horse. The cloud of dust was immense, and I reached my hand over and grab the horse by the curb. I quickly turned and forced a way through the cows. As we emerged from the blanket of dust and to the outskirts, I realized that the horseman was not a man at all, but rather a woman. Young and fierce, she looked shaken, but she was still the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.

I found out she was the daughter of John Ferrier, and I knew my father and him had been quite thick.  That night I went to see him, and many times after that. The Ferrier farm became familiar to me, and John seem to enjoy my stories, as he had been in the valley and stuck in his work for a long time.

I knew from the beginning that I loved Lucy. I felt as though my life was complete when she was around. She awoke something within me that I didn't even know was there. I swore to myself I would never fail in having her. I went to John myself to ask for consent to marry Lucy, and he gave me his blessing, provided I got the mines working alright. That is the reason I had to leave. I went to Lucy and told her that when I came back, I would claim her and there was nothing that can stand between us. Her face lit up with joy and I kissed her passionately before riding off.

I returned months later to find the Ferrier house being watched on all sides by the mormons. I knew that it was their last night before Lucy needed to decide who to wed. Quiet and quickly I slithered towards the residence, right under the noses of all the guards. After entering the house, I told John to wake Lucy and for them both to prepare for the long journey ahead. For you see, I had a horse and two mules waiting in Eagle Ravine nearby. We made it out of the house safely, and past the guards on the cliffs.

On the second day, we stopped to rest in the mountains. I built Lucy and John a fire, and as our food provisions were running low, I was confident I could get us fresh meat. I was an incredible hunter, and armed with my rifle I set out. I hunted in silence, but soon, I realized I had been gone for hours. I gave the signal I was returning, but I heard nothing back, not even the faintest whisper. Worried now, I hurried back to the small camp. The fire was now reduced to ashes, and there was no sign of anyone, no John, no animals, and most importantly, no Lucy. I felt my head spinning, and I had to lean upon my rifle to prevent myself from falling. I inspected the ground, which was covered with hoofprints, confirming my fears. A large party had descended on them and then returned to Salt Lake City. Nearby I discovered the freshly dug grave of John Ferrier. Panicking I searched for another, but there wasn't. Lucy had been taken back to wed one of the Elder’s sons.

I walked for five days back to Salt Lake City. I learned my dear, sweet Lucy had been married to the horror that was Drebber. Within a month, she passed on from a broken heart. I felt dead inside. I was full of hate and rage, I stormed into bier early in the morning, frightening the women who were there, and ripped the wedding ring off her finger. I retreated into my mountains, letting my vengeance grow. I tried unsuccessfully to punish Stangerson and Drebber, and when they figured out it was me, they lead quite a few hunting parties into the wilderness to find me. I later went to work in a mine, to regain my strength, physically as well as financially. I was there for much longer than I thought, and when I returned I learned that Drebber and Stangerson had left Salt Lake City to become Gentiles.

Still adamant in my need for revenge, I wandered through the United States searching for them. I found them finally, many years later in Cleveland, Ohio. Unfortunately, Drebber saw me and I went before a Judge and was detained for many weeks. When I returned to the house, the pair had fled to Europe. I saved for a while, taking up work, and then traveled after them. I trailed them all over Europe, moving quickly from place to place. I finally ended up in London, and took up work as a cab driver. I soon located them and was pleased to finally have them at my mercy. I tracked them for weeks, and learned their habits.

One night I saw them pack up and leave to the train station. They decided to separate, and I followed Drebber out and to a liquor store, where he ended up drunk. I followed him to another house, where soon after he was kicked out and he climbed into my cab, telling me to take him to Halliday's Private Hotel. I instead took him to an abandoned house, and instead of killing him cold blood, I used pills which I had made. One consisted of a deadly poison, and the other was harmless. I knew God would serve as the judge and choose between us, as he chose one and swallowed it and I took the other. Within minutes his body began to spasm up and his face contorted with pain. Seconds later he was on the floor, dead. I then realized my nose had been bleeding and decided to write the word RACHE with it on the wall. I had seen it in a paper about a German in New York doing it and I wanted to mislead the police.

I then went back to the hotel to stalk Stangerson, but he never came out. I found out what room he was in and climbed in. I told him to choose between the pills but he instead came at me. In self defence I stabbed him in the heart.

This is my confession. I regret nothing, and as I will undoubtedly be dead soon with my aortic aneurism. I dedicated my whole life to avenging the deaths of Lucy and John Ferrier, and I am glad the murderers finally got what they deserved. To my beloved Lucy resting forever in heaven, I love you my dear.

Signed,

Jefferson Hope

6 Key Elements of Detective Fiction

Hello fellow consulting detectives! This is Dr. Kristen Radosevic here. This is my blog, and I hope to post any interesting things I come across through my work.

1. The detective must be memorable. 
• They must be a little out of the ordinary. They might have a different talent, mannerism, interest, or habit. Something that sets them apart. 
2. The crime committed must be of significant value. 
• The crime must be worth the detective and the readers time to solve. For example, a great theft or murder. 
3. The criminal must be a worthy opponent to the reader and the detective. 
• To show off the skills of the detectives, the criminal they are against must be of equal wits. This then allows for an intellectual battle between the reader, the detective, and the criminal. 
4. The suspects and the criminal must be presented at the beginning of the story.
• The reader must be able to trust that the criminal is one of the main characters in the story. The contest between the reader and detective to solve the crime must be fair.
5. The clues the detective figures out must be available to the reader. 
• The author must reveal the clues and information to the reader and detective at the same time. The reader must be given the same opportunity as the detective to solve the crime. The author can use red herrings to deceive the reader and the detective.  
6. When the solution is explained, it must be clear and logical.
• The reader has to see how all the pieces of information came together. They must be convinced that they too could have come to the same conclusion as the detective.