Vol. XI. 


No. 7. 



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A MONTHLY MASONIC AND FAMILY MAGAZINE. 


Vol. XI. 


JULY, 1S97. 


No. 7. 


True Masonic Charity. 


A Paper Read at the Stated Meeting of 
Durant Lodge, No. 268 , F & A. M . , 
Berkeley , California , June /, /< 5 *p 7 , £)' 
Bro. William H. Waste , J. D . 

Worshipful Master and Brethren: “The 
three principal tenets of Masonry are 
Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth. 

“By the exercise of Brotherly Love we 
are taught to regard the whole human 
species as one family — the high and the 
low, the rich and the poor — who, as created 
by one Almighty parent and inhabitants 
of the same planet, are to aid, support and 
protect each other. On this principle 
Masonry unites men of every country, 
sect and opinion, and causes true friend- 
ship to exist among those who might oth- 
erwise have remained at a perpetual dis- 
tance. 

“To relieve the distressed is a duty in- 
cumbent on all men, but particularly on 
Masons, who are linked together by an in- 
dissoluble chain of sincere affection. To 
soothe the unhappy, to sympathize with 
their misfortune, to compassionate their 
miseries and to restore peace to their 
troubled minds, is the great aim we have 
in view. On this basis we form our 
friendships and establish our connections. 

“Truth is a divine attribute and the 
foundation of every virtue. To be good 
and true is the first lesson we are taught 
in Masonry. On this theme we contem 
plate, and by its dictates endeavor to regu- 
late our conduct. Hence, while influenced 
by this principle, hypocrisy and deceit are 
unknown among us, sincerity and plain 


dealing distinguish us, and, with heart 
and tongue, we join in promoting each 
other’s welfare, and rejoicing in each 
other’s prosperity.” 

The “ lesson in true Masonic charity,” 
taught to each of us in the early steps of 
our Masonic travels, was but illustrative of 
the principal tenets of our order. No man 
is fitted for the higher stations of life un- 
til he has carefully mastered the lessons of 
the lower, and the exalted position of Mas- 
ter Mason should be sacred to those who 
have learned well to bear the burdens and 
hew the stones that form the Temple of 
Life, for without these qualifications the 
“Master’s Word is lost.”. The full stat- 
ure and rounded character of the finished 
Mason will not be attained by the man 
who is not thus duly and truly prepared, 
worthy and well qualified to enter this 
venerable institution. Such men ride 
rough shod over our ancient landmarks, 
which they are charged carefully to pre- 
serve. Better far that fewer Masons be 
made than that the ancient landmarks be 
infringed, or that, through ignorance of 
what they do, our brethren countenance 
any deviation from our established cus- 
toms. 

Masonry is a progressive moral science, 
divided into different degrees, that as its 
principles and mystic ceremonies are regu- 
larly developed and illustrated, the noviti- 
ate may drink at the fountain of knowl- 
edge, and follow the devious wanderings 
of the flowing stream, receiving deep and 
lasting impressions as he drinks, and get- 
ting knowledge as he goes. No deeper 
and more lasting impression should be 
made on the mind of the Mason at any 


292 


THE TRESTLE BOARD, 


time than when, having been brought from 
darkness to see the light, he is taught that 
“now abideth faith, hope, charity, these 
three; but the greatest of these is charity.” 

Professor Drummond devotes one of his 
books to the analysis of thai word “char- 
ity” and to the defense of Paul’s words 
“the greatest of these is charky.” If you 
have. not already read that little master 
piece of the great scholar’s mind, get and 
read “The Greattst Thing in the World.” 
Charity means love. When taken in that 
sense it takes on a new meaning and an 
added significance. Read again the thir- 
teenth chapter of first Corinthians and sub- 
stitute the word “love” for “charity” and 
the words of the apostle take on a world of 
meaning that we never knew before. Oh, 
the depth, the heighth, the breadth, of that 
word “love” — the love of God, of coun- 
try, of home, of family — infinite, ever- 
lasting and supreme ! 

How, then, shall we consider this great 
attribute of the Masonic character ? Have 
we grasped its meaning ? Have we made 
its divine element our own ? Are we, as 
Master Masons, living up to the true 
standard of Masonic charity ? 

The instinct of the age is almost wholly 
commercial, and money, the medium of 
exchange of the business world, has well 
nigh become omnipotent. Cold, selfish 
and hurried mankind leaves to money to 
do whatever has to be done. Are great 
works to be accomplished, money will do 
it. Is a good deed to be done, the first 
inquiry is, how much will it cost ? The 
cry that comes from the teeming marts of 
trade is “ money, money, money, give us 
money.” So far has the tendency ad- 
vanced that money is called upon to sup- 
ply every known, and is hoped to fill ev- 
ery unknown, want and wish that human 
will is heir to. This godless mammon is 
thrust exultingly into view, and men build 
costly- fanes of worship and adorn them in 
all the beauty of the Temple of Solomon, 
not that the worship of Almighty God 
may be more fittingly observed, but that 
worldly ambition and pleasure may be 
gratified, and the earthly giver of such 
“munificent” gifts be said to be a “good 
man.” If such worldly gifts are to meas- 
ure our charity, I doubt the greatness of 
our attribute. Great organs may flood the 
sanctuary with their finest tones, the sun- 
light may filter through the softest tints of 
cathedral glass, and cushioned pews may 
tempt the worshiper, but if the Temple be 


not erected to God and dedicated to his 
holy name, I doubt the presence of God in 
its midst. 

When duty calls and country’s mandates 
are stern, money and the love of gain de- 
termines the answer of many a man. Love 
of country, as well as the love of God, 
should spring only from the inborn dic- 
tates of human conscience. The place of 
the father cannot be filled around the fire- 
side in that elegant home by all the wealth 
that Croesus could give, yet many a man 
forgets that his family exists, so maddened 
is he in his search for gold. If wealth 
makes us grasping, greedy and crafty 
misers, we are not true to our neighbors or 
ourselves. If to be rich is to be mean, if 
to be wealthy is to be selfish, if to have 
money is to make men mad, then true 
Masonry is not to be rich, is not to be 
wealthy, is not to have money; for what- 
ever interferes with the duty we owe to 
God, our country, our neighbor, or our- 
selves is not Masonry. 

True Masonic charity does not consist 
alone in the giving of money. I may give 
a starving beggar a dollar, and insult him 
as I give it. As the world gives, such an 
act might be charity, but not as Christ 
would give. A kind word fitly spoken 
may be the greatest gift we can bestow. 
The weary brother, worn out and vexed 
with business troubles and disappointments, 
would spurn your money, but your kindly 
spoken words would be music in his ears, 
and would send him on his way rejoicing 
that some man loved him and cared that 
he lived. A favor to be given ought to be 
cheerfully bestowed. A thing worth doing 
is worth doing well. The man who does 
his charitable work in a half-hearted way 
is the man who will begrudge his hard- 
working wife a new dress, and who says 
boys are a nuisance because ‘they wear | out 
shoes. If you cannot aid and assist your 
distressed worthy brother without injury 
to yourself, you do not have to do it. If 
your circumstances are such that you can- 
not assist him, tell him so at once, and 
you have done your duty. Only let me 
ask that you be honest. You and your 
God are the only ones who can judge of 
vour financial condition, and who can 
know of the demands upon your resources. 

To whom shall we dispense our charity ? 
The covering of a Masonic Lodge is no 
less than the clouded canopy or star decked 
heaven where all good Masons hope at last 
to arrive by the aid of that theological lad- 


THE TRESTLE BOARD. 


293 


der which Jacob, in his vision, saw, reach- 
ing from earth to heaven, the principal 
rounds of which are denominated Faith, 
Hope and Charity, which admonish us to 
have faith in God, hope in immortality 
and charity for all mankind. The great- 
est of these is charity, for our faith may 
be lost in sight, hope ends in fruition, but 
charity extends beyond the grave, through 
the boundless realms of eternity. All 
mankind, and none are excepted, are to be 
the recipients of our dispensation. The 
Master Mason who is not charitable to his 
wife, to his family, to his neighbor, will 
not be charitable to the fellows of his 
Craft. But in the broadness of the field 
we are liable to be led astray. The field 
is as broad as the world, but our means 
are limited. We, in this clime, are not 
supposed to administer to the wants of our 
brethren in another land with the same 
zeal as we care for those within the length 
of our own cable-tow. A man looking at 
the glorious sunset is oblivious of the 
beauties that lie just at his feet. The 
Mason who wants to send alms to the 
Craft in Greece is too often prone to for- 
get that “charity begins at home,” and 
that, on the roll of his own Lodge, there 
may be the names of those worthy and 
needy of his relief. 

The story goes that the Holy Grail, the 
cup out of which Jesus partook of the last 
supper with his disciples, was carried into 
England by Joseph of Arimathea, and re- 
mained many years in the keeping of his 
descendants. It was incumbent on those 
having charge of it to be chaste in thought, 
in word and in deed. One of its custodians 
violating this condition, the Holv Grail 
disappeared. To go in search of it was 
said to have been a favorite enterprise with 
the knights of the traditionary King Ar- 
thur’s Court. James Russell Lowell tells 
of the visionary wanderings of Sir Launfal 
in quest of the holy cup. Proud and 
haughty, he set forth on his search. No 
knight in all the “north countree” was 
more gifted than he. His armour was 
bright and his charger was strong, while 
in his pouch there lay shining piles of 
gold. As he set forth over the castle 
draw- bridge a leper sat by the way and 
asked an alms. The knight, in his pride, 
tossed him a coin, and went on his way. 
The leper raised not the coin from the 
dust, but stole out of sight. 

Years after, when winter was cold and 
bleak, Sir Launfal returned to his castle 


only to find another in control. He was 
an old man now. bent, worn and frail. The 
cross was no longer emblazoned on his 
surcoat, but, deep in his soul, he wore the 
sign and the badge of the suffering and the 
poor. His raiment was thin and spare, 
and was poor armour against the wintry 
blast. “For Christ’s sweet sake, I beg an 
alms.” It was a leper that spoke, lank 
and grewsome, but Sir Launfal no longer 
scorned his presence, but said: 

’* I behold in thee 

An image of him who died on the tree; 

Thou also hast had th\ crown uf thorns — 

Thou also hast had the world’s buffets and scorns — 

And to thy life were not denied 

The wounds in tne hands, and feet and side; 

Mild Mary’s Son acknowledged me; 

Behold, through him, I give to thee 1” 

“ Then the soul of the leper stood up in his eyes, 

And looked at Sir Launfal. and straightway he 
Remembered i.i what a haughtier guise 
He had flung an alms to leuroise. 

When he girt his young life up in gilded mail. 

And set forth in search of the Holy Grail. 

The heart within him was ashes and dust; 

He parted in twain his single crust, 

He broke the ice on the streamlet’s brink, 

And gave the leper to eat and drink. 

’Twas a mouldy crust of co.rse brown bread, 

'Twas water out of a wooden bowl; 

Vet with fine wheat en b ead was the leper fed. 

And ’twas red wine he drank with his thirsty soul. 

“ As Sir Launfal mused with a downcast face, 

A light shone roundabout the place; 

The leper no longer crouched at his side, 

But stood before him glorified, 

>hming and fair, and tall, and straight; 

As the piilar that stood by the beautiful gate— 
Himself the gate whereby men can 
Enter the temple of God in man. 

******* 

“ And the voice that was calmer than silence said: 

“Lo, it is I, be not afriid ! 

In many climes, without avail, 

Thou hast spent thv life for the Holy Grail; 

Behold it is here — this cup which thou 
Didst fill at the streamlet for me but now; 

This crust is my bodv broken for thee, 

This water His blood that died on the tree. 

The Holv Supper is kept, indeed. 

In whatso we share with a brother’s need; 

Not what we give, but what we share — 

For the gift without the giver is bare; 

Who gives himself with his alms feeds three — . 
Himself, his hungering neighbor and me.” 

The Holy Grail, in the keeping of 
Durant Lodge, is not an idle fancy. 
Within these walls, here, it may be found. 
Do we know our duty ? Let’s do it. As 
the sun from east to west his journey runs, 
may we strive to find the work we have to 
do; not in the undiscovered bourne of to- 
morrow, but in the realities of to-day. 
Let the dead past bury its dead, but let us 
care for the living before it be, alas, too 
late. 

“ Brotherly love, relief and truth,” 
summed in one word, “charity.” “Charity 
suffereth long, and is kind, charity envieth 
not, charity vaunteth not itself, is not 
puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, 
seeketh not her own, is not easily pro- 
voked, thinketh no evil, rejoiceth not in 
iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth, bear- 


294 


THE TRESTLE BOARD . 


eth all things, believeth all things, hopeth 
all things, endureth all things.” “Get 
these ingredients into your life,” says 
Professor Drummond, “then everything 
that you do is eternal. It is worth doing. 
It is worth giving time to. No man can 
become a saint in his sleep; and to mlfill 
the condition required, demands a certain 
amount of preparation and time, just as 
improvement in any direction, bodily or 
mental, requires preparation and care. 
* * * You will find as you look back 

upon your life that the moments that stand 
out, the moments when you have really 
lived, are the moments when you have 
done things in a spirit of love. As mem- 
ory scans the past, above and beyond all 
the transitory pleasures of life, there leap 
forward those supreme hours when you 
have been enabled to do, unnoticed, kind- 
nesses to those roundabout you, things too 
trifling to speak about, but which you feel 
have entered into your eternal life.” 

In our “Masonic Charity” we are not to 
forget the duties we owe to God, our 
neighbor or to our families. A man can- 
not be a true Mason, and be a brute in the 
midst of his family. Above all things on 
this earth the man is to be despised who, 
willfully and without cause, neglects his 
wife and children. Still greater con- 
demnation should follow the man who 
abuses those loving ones who are de- 
pendent on him for their all. If God has 
prepared a punishment for those who 
transgress his laws, may we hope that a 
deep and awful hell has been prepared for 
those men, and especially Masons, who, 
forgetting the loving ties of home and 
family, will neglect and abuse wives and 
children. 

Speculative Masonry is so far inter- 
woven with religion as to lay us under 
obligations to pay that rational homage to 
the Deity, which at once constitutes our 
duty and our happiness. It leads the con- 
templative Mason to view with reverence 
and admiration the glorious works of the 
creation, and inspires him with the most 
exalted ideas of his divine Creator. God 
created the heavens and earth, and rested 
upon the seventh day. The seventh day, 
therefore, our ancient brethren consecrated 
as a day of rest from their labors, thereby 
enjoying frequent opportunities to con- 
template the glorious works of the crea- 
tion, and to adore their great Creator. In 
this worthy example we would do well to 
emulate our ancient brethren. Pay due 


homage to God who made us, and honor 
and keep his laws, imploring his aid in all 
our lawful undertakings, and by looking 
up to him in every emergency for comfort 
and support. 

Masonic charity to our neighbors is 
summed up in the words, “by rendering 
him every kind office which justice or 
mercy may require; by relieving his dis- 
tresses and soothing his afflictions; and by 
doing to him as, in similar cases, you 
would that he should do unto you.” 

Charity is tempered with mercy. Acts 
of mercy are acts of charity. “Be merci- 
ful, and thou shalt have mercy” applies 
to us. When in our power to be exacting 
and force the issue with men, more espe- 
cially our brethren in Free Masonry, let us 
remember that — 

“ The quality of mercy is not strained; 

It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven 
Upon the place beneath; it is twice blessed; 

It blesseth him triat giveth, and him that taketh; 

’Tis mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes 
The throned monarch better than his crown: 

His scepter shows the force of temporal power, 

The attribute to awe and majesty, 

Wherein doth set the dread and fear of kings; 

But men y is above his scepter ed sway, 

It is enthroned in the hearts of kings, 

It is an attribute of God himself; 

And earthly power doth then show likest God’s, 
When mercy seasons justice.” 

When the time shall come when earth 
shall be no more, and the Grand Master of 
us all shall convene the Lodge above, may 
we all have so lived that we shall be found 
on the right side when the Lodge is purged, 
and may none of us miss the sweetly sol- 
emn words of the Master as he shall say, 
“Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit 
ihe kingdom prepared for you from the 
foundation of the world; for I was an hun- 
gered, and ye gave me meat; I was thirsty, 
and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger, 
and ye took me in; naked, and ye clothed 
me; I was sick, and ye visited me; I was 
in prison, and ye came unto me. * * * 
Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of 
the least of these my brethren, ye have 
done it unto me.” 

o 

The great number of recent bank fail- 
ures has Created a desire for the establish- 
ment of governmental postal savings banks. 
England, France, Italy, Russia, Holland 
and Belgium have adopted this system 
years ago. One out of every seven per- 
sons in England is a depositor. The Post- 
master-General as far back as 1871 recom- 
mended postal savings banks. The sub- 
ject has been often agitated, but never 
brought to a successful issue. 


THE TRESTLE BOARD. 


295 


4t Mystic Banquet” at Oakland, Cal., 
April 15, 1897. 


TOAST. 

To the memory of the brethren whose 
work below have ceased during the present 
Masonic year. (Standing and in silence.) 

Response by Bro. Chas. E. Gillett, 33 0 

Another year has passed away like an 
unbidden guest, and sunk into the gloom 
and darkness of the past, unregretted; and 
we are again assembled round the altar of 
Masonry to renew the pledges of brotherly 
love and affection, to extend to each other 
the hand of fraternal greeting and saluta- 
tion; but the vacant seats at the “Mystic 
Banquet” remind us that some who were 
with us one year ago have passed from 
these earthly scenes into the Celestial 
Lodge above, into the presence of our 
Heavenly Grand Master. 

Not only without, but within the pre- 
cincts of the Lodge is the contemplation of 
death a familiar theme, for no symbol of 
which Masonry makes use speak more 
eloquently than those which tell us of death 
and the life beyond the grave. In all her 
rites and ceremonies she teaches continual- 
ly that life is but the threshold of the 
grave, and that after death comes a new 
and better life, wherein there is no death. 
It is therefore well that we should pause 
in our labors to commune with the spirits 
of our brethren who have been called by 
the voice of the Grand Warden from the 
labors of the earthly Lodge to refreshment 
in the Heavenly Temple of our God. 

We seek not to fathom the purposes of 
the Almighty in sending forth the angel of 
death, for we know — 

“ All is of God ! If he but wave his hand, 

The mists collect, and the rain falls thick and loud 

Ti'l, wild a smile of light, on sea and land, 

Lo ! He looks back from the departing cioud. 

“ Angels of life and death alike are his; 

Without his leave 'hey pass no threshold o'er; 

Who, then, would wish or dare believing this, 

Agaiust his messengers, to shut the door?” 

Freemasonry has always retained her 
funeral rites and ceremonies, varied some- 
times, it is true, in different nations, ac- 
cording to the manners and customs of the 
people, and characterized by more or less 
pomp and ceremony, but always teaching 
the duty of cherishing and perpetuating 
the memories of the worthy dead. Though 
eulogy and the memorial tribute of ser- 
vices, “storied urn and monumental bust” 
affect not the dead, and the silence of the 
grave can never be disturbed, nor the 


voices of the living penetrate the sod, nor 
enter the bosom of the mighty deep, to 
stir its awful repose, yet solemn and ap- 
pointed mournings are good expressions of 
our affection for those who, having per- 
formed the duties and endured the trials of 
this life, have deserved well of their fel- 
lows. Let us then, my brethren, testify 
here, before men and Masons, our love for 
those who have passed on before us through 
the veil which hides from our sight eternity 
and the better life. 

It is well that we should pause in our 
labors to commune with the spirits of the 
master workmen who have been called by 
the voice of the Grand Warden from the 
labors of the earthly Lodge to refresh- 
ment in the Heavenly Temple of our God. 
It has been tritely said, that we live only 
to love those we love, and to see our 
friends go away out of our sight, and this 
is the penalty we pay for living the few 
brief years which shall swiftly glide under 
our feet before we, too, shall join the in- 
numerable caravan, and cross the dark 
river of death. We cannot realize that we 
shall see and hear our friends no more; 
that we cannot go to them or they come to 
us until we, too, shall take the last sub- 
lime degree, and enter through the portals 
of the tomb into the Grand Lodge, where 
death is the Tyler, and the Supreme Grand 
Master of heaven and earth presides. 

OUR DEAD. 

" Life’s labor done, 

Serenely to their final rest they passed.” 1 

On the 29th day of April, 1896, the 
angel of death summoned the spirit of 
Bro. Ernest Albert Nordhausen from its 
earthly habitation to the presence of our 
Supreme Grand Master. Bro. Nordhausen 
was born in Germany, came while young 
with his parents to Charleston, S. C.. where 
they resided until they moved lo Califor- 
nia, and, after spending a few weeks in 
San Francisco, settled in the -city of San 
Jose, engaging in mercantile pursuits. In 
1876 he moved to Oakland, where he has 
since resided and conducted, in connec- 
tion with his brother Charles O., a suc- 
cessful and profitable mercantile business. 
Bro. E. A. Nordhausen was raised to 
the sublime degree of a Master Mason in 
Live Oak Lodge, No. 61, August 20, 
1880; exalted a Roval Arch Mason Feb- 
ruary 13, 18S2, in Oakland Chapter, No. 
26. He received the degrees of Royal 
and Select Master in Oakland Council, 
No. 12, March, 1S90, and the Orders of 


296 


THE TRESTLE BOARD . 


Knighthood in Oakland Commandery, No. 
11, K. T., June 17. 1890. During the 
year 1885 he received the degrees of the 
A. & A. Scottish Rite from the 4th to 30th 
inclusive, in the bodies of the Rite in Oak- 
land, and on January 14, 1886, the 31 0 
and 32 0 in the Grand Consistory of Cali- 
fornia at San Francisco. Bro. Nordhau- 
sen was a genial, kind-hearted man, who 
never permitted himself to speak ill of 
others — open hearted and generous to a 
fault; the poor found in him a sympathetic 
friend, who denied no worthy applicant. 

Bro. Louis Frank Reichling, who was 
a charter member of the several bodies of 
the Rite in Oakland and a Sublime Prince 
of the Royal Secret 32 0 , died on the 24th 
day of January, 1897. Bro. Reichling 
had been in ill health for several months, 
but his friends were not alarmed about 
him until a short time before his death. 
He was made a Master Mason in Live Oak 
Lodge, No. 61, July 30, 1880; a Royal 
Arch Mason in Alameda (now Oakland) 
Chapter, No. 31, April 20, 1881; the de- 
grees of Royal and Select Master on Sep- 
tember 17, 1886, in Oakland Council, No. 
12; and the Orders of Knighthood in Oak- 
land Commandery, No. 11, K. T., Novem- 
ber 15, 1881. A man of inflexible hon- 
esty, and though strong willed and un- 
compromising, he was always just and 
honorable. Warm in his attachment to 
his friends, he avoided taking many into 
his confidence, and preferred the society 
of a few genial spirits to mixing with the 
multitude. God’s finger touched him, and 
he slept. 

On February 1, 1897, Bro. Ebenezer 
Winchester, 30°, was allowed to pass 
within the veil, although for several years 
his natural vision had been veiled, and he 
had been deprived the pleasure of seeing 
others in their varied walks in life and of 
reading the news of the day. Bro. Win- 
chester was born in Marcellus, Onondago 
county, N. Y., March 30, 1814; hence, 
was 82 years, 10 months and 1 day old 
at the time of his death. I first met Bro. 
Winchester over fifty years ago in New 
York city where, at No. 30 Ann street, he 
was publishing the Golden Rule and Odd 
Fellows Family Companion , a paper de- 
voted to the interest of Odd Fellowship, 
which, in 1848, he sold to J. R. Crampton, 
who continued its publication. I next 
heard of Brother Winchester at Park- 
hurst, Va. , and, in 1856, he moved to 
Marietta, Ohio, where he remained until 


1878, when he came to California, and, 
locating in Oakland, he engaged in his 
former business, that of a printer. 

Bro. Winchester was made a Master 
Mason in Mount Olivet Lodge, No. 113, 
located at Parkersburg, Va., in June, 1855, 
from which Lodge he demitted, and affili- 
ated in American Union Lodge, No. 1, at 
Marietta, Ohio, December 8, 1856, of which 
Lodge he served as Secretary five years. 
He also served as Senior Deacon, Junior 
and Senior Warden, and, in 1870, was 
elected Worshipful Master. Hence, Bro. 
Winchester became strongly attached to 
“American Union” Lodge, No. 1, and 
continued his membership therein until 
severed by death. He was exalted to the 
degree of Royal Arch, January 9, i860, in 
American Union Chapter, No. 1, R. A. 
M., Marietta, Ohio, from which Chapter 
he demitted, and affiliated with Oakland 
Chapter, No. 26 (now No. 36), Julv 17, 
1882. He received the degrees of Royal 
and Select Master in Athens Council, No. 
15, Athens, Ohio; demitted, and was one 
of the Charter members of Oakland Coun- 
cil, No. 12, R. & S. M., and its first 
Recorder. He received the degrees of the 
A. & A. Scottish Rite in the Oakland 
bodies, as follows: The 14 0 , September 23, 
1889; the I'i 0 , November 18, 1889; and 
the 30°, December 23, 1889; and while 
Bro. Winchester continued to reside in 
this city, and was physically able to be 
present at our meetings, he was always 
present. His zeal for Masonry and our 
beloved Rite did not wane with declining 
years or impaired vision, but remained 
firm and bright to the last. Bro. Win- 
chester never ceased to love and revere 
Masonry. The familiar face and cordial 
greeting of this venerable brother have 
been seen and heard for the last time; but 
we dare to hope that after life's trials and 
disappointments, he has at last found rest 
in the “house not made with hands, eter- 
nal in the heavens.” 

This completes the list of the members 
of the Rite belonging to the bodies meet- 
ing in this Cathedral, who have been called 
to the higher life during the past year; 
and I will only detain you a few moments 
longer to report to you the death of an 
illustrious brother who was called to his 
home and rest on March 28, 1897. I re- 
fer to Illustrious Frank Rader, 33 0 , a 
Past V. M. of King Solomon Lodge of 
Perfection, No. 3. He was a zealous 
worker in the Rite, and was crowned ap 


THE TRESTLE BOARD. 


297 


Hon. In. Gen’l S. C., 33 0 S. M. J., Janu- 
ary 9, 1894.. The midnight Kadosh fun- 
eral ceremonies were conducted by Hugh 
de Payens Council, Knights Kadosh, No. 
3, Los Angeles, at midnight, Tuesday 
March 30, 1S97. We were not permitted 
to stand beside the graves of the last two 
brethren named, and there to renew our 
solemn covenant with them, or to strew 
the flowers of affection upon their bodies, 
nor to utter that most beautiful and appro- 
priate of all Masonic prayers: “Give rest 
eternal unto them, O Lord, and let light 
perpetual shine upon them !” It therefore 
remains for us to do the duty which we 
owe th* dead, and perform the last offices 
of brotherhood and love, knowing that 
when we do this for our dead friends it is 
not done to persons as undeserving as 
fallen trees, but to those whose souls yet 
live; and peradventure would perceive our 
neglect, and be witnesses of our transient 
affections and forgetfulness; and, surely, 
God sees us, and solemn reverence is due 
the dead who are now nearer God than 
we, who are yet, for a little while, im- 
prisoned in the body. As Masons, like 
the parallel lines in the compound symbol 
by which the Saints John are represented 
in our Lodges, our duties are inflexible; 
in health or in sickness, in prosperity or 
adversity, duty is with us always; it rises 
with us in the morning, and watches by 
our pillow at night. It is the moral mag- 
netism which guides the true Freemason’s 
voyage over the tumultuous sea of life. It 
is the north star, fixed and steadfast, by 
which we, like the shipwrecked mariner 
who has lost his compass, direct our 
course, whether it carry us to the bedside 
of the sick and dying, to the hovel in 
which poverty and want dwells, to the 
mansion of the rich, or into the sacred 
precincts of the family circle. It is the 
power which holds the soldier firm in the 
front ranks 01 battle,, and prompts the 
good Samaritan to go forth and adminis- 
ter relief to the distressed and consolation 
to the bereaved. It was this sentiment 
which inspired the noble Howard to im- 
peril, and finally offer up his life, a will- 
ing sacrifice for those whose only claim 
upon him w'as a common humanity, and 
made Florence Nightingale the recognized 
type of the good Samaritan. 

Masonry never fails to inculcate the 
lesson, radiated w'ith effulgent splendor 
from the great light alw’ays to be found 
upon her altars, whether we behold it in 


the form of the Pentateuch in the Hebrew', 
the Koran in the Mohammedan, the Vedas 
in the Brahmin, the Zend Avesta in the 
Parsee, or the Bible in the Christian 
Lodges; everywhere it conveys the same 
idea, that of the symbolism of the divine 
will revealed to man. But as the granite 
rock has been fused and wrought together 
by a central fire, without which it w'ould 
not have existed at all, so, also, the law 
of duty, in order to perform fully its w’ork 
in the world, must be w'armed at the heart 
by a central fire of its own; that fire is 
love — the gracious, kindly, generous, ten- 
der emotions of the human affections, and 
that central fire itself must be kept alive 
by the consciousness that there has been 
in the world a love beyond all human love, 
the love of God toward man. This w r as 
w'hat St. John meant when in his extreme 
old age he was carried into the market- 
place at Ephesus, and, according to the 
ancient tradition, repeated over and over 
again the w’ords, “Little children love one 
another.” His disciples, vexed at hearing 
this commandment, this eleventh com- 
mandment, repeated so often, asking for 
something more precise, more definite, 
more dogmatic, received from the aged 
apostle, we are told, but one answer: 
“This is the sum and substance of the 
gospel; if ye do this I have nothing else 
to teach you.”’ So, also, my brethren, 
Masonry says: “If ye do this I have noth- 
ing else to teach you,” for whatever else 
it teaches is subordinate to the divine law 
of love. 

To perfect and illustrate this law' of love 
was one of the important objects for which 
the Son of God came into the w'orld, w r ho, 
as the Lord over death and the grave, re- 
veals the fact that death does not imprison 
the soul, but liberates it into the freedom 
of the heavenly life — its native home — the 
home into which God will at last gather 
all his children, redeemed from sin, de- 
livered from the ravages of change, and 
safe from decay. 

And it is revealed to us not as a life 
w'here the soul loses its identity, its mem- 
ory, its power to recognize, its affection 
for those loved in olden time, not as a life 
in which nothing is to be learned — a life 
of indolence and sluggishness — but a life 
w'here true hearts know' each other more 
perfectly than ever; w’here affection blos- 
soms into fullness in the genial air of 
heaven; where progress is as wide as eter- 
nity, as deep as the universe, as enduring 


298 


THE TRESTLE BOARD . 


as immortality, and as glorious as God, 
since he will be its grand thought and ac- 
tion. 

o 

Alleged Cannibals of the Gulf of 
California. 


‘ ‘I’ve read something lately in the news- 
papers about the Seri Indians down in the 
Gulf of California,” said “Art” Treadwell, 
the proprietor of a saloon at Los Tejones. 
He was visiting New York, and was talking 
with some Western acquaintances in the 
bar- room of an up-town hotel last evening. 
‘‘They picked up a party of American 
voyagers last year, it seems, at Tiburon 
Island, and killed and ate two of them. I 
ran across these Indians once, and I’ve 
been mighty willing since then to give 
them a wide berth. How did it come 
about ? Well, it’s something of a story, 
but if you’ve got the time to hear it, it’ll 
bear telling. 

“It was five years ago that these Indians 
came over to the mainland and cut up a 
good deal of mischief around the ranches. 
Their home is on Tiburon Island, three 
hundred miles or so south of Yuma, and, I 
believe, they claim a strip on the Sonora 
mainland. They are cannibals, and, all 
around, are the fiercest and meanest In- 
dians that I’ve ever heard of. 

“It was in the same year, in September, 
that I found myself stranded in Yuma, 
with no money, and mighty poor pros- 
pects. It was hotter than the tropics in 
the town, my landlord was getting sulky, 
and complained of slow returns from board- 
ers, and, for lack of other means of getting 
out of the country, I was beginning to 
think that I should have to beat my way 
on the freight trains to San Francisco, 
when I fell in with John Lomwyn. He 
was an Englishman who had been a sailor, 
and, somehow, had drifted to Yuma. 
Even there he couldn’t keep away from 
the water, and had got hold of an old boat 
that had been a tender to a river steamer, 
and that no one laid claim to He had 
calked her, rigged a keel, set up a mast, 
built a little cabin amidships, and was 
getting ready to make a voyage of dis- 
covery down the river. We struck up an 
acquaintance, I helped him about his work, 
and he invited me to go with him down 
into the Cocopah country. I had just 
then struck the promise of employment, 
to begin the first of November, but I agreed 
to go along with him if he would provide 


me a gun, find me in grub and ammuni- 
tion, and get me back to Yuma in a month. 

“So he got me an old muzzle-loading, 
smooth-bore army musket — he had for 
himself a fine Eaglish-made sporting gun 
— and, one day, near the end of Septem- 
ber, we hoisted our sail, made from a 
wagon cover, and started out. For sup- 
plies we had flour, coflfee, sugar, baking 
powder and salt, enough to last us a month, 
with plenty of ammunition, five dollars in 
silver and a quart and a half of whisky, 
contributed as a good luck offering by two 
saloon-keepers with whom we had trans- 
acted business in the past when times were 
flusher with us. 

“What could two men want more for a 
month’s voyage? Wind and current took 
us down across the Mexican border into 
the Cocopah country, and there we drifted 
and wandered about as happy as you 
please for a matter of ten or twelve days. 
After the heat of Yuma, the cool sea breeze 
at the river’s mouth was delightful, and 
we had a picnic time running in and out 
of the coves and lagoons in the Cocopah 
country, shooting ducks among the reeds, 
and quail and rabbits on the land. We 
saw the volcano mountain and the hot 
springs, and we found the Cocopahs, a 
people much like our Yuma Indians, very 
friendly and hospitable. We couldn’t 
quite go their bread, made of pounded 
mesquite beans, and we could have got 
along contentedly with fewer mosquitoes, 
but we lived high on quail, and duck and 
fish from the river, and barrels of fun in 
capturing them. At night we anchored 
the boat out on the open water and slept 
aboard, so the mosquitoes didn’t trouble 
us much, except when the wind was still. 

“After about a fortnight of this, work- 
ing down the river all the time, we found 
ourselves fairly out upon the California 
Gulf, and then Lomwyn proposed that we 
coast down the Sonora shore, and take a 
look at the Papago country. That suited 
me, and we sailed southward, making 
short runs from headland, and always an- 
choring by shore at night. Lomwyn was 
a good deal of an explorer, an inventive 
genius in his way, and what you might 
call a man of resource for a trip of this 
kind. We found oysters in some of the 
coves, which we worked out of their beds 
with a wooden rake that he made, and we 
could dig clams from the beaches almost 
anywhere, which were great luxuries to us 
after the bacon, tough beef and canned 


THE TRESTLE BOARD 


299 


goods of Yuma. We fell in with the 
Papago Indians once or twice, and traded 
a little with them, and one of them, a boy 
called Jose, who had lived among the 
whites, and knew some Americana, we 
took along with us as helper and inter- 
preter. The weather kept fine, and we 
worked further and further south until 
Jose one day, pointing to an inland peak, 
said: ‘Papago country end there.’ We 
asked him what lay beyond. ‘Nothing,’ 
he said. ‘Just Sonora, that’s all.’ Then 
he pointed down the Gulf, and said: ‘Seris 
live there. No good. Heap bad Indians.’ 

“The country looked lone and desolate 
enough with its half tropical wilderness 
along the low shore line and barren moun- 
tains behind, but we kept on to the south, 
wishing to see a little more of it. As we 
had no log we may have made a longer 
run that day than we reckoned on. At 
any rate, the Papago boy began to get un- 
easy, talked a good deal of the Seris In- 
dians, and wanted to turn back. I myself 
didn’t like the idea of venturing very near 
these inland savages who, he said, were 
cannibals that went naked except for peli- 
can skins about their loins, were a heap 
big, had no houses except caves and 
shelving rocks, and could outrun deer and 
rabbits. Lomwyn, who was a man who 
would venture anywhere, laughed at the 
idea of danger to us, and insisted on keep- 
ing our course down the coast the rest of 
the day, agreeing that on the next morn- 
ing we should take the back track. We 
ran ashore that night at about five o’clock 
on a beach, sheltered by a high point of 
land just below it which made out into the 
sea, so that it broke the force of the rollers 
co-ning in when the wind was high from 
the south. 

“After beaching the boat we climbed 
the high point to take a look around. Far 
oft to the south, hull down, we could see 
land out in the Gulf, which Jose said was 
Tiburon. I’d shot a heron during the 
day, and this, with roasted clams fresh 
dug from the sand, bread and coffee, 
made our supper, which we cooked and 
ate ashore. By that time darkness had 
fallen, and the moon was not up. The 
beach, which was in the form of a semi- 
circle, was about 400 feet long by 175 or 
200 feet deep, and was bordered by dense 
woods and undergrowth which stretched 
back to the foot of the mountains. As we 
sat on the sand smoking our after-supper 
pipes, the question was debated whether 


we should sleep on the boat at anchor or 
camp on the beach, which we preferred 
doing if it were safe. We decided to take 
the risk of sleeping ashore, in spite of the 
nearness of Tiburon. 

“We had beached the boat on a rising 
tide, and now. at the beginning of the 
ebb, she was afloat, held to the beach by 
the rope and heavy stone that served us 
for cable and anchor. Lomwyn arose and 
went to the water’s edge to see if she need- 
ed more rope to keep her from grounding, 
and I followed him, intending to get our 
blankets from the cabin. The full moon 
was peeping above the black mountains to 
the east, and I paused a moment to see it 
show its face. It came into full view, 
lighting up the white sand beach and the 
water almost as brightly as day. I didn’t 
take the second look for, as if the moon- 
rise had been a signal, there came from 
the black woods about the beach the 
whistling of arrows and a hideous whoop- 
ing and yelling, the worst sounds I hope 
ever to hear. With the arrows and out- 
cry twenty dark, naked figures, all looking 
like giants, appeared from the brush, run- 
ning to close in upon us, with the speed 
of a deer. 

“ ‘Los Seris ! Los Seris !’ yelled the 
Papago as he jumped and ran to join us. 

“An arrow grazed my arm, and I saw 
two shafts sticking from Lomwyn’ s back 
as we rushed through the water to the 
boat, threw off the anchor line, and shoved 
the craft away from the shore as we jumped 
aboard. I was the first to the cabin, and 
passed his gun to Lomwyn as I came out 
with mine. Quickly as this was done the 
Indians were already at the water’s edge, 
some firing arrows as they came on, others 
brandishing clubs and spears as we faced 
them with the guns. Without hesitation, 
they were dashing through the surf upon 
us, a tall Indian, with a feather in his hair, 
leading them. As coolly and quickly as 
he would have made a wing shot at a 
pigeon, Lomwyn shot him through the 
body with the bullet in his left barrel, and 
then gave the charge of duck shot in the 
right barrel to the next one, dropping both 
Indians into the water. I caught three 
others in a raking fire of my big musket 
loaded with bird shot, which stopped them, 
and the effect of our three shots was to 
check the rush, and keep the Indians back 
at the water’s edge. There they shot ar- 
rows, and some threw clubs at us. Two 
more shots from Lomwyn’ s breech-loader 


300 


THE TRESTLE BOARD, 


sent them to cover, and the ebb tide slow- 
ly drew us out of the range of their ar- 
rows. 

“Beyond a point where a little breeze 
was stirring, far up the Gulf, we hoisted 
sail, and made the most of it. After we 
had put a mile or two between us and the 
shore, and found that we were not fol- 
lowed by canoes, we took account of dam- 
ages. Of the two arrows in Lomwyn’s 
back one had only stuck in the clothes be- 
tween his arm and side; the other was fast 
in his body, but a rib had broken its force 
so that it had not made a dangerous wound. 
By his request I cut it out with a pen 
knife, and bandaged the wound the best I 
could with the means at hand. The ar- 
row-head he put in his pocket for a keep- 
sake. My wound was only a scratch that 
needed no care. The Papago had caught 
an arrow in the fleshy part of the thigh, 
but, without saying anything, he had 
pushed the arrow clean through, broken 
off its head, and then pulled the shaft out. 
He tied a piece of cloth about his leg, and 
made no further fuss about his injury. 

“We did not make land again until we 
struck the Papago country. Here we 
touched for water, and coasted back as we 
had come, dropping Jose at the place 
where we took him on. We got back to 
the mouth of the Colorado river in time 
to miss the spring tides, which are bad 
there, and worked our way back up to 
Yuma, which we reached just thirty- two 
days after our departure from there. We 
had seen lots of good sport — all but our 
bout with the Seri Indians. I like ex- 
citement, but the kind they furnish to 
strangers suits me a little too well. ,, 

— N K Sun. 

o 

The Four Seasons. 


Man, like the rolling wings ol time, has 
his seasons, and the spring, summer, 
autumn and winter of the passing year is 
the childhood, youth, manhood and old 
age of the passing man. Just for a mo- 
ment think of the springtime in our beau- 
tiful Southland. It is the most pleas- 
ant time of all the year. The gentle 
breeze, as it comes to us from the lap of 
winter in the far north, is so robbed of its 
nipping blasts by its long journey, as to 
fan us sweetly while we enjoy the fragrance 
of spring flowers in the open air. This is 
the time when the busy housewife, aided 
by her “hired man,” digs about her flow- 


ers and prepares her garden for the burn- 
ing rays of a southern sun; when the chil- 
dren enjoy their outings and the queen of 
May is crowned; when the bare footed boy 
with his knee breeches and calico jacket 
chases the butterfly from bush to bush, 
until he gets a collection sufficiently large 
to justify him in ornamenting the wall of 
his mother’s parlor by crucifying them 
with a pin, and then charging his play- 
mates “a pin to see the show.” What 
time of life is happier? None, we an- 
swer, because it is the springtime — the 
childhood of life And thus could we con- 
tinue, but it is of other seasons we wish to 
speak. 

Summer is the youth of man, and as 
the burning sun and refreshing showers 
and warm winds quicken into life and full 
development all manner of flowers and 
vegetation, so also does it warm the blood 
of youth and cause the young man, wheth- 
er he be a Mason or not, to “sow his wild 
oats.” This is the season that every man 
must have, and the difference in the “sow- 
ing of their wild oats” can only be reck- 
oned by the many different forms of vice 
that flesh is heir to. It matters not how 
good may be the youth of a man, there 
are times when he will yield to tempta- 
tion, and ere he is aware of it, his young 
manhood has gone astray, and the summer 
of his life has closed upon a record which 
he is heartily ashamed of when it has 
borne fruit and ready to be garnered. 

Autumn is the manhood of life, the 
time for harvesting the “wild oats” crop; 
the time when a man is fixed in his habits, 
and in a sober second thought takes a 
retrospective view of the many indiscre- 
tions he has committed in the springtime 
and summer of his life, and resolves, then 
and there, to make reparation for the 
many sins committed. If he has wronged 
a brother, or brought discredit upon the 
Fraternity, and is disciplined by his Lodge 
for his wrong doing, he meets his punish- 
ment without a murmur. Why, do you 
ask ? Because it is an experience dearly 
bought, but the profit on the investment 
has led him to resolve to live down the 
odium cast upon him, and to look forward 
to ajnoble destiny. In this he succeeds, 
and during the time of his probation has 
attained a standing in the moral world and 
a position in the church which entitles 
him to the love and respect of the com- 
munity in which he resides, and the entire 
confidence of the brethren with whom he 


THE TRESTLE BOARD. 


30 1 


once associated. Feeling thus assured, he 
asks for restoration and recognition again 
of the Fraterity, and obtains it. The 
autumn of his life is strewn with fall flow- 
ers, which, by a little nursing, it seems to 
him, will never die. Masonry has tri- 
umphed, and by that bond of charity, 
which is their chief corner-stone, has 
saved a brother. Realizing this, he re- 
enters the ranks, and with renewed energy 
and zeal, feeling that he has attained for- 
giveness of his God and his brethren he 
presses forward in the good work until he 
attains the highest honors within the gift 
of the subordinate bodies with which he 
affiliates. Nor is this all; the autumn of 
his life has been marked by much progress 
in a business way. He has attained quite 
a competency, and occupies a position of 
trust and honor second to none 

But, in an evil hour, ambitious men hath 
“ privily laid snares for him,” and, ere he 
is aware of it, they show up the “wild 
oats” crop of his life, and endeavor there- 
by to “cast him into outer darkness” again. 
Oh, for shame on all such. How long 
would you keep a brother on probation ? 
He has done all that was required of him, 
and by those whom he wronged has been 
forgiven. Then, why should you set 
yourself up aS censor for the Fraternity, 
and endeavor thereby to wreck the evening 
of his life with the skeleton of sins atoned 
for ? Beware, my brother, if you be en- 
gaged in such action or are a party to it. 
Remember that Masonry teaches you to 
“forgive if you expect to be forgiven.” 
Remember, also, that it is not the part of 
a true man or gentleman to hound a per- 
son, much less a brother, when reparation 
has been made. But, on the other hand, 
it rather becomes us, as good men and 
Masons, to uphold a brother in his efforts 
to do right, and thereby show to the world 
that our Masonry is something more than 
“sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal.” 

Winter is the old age of man, and as 
her pelting snows and icy breath wither 
and kill the vegetation nurtured, grown 
and garnered by the other seasons, so also 
are we reminded that it is the killing time 
of life. The frosted hair, the wrinkled 
face, the withered hands and tottering 
limbs are all striking illustrations of the 
near approach of the harvest season which 
will gather us unto our fathers. How 
careful should w T e be then, as the other 
seasons come and go, to plant properly, 
nourish Masonically and gather religious- 


ly, so that, with our arms filled with 
sheaves, we may be ushered into the pres- 
ence of our Supreme Grand Master, and 
there live on throughout all eternity in the 
enjoyment of that lelicity which alone is 
the reward of a life well spent ! 

o 

Old Hawkins’ Conversion. 


Xenophon Hawkins was the character 
of Hawkins’ Corners. There had been a 
time, local tradition said, when he had 
owned all the land in and about the village, 
but that was many long years before. Lit- 
tle by little the land had gone, always at a 
good price, and little by little the man’s 
wealth had grown. At the time the pres- 
ent narrative begins, Old Hawkins, as he 
was almost universally called by those 
who knew him, far and near, was the rich- 
est man in the county, and living rapidly 
down the steep slope of life on the grave- 
yard side of sixty. 

Old Hawkins lived alone, save for a 
single servant, in the finest mansion the 
village boasted. The oldest inhabitant of 
the town could not remember when he had 
not lived there. “He’s always been a 
bachelor !” one very young fellow once 
asserted, and when rebukingly informed 
by an older schoolmate that his statement 
was tautological, he indignantly replied 
that he did not need to be taught it was 
logical. And, whether the pun was the 
child of purpose or the offspring of acci- 
dent, the conclusion was quite in accord 
with the thoughts of the denizens of Haw- 
kins’ Corners. 

Bachelorhood was most eminently logi- 
cal in the case of a man such as Xenophon 
Hawkins, for “how could a woman — ” 
And the expressively shrugged shoulders 
would finish out the question. 

They said he had been young once. 
The older ones, with a sigh, felt compelled 
to admit it. The children of the com- 
munity, however, had the same mental at- 
titude toward the assertion that the Ma- 
sonic student has toward the various the- 
ories regarding the origin of the most An- 
cient and Honorable Fraternity. It de- 
manded further investigation. And as for 
the statement that he had ever been loved 
— loved by a woman both young and beau- 
tiful; that her untimely death alone had 
kept her from uniting her life to his, and 
that nothing but her memory, enshrined in 
his heart, had kept him single; that seemed 
as apocryphal as the “Legend of Enoch” ! 


302 


THE TRESTLE BOARD 


Xenophon Hawkins kept the principal 
general store in the village. For many 
years his had been the only one, but for 
about two years young Mr. Benjamin Ham- 
ilton had been his active competitor for 
the trade of the villagers and the people 
of the surrounding country. The general 
opinion was that Mr. Hamilton was having 
a rough and rugged road of it, and was 
likely to find a bridge he couldn’t cross, 
for old Hawkins had put his prices down 
to a point exasperatingly near actual whole- 
sale cost. 

No one had ever accused Mr. Hawkins 
of being dishonest,, and, I suppose, no 
more thoroughly honest man ever lived. 
He never gave short measure, nor light 
weight, and if his crooked fingers closed, 
with an automatic speediness, on the 
stream of groceries — coffee, or sugar, or 
rice — flowing into the scale-pan, the very 
instant the beam began to swing down, no 
one had any right to complain. He met 
his obligations promptly, and he exacted 
an equal promptitude from those who 
owed him. His justice was the tradition- 
al one with bandaged eyes, and no quiver 
in the voice, no sound of a falling tear, 
ever prompted him to push aside this 
moral hoodwink from the eyes of his soul. 
Yes, he was honest, but that negative trait, 
placed equivalent to nothing more ex- 
alted than the “best policy,” is ever too 
narrow to be a virtue, ever too cold to 
stand as a hope and a promise. Honest 
Old Hawkins was a man to be pitied. 

The W orsh i pful Master of Charity Lodge, 
No. 8 1, of Hawkins’ Corners at this time, 
was one of the most modest and unassum- 
ing men who ever presided over the Sons 
of Light. When, therefore, he came to 
the Lodge, one August night, with an air 
of mysterious importance preceding and 
surrounding him, and a little late, withal, 
the brethren instinctivelv knew that some- 
thing remarkable had happened. Some- 
thing had. Old Xenophon Hawkins had 
asked him to take in his petition for the 
degrees of Masonry ! It almost took the 
brothers’ breaths away. “He’ll keep a se- 
cret fast enough,” remarked one, as the 
members spoke together of the application 
before the opening of the Lodge; “he has 
certainly kept the favorable opinion he 
has long entertained of our ancient and 
honorable institution most thoroughly to 
himself up to the present time.” 

“Keep?” cried one impetuous brother; 
“be sure he’ll keep everything he gets !” 


“He’s certainly no immature youth,” 
remarked one. 

“Nor yet in his dotage,” said Brother 
Hamilton, whose station was in the West. 
“He is the most shrewd and careful busi- 
ness man I have ever known.” His words 
were most emphatic, even if a little rue- 
fully spoken. 

“Here, let me take the petition,” he 
said suddenly, his expressive eyes meeting 
those of the Master as he spoke. So when 
the petition was formally laid before the 
Lodge, the Master and the Senior Warden 
were those who recommended the applicant. 

Mr. Hawkins was greatly interested in 
the ceremonies of initiation, and Brother 
Hawkins took much pleasure in his ascent 
to the middle chamber and in his journey 
over the way sanctified by the steps of the 
faithful Temple Builder. 

His trust was in God. Had he not been 
a member of the church for more years 
than he had lived at Hawkins’ Corners ? 
And had he not always given, or perhaps 
paid, is the better word, the same invari- 
able annual amount for his seat in the 
house of God, the seat he had filled every 
Sabbath day for more than a third of a 
century ? 

He honestly endeavored to meet every 
demand made of him, even going so far, 
when he found himself without silver or 
gold, as to offer the unwilling Worshipful 
Master his thirty days’ note for such a 
sum as he might regard adequate. The 
reception of his proposition somewhat 
troubled him; the First National Bank of 
Hawkins’ Corners would have beei. glad 
to handle his commercial paper for any 
sum less than a half million of dollars. 

Xenophon Hawkins had had the ad- 
vantage of a fine education; so the degree 
of Fellow Craft, with its mighty mental 
wealth of sacred symbology, had more 
than the usual attractiveness for him. He 
went back, in imagination, to an earlier 
day, when the meager information given 
would have been genuine and new; he 
looked forward with anticipations of pleas- 
ure, to study and investigations of which 
the truths there given him should be the 
suggestions and the texts. His happiness 
increased the further he progressed, and the 
face that had been, far too often, a stranger 
to a smile, softened and brightened under 
the kindly light and heat of Masonic 
knowledge. Only, when reference was 
made to charity, it seemed to hurt him; 
then the north seemed to face his soul; 


THE TRESTLE BOARD, 


303 


then his wrinkles hardened and his eyes 
grew cold. 

It was in the Master’s degree that Broth- 
er Hawkins found the most of instruction 
and inspiration. How could it have been 
otherwise? No such ceremony, so satis- 
fy ingly divine in its perfection, so tantaliz- 
ingly human in its incompleteness, so ex- 
alted in its godliness, so abased in its rec- 
ognition of mortality, has ever been in 
the history of the human race. No other 
such ceremony ever will or can be. When 
did Masonry originate? Look through 
the Master’s degree, brother mine, and 
say, if you can, that human intelligence 
fashioned it ! Say, if you can, that its 
beginning was later than “in the begin- 
ning,” when “the Word was with God 
and the Word was God.” 

When the third degree was really com- 
pleted, the Lodge actually closed, the 
lights certainly out, and the brethren in 
the dimly lighted ante room were surely 
getting into their overcoats, the newly 
raised brother went up to the Master. His 
face was full of light and his eyes danced, 
while he rolled one hand over the other in 
a sort of frenzy of ecstatic enthusiasm. 
“It is grand — glorious !” he exclaimed, 
“and I cannot understand how and why I 
have wasted so much of life by waiting so 
long. Have you really finished with me ? 
Is it true that I am a Master Mason ?’ ’ 

“You are so far a Master Mason,” said 
the Master gravely, “as the acts of this 
Lodge and the sanctions of the Grand 
Lodge can make you. All men are im- 
perfect; the Masonic ideal is perfection; 
but to our sowing the grace of God alone' 
can furnish sunshine, alone send the earlier 
and the later rains, alone give the harvest 
with its generous increase. 

’Twas the night before Christmas when 
Old Hawkins took the third degree, and, 
really, he felt almost like a young Haw- 
kins again as he went home. The influ- 
ences of the sacred season were all about 
him, and the memories of the lessons of 
the evening stirred warmly in his breast. 
His footsteps had not been so light for a 
decade. But, when he was once at home, 
once in bed and face to face with him- 
self in the darkness, he found a thing or 
two to worry over. There was, for in- 
stance, a certain five hundred dollars that 
had been paid him, late that afternoon, 
long after the bank had been closed. Un- 
able to put it in a place of undoubted 
safety, he had placed it in his own rather 


insecure safe in his store. Now five hun- 
dred dollars was a very large sum of 
money; five hundred dollars was more 
than he could afford to lose; and — 

He fell asleep at that point, in spite of 
himself, and had a most vivid dream — 
one that was as unpleasant as it was vivid. 
He dreamed that he was dead; that is, 
that his body was. His soul was freed 
from it — existed apart from it; but was 
still compelled to remain near it. The 
body lay dead at the foot of that theologi- 
cal ladder, which Jacob in his vision saw, 
extending from earth to heaven, and he — 
the man, the freed soul, the part that could 
never, never die — was vainly trying to use 
this treacherous ladder to scale the sky. 
To the left, its shifting desert sands and 
rolling waves almost reaching the cloud 
out of which rose the great rock from 
which the ladder extended, lay the earth 
he had left behind him — the world, red 
with blood, drenched with tears, ridged 
with graves. And in it, too far for his 
arm to reach, almost too far for his sight 
to see, was the piled up wealth that had 
once been his. And to the right, God 
help him, to the right there was an abyss, 
steep and awful, deeper than imagination 
of man had ever sounded. And in it great 
flames swelled and circled, and bit and 
crumbled the rock that alone could serve 
and save. Again and again he caught at 
the ladder, and tried to raise himself from 
round to round. Faith held him; he had 
had faith from his youth. Hope supported 
him; he had kept hope in his heart all his 
life long. But charity eluded him, shrank 
from him, twisted away from his mad- 
dened grasp as though it had been a thing 
of life — a bar of fire. And then, again 
and again, when he thought it was his, 
when he had raised himself high enough to 
see over the threshold, into the unattain- 
able realms of eternal blessedness, it would 
fade away into nothingness, like the 
shadow of man in the sunshine of God, 
and he would fall lower than hope and be- 
yond the reach of faith. He — he could 
not do it. The task was too much for his 
unpracticed hands. As well might the 
unbeliever claim faith and hope as his in 
the dreadful race over Al-Sirat. Though, 
like his body his soul should die, he could 
not, could not — 

A rough shake aroused him. He thanked 
God for the blessed awakening. The relief 
was so great that the thanks were ready be- 
fore he cared to inquire the cause of the 


304 


THE TRESTLE BOARD 


alarm. Looking up, he saw three men, all 
closely masked, standing at his bedside. 
He wondered who they might be. He 
didn’t remember having seen any so short 
and stout as they in or about the Temple 
though, on the whole, he was not sure he 
had given much attention to any save 
the Worshipful Master and the Wardens. 
“You’ll get up and dress, will you?” de- 
manded one. 

“Certainly I will,” said Old Hawkins 
promptly, and taking action as prompt as 
his words. 

“We understand you took in five hun- 
dred dollars last afternoon,” said a second, 
“and we want it, and — ” 

. “The whole of it ?” cried the astounded 
Xenophon, pausing irresolute, with his 
toilet only half completed. 

The third man laughed and said, “We 
ain’t making two bites of a cherry, be we, 
Bill?” 

The person addressed as Bill emphati- 
cally shook his head, and Xenophon Haw- 
kins, thinking how deep that abyss had 
yawned, and how hot that insistant fire 
had seemed, relapsed into silence, and 
hurried on his garments. 

“You won’t object to being blindfold- 
ed?” demanded Bill, when Mr. Hawkins 
was finally dressed, advancing toward him 
with a large silk handkerchief. 

“Not in the least,” responded the old 
gentleman, advancing with great alacrity, 
his face glowing with pleasure and gen- 
uine satisfaction, while his eyes danced 
merrily and his hands washed over and 
over one another. Observing this, one of 
Bill’s companions shook his head sadly, 
touched his forehead mournfully, and said, 
in a whisper to the one next him, ‘ ‘he hoped 
he’d never be guilty of frightening any 
clever old man to death.” 

Mr. Hawkins walked down stairs with 
his three strange companions. He knew 
when they went out at the front door. He 
even noticed that they were kind and con- 
siderate enough to lock it behind them. 
He was glad of that, having always had a 
deep seated horror of burglars. 

They walked along the street for some 
distance. They opened another door, aft- 
er some difficulty, and took him in with 
them. Then they removed the hoodwink, 
and he looked around. “Come now, don’t 
waste any time in foolishness,” said Bill; 
“open that safe, or — ” 

“This is not my store,” Hawkins said, 
laughing; “this is Bro. Hamilton’s. I 


couldn’t open this safe if I wanted to. 
Besides, I don’t think he ever had five 
hundred dollars in it, and I know he could 
not afford to let you have it. My place of 
business is next door.” 

And, in the midst of a silence expres- 
sive and impressive, they went out of the 
one building and into the other. Here 
Hawkins opened his safe, and soon handed 
out a money drawer. The three, giving 
him enough attention to make sure he 
either wouldn’t run or fight, hurried to 
count and divide the money. That done, 
they looked to see what the old man had 
found to do. He was tying up turkeys in 
neat bundles, and putting them into bas- 
kets. He had half a dozen ready by the 
time they interrupted him, and then he 
said: “I thought, perhaps, you could find 
use for a few of these, and — ” 

Each of the three gravely took a couple 
of the loaded baskets as they went out, 
but one of them whispered in an awed and 
uneasy voice: “It — it seems like burglary, 
Bill. Do you suppose that the old man 
has gone mad over our demands ?” 

That year saw a greater change in Xeno- 
phon Hawkins than the most credulous 
optimist could have believed possible. No 
one knew how much he gave in charity, 
and, ’I doubt, if he fully knew himself. But 
every one knew that he founded a town 
library, established an academy, and made 
Benjamin Hamilton a partner in his busi- 
ness. His dreadful dream, his timely 
awakening, his enforced gifts — these had 
placed the highest rounds of the great lad- 
der well within his reach. 

When the next Christmas time came 
Benjamin Hamilton had been recently in- 
stalled the Worshipful Master of Charity 
Lodge, No. 8 1. Old Hawkins, so called 
affectionately and endearingly now, stopped 
by his side as they were closing the store 
for the night. “I’m not as strong,” he 
said wearily but cheerfully, “as I was a 
year ago, and I must be allowed to rest 
to night. But if you’ll tell me who your 
Committee on Charity is to be for the 
coming year, I’ll — I’ll — ” 

Hamilton looked at him in astonish- 
ment — looked down from the height of his 
more than six feet. “With us,” he said, 
“the three principal officers constitute that 
committee.” 

“But — not — this — past — year — ” 
“Certainly. Why do you ask ?” 

“No matter. Please forget that I asked.” 
And a gray shadow came into his cheek, 


fl 

i 

I 




f 




THE TRESTLE BOARD . 


305 


a frightened look into his eyes. “I was 
only going to say,” he continued, “that if 
the same sum— I — I mean that if five hun- 
dred dollars — I — I — ” He turned away, 
but the charity fund of the Lodge had live 
hundred dollars from him the next day, 
and the members freely praised the donor. 

All this was many long years ago. One 
sad Christmas morning, ten years after he 
became a Mason, they found Old Hawkins 
dead in his bed. His dead body was 
there, but who can doubt that his glorified 
soul found heaven near, the ladder easy 
and God’s charity sure ? 

Xenophon Chapter and Hawkins Com- 
mandery may sound strange and un-Ma- 
sonic to you; they do not to the citizens 
ol Hawkins’ Corners, and it is not all be- 
cause they are used to them. 

Benjamin Hamilton is an old man now, 
and feels his own time drawing near. He 
loves to take some young man, some 
brother of the mystic tie, who seems to 
need an experience- pointed lesson, and go 
up, on a pleasant afternoon, to the hilltop 
where the dust of Xenophon Hawkins 
waits the morning of the resurrection. He 
tells the simple story of Hawkins’ “con- 
version,” as he found it written in the pa- 
pers of that old man when he was gone, 
and grows eloquent over it. 

“Here he lies,” he says, “the most 
loved man I ever knew, a man who was 
saved from corroding selfishness by a 
dream and an accident, a man whose be- 
lief in the midnight rebuke of those he 
called brothers set his feet in the right 
way, a man saved at life’s eleventh hour, 
the most charitable gentleman I ever knew. 
Look at that monument at his head. 
Do you know how proud we Masons are 
to have our emblems there ? Do you know 
that the symbols of the Masonic Frater- 
nity seem worthier to us all since such as 
he have so commendably worn them ? 
See ! There is a sprig of acacia at the 
head, carved out of the dead, cold stone, 
a plant without a root. But, I believe, 
firmly as I believe in my own salvation, 
that when the first warm light from the 
beginning of the last day — the day that 
shall never end — lights up the eastern sky 
and shines along this hill, that plant will 
quicken into life, start into the green 
potency and promise of immortality. O 
God, so mote it be ! 

“What a life ! What a change ! What 
an agency of change there was ! Surely 
the ways of God are past finding out. 


Surely he maketh the wrath of men to 
praise him. 

— C. M. Boutelle , in Masonic Record. 

o 

A “Genius” Is He. 


As we were going down Fulton street 
the other day our attention was caught by 
a little tin sign, which gave the following 
announcement: “Amos Patterson, Dealer 
in Secret Fraternities; Rituals Made to 
Order, Lodges instructed.” 

' My companion and I involuntarily 
looked at each other. “Here, at last, is 
something new under the sun,” I said. 

“More likely it is the habitation of 
somfc escaped lunatic,” replied my friend. 

“At all events, let us go in and see what 
manner of man he is, and whether per- 
chance there is any method in his mad- 
ness.” 

We clambered to the fifth story of the 
building as advised by constantly recur- 
ring pieces of cardboard nailed to the 
stairs, and found the door of his room. In 
response to our rap an old gentleman ap- 
peared. He looked at us over the top of 
a pair of gold- bowed spectacles with an 
expression of interrogation. 

“Mr. Patterson,” we queried. 

“Yes, sir; will you walk in ?” and with- 
out more ado he ushered us into a cosy 
little room fitted up as an office and gave 
us seats. He had evidently been writing 
when we interrupted his occupation, and 
the ink was not dry on the last sheet on 
his desk. 

“Is it true, sir, that you deal in secret 
fraternities ?” I asked, “and isn’t it a new 
kind of business ?” 

“Well, sir, to speak more correctly, I 
do not deal exactly in fraternities, inas- 
much as a fraternity consists more particu- 
larly of its members. But I do sell the 
prospectuses of new orders, with plans of 
secret work, together with all the minutiae 
of nomenclature, symbols, signs, grips and 
so on. As to the last part of your ques- 
tion, I suppose I am the pioneer in this 
new line of work.” 

“Do you mean to say that you keep on 
hand written descriptions of new organi- 
zations, with detailed accounts of the var- 
ious ceremonies, to put on the market?” 

Mr. Patterson smiled as he nodded as- 
sent. “I keep a few all written out ready 
for instant use, but the main part of my 
work is done to order.” 

We glanced at a row of pigeon holes in 


306 


THE TRESTLE BOARD. 


the upper part of his desk which were 
filled with papers. They were labeled 
with phrases like these: “Independent Or- 
der Knights of the Pestle/’ “Ancient 
Guild of Mariners,” “The Cycler’s Cir- 
cle,” “The Favored Few,” “Chinese 
Chapter of Hung Hi.” 

“Might we look at one of your frater- 
nity rituals?” we asked. 

“Oh, dear, no ! If you think for a mo- 
ment, you will see that it will never do. 
If I were to sell the fraternity afterwards 
which I allowed you to look at, the secrets 
would be given away at the very start. 
In fact, whenever I expose one to the view 
of a prospective buyer, if by any means 
the trade should fall through, the entire 
work has to be thrown away.” 

“But how, then, can we judge what you 
can do? We would like to know a little 
more about it so that we might write it up 
for our paper. If you could give us a lit- 
tle light as to your methods it would help 
us to fill a little space in our paper, and 
give you the benefit of the advertisement.” 

“Perhaps we might arrive at such a re- 
sult in another wav. We will suppose 
you two gentlemen to be in search of a 
plan of organization for use in a high 
school or college. The first thing we do 
is to select something for the ground work 
upon which the society is to be built. 
Suppose, for instance, we take an idea 
from some study pursued by the students; 
say arithmetic. We then decide on a 
name. We call it the Arithmetical Asso- 
ciation of Intimate Integers. At first 
blush there seems very little to work up in 
the way of imitation and few symbols for 
suggesting lessons of morality, but we 
shall find plenty of chances as we go 
along. We give the officers names de- 
rived from general terms used in the sci- 
ence. The lodge is called a multiplicand, 
and the chief officer ‘most munificent mul- 
tiplier.’ The secretary becomes the ‘enu- 
merator’ and the treasurer the ‘dividend,’ 
and so long down the scale. Having once 
decided on the name, it becomes an easy 
thing to write the ritual up to them. Let 
us begin with the presence of the candidate 
at the door of the lodge room. One rap 
is given, followed by a dialogue something 
like this: 

“Brother common denominator, why 
this alarm ?” 

“An insignificant cipher who, feeling 
his uselessness by himself, seeks poten- 


tiality by joining this most ancient asso- 
ciation of Intimate Integers.” 

“The most munificent multiplier wishes 
to know what good a mere cipher can be 
to the other integers of his multiplicand, 
since he is of no value to himself.” 

“By association with them he is sure he 
can add ten fuld to their power.” 

“It is well. By order of the most 
munificent multiplier you will allow him 
to enter this multiplicand and receive the 
degree of addition.” 

The candidate is led into the hall and 
placed between two rows of members. 

“You are received into this multipli- 
cand between two horizontal parallel lines, 
which is the sign of equity, and should 
ever remind you that whatever the value of 
an integer may be elsewhere, they will al- 
ways meet here on the plan of equity. 
This, therefore, (holding his arms par- 
allel before him) is the sign of member- 
ship in our order.” 

The candidate is then duly sworn to 
secrecy by nine integers, after which he is 
duly pronounced a member and invested 
with a badge, on which is printed a large 
figure i . 

“You will hereafter wear the badge 
‘number one,’ which, being the lowest in 
value of all integers, is to denote your 
position in this multiplicand as the least 
of its members, and will teach you true 
humility and appropriate dependence. 
The sign of this degree is made by hold- 
ing the index fingers at right angles across 
each other, forming the cross with equal 
sides, which is the sign of addition, and 
signifies that there is much knowledge yet 
to be added to the little we have already 
imparted. As a true brother of this de- 
gree you will always welcome such addi- 
tions whenever and wherever there occurs 
an opportunity to make them.” 

The newly-made integer is then con- 
ducted to the chair of the most munificent 
multiplier who gives him a short lecture. 
This deals with the ancient origin of the 
Order, which he proceeds to prove by 
dates when integers were known to be in 
use in Persia and Arabia, centuries before 
the time of any known cult or fraternity, 
clearly demonstrating that the order of in- 
timate integers is the oldest in the world. 
He also informs him that, although the 
figure one is the lowest of all integers, it is 
still vested with glories of its own. “It is 
a symbol of unity, and, therefore, of per- 
fection. It is also the only figure which 


THE TRESTLE BOARD . 


307 


the truly loyal mind associates with his 
highest social, political or religious 
thoughts, for we acknowledge allegiance 
to but one wife, one country and one God.” 
He then instructs the brother how to enter 
a multiplicand: “Standing erect as a fig- 
ure one, saluting the most munificent mul- 
tiplier with the sign of the degree of addi- 
tion, which is responded to on the part of 
the presiding officer with the sign of 
equity.” 

“Should you desire so test a person 
whom you have an idea belongs to this 
order, you will hold the forefinger of your 
right hand over the ridge of the nose, to 
which the person tested, if he be a brother, 
will respond by placing the first and sec- 
ond fingers of the left hand on each side 
of the nose. He will then advance, and 
holding out his right hand exclaim: ‘Are 
you an integer?’ You will reply, ‘I am 
one,’ as you shake hands, and he will say, 
‘I am two.’ ” 

The brother is then taken to the enume- 
rator, who makes a record of the initia- 
tion. and causes the brother to sign the 
roll of membership. 

“Of course this is only a rough sketch 
or outline of an initiation,” said Mr. Pat- 
terson, “and would be greatly modified 
after I had time to give the matter the re- 
flection it should have. And it refers to 
only the degree of addition, which of 
course would be followed by those of sub- 
traction, multiplication and division. The 
jewels worn by the officers would be made 
from a combination of the degree signs 
and Roman numerals ” 

We were exceedingly interested in the 
draft made thus extemporaneously, which 
showed the method of Mr. Patterson’s 
work. 

“And do you have many orders?” we 
asked. 

“I get them as fast as I can figure out 
the details, which require some time to 
perfect, so that I can only turn out about 
two good rituals per month. And you 
have no idea how orders are increasing in 
this country. During the time of societies 
gotten up for financial gain, in which you 
could invest a hundred dollars and pull 
out two, they sprung up like mushrooms 
in a night; I set afloat several of these my- 
self. Even now, while the growth is nor- 
mal and healthy, they are increasing fast. 

“Besides furnishing rituals for many of 
these, I am also revising some of the work 
in the old societies. Some of this was 


written by men not well educated and 
abounds in redundancies and bad gram- 
mar. Besides, they did not lay hold of 
the many opportunities afforded and over- 
looked the grandest chances for dramatic 
situations in their floor work. Some of 
these I can improve. So between rituals 
for new societies and revisions of old ones, 
I have on hand already orders enough to 
last me six months.” 

Mr. Patterson here rose from his chair, 
and taking the movement as a slights hint 
that we were dismissed, we thankea him 
for his courtesies and departed. 

— Geo. H Hebard, in Fraternal News. 

* — o 

“Chestnuts.” 


A chestnut is a popular nut, having 
kernel, shell and burr. Just why an oft- 
repeated joke, or a tale told a second or 
third time should be called a chestnut is 
something I never could understand. But 
it is one of those arbitrary, modern slang 
words adopted by everybody and thor- 
oughly understood by the masses. The 
fact that a joke has the chestnut bell rung 
on it ought to be a recommendation, for it 
is good enough to be remembered. 

The chestnut season is approaching, and 
as everybody likes chestnuts I am going to 
write a few lines about one — not one gath- 
ered from the tall, leafy tree in the woods, 
but one that has had the chestnut bell rung 
on it ever since there was a lodge. If I had 
named this article, “Pay up your dues,” 
or “Be prompt at lodge meetings,” or 
“Brotherly love,” the Chimes of Nor- 
mandy could not drown the chestnut bells 
that would sound upon the Masonic air, 
and without a very great stretch of imagi- 
nation I could see the scornful elevation 
of the nasal feature of your face, and only 
the heading would be read. You would 
look for something less wormy. 

To be constantly called upon to remind 
one of his duty is not a pleasant occupa- 
tion. But we have to do it. They are 
chestnuts, but they must be said. As for 
that matter every day of life is a chestnut — 
a repetition of the one gone before, and 
to-morrow will be the same. The “twice- 
told tales” of life confront us over and 
over again, and we can’t get away from 
them. And so our lodge duties meet us 
year after year, month by month, and week 
by week. 

I am going to say a word about the dues 
chestnut. 


308 


THE TRESTLE BOARD. 


When you asked Brother Friend to pro- 
pose you for membership in Cold Water 
Lodge you were very eager to receive your 
degrees, and you were impatient until you 
were “raised.’ * The money for fees was 
handed over with neatness and dispatch. 
You studied well and got through in good 
shape. You stepped up to the secretary’s 
desk with an air of confidence and pride 
that was really commendable, and the 
brethren had a right to expect a careful at- 
tention on your part to the duties you as- 
sumed. Did it occur to you when you 
signed the by-laws, thus consummating 
your membership in the lodge that you 
signed an obligation, a note of hand as it 
were, an “I. O. U.,” a “promise to pay” 
your dues? You said by that act, “I 
hereby promise to pay to Cold Water 
Lodge six dollars on the twenty- seventh 
of December of each year,” and you signed 
your name to that note. Have you paid 
it? Or do you neglect it, because it is 
not a negotiable instrument, written out 
on a separate piece of paper and payable 
at the Bank of America ? Did it ever oc- 
cur to you that this note you signed when 
you became a Mason was payable to the 
Bank of Charity ? Is the Bank of Charity 
not worthy of as much consideration as the 
Bank of America ? 

This matter of the payment of dues is a 
chestnut. It has been pounded and beaten 
with all sorts of hammers and nut-crack- 
ers, but somehow the shell seems to be 
impenetrable. I am very sure if that shell 
could be broken, there would be no worms 
found within. But this chestnut is a ser- 
ious matter, and deserves individual at- 
tention. I wish every Mason fully appre- 
ciated its importance. But they don’t. 
They seem to regard the signing of the 
note payable on the 27th of each Decem- 
ber to the Bank of Charity as a “mere 
matter of form.” So it is. And so is the 
signing of a note payable at the Bank of 
America, but somehow the latter is paid 
while the former is not. The lodge may 
“protest” as much as it pleases, it does 
not seem to affect the credit of the note- 
giver, or to touch his sense of obligation 
and duty. 

It is the duty of the member to go to the 
bank and pay his paper, and not require 
the bank to send out to collect it. A note 
payable at the counter of the Bank of 
America will not be sent to 7963 Broad- 
way, the makers place of business, but if 
dishonored at the Bank of America it 


passes into the hands of the notary, and 
receives his tender offices. But if the note 
payable at the secretary’s counter of the 
Bank of Charity is not paid at maturity, 
the poor secretary must hunt the debtor 
up and remind him of his dishonored obli- 
gation. This is all wrong. The member 
of a lodge ought never to get behind with 
his dues. He should regard his obliga- 
tion in that respect as binding as the note 
payable in the Bank of America. 

If the business of a bank was carried on 
in the same manner as the payment of dues 
in a lodge, it would not be long before 
suspension and liquidation would prevail 
in every institution, and depositors and 
stockholders would get no dividends. I 
often wonder how lodges do get along 
anyway, where this old chestnut of delin- 
quents is continually presenting itself for 
cracking. If every Mason was as un- 
mindful of his duty to pay his notes in 
bank as he is his notes to the lodge, he 
would soon find himself in the hands of the 
sheriff, and his business gone to the bow- 
wows. 

Now, take this chestnut home with you 
and roast it. The time will soon come 
when a gentle “bank notice” will be sent 
to you from the Bank of Charity — Cold 
Water or some other Lodge— signed by 
the secretary, calling your attention to the 
maturity of your obligation December 27, 
1897. Now, when you receive that no- 
tice, don’t put it away and “forget it,” 
simply because your failure to pay will 
not be reported to the Mercantile Agency 
and your credit impaired, but take out 
your check-book and send the secretary a 
check instanter. He will not grumble be- 
cause you pay before maturity, but will 
send you a receipt at once. 

Try this plan and see how much good it 
will do the lodge, how much better you 
will feel, and how much better your credit 
is at the bank of Charity. Then you will 
read this “Chestnut,” and apply it to 
somebody else, and may he enjoy the read- 
ing, because it does apply to somebody 
else. — Lounger , in N Y. Dispaich. 

o 

A Poetical Wife. 


Her husband, certainly, must not know. 
He was the sworn enemy of all blue stock- 
ings. Alas, and she loved poetry so 
much ! She had composed a whole vol- 
ume of verses that must be put in a neat 
little book, with red binding, a gilt design, 


THE TRESTLE BOARD. 


309 


and the title, “Forget-me-nots, by Rosa 
S.,” in raised letters. This little work, 
displayed in the shop windows, would not 
be an unpleasing sight, and when Herbert, 
her husband, should see it, his unreason- 
able prejudice would be removed. 

Every leaf of this volume, every stroke 
of the beautifully written verses, was 
known to her by heart, and she could even 
picture to herself on which side of the page 
this love strain or that spring song should 
appear. Of love and springtime she had 
generally written; it is hardly possible it 
should be otherwise with a newly-wedded 
wife. 

She desired that a certain professor 
should see her work; she had even spoken 
to him concerning it. It wounded her 
deeply to intrust her darlings to a rough 
critic, and expose them to the unsparing 
comments they would surely receive. Yet 
it must be done, for she dared not rely 
wholly upon her own judgment. 

She took one glance at the leaves before 
doing them up in a wrapper, her cheeks 
burning and ears tingling. Oh, it is no 
light matter, this sending one’s first 
thought-child out into the world ! 

“I send you herewith that of which I 
have spoken to you. I rest entirely upon 
your judgment,’ * she wrote briefly upon 
her visiting card. Why should she add 
more? A critic would not ask for com- 
ments. Then she addressed it, “Herr 
Professor Meywink,” and drew the pages 
for a final peek before putting the card in- 
side the cover. 

Just then the door was opened, and 
Minna, the servant girl, appeared there 
with a market basket upon her arm. 

“Madam,” she said, “I am going to the 
butcher’s.” 

“Yes, certainly.” 

The young wife aroused herself. It 
costs an effort to return to the rude, work- 
ing-day world at such times, but she made 
it cheerfully, for Frau Heinrichs was a 
capable housewife — no one could dispute 
this — and on that account Herbert had 
chosen her for his wife. He was fond of 
practical things — the housekeeping gifts — 
and she had them, despite her love of 
scribbling. However, that was merely by 
the way, while her talent, her poetical gen- 
ius, should not be held longer in check, as 
she knew. And it was merely an inno- 
cent reaction. It was incomprehensible to 
her that her husband should dislike it so 
much. 


“Yes, Minna,” said Frau Heinrichs, 
“we will have for to-morrow what re- 
mains of the roast meat served to day. I 
think we can do without meat on Friday, 
so we need not order a breast of veal till 
Saturday. I will write thus to the 
butcher.” 

This she did, saying: 

“You may send what I spoke to you 
about on Saturday, as we shall not require 
anything before then.” 

So absorbed was the young lady in her 
task of wrapping up her poems, turning 
them over and over, that the card to the 
professor and the card to the butcher be- 
came interchanged. Finally, Minna’s dis- 
play of impatience urged Frau Heinrichs 
to put the cards hastily into the envelopes. 

“There Minna, this is for the professor, 
this for the butcher,” she said. “Make no 
mistake. You are often absent minded.” 

Minna grumbled in her heart at not be- 
ing considered “as responsible as other 
people,” and trotted off, first to the pro- 
fessors; the learned man not being at home, 
she dropped his envelope in the letter-box 
at the door. 

“This to the butcher,” Frau Heinrichs 
had said, and his address was clearly writ- 
ten on the envelope; but was the packet 
also for him ? However, why trouble her- 
self about that ? She had received it from 
her mistress. 

Master Krause, opening the paper, read: 

“I send you herewith that of which I 
have spoken to you. I rest entirely upon 
your judgment.” 

He shook his head, turned the package 
over and over, and again shook his head 
as he looked at the neat and distinctly 
written card. 

“Are you sure this is for me?” he 
asked, wondering. 

“The mistress gave it to me for you.” 

“H’m — h’m ! Astonishing ! We spoke 
not long ago of some waste paper; she had 
some she would send me. can this be it?” 

Minna shrugged her shoulders. 

“I’m sure I don’t know.” 

“It is curious, at least. Probably only 
a sample.” laughed the butcher. “I will 
keep it until I see your mistress.” 

Minna turned to go. 

“What, no meat to-day?” inquired 
Herr Krause. 

“Not till Saturday. Does it not say so 
on the card ?” 

“Not a word.” 

He turned it over several times. 


THE TRESTLE BOARD. 


5io 


“Incomprehensible!” said the servant. 
“How thoughtless are these far-seeing la- 
dies ! All confusion — all confusion !” 

A few moments later the butcher’s lad 
departed from the shop to deliver a quar- 
ter of a pound of sausages wrapped up in 
“Spring’s First Offerings.’ * 

Meanwhile the professor had returned 
home. The old gentleman also read his 
card, with many shakes of his head. He 
showed it to his wife, to see if she could 
explain the matter. After long reflection 
she thought she understood it. 

“I have it !” she said. “Frau Hein- 
richs one day asked of me a receipt of our 
cook’s. She wished to have it by Thurs- 
day, but has probably changed the time to 
Saturday.” 

“Yes, yes, that must be it 1” said the 
professor. “Very singular, however, that 
she should address me; very singular !” 

Then he dismissed the matter from his 
mind, and became absorbed in his book. 

And now, while Frau Heinrichs dreamed, 
waking and sleeping, of the result of her 
poetical experiment, a number of the 
butcher’s customers were laughing over 
the poems written upon his wrapping pa- 
per. 

All unsuspecting, she one day called on 
the wife of Judge Rothin Brumke. 

“Have you heard the news?” asked 
that lively lady. “Master Krause has a 
poet in his employ; every small package 
is enveloped in paper with verses written 
on it.” 

She arose and presently brought in a 
greasy sheet of paper, upon which was an 
“Ode to Love,” while the unfortunate 
poetess, growing redder and redder with 
shame, thought she should sink into the 
earth. 

At home fresh ignominy awaited her. 
Minna had bought some lard; on the paper 
wrapping was a beautiful poem which she 
had learned by heart: “I Dream of Thee !” 
She trembled, she burned with fever; 
scalding tears filled her eyes; she wept for 
anger and shame, yet dared not call her 
servant to account for fear of betraying 
herself. The lovely poem, the rhyming 
of which had cost her so many headaches, 
so many sleepless nights, to be used to 
send out sausages and lard in. The thought 
was horrible. If Herbert heard of it how 
he would laugh ! Yes, he would laugh at 
first; but at the last might he not be angry? 
She did not know what he might say. 
She was in the wrong to do something he 


detested without his knowledge, and this 
was her punishment — the righteous pun- 
ishment. What reparation could she 
make ? 

With gathering fears she awaited the 
home-coming” of her husband. What if 
he had already learned something of this 
matter? And now he came — as gay as 
usual. Yes, she was not mistaken; he was 
to-day in particularly good spirits. 

“My dear,” said he, as he removed his 
overcoat, ’T have here a very curious pro- 
duction.” 

He drew a paper from his pocket and 
unfolded it. His wife, looking over his 
shoulder, as was her custom — but with 
what an expression to-day, poor little tor- 
tured soul ! — listened as he read with mock 
pathos: 

“ You never guessed my love for you, 

My hidden, silent woe; 

We meet as strangers, face to face, 

How shall I let you know? 

“ No longer can I bear this pain, 

This doubt, this death in life; 

Time’s child holds for me but the choice 
To die or be your wife.” 

“There is, indeed, sorrow wrapped up 
in that,” he concluded. “What think 
you of such nonsense ? What do you say 
to this fruit of bluestockingism ?■ For the 
handwriting indicates the writer’s sex. 
Ugh; what stuff it is ! ‘Woe’ — ‘pain’ — 
‘death in life’ — ‘doubt’ —madness ! Ha ! 
ha 1 ha ! The poor author, after going 
from publisher to publisher who shook 
their heads compassionately, came at last 
to Master Krause, who out of pity gave 
her two pence a pound for her damaged 
paper. So at last the poem came to the 
public.” He laughed loudly, drawing his 
wife to him. “Never follow such an ex- 
ample,” he said. Then, seeing the tears 
glistening in her eyes, he asked, “What is 
it, dear?” 

“There was not a pound,” she sighed, 
bending her head with shame upon his 
shoulder. 

“You?” he exclaimed. “Are you the 
blighted poetess?” And he whirled her 
about like a top and kissed her heartily. 

What more need he say? For she was 
cured of her rhyming propensities, of that 
he was sure. 

o 

Dollymore’s Aunt. 

“Look alive, Dick. There’s a letter 
for you with the Little Codrington post- 
mark.” 

Dollymore tore open Miss Pendlebury’s 


THE TRESTLE BOARD . 


1 1 


letter, and an exclamation of annoyance 
escaped his lips. 

“Here, listen to this, Jim: 

“ ‘It has just come to my ears that you 
have more than a cousinly liking for Lu- 
cille, and that you have told her so. I 
have, I hope, a natural affection for you, 
Richard, although your Bohemian mode 
of life cannot but afford me pain, but I 
have other views for my neice than mar- 
riage with a penniless artist. I should 
have thought you would have had too 
much pride to contemplate an alliance 
with an heiress; but, since you appear to 
have no proper spirit in the matter, I must 
decline to receive you at Laburnum Lodge 
until you have realized your unfitness as a 
husband for Lucille, or until you can show 
me that you are making a steady income 
of at least $1,500 a year. Your affection- 
ate aunt, Lavinia Pendlebury.’ ” 

During the next day or two Dollymore 
was full of wild schemes for doubling his 
income, and depressed me by pacing the 
room with corrugated brow, ever and anon 
running his lingers distractedly through 
his hair and groaning. 

“Yon are a perfect nuisance, Dicky,” I 
said. “Go out and walk, if you must 
walk, lest I retire this night with the crime 
of murder on my soul.” 

He called me names and went. The 
relief was great, but unfortunately brief. 
Within an hour he burst into the room, 
breathless, radiant, whirling his arms about 
his head. 

“Eureka!” he cried, “the problem is 
solved ! We’ll run a matrimonial agency.” 

“What?” 

“Oh, I’ve thought it all out, my boy ! 
The inspiration came to me on the em- 
bankment, and ideas have been crowding 
on me ever since. Scrape your pennies 
together. I shall want all your cash as 
well as my own. We’ll take a couple of 
little offices, and furnish ’em cheap and 
showy, and we must publish an organ — 
your department — the Torch of Hymen, 
the only reliable matrimonial paper, pat- 
ronized by the nobility and gentry of Eu- 
rope. ’ ’ 

But Aunt Lavinia — would she approve ? 
That’s what you’ve got to ask yourself now 
before you embark on any enterprise. 
Would Aunt Lavinia approve?” 

“Shades of Laburnum Lodge — no ! 
She’s one of the pillars of Little Codring- 
ton society, a regular Mrs., or rather Miss 
Grundy. But she needn’t know, and as 


long as I can gain a living honestly for 
my little sweetheart — Old man, you’ll 
stand by me in this, won’t you ?” 

Now, I am not going to speak of our 
early struggles, of how the Torch was 
threatened with extinction in the early 
portion of its fateful career, nor of the fun 
we got out of our clients when they came. 
Sufficient it is to say that the scheme 
turned out to be not as wild as it had 
looked, and before long we were really 
doing well. N 

Dollymore presided at the managerial 
desk in the morning, I in the afternoon. 

It was during my share of the day’s 
work that, about three months after things 
really began to “go,” a lady called. She 
was a prim looking spinster of about fifty 
— from the country, I guessed by her 
dress, and she produced a copy of the 
Torch as a preliminary to conversation. 

“I chanced to see your paper,” she ex- 
claimed, “so I ventured to come up to 
London and call on you. But you seem 
very young; I expected to see a more 
elderly person. If I had guessed — really 
such a delicate matter, I — I hardly know 
how to explain, and to such a very young 
man!” 

“Madam,” I said, “say no more, s 
understand. Your expressive face tell I 
all. You are lonely; your soul, true to its 
feminine nature, cries out for companion- 
ship, for some strong and loving arm to 
shelter and protect you !” 

She simpered and cast down her eyes. 

“Really, I never thought to enter a 
matrimonial agency, but when one livas 
in a very quiet place, and cannot name any 
suitable person among one’s friends — Of, 
course, what passes between us will go no 
further. You will understand that I 
should not wish my friends in the country 
to— to— ” 

“Quite so, madam, quite so. Nothing 
that takes place in this office is known to 
any one but my partner and myself. By 
the way — er — am I right in supposing that 
you do possess an independent income?” 

“I have $2,500 a year and a small free- 
hold estate in Devonshire.” 

We discussed business for a while, and 
then : 

“Theie are several names on our books 
that might suit you,” I said. “If you’ll 
kindly leave me your address I’ll arrange 
a meeting for you at this office with one of 
our most suitable clients, and let you 
know.” 


312 


THE TRESTLE BOARD. 


“Oh,” she murmured coyly, “I really 
shan’t know what to do. You’ll choose a 
nice-looking, kind man for me, won’t you, 
Mr. Editor? Well, the Temperance 
Hotel will find me for the next two weeks. 
Miss Lavinia Pendlebury, the Temperance 
Hotel, W. C. 

I successfully turned a gasp of astonish- 
ment into a fit of coughing. It was that 
most prim and starchy of ladies, Dolly- 
more’s aunt. 

We talked a great deal, and that eve- 
ning posted a note to Miss Pendlebury, 
written by me on the official paper, to the 
effect that a gentleman to whom she had 
been described was devoured with eager- 
ness to make her acquaintance, and would 
meet her at the office at three o’clock sharp 
the following afternoon, if that hour were 
convenient to her. 

Apparently it was, for ten minutes be- 
fore the appointed time the spinster ar- 
rived in a flutter of expectancy and a 
brand-new bonnet. 

Then the clock struck and Dollymore 
came in smiling. She gave a kind of 
screech and dropped her parasol, and her 
face was a sight to see. 

Her nephew sprang to her side solici- 
tously; I rushed for a glass of water. 

“Little did I think,” said Dick, “that 
when I came to this office to win an idle 
wager from a friend that you were the lady 
I was to meet ! My dear aunt, I — I am 
lost in wonder that you should have de- 
scended to take such a step — you, whom I 
have always so respected and loved. Be- 
lieye me, I am concerned and grieved, 
deeply grieved — words fail me. I — I — ” 

Dick’s voice ceased with the most ad- 
mirable break. I felt quite affected. 

“If any one had told me of this thing,” 
continued Dick, “I should have said, ‘It 
is a wicked libel, a gross untruth !’ My 
Aunt Lavinia is a lady of the most retiring 
nature, and of the greatest common sense, 
who has been intrusted with the training 
of a charming girl and would do nothing 
herself that she could disapprove of in her 
ward. But now, oh ! what would Lucille 
say ? What would little Codring ton say ? 
What, oh ! what would Rev. Septimus 
Bartram say ? 

There was a little pause. Dick looked 
at Miss Pendlebury. Miss Pendlebury 
looked at Dick. The faintest suspicion 
of a wink quivered in his left eyelid and 
was meant for my edification. Miss Pen- 
dlebury saw it, and she understood. She 


gulped once, twice, then made the best of 
the bad bargain and broke into a pallid 
smile. 

He bought a diamond ring that after- 
noon. 

o 

No Honorable Discharge. 


Freemasonry and the profane world are 
as wide apart as the poles. This is the 
reason why Freemasonry is a law unto 
itself. All ordinary analogies fail when 
applied to the Craft. It exists in itself, 
by itself, for itself. In the Lodge we 
oftentimes debate, but we are not governed 
by strict parliamentary laws and usages. 
We have our own rules of order. The 
Master of a Lodge is not a simple presid- 
ing officer, whose function is to register 
the will of the majority of members. He 
is the majority, his will and pleasure is 
the law. There is no appeal from his de- 
cision to the Lodge. His only responsi- 
bility is to the Grand Lodge. In his 
Lodge he can say, in the language attrib- 
uted to Alexander Selkirk: 

“ I am monarch of all I survey, 

My right there is none to dispute.” 

But, at the same time, he is a sane and 
equitable ruler, and the Craft never suffers 
at his hands. He is the conserver of its 
highest and best interests. 

In all enlistments in the profane world, 
for the purpose of war there may be, for 
the soldier, a discharge, and an honorable 
discharge. This may come by the expi- 
ration of his term of office, or by perma- 
nently disabling wounds, or by voluntary 
higher authority. The soldier then re- 
turns to his home with honor, and it may 
be with glory. There is but one war in 
which there is no discharge whatever, and 
that is the war in which the immortal spirit 
of man, when born into the world, en- 
gages with the circumstances of time and 
destiny. No man may escape death or 
the hereafter, for in Ecclesiastes King 
Solomon tells us, “there is no discharge in 
that war.” Men sometimes vainly imag- 
ine that they can cut the Gordian knot; 
that they who fashioned not their own 
bodies or spirits; that they, who were not 
even consulted or asked whether they de- 
sired to enlist in the battle of life, can 
shuffle off the mortal coil at pleasure, and 
destroy their mortal souls. Freemasonry 
teaches a different lesson. No Freemason 
should ever be a suicide. 

Freemasonry, in accordance with its 


THE TRESTLE BOARD. 


3 1 3 


usages, differs from both the examples we 
have quoted above. It partially, but never 
wholly, discharges its initiates, and it never 
honorably discharges any one who has en- 
listed in its service. It is from the “law 
unto itself, ” that has been derived the 
aphorism. “Once a Mason always a Ma- 
son.* * The Masonic tie can never be 
wholly severed. The Fraternity reserves 
the right to absolve itself, for cause, from 
obligation to a brother, but it never re- 
leases him. Under no circumstances can 
he obtain an honorable discharge. He 
voluntarily assumed his relations to it. 
He sought it; it never sought him. He is 
under obligation to it, not it absolutely to 
him. He may become an absentee, but 
that is no discharge; that is only neglect 
on his part. He may become a non-affili- 
ate, but that works no dissolution of the 
Mystic Tie. He thereby only severs his 
connection with a particular Lodge, not 
with the Fraternity. He cannot sever 
that. Not even death can do that. No 
brother can justly perform an act, in con- 
travention of the fraternal law, which shall 
become operative after he has passed from 
life. Masonic obligations are forever and 
forever. 

The Craft never gives any other than a 
partial discharge. If it suspends for non- 
payment of dues, it does it because the 
brother will not pay, not because he can- 
not pay. Masonic charity forbids that an 
unfortunate, impecunious brother should 
lose his membership because of his pov- 
erty. Any worthy brother may have his 
dues remitted, and escape this partial dis- 
charge. But if there be such a discharge, 
the brother is not released from a single 
obligation that he assumed. He is still a 
Mason, bound to observe all his duties, 
and the fact that he has neglected one, 
gives him no right to decline to perform 
any or all of the others. So, when the 
Fraternity expels a brother for un- Masonic 
conduct, he is still a Mason, though not in 
good standing. He is expelled for cause, 
and when the cause is removed, or Mason- 
ically atoned for, his expulsion may be re- 
moved, and he thereby restored to good 
Masonic standing. His expulsion does 
not and cannot discharge him from the 
Craft. He enlisted in it for life. It is 
not in Freemasonry as it is in the world, 
where a man and woman, for example, 
enter into the marriage relation nominally 
“until death do us part,*’ and then, pos- 
sibly, they go the next month into a di- 


vorce court and take the initial step for 
the absolute severence of the marriage tie. 
The Masonic tie is the tie that binds, the 
tie which has been blessed, in the language 
of that truly Masonic hymn: 

“ Blest be the tie that binds 
Our hearts in mutual love.” 

Let it be \inderstood, then, that the say- 
ing, “Once a Mason, always a Masbn,” 
implies (i) that there can be no absolute 
discharge; (2) that there can be at best, or 
at worst, only a partial discharge, by which 
while the brother is held to all of his obli- 
gations to the Craft, it, in consequence of 
his unworthy conduct, is released from 
certain of its obligations to him, and (3) 
that there is no honorable discharge for 
any one of its volunteer army of initiates. 
The discharge, circumstances, is only par- 
tial, and is never honorable. Its “three- 
fold cord” is not only “not quickly brok- 
en,’ * but is absolutely unseverable. 

No one should hastily, carelessly or 
thoughtlessly knock at the portals of Free- 
masonry, for one within the mystic pre- 
cincts of the temple, knowledge is im- 
parted which is so peculiar that it must 
forever be retained. Masonry is not 
transferable. It is a personal trust, from 
which there is no honorable discharge. It 
is forever and forever. — Keystone . 

o 

Masonic Incidents in Civil War. 

Captain Robert Townsend of Newport, 
Kentucky, in writing to a friend in Toronto, 
speaks of his Masonic experience during 
the American war as follows: 

“ I intend giving you a few incidents of 
Masonic interest that came under my ob- 
servation during the war of the rebellion 
in the United States for the preservation 
of the Union, in which I took an humble 
part from 1861 to 1665. Before the war 
I was a Master Mason. In my regiment, 
the 23d Kentucky Infantry, there were 
many Masons; we tried to get a traveling 
Charter, and the Grand Lodge of Ken- 
tucky would not grant us one, but some 
of the States did, notably Indiana. Our 
brigade was composed of four regiments 
and a six gun battery of artillery, and, at 
times, a squadron of cavalry. The regi- 
ments composing the brigade consisted of 
one from Ohio, Indiana. Illinois and Ken- 
tucky; by that means a spirit of emulation 
or prowess existed in the battle, each 
thought they were as good as the other, 
and would not be outdone for gallantry 


3*4 


THE TRESTLE BOARD . 


under tire. The Kentucky troops on both 
sides had the prestige of being natural 
fighters, consequently, when the general 
wanted a forlorn hope led, or a desperate 
charge made, the Kentuckians were as- 
signed that duty, and, very often, we were 
imposed on, I thought, from the fact that 
we had no governor from whom we could 
seek redress. 

“Our State was largely in sympathy 
with the rebels. The northern portion of 
the State, that bordering on the Ohio, In- 
diana and Illinois, were intensely loyal to 
the Union, and there was a large element 
in the eastern and middle portions of the 
State true to the government. Nearly all 
the able-bodied men in Kentucky went 
either to one side or the other. Kentucky 
is a great Masonic State, hence, both 
armies contained a large number of the 
Craft. Churches were divided, families 
split up, one brother going to the North 
and another to the South; but grand old 
Masonry was the only thing that the war 
did not touch. When any of our forces 
were taken prisoners they invariably made 
themselves known as Masons, and by do- 
ing so, always received humane treatment. 
Although I was never taken prisoner, yet 
I learned from those who were as to how 
they were treated. 

“The incidents that came under my ob- 
servation, and those that were told me by 
others, would fill a book, but time and 
space will only allow me to quote a few. 
One night, after the first day’s general en- 
gagement at Stone River, or Murfreesboro 
— it is one arvd the same battle — I was offi- 
cer of the day in charge of our picket line. 
I was making the grand rounds at mid- 
night visiting each picket to see that he 
was vigilant, and also to learn what the 
enemy were doing, if possible. When I 
came to one of my company he informed 
me that the enemy’s picket in his front, 
about sixty feet, was disposed to be very 
friendly, and, on making inquiry, I learned, 
from my man, that the enemy’s picket had 
told him that one of our men was inside of 
his beat, and, from the sound of his voice, 
he was getting weak from the loss of blood. 
This occurred on the night of December 
31, 1862, and men freeze very rapidlv in 
cold weather when losing blood. I told 
my man to start a conversation with him 
again. The brother who was wounded, 
and inside of the rebel lines was using 
words only used when the sign cannot be 
given, or the party addressed seen. I then 


took part in the conversation and made 
myself known. “Hurry up and get your 
man as I will soon be relieved, which they 
were doing every two hours, and the re- 
lief picket may not be one of my kind” — 
meaning a Mason. I said, “Honor bright.” 
He said, “Yes, it’s a go.” He laid his 
gun down, went and got our man and es- 
corted him to our lines. We heard the 
relief picket coming, I gave the ene- 
my’s picket, the true grip of a M. M. and 
said, “Good-bye, God bless you,” planted 
a little money in his hand, and my man 
was saved, who otherwise would have bled 
to death or have been frozen. 

“On another occasion, November 24, 
1863, the date of the battle of “Lookout 
Mountain,” and the day before the grand 
and great assault on Mission Ridge, in 
front of Chattanooga, my regiment made 
a charge on Orchard Knob, a knoll inter- 
vening between the town and the ridge. 
General Grant used this place for his head- 
quarters in observing the assault that was 
made the next day. It was a good posi- 
tion to place a battery to cover our move- 
ments. During the assault we captured 
ninety prisoners. Among them was a 
captain and a lieutenant; the latter was 
wounded in the neck, and was looking pale 
from the loss of blood. My regiment was 
in line awaiting orders. I was in com- 
mand of the company on the extreme 
right of my regiment, where there was a 
space of about twenty feet between us and 
the next regiment, through which the cap- 
tain was leading the lieutenant going to 
the rear of our line. In passing me the 
captain was using his right arm. making 
the sign of a M. M. ; I recognized it im- 
mediately, and stepping rapidly to the 
right, I whispered in his ear, “I recog- 
nize you — what can I do for you?” He 
said: “I am a Mason and so is the lieu- 
tenant, who is losing blood very fast, and 
I would like to get his wound dressed.” 
As it was against orders for me to leave 
my position, as we were in line of battle, 
I took the chance, and said: “Follow me.” 
I stepped rapidly to a spot behind a large 
tree and knoll, where our field surgeon, 
also a Mason, was temporarily attending 
to the bandaging of our wounded soldiers, 
when they were placed in ambulances and 
sent to the field hospital in the rear. 

“I caught hold of the surgeon’s coat- 
tail as he was leaning over, and whispered 
to him to dress this wounded rebel officer 
as he was a Mason. He straightened up, 


THu TRESTLE BOARD . 


3i5 


caught hold of the rebel lieutenant, and 
calling the hospital steward and panier 
bearer to get the necessary bandages, he 
proceeded to dress his wounds. While 
this was being done I was engaged in con- 
versation with the captain. I asked him 
what State he was from. He said he be- 
longed to the 4th Georgia regiment. I 
asked him how he was fixed financially, 
and he said: “I have plenty of money, 
such as it is, but it is of no account now 
that I am in your lines.’ * I put my hand 
in my pocket, took out a ten-dollar bill, 
folded it up, and, in shaking: hands with 
him, left it in his hand, saying: “Good- 
bye,” then returned to my place in the 
line. It was all done so quickly that my 
regiment had not had time to move. 

“When we were penetrating into Ten- 
nessee and Georgia on a Sunday, some- 
times we halted and went into bivouac. 
General Rosecrans would not fight on Sun- 
day unless attacked. When he did, word 
would be passed around that a Lodge 
would meet at such a place and at such a 
time. A very high hill was selected upon 
which to have the meeting. Captain 
Waterman of the 31st Indiana regiment 
was the Master; he had the warrant and 
a box containing the officers’ jewels, books, 
etc., that were necessary, and we opened 
in regular form. I was S. D. Of course 
we appointed a chain of tylers to prevent 
approach to the meeting. We made some 
Masons in the field on these occasions. 

“Then the rebels on one occasion cap- 
tured a steamboat on the Cumberland river 
below, or west of Nashville, on which was 
a merchant who was following up the army 
buying cotton. He had some thousand 
dollars with him, and, of course, that was 
taken. The merchant asked to see the 
rebel General in command, who proved to 
be a Mason, and after stating his loss to 
the General, his money was restored to 
him. 

“After an engagement many prisoners 
fell into either hands, as is always the case 
when two armies of seventy- five or one 
hundred thousand men were on each side. 
The rebels kept the commissioned officers 
at Macon, Ga. , the enlisted men at An- 
dersonville, Ga. , or Belle Isle, Salisburv 
or Libby Prison. When a batch of fresh 
officers, prisoners arrived at Macon they 
generally had plenty of money. There 
were about eight hundred officers prisoners 
at that place, and as soon as they arrived 
they bought luxuriously, so far as their 


money went, and divided the good things 
with the boys who were Masons. 

Those who belonged to the Fraternity 
fared better than those who did not, as to 
privileges, etc. In going through the 
South any house that contained a Masonic 
Diploma always got protection from ma- 
rauders; a guard was placed around it, and 
the ladies were free from insult. All the 
able-bodied men were in the Southern 
army. Women tore up their carpets to 
make blankets for the rebel army. Many 
a brother saved his life by giving the 
Grand Hailing sign. A custom at one 
time prevailed in the army of retaliating 
for some fellow our side had shot by order 
of a court martial. The rebels would cast 
lots by causing our fellows who were pris- 
oners to draw a black or white bean, as 
the case might be, the one who drew the 
black bean was to be shot the next day. 
On one or more occasions a Mason drew 
a black bean, and when it came to the ears 
of the rebel general in command of that 
portion of the work, who was a Mason, he 
generally found some means to declare 
the drawing irregular, and ordered another 
drawing, knowing full well that lightning 
never strikes twice in the same place 

General John M. Palmer, now a Sena- 
tor from Illinois, was in command of the 
division to which my regiment was at- 
tached at the battle of Stone River, De- 
cember 31, 1862, there being six or seven 
days fighting in all. While we were en- 
camped there, and we were holding our 
Lodge meetings on the high hills and in 
low vales, Palmer paid us a visit to meet 
with us, and as no one could vouch for 
him, a committee was appointed to ex- 
amine him. It consisted of private sol- 
diers, who tested and examined him, and 
found him to be a Master Mason; so that, 
you see, we met upon the level in the 
army. 

“In our army a man who carried a 
musket was often the superior, intellect- 
ually and socially, of the man who com- 
manded him, something that could not be 
obviated in war of the stupenditv of ours. 
While I have been wounded, and feel the 
effects now of the exposure of long service, 
I am thankful that I have lived in a day 
and generation that my life has not been a 
blank. I have had the satisfaction of hav- 
ing served the army under the administra- 
tion of Abraham Lincoln, the grandest 
character that the 19th century has pro- 
duced, and when he stands at the last day 


316 


THE TRESTLE BOARD. 


before his Lord and Master to give an, ac- 
count of his stewardship while on earth, 
he need not open his mouth, but cast at 
the feet of his Master the shackles of four 
millions of bondsmen who have become 
free; surely it can and will be said, ‘Well 
done, thou good and faithful servant, the 
sweetest tuned harp and largest pair of 
wings are reserved for you,’ and may we 
be there to witness the grand tableaux.” 

— Toronto Freemason. 

o 

Operative and Speculative Masonry. 


What was operative Masonry, and what 
were its secrets ? When we of the mystic 
tie speak of operative Masonry, we gen- 
erally mean the art of designing and 
building, as it was practiced by the travel- 
ing Freemasons of the Middle Ages, those 
skillful workmen to whose genius and la- 
bors we are indebted for the mighty 
church edifices which adorn almost every 
old city of Europe, structures whose mar- 
velous beauty excites the wonder and ad- 
miration of all who can appreciate the 
beautiful in art and whose strength and 
solidity have enabled them to withstand 
the storms and to resist all the inroads of 
time. By operative Masonry we mean 
Gothic architecture which, it is now ad- 
mitted, was the invention of these travel- 
ing Freemasons or of monkish architects 
attached to their Fraternity. 

In proof of this, it is stated that nearly 
all the old churches and cathedrals of the 
various countries in Europe, which were 
constructed at the same epoch of time, are 
manifestly built from similar designs; that 
churches may be found in the south of 
Italy which resemble in nearly every par- 
ticular churches in the north of Scotland. 
These structures must, therefore, have 
been the work of a company of builders 
working after the same plans, who were 
not confined to any particular country, and 
who possessed facilities for holding free 
and unrestricted intercourse with each 
other. This company was the Guild of 
Traveling Freemasons. 

In the Middle Ages, down to quite re- 
cent times, indeed, every guild or associa- 
tion of skilled artisans had its secrets, per- 
taining to the handicraft which its mem- 
bers pursued. These secrets were strictly 
guarded, none but those youths, regularly 
bound apprentices to the trade for a space 
of five or seven years, were ever permitted 
to have any acquaintance with them, and 


none but those who could produce satisfac- 
tory proofs of having duly served such an 
apprenticeship were suffered to work at 
that trade. Those who had never given 
them the required probation were regarded 
as irregular; no skilled Craftsman would 
work in their company, no master was 
permitted to employ them, especially in 
cities where guilds of workmen were es- 
tablished. 

Some guilds had also words of recogni- 
tion, by which fellow artisans of the same 
trades could make themselves known to 
each other, but these were merely inci- 
dental. The real secret of the Craft was a 
knowledge of all those hidden and guard- 
ed mysteries, which pertained to the art it 
professed. 

Of all these Craft secrets, those which 
belonged to the art of Masonry were the 
greatest and the most profound, and they 
were accordingly the most closely and 
carefully guarded. Gothic architecture 
was the one distinguishing art of the Mid- 
dle Ages. Poetry, painting and literature 
were in their early infancy, and the great 
imaginative intellects of that epoch ex- 
pressed their ideas, and breathed forth 
their souls, in whose wondrous creations 
of stone and marble, which seem destined 
to remain monuments of their genius, long 
as the world endures. 

Those who first caught the idea of awak- 
ening high religious aspirations in the hu- 
man heart by means of the soaring pin- 
nacle and the lofty arch, and of giving 
birth to deep and solemn thoughts by the 
mystical blending of light and shade, 
treasured these discoveries in their inmost 
souls, and bequeathed them as a legacy 
to their successors. The task of fitly ex- 
pressing them in some wonderful archi- 
tectural creation, such as Strasburg Min- 
ster, required the labor of hundreds of 
hands through several generations. But 
no one was judged capable of doing any 
part of the work which demanded either 
artistic or mechanical skill unless he had 
been regularly admitted a member of the 
company of builders, and had been for 
some time under the instruction of expert 
Craftsmen. 

To construct material temples, accord- 
ing to the rules and principles of Gothic 
architecture, was the object of operative 
Masonry; to keep secret from the outer 
world the knowledge of their noble art was 
the obligation imposed on the apprentice 
and the Craftsman. 


THE TRESTLE BOARD 


7> l 7 


The modes of recognition, the signs and 
pass-words were only incidentals — safe- 
guards to prevent imposters from becoming 
acquainted with the mysteries of the science, 
and from passing themselves off at assem- 
blies of their brethren as regularly in- 
structed Craftsmen 

Between operative and speculative there 
is, in this particular as well as in others, a 
close gnalogy. The pass-words and signs 
of the speculative as well as the operative 
science are merely a means of guarding 
the portals of Lodges, and preventing the 
intrusion of the unitiated. The real se- 
crets of the order are those sublime truths 
which it teaches by symbolic and by 
legendary methods. Carefully and strict- 
ly to conceal these secrets from the vulgar 
is what Masons solemnly covenant to do. 

To build material temples, in accord- 
ance with the rules of their art, was the 
work to which operative Masons devoted 
their lives. To erect a spiritual temple 
within his own heart by means of the mys- 
tic knowledge imparted to him in the re- 
cesses of the Lodge is the task to which 
every Speculative Mason should consecrate 
those powers with which the Creator has 
endowed him. — W. J. Duncan . 

Saved by a Card. 


After a brief summing up from the 
Judge, the jury found a verdict of guilty 
without leaving the box. Then the clerk 
put the formal question, “Prisoner at the 
bar, you have heard the verdict of the 
jury. Have you anything to say why sen- 
tence of death should not be passed upon 
you ?” 

“Well, cap’n, its hard lines to be hung 
for nothin’, but I see this is a yard-arm 
business. I know no more of this ’ere 
murder nor a baby, but these witnesses 
hain’t told no lies I s’ pose, and what can 
I say agin ’em ? When this thing> hap- 
pened I was on the City of Peking , at San 
Fraiicisco, but you’ve got no call to be- 
lieve that, so there’s an end o’t.” 

There was something bluff and manly 
about the prisoner that impressed the 
Judge, who said, not unkindly: “But, sure- 
ly prisoner, if your story is true, you must 
have friends and comrades with whom 
you could have communicated. If you had 
thought they would do you good you 
would have done this. It is too late now.” 

“You’re right, cap’n, it is too late; but 
it’s all very well to say ‘let ’em know,’ 


when a man’s locked up in jail and don’t 
know where they are. They may be in 
America, and they may be at the Cape, 
and how could I let ’em know. Least- 
ways, not in time. No, it’s no use, cap’n, 
and you’d better order me run up at the 
yard-arm at once.” 

Every one in court stared in amazemeut 
at the man who thus coolly urged the Judge 
to hurry his execution, while, at the same 
time, protesting his innocence. The Judge 
was touched. 

“But, prisoner, the court has no wish to 
hang a man who may be innocent. Is there 
no one who could speak for you ?” 

“Not likely,” he began; but suddenly 
he stopped short, a look of astonishment 
came over his face; he leaned eagerly for- 
ward; his eyes seemed starting from their 
sockets. Slowly Charles Wilson raised 
his arm, and pointing solemnly toward a 
stranger on the front bench said, in a 
voice half choked by emotion, “ ye’es, 
there’s a gentleman there who might speak 
for me.” 

The Judge turned sharply round. “Do 
you know the prisoner?” he asked. 

“No, your honor, I never saw him be- 
fore in my life.” 

A sigh of disappointment was audible in 
the court room. 

“The prisoner seems to recognize you, 
and, under the peculiar circumstances, I 
will ask you to step into the witness box 
and be sworn, in order that the prisoner 
may ask you questions.” 

The gentleman ascended to the witness 
box and was sworn. 

“What’s yer name ?” asked the prisoner. 

“George A. Baker.” 

“ I see yer wears a three linked pin; are 
you an Odd Fellow ?” 

“I am.” 

“Examine this yere card, and tell the 
court what you find.” 

The witness examined the card at some 
length, then replied: 

“Your honor, this is a visiting card is- 
sued by Decatur Lodge, No. 103, Inde- 
pendent Order of Odd Fellows, to Charles 
Wilson, and bears indorsements on its 
back of visitations made by its holder.” 

The court: “Is there any visitation on 
September 15th, the dav of the crime ?” 

“Yes, your honor. On September 15th, 
the bearer visited American Eagle Lodge, 
No. 126, at San Francisco.” 

“Let me examine that.” 

The Judge scrutinized the piece of paper 


3i8 


THE TRESTLE BOARD. 


carefully, after which he handed it to the 
foreman of the jury. During a breathless 
silence each member ofthejuryin turn ex- 
amined the card. 

Foreman of the jury: “Will the prisoner 
please write his name ?” 

The prisoner complied. The name was 
compared with the signature on the margin 
of the card. 

Here the witness on the stand spoke up. 
“Your honor, there is some terrible mis- 
take here. The prisoner undoubtedly was 
a thousand miles away from here on the 
day of the murder, as clearly indicated 
over the signature of the Secretary of 
American Eagle Lodge.” 

“Gentleman, I think this is a case in 
which you may well reconsider your ver- 
dict.” 

“We have, your honor,” promptly re- 
plied the foreman, “and we find the prison- 
er not guilty.” 

The scene that followed has probably 
never had a parallel in any court of jus- 
tice. The spectators gave vent to their 
pent up emotions in ringing cheers, which 
the Judge made no attempt to check. In- 
deed, the tears were running down his 
cheeks. When silence was restored, he 
turned to the prisoner, and said: 

“Your fraternity has saved you. You 
are discharged.” 

The foregoing illustrates the usefulness 
of keeping a record of one’s visitations 
when traveling in “foreign lands.” 

o 

The Ballot. 


It is astonishing how little some Ma- 
sons consider the sanctity of their ballots; 
how they use it to “get even,” either for 
themselves or some one else, and then pre- 
sume to talk about it, all of which is wholly 
un Masonic, and subjects the offender to 
discipline by his Lodge. The brother who 
allows his personal feelings to control his 
ballot, or allows his ballot to be controlled 
to avenge the personal feelings of any one 
else, is wholly unworthy of membership 
in any Masonic Lodge. 

To the right-thinking, high minded, 
honorable brother, he who^is a Mason in 
deed and in truth, his ballot is as sacred 
as a mother’s love, and he is as careful 
about casting it as he would be to start a 
slander on a brother’s wife. No consider- 
ation whatever would allow his personal 
feelings to stand between him and duty. 
He would be afraid that his hand might be 


palsied, or his tongue paralyzed, were he 
to outrage his conscience by inserting the 
stiletto of revenge in the finer feelings of 
his neighbor through the medium of a 
blackball. He weighs the matter well, 
and when before the altar, before he casts 
his ballot, offers up a silent prayer for him 
who is worthy of it. On the other hand, 
however, should he know the applicant 
unworthy, and would cast discredit on the 
Fraternity, with that same sacredness of 
purpose and manliness of action he pro- 
tects his Lodge and the Craft by “ casting 
a cube.” 

We have often heard, and in two or 
three instances witnessed, a manly brother 
of this kind reap his reward. We were 
an eye-witness once to a scene that made 
us glad we were a Mason. A profane had 
applied for initiation, and in the Lodge 
to which he had applied there was a mem- 
ber whom he thought his deadly enemy, 
though he did not know it. After sending 
in his petition he learned the fact, and im- 
mediately set about to withdraw it. It was 
too late, however; it was in the hands of 
a committee, and must be reported on. In 
due course he was elected, and upon the 
first night of his presentation to the Mas- 
ter, imagine his surprise when his enemy 
was the second one to congratulate him. 
Past differences, which were strictly of a 
private nature, were never alluded to, but, 
then and there, they became warm friends, 
and continued so until death. Here was 
the true man and Mason, and so might we 
continue, but this instance serves our pur- 
pose. 

Then, again, we have felt our cheek 
tinge with indignation at the assassination 
of a good citizen and upright man by some 
misguided or revengeful brother, through 
the medium of a cube. We have watched 
them sit in judgment, as it were, upon the 
destiny of those the latches of whose shoes 
they were not worthy to unloose, and 
when they had killed them, Masonically, 
act as though they thought they had done 
the full measure of their duty. Ignorance 
and prejudice are the cause of such actions, 
and should not and would not be tolerated 
were the ballot not so secret. We have 
often thought that there ought to be some 
way to correct such evils without destroy- 
ing the “rights of a brother,” but just how 
that way should be we are not prepared 
to state. 

We do not write thus in a fault-finding 
way, but simply, if possible, to cause the 


THE TRESTLE BOARD. 


3*9 


brothers to think and to correct a practice 
which is becoming entirely too common. 
It is a well-known fact that Masonry, like 
all other secret institutions, is composed 
largely of ignorant men. We mean by 
that, those who are not well up in letters 
and are not Masonic students, though 
strictly honest, hard-working, upright, in- 
dustrious citizens. These, as a general 
thing, make good Masons, but, now and 
then, you find among them some little 
“tack -"headed” fellow who thinks his mis- 
sion is to “black” everybody out of his 
class, and such others as some disgruntled 
brother may want stopped through person- 
al motives. This class of brother can only 
be shown the “error of his way” by a 
change of heart, brought about by a well- 
directed “lecture from the East” and an 
appeal to his better nature and Masonic 
duty. 

It is safe to say that where a committee 
does the full measure of its duty there is 
little room left for an individual. The re- 
port of the committee should be, as a gen- 
eral thing, final, and it should be sus- 
tained. If you know anything detriment- 
al to the character of an applicant that 
would render him unworthy to become a 
Mason, it is your duty to go to the com- 
mittee and tell it so, and, if necessary, go 
into a thorough investigation of the mat- 
ter with the committee in order that nei- 
ther the Lodge or applicant may be 
wronged. Simply because your name is 
not mentioned as a member of the com- 
mittee is no excuse for yoy not acting with 
it. It is the duty of every member of a 
Lodge to assist in the investigation of the 
character of every profane who petitions 
the Lodge for membership. Were this 
course pursued and the work done through 
the committee the harmony of the Lodge 
would, at all times, be maintained, and the 
character and feelings of many good men 
saved. The trouble with us is that we do 
not hold the ballot sacred enough. 

Religious differences, political preju- 
dices or personal jealousies should never 
enter a Masonic Lodge. Look alone at 
the character and moral standing of an ap- 
plicant. Weigh well his every day life 
among his associates, and then look at the 
charitable side of his nature. If you find 
that he is not “lacking in any of these 
things” throw aside your personal pre- 
judice, and in the sight of God and with 
a prayerful consideration of your Masonic 
duty go forward like a man and “cast a 


white stone” for him. This is the way a 
good Mason would do . — Bun F. Price. 
o 

Was General Grant a Freemason ? 


It is never pleasant to spoil a good 
story, but the truth sometimes compels 
one to do so, and when so silly a story is 
found going the rounds of the Masonic 
press, as the one given below, it becomes 
the duty of one knowing the facts to nuke 
true answer to the above query, “Was 
General Grant a Freemason ?” 

I need not say to the comrade who 
served in the Confederate or Federal army 
that the story is too ridiculous from the 
soldier’s standpoint to be believed. Nei- 
ther does it seem necessary to tell the Free- 
mason that it is untrue, for it carries the 
stamp of fraud upon its face. The ver- 
dict of history is that General Grant was 
somewhat of a soldier, and the writer does 
know that General Grant was not a Free- 
mason. But to the story and our answer. 

“a masonic war incident. 

“The following letter of Major Bryant 
S. Parker, an ex-South Carolina Confed- 
erate, is printed in the Blue and Gray: 

“In one hard-fought battle in Virginia, 
in which my regiment lost heavily in killed 
and wounded, I was taken prisoner with a 
lot of others of our regiment. We were 
placed under guard at the rear, and all 
were searched. I had in my pocket-book 
my Masonic dimit. Next morning the 
guard came and told me that I was wanted 
at General Grant’s headquarters. I thought 
my time to die had surely come, and that 
I never would see Sallie and the children 
any more. I was sure the General was 
going to have me shot. I was the only 
one of our boys who was wanted at head- 
quarters, and the guard told me to move 
on. I soon reached the tent, and was told 
to go inside. I was frightened almost to 
death. My teeth rattled, my knees shook, 
and the perspiration was streaming from 
my face, although the day was cold. How- 
ever, I entered, and the tent was closed, 
and I was alone with the Commander-in- 
Chief of the United States forces. He saw 
that I was so frightened I could hardly 
speak, and, rising from his camp-stool, he 
shook hands with me and asked me to be 
seated. He was so kind and good that I 
soon felt at home. After talking pleasant- 
ly for a while he asked me to what regi- 
ment I belonged and where my home was. 


3 20 


THE TRESTLE BOARD. 


He then asked me if I was a Mason, ^nd I 
soon convinced him of that. He then 
went to the table and wrote my parole, 
and gave me some money, and told me to 
go home to Sallie and the children. The 
guard was called, and with a hearty ‘good- 
bye,’ I departed from General Grant’s 
headquarters, the happiest man in the 
army.” 

The truth of the statement now made 
comes from my own personal knowledge 
and my acquaintance with General Grant. 
In 1854, I became a citizen of Galena. I 
there first heard of Captain Grant through 
his brother, Simpson S. My acquaint- 
ance with the Captain was made the win- 
ter of 1859-60, when he first came to 
reside at Galena. My love and attach- 
ment for the great commander began in 
the dark hours of our country’s history 
and only ended with his death. 

Being a member of the Order of Odd 
Fellows when I settled in Galena, and at- 
taching myself to Galena Lodge, No. 17, 
of which General Grant’s brother Simpson 
was already a member, a friendship 
was there contracted with Simpson S. 
Grant and John C. Spare — two inseparable 
companions — only broken as to Simpson 
by his death in 1861, but the stronger to- 
day with Bro. Spare. 

By reason of this friendship with Simp- 
son I soon came to know his father, Jesse 
R. Grant, then a resident of Covington, 
Ky., but interested in business with the 
son Simpson in the leather and- furnishing 
business in Galena, to whom he made fre- 
quent visits. 

Jesse R. Grant, the father of the Gen- 
eral and Simpson S., was a Freemason, 
and as such frequently visited the Masonic 
Lodge in Galena, as we personally know, 
having sat in Lodge with him. We also 
have in our possession the record book of 
Phoenix Lodge, U. D. , 1854-55, in which 
Bro. Jesse R. Grant is recorded as a vis- 
itor. About the year 1857, Orville S. 
Grant, a younger brother of General and 
Simpson S., came to Galena to assist in 
the management of the business of his 
father and brother, and he afterwards be- 
came a member, by initiation, of Miners’ 
Lodge, No. 273, founded April 17, 1858. 

General, or Captain Grant, as he was 
then known, went to Galena in the winter 
of 1859, and removed his family there in 
the spring of i860. The Captain was not 
a Freemason, but he was an Odd Fellow, 
having been made a member of that order 


while stationed at Sackett’s Habor, N. Y., 
1848-49, but did not continue in mem- 
bership. 

“Uncle Jesse,” as the father of General 
Grant was familiarly called in Galena, in- 
tended to retire from business at this time 
(i860), and have his three sons take the 
same, but Simpson being in ill health, the 
change was deferred, and the Captain for 
the time being was in the employ of the 
firm. The war opened in 1861, when 
Captain Grant became otherwise employed, 
and Simpson, dying in September of the 
same year, “Uncle Jesse’s” cherished 
hopes were never realized. The remains 
of Simpson S. Grant were buried in Green- 
wood cemetery, Galena, by the Odd Fel- 
lows, Bro. John C. Spare, who is also a 
Freemason officiating, and the writer as- 
sisting. 

From 1861 to 1865 inclusive, history 
informs the reader as to General Grant’s 
employment and where he was to be found. 

In July, 1865, the writer, who had also 
been absent from home, returned from the 
military service to Galena, and, in August 
of the same year, General Grant was pub- 
licly received by the citizens of Galena on 
his return home “by reason of the close of 
the war.” Following this, and but a few 
days later, General Grant and a few friends 
went by steamer to Dubuque, Iowa, where 
the General was warmly welcomed by the 
citizens. On that excursion Jesse R. Grant 
and the writer were of the company. Dur- 
ing much of the time, going and returning, 
“Uncle Jesse” «nd myself were together, 
and the conversation was of the General 
and Freemasonry. It was then that the 
General’s father told me that he would 
like his son to become a member of the 
Craft, and said: “General, I wish that you 
would present a petition for initiation into 
your Lodge to Ulysses, for I know that he 
would like to become a Mason.” To this 
I said: “Uncle Jesse, I would not like to 
present a petition to the General, but I 
will get one, and you can give it to him, 
as he will take it more kindly from his 
father than he would from me.” The 
father replied: “I don’t think it would 
be right in me to do so, as I am his father. 

I would rather you should present it, as I 
know that he would like to become a 
member of your Lodge.” Such, in sub- 
stance, was the conversation between us 
on that excursion to Dubuque, Iowa, in 
the autumn of 1865. This matter was the 
subject of conversation between the Gen- 


THE TRESTLE BOARD . 


321 


eral’s father, his brother Orville and my- 
self at subsequent times. 

Galena Commandery, No. 40, Knights 
Templar, was instituted in 1871, with the 
writer as Eminent Commander, General 
Grant, then President of the United States, 
being then at home. There were many 
distinguished Templars present to assist in 
the work: Dr. N. F. Prentice (Past Grand 
Commander), Hon. H. C. Burchard (M. 
C.), Gen. Smith D. Atkins, Hon. E. L. 
Cronkrite (Mayor), Robert Little (United 
States Collector), Capt. William Young, 
James S. McCall, Dr. McKim, Loyal L. 
Munn (since Grand Secretary) — all of 
Freeport; Hon. John Olinger (Mayor of 
Dunleith), Hon. Samuel Cook, Homer 
Graves, Capt. J. M. Doggett, and others, 
of Illinois; Horace Tuttle (Past Deputy 
Grand Commander) and William P. Allen 
(Past Grand Master), together with others 
from Iowa. The Commandery was insti- 
tuted on the afternoon of September 29, 
1871, and work on the Orders commenced. 
At nine o’clock p. m. a recess was taken, 
and by appointment with the writer, Presi- 
dent Grant received the Sir Knights, who 
were fully uniformed, at the house of Mr. 
L. S. Felt, whose guest he then was. A 
pleasant hour was spent in conversation 
with General Grant, after which the Sir 
Knights returned to their asylum. 

At that reception the subject of Masonry 
and the General’s favorable opinion of it 
was spoken of, and it was then agreed that 
at the first favorable opportunity the Gen- 
eral would sign a petition for initiation, 
and, if accepted, would become a member 
of Miners’ Lodge, No. 273, of which the 
writer was then the Master. 

Duringthe political contest for the Presi- 
dent’s re-election (1872 and 1873), the 
General visited his home, in Galena, and 
the subject was again mentioned. At this 
time I had a conversation with Bro. James 
A. Hawley (M. W. Grand Master), in- 
formed him of General Grant’s intention 
to petition my Lodge, and that, for reasons 
not necessary to mention, I would like to 
have the Grand Master visit my Lodge at 
such time as I should name and exercise 
his prerogative of “making a Mason at 
sight”; that is, without his being subject 
to a ballot. M. W. Bro. Hawley said it 
would give him pleasure to do so. Broth- 
ers Dr. N. F. Prentice, Robert Little, 
Loyal L. Munn and others of Freeport; 
Dr. Fred W. Byers of Lena and other 
brethren along the line of the Illinois Cen- 


tral railway, having expressed a desire to 
be present on such an occasion and hav- 
ing learned that I could have a special 
train at anv time on a few hours’ notice to 
run from Dixon (the home of Grand Mas- 
ter Hawley) to Galena, I felt fully pro- 
vided for the event. When the General 
next visited his home preparations were 
made, when some affairs of state recalled 
him to Washington earlier than anticipated, 
and there the matter dropped. 

My own ill health and subsequent re- 
moval from Galena prevented my ever 
making any further effort to bring about 
the accomplishment of the most ardent 
wish or desire of “Uncle” Jesse R. Grant, 
the father of the General. 

General Grant lived until July 23, 1885, 
when, from the heights of Mt. McGregor, 
he peacefully passed to the portals of the 
Grand Lodge on high, where, by the 
Grand Architect of the Universe, our Su- 
preme Grand Master, he was made a Ma- 
son “at sight.” There, beside the first 
General of the armies of the United States, 
Bro. George Washington, he now sits at 
the right hand of our Heavenly Father in 
the Grand East — there where every true 
Freemason, whether he wore the “blue” 
or the “gray,” may hope to greet and rec- 
ognize him when their earthly pilgrimage 
is ended, and they, like him, are at rest. 

— Gen. John Carson Smith. 

o 

What about the Social Problem ? 


We spend a great portion of our time 
in discussing the evils that are confronting 
the purity of the home and the true ele- 
ments of society. In these discussions we 
very often denounce the wrong-doer in- 
stead of the wrong done. Denouncing an 
individual very often hastens their steps 
downward, instead of improving their con- 
dition; they sink farther into misery and 
deeper into crime, while the one who 
means to be a benefactor proves to be the 
cause. There was never an effect or a re- 
sult without a cause. One of the most 
gracious means in uplifting the life of a 
fallen one is by acts and deeds of kind- 
ness, proving to them that there is some- 
thing good, pure and true in the way you 
direct, which they can achieve and pos- 
sess, if they but will; while, otherwise, if 
all they receive from you carries with it 
chill and sting, they hasten toward greater 
misery and deeper gloom. One of the 
truest and best-used methods in keeping 


322 


THE TRESTLE BOARD . 


the life of an individual strong is to con- 
tinually crowd upon it the good, the pure, 
the pearl and the gold of life, staying the 
hand of rust, brightening the ray of hope, 
entombing the law and enthroning the 
very highest ideal. 

My morning and evening press brings 
me the news from all sections of the globe; 
the transactions of the day are placed be- 
fore me, and I look at once at the “splarge 
headlines,” often telling me of some one 
who has fallen, and has left an indelible 
stain upon society that can never be erased; 
if it chance to be a woman, how appro- 
priate the heading, ‘‘A soiled dove.” 

I wonder how many sons of prominent 
citizens were the cause of the downfall of 
the 1,500 women who were turned into the 
streets of Pittsburg, without shelter, with- 
out food, almost driven to commit greater 
crime to evade shame, misery and ex- 
posure. The fallen are turned into the 
street; the one who caused the disgrace is, 
perhaps, to-night couched in eagle’s down, 
pillowed in affluence, while she whom he 
ruined sleeps in the street. Ye ministers 
of Pittsburg, think on these things ! When 
a woman falls, man is the cause; she is al- 
ways denounced; he is generally shielded 
and protected, and thus encouraged in his 
ruinous work. God help us, as men and 
women, to think more of woman ! 

The soul of the unfortunate, who is a 
castaway, is of greater value in the eye of 
God than the one whom the world shields 
and so often protects. The poor wayward 
daughter who is to-night seeking shelter 
in the by-ways is more of a woman than he 
is a man, who caused her to step aside. 
If one must go to the street, why not the 
other, also ? To make an endeavor to 
rescue the fallen ones is one of the bright- 
est and best indications of good and true 
man or womanhood; to shun them, and 
always think yourself too pure to make an 
attempt gives the strongest evidence of 
weakness and of needed improvement. If 
you desire to cure a great many social 
evils, punish the man as you do the wom- 
an. If she is driven to the meshes of os- 
tracism drive him there too; if he betaken 
into your house and into society take her 
there too. Man is always greater in the 
crime than woman, why not give him at 
least equal penalty in the social world ? 

There are many social problems that 
must be solved within the next decade. 
The problem of the ex- convict is one that 
merits a great deal of our attention, and 


there is no question but what it must be 
amicably solved in the interest of human 
protection and moral worth; while another, 
still greater than this, constantly meets us 
in the way of life. “Should vocation cause 
separations in the social world?” If all 
Christian people would press closer to- 
gether, and then forward march toward 
Christ, great and everlasting benefit would 
be brought to the world, and many of the 
existing evils would be compelled to give 
way to the better elements in life, while 
decay would cease and strength would de- 
velop every life into a life of power and 
excellence before God and man. We are 
taught that there will be no class separa- 
tions in heaven — why have it here ? No 
man or woman was ever created for the 
purpose of making their bed in hell. Let 
us, as Christian people, rally, and take all 
despair out of this life we can, so that it 
will be free of torment here and in eternity. 
If you desire that social putridity should 
wane, unite all forces in introducing Christ 
and his gospel. 

— Aaron D. States , of Greenfield , Mo. 

o 

Burning the Candle. 


“I called at the office of Mr. Burntup 
to-day,” I remarked to Gretchen, as I 
seated myself for a few moments' reflec- 
tion before going to my den to read up 
some old papers I had neglected, “and I 
found he was at home in rather a bad 
plight.” 

4 ‘What is the matter with him ?” Gretchen 
asked. 

“ Oh, well, I suppose it’s too much 
candle business. You know he is a most 
uneasy mortal if he is still for a single 
moment. Why, I verily believe, he cal- 
culates interest in his sleeu; that is, if he 
ever does sleep. I know that as soon as 
he opens his eyes in the morning he be- 
gins to scheme and lay plans for work and 
pleasure for the twenty- four hours just 
ahead of him. Take a single day. He 
gets up, say, at seven o’clock in the morn- 
ing, takes about ten minutes to prepare 
for breakfast, gets his morning paper, 
reads while he gulps down a cup of coffee, 
and is out of the house by half past seven. 
He reads all the way down town, attends 
to his business, and, with an occasional 
visit to a cafe, fills in every moment of 
time until he starts for home at six. Din- 
ner follows, and is disposed of in a few 
moments; then he has an engagement at 


THE TRESTLE BOARD . 


323 


the Wide-awake Men’s Club, where he 
spends an hour drinking and talking busi- 
ness. From here he goes to the Owls’ 
Club, or some theatre, for a night’s pleas- 
ure. After the show, he spends two or 
three hours with friends; goes to the club 
again, enjoys a game of euchre or some 
other ‘innocent’ amusement until three in 
the morning; then a drink or two and he 
goes home — ‘to sleep or not to sleep; that’s 
the question.’ Now that is the way he 
spends six days out of every seven, and 
for the seventh, well he piles just as much 
into the twenty-four hours, only in a little 
•different ways.” 

“How can a man expect to keep well, 
or to live even, if he does not give brain 
and body some little chance to recuperate ?’ ’ 
responded Gretchen. “I have no patience 
with such suicides. The fact is there is 
too much of this ‘candle business,’ as you 
•call it; too little regard for health, and 
men imagine there is a great deal of 
credit due them for being able to continue 
a round of dissipation night after night. I 
have noticed recently that a great number 
of deaths reported are, ‘died suddenly of 
heart failure.’ Now what is heart failure? 
Heart fiddle sticks, it is simply the burn- 
ing up of the candle, lit at both ends, it 
burns both ways, and we find that the tax 
upon the mental and physical system is so 
great that before men know it all the oil 
they had in their lamps is burned up. 
And we are all doing the same thing ev- 
ery day. To be sure, the candle will burn 
faster if it is fanned by the midnight 
draught of wine and Welsh rarebit, but 
even without that sort of consuming of 
vital force, we try to do too much. Now, 
poor Burntop must have recreation, and 
he calls club life until three and four in 
the morning, drinking Manhattan’s and 
smoking perfectoes, ‘recreation,’ ‘rest,’ 
‘recuperation.’ Bah 1 away with such re- 
cuperation. While I am sorry Burntop is 
in such a plight, he is simply reaping the 
harvest he has sown. Do you suppose 
that Tim would live a month if he did not 
take rest? Tim sets us a good example. 
He is full of life and as active and playful 
as a kitten when he is well, and he is al- 
ways well when he has plenty of rest. He 
does not care who is around, when he feels 
that his little Timship needs a snooze he 
simply curls himself up and takes it, and 
when he is really refreshed he comes out 
from his ‘den’ — just as much his den, 
John, as your study is yours — stretches 


himself and is new again, ready for a romp. 
Animals in their natural state do not over- 
tax themselves. Their instinct teaches 
them that it is absolutely necessary that 
they sleep and rest. What more restful 
scene can you find than that pastoral on 
the wall over your desk ? The quiet field 
a very picture of beauty itself, the cattle 
lying about in the shade, that old brindle 
cow standing knee deep in the cooling 
brook; there is rest and contentment for 
you. They do not labor all day and 
carouse all night. If they did, human be- 
ings would find the supply of milk and 
beef very much abbreviated. No, John, 
the only beings who burn the candle at 
both ends and die of heart failure are hu- 
man ” 

“Well, Gretchen, I rather think you 
are right. ‘Early to bed and early to rise, ’ 
is a good maxim, and will surely make a 
man ‘healthy, wealthy and wise.’ I think 
we had better profit by your wise disserta- 
tion, and blow out the one end of the 
candle. I am going to see Burntop, and 
try to get him to go away for a little while. 
To Old Point, or — ” 

“There you go again. To Old Point, 
and what is Old Point but a whole com- 
munity in the ‘ candle business ?’ Send 
him to Old Point or some other such 
‘quiet’ place, and you simply take him on 
the road to Bloomingdale, and after that 
to a quiet bed in the cemetery. No. let 
him be quiet at home, and simply blow 
out one end of the candle, and ten to one 
you will see an improvement in him.” 

“You are right, Gretchen.” 

And I took up my lamp and went into 
my den to think, and to “resolve” upon 
candle burning. 

— Lounger , in N Y. Dispatch . 

o 

L’Etoile Polaire of New Orleans. 


On the roster of the Grand Lodge of 
Louisiana is found the above name with 
No. 1 attached. Well does it deserve the 
number, for during all the years of its 
checkered existence — more than one hun- 
dred years have passed since it came into 
existence — it has ever been true to its name, 
Polar Star. On the 2Sth of the month 
just ended it held a special session, and 
raised to the “sublime degree of a Master 
Mason” seven candidates, who had pre- 
viously been found “worthy and well 
qualified.” One hundred and fifteen of 
the Craft were present during the cere- 


324 


THE TRESTLE BOARD. 


monies. Nearly every Lodge in the city 
was represented, and the visitors were 
from Georgia, New York, Alabama, Penn- 
sylvania. Michigan, Ohio, Iowa, Massa- 
chusetts, Virginia, Maryland, Kansas, Ar- 
kansas, Mississippi, Florida, England, 
Ireland, Canada, Australia and elsewhere. 

Lodge labors at an end, all were in- 
vited to assemble in the banquet hall 
where was prepared a feast worthy of 
Lucullus, and which seemed to be duly ap- 
preciated by all present. After the usual 
toasts of obligation, R. W. Bro. Hines, 
Grand Lecturer, was called upon to re- 
spond for the Grand Lodge of Louisiana, 
which he did most fittingly, and as nearly 
as we remember in these words: “Vener- 
able Maitre (this was all the French Bro. 
Hines could remember), officers and breth- 
ren, I am glad to have the pleasure of 
meeting with your Lodge this evening; 
a Lodge that formed the bright nucleus 
of the ‘Light’ from whence sprang the 
M. W. Grand Lodge of our State; a 
Lodge that was in existence long before 
Andrew Jackson reared his breast- works 
in defense of your beautiful city. For 
more than one hundred and three years 
the sound of the gavel and the voices of 
Masons have resounded in this Lodge, 
charity been dispensed and fraternal greet- 
ings been exchanged; a Lodge, to day, 
bearing upon its proud banner, which 
waves triumphantly above its time stained 
battlements, the names of one hundred and 
three Masons, less two, who have recently 
been called from labor to refreshment in, 
we hope, another and a better Lodge 
above. 

“I notice in this banquet hall the flags 
of all nations, but I do not see one which 
was once near and dear to me, the flag of 
the ‘Lost Cause,’ the ‘ Red, White and 
Red.’ Under the folds of that flag I 
stood on the gun boat Webb when she 
swept past your city in the face of the 
Federal fleet in one of the last efforts made 
by that cause, which we thought right and 
just. But when that flag went down, so 
died within our breasts all animosity, and, 
to-day, we are a united people; here, to- 
night, is represented nearly every State of 
our Union and every country of the world. 
An united North and an united South, an 
united world, for we are Masons. 

“This is the first time I have had the 
pleasure of meeting with the brethren in a 
Lodge conferring the ‘Symbolic’ degrees 
according to the Scottish Rite. My ig- 


norance of the language of France as well 
as of the ceremonies of your Rite forbid 
any criticism on my part, although I ob- 
serve a marked difference as compared 
with our York Rite. The ultimate object 
of both Rites is, however, the same, as the 
suggestive symbols I saw displayed in the 
Lodge room demonstrate. You have been 
authorized by the Grand Lodge of this 
State to practice your Rite, and I bid you 
God speed in your noble and glorious ef- 
forts to upbuild Masonry in our beloved 
State.” 

o 

The Greatest Masonic Study. 


Masonry encompasses, even beyond hu- 
man contemplation, all the spheres of ex- 
istence; hence, its origin, beyond finite 
conception, even divine. It embraces ev- 
ery object and subject of useful education. 
It points aloft to infinity, and spreads its 
wings of benevolence over the universe. 
Its symbolic system of three degrees, cor- 
relative with human existence in three 
stages, portrays infantile darkness, man- 
hood, growth and usefulness, and truth’s 
illumination of the ripened soul. Masonry, 
therefore, furnishes a larger field for 
thought and study than any one human 
invention. 

Entering upon its threshold at the 
earliest possible period of my life, and 
ever remaining a devotee and adherent up- 
on the basis already spoken, I may truth- 
fully say Masonry has taught me how to 
live. It has taught me that my greatest 
study is myself, directing my mind into 
the channel of thought. Whence came 
you ? What are you here for, and whither 
are you going ? It has taught me that the 
invisible, which thinks and forever lives, 
is the real man which must gain and re- 
tain absolute control over the visible man 
or mortal body, and thus holding in dis- 
creet subjection all the human appetites 
aud passions. Have I a right to love 
Masonry ? 

It has taught me to be free — free in poli- 
tics and religion alike, thus forbidding me 
to bow down to the enslavers of the souls 
of men; and it has taught me to concede 
to others the freedom that I wonld claim 
to myself. Have I a right to love Ma- 
sonry ? 

It has been said, and persistently claimed, 
that Masonry is not religion; that it does 
not embrace religion, and that it is only a 
stepping-stone or hand-maid of religion 


THE TRESTLE BOARD . 


325 


I have learned to view this subject differ- 
ently, and that Masonry inculcates and 
embraces the one primitive, monotheistic 
and cosmopolitan religion, in which all 
men can agree who are not atheists. Such 
is its creed, and beyond which it does not 
go, neither admitting nor denying any ad- 
ditional speciality. If a firm and honest 
belief in one infinite, intellectual, sover- 
eign cause, ruler and preserver of all that 
is, surrounded by all the symbols and rec- 
titudinal lines of moral conduct prescribed 
in Masonry, is not religion, it is certainly 
entitled to some name or designation 
which the more enlightened, if any there 
be, should supply and satisfactorily ex- 
plain. Masonry has taught me that my 
greatest care in life is to take the best pos- 
sible care of myself, whereby a life well 
spent on earth is the best possible guaran- 
tee for a better one hereafter, and it taught 
me that I cannot possibly take the best 
possible care of myself without doing all 
the good I can for others, and my greatest 
ambition in that direction is to do some- 
thing here that may live for good when I 
am gone hence. J. H. Gray. 

o 

An Incident of the Secret Ballot. 


Upon a certain occasion, in one of the 
Northern States, a candidate had been re- 
jected by a Lodge. His father was an old 
and esteemed member and a Past Master. 
The Master unwisely and in violation of 
Masonic laws, permitted a discussion, 
which only served to intensify the feelings 
of the brethren. A recess was had, dur- 
ing which, from one to the other, passed 
the question: “Did you do it?’' In time 
the Lodge was again called to labor, and, 
soon after, this old Past Master arose, and 
said: “Worshipful Master and Brethren, 
you have, this evening, rejected my son. 
You have also invaded the sanctity of the 
ballot by permitting a discussion of the 
result. At refreshment, the question, 
'Did you do it?’ was asked of every one 

present except Bro. and myself. I 

was not asked for the reason, I presume, 
that I was the father of him whom you re- 
jected. If we leave this Lodge with the 
matter as it now is, Bro. will be con- 

sidered as having done what some of the 
brethren here, in open Lodge, have called 
a rank injustice to this candidate and to 
his father. Now, my brethren, in jus- 
tice to Bro. , although I feel that 

I am wrong in so doing, I have this to 


say: I cast the cube. And until my son, 
blood of my blood and bone of my bone, 
shall make himself worthy of the great 
privileges of Freemasonry, I, his father, 
will cast a cube against him every time he 
applies for admission. ’ 

— Square arid Compass , of La. 

o 

The Youngest Freemason. 


Upon Master Sydney Frederick Forbes 
has been conferred, by the Lodge of which 
his father was a foundation member, the 
title of the “youngest Mason in the world.” 
says a contributor to the St. Louis Republic . 

While the universal constitution of the 
Masonic Order provides that no one shall 
join that Order until he becomes twenty- 
one years of age, Lodge Jubilee of Bar- 
berton, South Africa, working under the 
Dutch constitution, performed for him the 
ceremony of adoption when he was a 
month old. 

The lad was born November 3, 1888, of 
EnglLh parents. His father, William 
Forbes, was then Secretary of the Barber- 
ton Stock Exchange, and is at present the 
manager of one of the valuable mining 
properties at Johannesburg. 

The small apron used for the ceremony 
was made from the skin of an African kid 
for the occasion. It is the chief treasure 
of Master Sydney’s collection of valuables 
dear to juvenility. 

The press of the Transvaal commented 
at length and enthusiastically upon the 
unique rite. “ On Sunday last,” said one 
of the leading journals, “was performed, 
in Masonic Hall, a ceremony which, we 
believe, has never before been witnessed 
in South Africa, if at all. The ceremony, 
in question, was no less than the adoption 
by Lodge Jubilee, working under the 
Dutch constitution, of the infant son of 
one of its foundation members, F. W. 
Forbes.” 

By the ceremony of adoption the infant 
is admitted as a “Lewis” in Freemasonry, 
the oaths and obligations being taken on 
his behalf by the Wardens of the Lodge 
as sponsors of the Lodge itself, and all its 
members acting in that capacity, and un- 
dertaking the Masonic guardianship of 
the child in much the same way as spon- 
sors at a baptism. 

At the age of twenty one years the 
“Lewis” may enter and take part in the 
working of a Lodge without undergoing 
any of the usual initiatory ceremonies. 


326 


THE TRESTLE BOARD. 


Who Killed the Lodge ? 

“It’s Lodge meeting night,” said Brother Brown, 
“But I don’t believe I’ll go down; 

I’m tired and it’s pretty cold to-night, 

And everything will go all right 
If I’m not there.” So he sat and read 
The paper awhile, then went to bed, 

Having stayed at home from the meeting. 

“It’s Lodge meeting night,” said Brother Grey, 
“nut I guess I had better stay away. 

I don’t like the way the joung folks take 
Things into their hands, and try to make 
The ‘good of the Order’ all jokes and fun. 

I think something sensible ought to be done.” 
And he stayed at home from the meeting. 

Thus one and another made excuse, 

And said as long as they paid their dues 
And assessments promptly, they couldn’t see 
What the difference was if they should be 
Away from the lodge room on meeting night, 

And argued to prove that they were right 
In staying at home from the meeting. 

And the earnest officer of that Lodge, 

And the faithful few who didn’t dodge 
Around their duties and try to shirk, 

But did their own and other’s work, 

Grew discouraged at last, and in dismay 
The Grand Lodge took the charter away, 

Because all stayed at home from the meeting. 


“Our Father.” 

Her evening prayer was ended — from her knees 
’Rose little Marjorie — the light that shone 
Within her wistful eyes was Heaven’s own; 

“Oh, dearest mamma ! please 

“To tell me of the meaning of that prayer — 

‘Our Father’; means it only me and you ? 

Or is our God the parent— tell me true — 

Of people everywhere ?” 

“Of all the world, my darling — of us all — 

Of those who know Him— those who know Him not; 
By His de r love there is not one forgot, 

However weak or small.” 

“Then that poor little girl I saw to-day, 

All clothed in rags— I was provoked that she 
In her mean garments should draw near to me 
To watch me at my play — 

“Was my poor sister! How I wish that I 
Had tried to help her— whispered in her ear 
But one kind word of comfort and of cheer 
Before I passed her by.” 

Has it no echo in our hearts— that sigh — 

Or, looking up to htaven, can we plead 
That we have helped our brethren, in their need, 
Before we passed them by ? 

—By Julia Fanshawe Brinckerhoff, in Boston Ideas. 


A Few Years from Now. 

Oh, that Twentieth-Century girl ! 

What a wonderfui thing she will be! 
She’ll evolve from a mystical whirl 
A woman unfettered and free; 

No corset to crampen her waist, 

No crimps to encumber her brain; 
Unafraid, bifurcate, unlaced. 

Like a goddess of old she will reign ! 

She’ll wear bloomers, a matter of course; 

She will vote, not a question of doubt; 
She will ride like a man on a horse; 

At the club late at night she’ll stay out; 

If she chances to love, she’ll propose; 

To blush will be quite out of date; 

She’ll discuss politics with her beaux, 

And out-talk her masculine mate! 

She’ll be up in the science of things; 

She will s noke cigarettes; she will swear, 
If the servant a dunning note brings, 

Or the steak isn’t served up with care. 
No longer she’ll powder her nose, 

Or cultivate even a curl, 

Nor bother with fashion or clothes, 

This Twentieth-Century girl. 


Her voice will be heard in the land; 

She’ll dabble in matters of state; 

In council her word will command, 

And her whisper the laws regulate. 

She will stand ’neath her banner unfurled, 
Inscribed with her principles new; 

But the question is wnat in the world 
The new century baby will do? 


Borrioboola Gha. 

A stranger preached last Sunday, 

And crowds of people came 
To hear a two hours’ sermon, 

With a barbarous sounding name, 
*Twas all about some heathen 
Thousands of miles afar, 

Who lived in a land of darkness, 
Called Borrioboola Gha. 

So well their wants he pictured 
That when the plate was passed 
Each listener felt his pocket, 

And goodly sums were cast, 

For all must lend a shoulder 
To push the rolling car 
That carried light and comfort 
To Borrioboola Gha. 

That night their wants and sorrows 
Lay heavy on my soul, 

And deep in meditation 
I took my morning stroll; 

’Till something caught my mantle, 
With eager grasp and wild, 

And looking down with wonder, 

I saw a little child. 

A pale and puny creature, 

In rags and dirt forlorn; 

“What could she want ?” I questioned, 
Impatient to be gone. 

With trembling voice she answered, 
“We live just down the street, 

And mammy, she’s a-dying, 

And we’ve nothing left to eat.” 

Down in a narrow basement, 

With mold upon the walls, 

Through whose half-buried windows 
God’s sunshine never falls — 

Where cold and want and hunger, 
Crouched near her as she lay — 

I found a fellow-creature 
Gasping her life away. 

A chair, a broken table, 

A bed of broken straw, 

A hearth all fireless, 

But these I scarcely saw; 

For the mournful sight before me, 

The sad and sickening show: 

Oh, never had I pictured 
A scene so full of woe ! 

The famished and the naked, 

The babes that pine for bread, 

The squalid group that huddled 
Around that dying bed, 

All this distress and sorrow 
Should be in land afar; 

. Was I suddenly transplanted 
To Borrioboola Gha ? 

Oh, no ! the poor and wretched 
Were close beside my door, 

And I had passed them heedless 
A thousand times before. 

Alas ! the cold and hungry, 

That meet me every day, 

While my tears were given 
To the suffering far away. 

There’s work enough for Christians 
In the distant iand, we know; 

Our Lord commands his servant 
Through all the world to go, 

Not onl> to the heathen; 

This was his charge to them: 

“Go preach the Word, beginning 
First at Jerusalem. 

Oh, Christian, God has promised 
Whosoe’er to His has given 
A cup of pure cold water 
Shall find reward in heaven; 

Would you secure the blessing ? 

You need not seek it far. 

Go find in yonder hovel 
A Borroboola Gha. 


THt. TRESTLE BOARD. 


327 


THE TRESTLE BOARD. 

A National Masonic and Family Magazine. 

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Alvin Plummer, Advertising Manager. 

408 California St., San Francisco, California. 


“Religious” Bigotry. 


Daring the progress of a fire at the 
Standard Biscuit factory in San Francisco, 
on June 7th, the walls of the building fell 
in, crushing to death three brave members 
of the San Francisco Fire Department: 
Capt. John Moholy, Timothy Hallinan 
and Frank Keller. Bro. Capt. John 
Moholy was a member of South San Fran- 
cisco Lodge, No. 212, F. & A. M., and 
owing to that fact, his body was denied 
admittance to St. Patrick’s Roman Cath- 
olic church, from which institution the 
other two brave fellows were buried. 

Our representative called upon Chief 
Sullivan of the Fire Department, who ex- 
plained that it was his desire that a triple 
funeral be had from the church, and not- 
withstanding his representation to Arch- 
bishop Riordan that Moholy was a Mason, 
secured his consent. 

Our representative also called upon the 
Archbishop, and by him was informed 
that his understanding of the matter was 
that Moholy belonged to the Band of Hope 
or some such organization, and his consent 
was freely given, but upon later finding 
out that Moholy was a Freemason, he 
sent his secretary to Chief Sullivan with 
the information that his power was not 
sufficient to permit Moholy’s funeral to be 
held within the church; in fact, that the 
Pope himself was the only man on earth 
who had the power to order the matter so 
arranged. 

The result was that while the services of 
the church were being held over the re- 
mains of Hallinan and Keller, the body of 
Bro. Moholy was left in the hearse in the 
street together with the family and friends 
of Bro. Moholy. 

In a conversation with our representa- 
tive the Archbishop stated that the Roman 


church could no more perform the burial 
sendee over a Freemason than it could 
over a Methodist or a Baptist, or a Con- 
gregationalism and that it considered Free- 
masonry a religion just as much as any of 
those denominations. It would seem that 
from this action we have the proof that the 
Romish church is more bigoted and in- 
tolerant than Protestant sects, for not one 
of the latter, that we know, would deny 
their ministrations in the final scene of 
this earthly life. We leave the matter to 
the thoughtful consideration of those who 
do not agree fully in our opinion of the 
Romish hierarchy. 

o 

Renewing the Crusades. 


Bro. Cornelius Hedges, of Montana, 
has much of the spirit of the ancient 
Crusaders and Templars in his composi- 
tion. If he was a young man the cause of 
the oppressed in eastern Europe would 
find, doubtless, an active friend in this coun- 
try to lead the Templars on to victory or 
death in the cause he so vigorously es- 
pouses. On this subject he last writes: 

“Since we first proposed this scheme, 
those beastly Turks have been butchering 
Christians in Armenia, and are doing it 
now in Crete, and it looks as if any peace- 
ful proposition would fare like casting 
pearls before swine. If recent manifesta- 
tions of Turkish cruelty arouse Christen- 
dom to deal with Turkey as she deserves, 
perhaps these victims will not have died 
in vain. While we are not quite ready to 
accept Brother Swain’s estimate that dead 
Turks are good ones, we feel like enlarg- 
ing our demands that they be ousted not 
only from Palestine, but from Europe and 
Asia Minor and the islands of the sea. 
Let them turn their steps toward the 
steppes of Asia, where they can be under 
the strong hand of Russia. We started 
out only to clean up that job that the 
Templars once undertook but failed to 
accomplish. After getting into Palestine 
we might want to hunt up the Garden of 
Eden, somewhere on the Euphrates, and 
see if all the apple orchards are destroyed 
and the garden overgrown with weeds. 
We doubt if a suitable monument was 
ever erected to Adam and Eve. There are 
many sins of omission to be repented of, 
but we must take them one at a time. Let 
it be Palestine first. Let us get it peace- 
ably if we can, forcibly if we must.” 


328 


THE TRESTLE BOARD. 


We fear our brother after all would al- 
low his curiosity or something else to lead 
him to searching in the Garden of Eden 
for some of the forbidden fruit, which re- 
sulted in the expulsion of our grand par- 
ents, and which law might still be in force 
in that neglected land. Discretion is the 
better part of valor. Our brother is too 
old for the undertaking. 

o 

Another’s View of Masonic Law. 


In confirmation of our view of the leg- 
islation of some Masonic Bodies, we print 
the following complaint of the widow of a 
deceased brother, who writes to the Seattle 
Times as follows: 

4 ‘My husband was a Mason and an Odd 
Fellow for over twenty years; for years 
had been a thirty second degree Mason. 
He held both Orders in high esteem. I 
have taken the ladies’ degrees in both Or- 
ders, and wish to wrong neither. I have 
also been a member of the church of Christ 
since an adult, and I cannot think any 
sane minister fears for the welfare of the 
church on account of the good acts of 
those Orders or for the omission of the 
same in the name of Christ. 

“It costs faith and benevolent deeds only 
to enter the church. To enter a Lodge, 
from $25 to $50, sometimes minus the very 
best characteristics of a moral man. im- 
postors steal into a Lodge, as well as into 
churches. This fact by no means changes 
the fundamental principles of either. After 
a $50 initiation fee, a yearly taxation and 
labor for the Order, if, for any cause, one 
dies in arrears, the member is not looked 
after while sick, the funeral expenses are 
not paid, and his family is lost sight of 
entirely. Would not such acts sometimes 
allow members as well as their widows 
and orphans to “freeze and starve on their 
way to heaven?” Is that just, after the 
best part of a man’s life is freely given to 
a cause he loves, while his family is some- 
what curbed that he may feel sure that 
they may not need when he is gone from 
them ? 

* “Only a few months ago a Mason of 
long and good standing, also an old time 
friend, told me of a friend whose husband 
died, leaving a widow with six children. 
He was a Mason, but had fallen behind in 
dues. When he died no attention was 
paid to the fact by the Order. This friend 
looked after the widow and orphans, and 


said to me that it, to him was the worst 
feature in Masonry; he did not know but 
he would stop his dues, and, perhaps, the 
sooner the better for his family, although 
he is wealthy. My husband was a G. A. 
R. also. I should have been thankful for 
a plain railing and neat headstone to mark 
his last resting-place.” 

This illustrates the delinquency which 
brethren under their individual obligation 
would not be guilty of, but which, in their 
collective capacity, they allow to pass very 
often without remonstrance or even a com- 
ment. It is the result of deputizing the 
work of Masonic relief to another, or to an 
organized body; yet it is the only method 
for a very busy man to take, but under it, 
less imposition can be practiced by frauds. 
The Trestle Board believes that relief 
furnished by organized bodies is the most 
efficient and satisfactory method, but we 
condemn the restrictions put upon them by 
the regulations made to perform its benev- 
olent mission. Sound judgment, experi- 
ence and integrity are essential under any 
restraint which can be placed around the 
almoners of a charitable institution, and is 
all that need be required. There are 
many cases where the charitable instincts 
of a truly honest and good man will indi- 
cate that something should be done in re- 
lief not permitted by such requirements as 
that of “good standing.” We are cog- 
nizant of many instances, and any Board 
of Relief should be sustained in the exer- 
cise of the better promptings of human 
nature. If always so done, then com- 
plaints in the secular press, like the forego- 
ing, will cease. Let us, as a Fraternity, 
examine into our rules and customs, and 
see if they are entirely in harmony with 
true Masonic charity; that the honor, 
glory and reputation of the Institution 
may be firmly established, and the world 
convinced of its good effects. 

o 

Dealing with Non-Affiliates. 


We are face to face with a very serious 
question, namely: “Howto deal with non- 
affiliates who petition for membership, 
and are rejected.” 

The ancient Charges and Regulations, 
as well as the holdings of every Grand 
Lodge in this country, require that a Ma- 
son should belong to some Lodge, and 
placing the non affiliate in the category of 
Masonic outlawry. Now, to hold in one 
breath that a Mason shall belong to some 


THE TRESTLE BOARD. 


329 


Lodge or be an outlaw, and in the next to 
declare to him that he cannot belong to 
the Lodge of his choice, and possibly of 
his convenience, because forsooth, some 
one who may be less worthy than he ob- 
jects, is an anomaly for which I am free to 
say I cannot suggest a remedy. But, sure- 
ly, in the wide realm of Masonic justice, 
honesty and charity, there must be a rem- 
edy for this wrong. 

It is not in accord with the spirit of 
Masonry that a brother against whom no 
charges have been preferred, nor can be 
preferred, should be subjected to the hu- 
miliation of going from one Lodge to an- 
other for membership; the very fact of ap- 
plying for membership in a Lodge distant 
from his place of abode would naturally 
raise the question in the mind of any one, 
“Why do you not petition the Lodge 
nearest to you ? And if you have so pe- 
titioned and been rejected was it not for 
good reason ?” 

There can be no doubt whatever that in 
nine cases out of ten the rejection of a 
non-affiliate Mason is due more to pique 
than to causes that affect the Masonic 
standing of the applicant. The only rem- 
edy I can suggest is to inculcate by lectures 
in the Lodge the necessity of the study of 
the principles of Masonry, to the end that 
each and every brother may fully know 
and understand that he has no right to al- 
low such motives to govern him. I think 
the crying evil of our day, so far as Ma- 
sonry is concerned, is that too little is 
known by the membership of the deep 
underlying principles of Masonry. It is 
very good to know the esoteric work of 
the jurisdiction, and to be able to deliver 
the lectures pertaining thereto in an im- 
pressive way; it is very good to have a 
membership that is attentive to the various 
communications of the Lodge; but, my 
brethren, unless we go deeper than this, 
and know that Masonry not only teaches 
but practices temperance, fortitude, pru- 
dence and justice, we shall have spent our 
time in vain. 

Let us engrave deeply upon the tablets 
of our hearts the noble tenets of our pro- 
fession, brotherly love, relief and truth, 
and when the call for action is made, let 
us turn an introspective eye upon that 
tablet, and with the holy principles of 
those tenets for a monitor, act in full ac- 
cord therewith, and this seemingly insur- 
mountable obstacle will have vanished. 
Without charity we are but as sounding 


brass and tinkling cymbals. The Book of 
the Law says that he who is not charitable 
to his own household is worse than an in- 
fidel, and no infidel can gain entrance 
within our Lodges. Let us take heed, 
and see to it that we make not merely a 
profession of brotherly love, relief and 
truth, but also that we practice them. 

— Henry Rucker , G. M., of Oklahoma. 

The foregoing is a frank admission of 
the facts as they are, but for the remedy it 
takes too long to accomplish the object. 
Life is too short to accomplish the impos- 
sible by education. The heroic remedy is 
to abolish the ballot on affiliation. We 
should admit a brother Mason into our 
Lodges as cordially and freely as we would 
a brother of our own blood into our house- 
hold. If he abuses our hospitality or con- 
fidence, we can expel him. 

o 

Editorial Chips. 


The Texas Freemason says it is “well 
aware that a Masonic Lodge should not be 
a collecting agency in the ordinary sense, 
but a Mason who is able to pay his debts 
to a brother and refuses, violates his obli- 
gation as much as if he committed any 
other grave Masonic offense, and should 
be dealt with accordingly.” Why not be- 
come a collecting agency ? Would it not 
be better for Masonry than to have the 
brethren carry their grievance into the 
civil courts? We believe it would. But 
beyond this lies a greater injustice. A 
Mason may wrong a brother out of thou- 
sands, even all he has, and a Lodge will 
not take notice; but if a Mason wrongs a 
Lodge out of a small sum, charges are pre- 
ferred, a commission elected, and the 
brother is tried and expelled. The obli- 
gation to the Lodge is stronger than that 
to the brother whom he may defraud out 
of his whole fortune. 


We have always wished when we be- 
came acquainted with a truly good and 
worthy man, who was not a Mason, that we 
could invite him to become one among us, 
and why should it not be so that we could ? 
We have studied the spirit of the Institu- 
tion, its philosophy and its legends, and 
can find nothing contrary to that practice. 
We believe, as the legend tells us, our 
first Grand Master conferred the degrees 
of Masonry upon the friends of his choice, 
and not for the asking. Another Grand 


330 


THE TRESTLE BOARD. 


Master being asked, in fact denied giving 
the secrets until they could receive them 
lawfully as he had. The legend says 
Adoniram had them conferred upon him 
without asking for them. And, in later 
years, we doubt if Sir Christopher Wren 
solicited them, but had them conferred 
upon him as a token of the regard which 
the Craft entertained for him. And the 
same with many other notable and promi- 
nent men of more recent date, including 
the Prince of Wales, and, maybe, some 
great men in our own country. If such is 
the fact, why should not Masons be priv- 
ileged, under the law y to go out into the 
highways and byways, and select such 
material for the building as is suitable, in- 
stead of having a lot of bad material 
brought up for inspection only to be re- 
jected, and hove over among the rubbish 
as unfit for use ? We believe every can- 
didate should be proposed, and his quali- 
fications considered and passed upon with- 
out his knowledge, and then an invitation 
tendered to become one among us. Such 
action would be received as a compliment 
and an honor, and none but good material 
received, while the pile of rubbish and 
rejected material would be very small, 
and no animosities engendered. Think of 
this, brethren. 


The position of the Romish church is 
rarely in accord with The Trestle 
Board; but in a conversation with the 
Archbishop of San Francisco, to which 
reference is made in this number, the 
position of the church is precisely the one 
we take; viz., that Freemasonry is a re- 
ligion. We have always claimed Free- 
masonry to be a pure, true religion, un- 
defiled by creed, and divested of all side 
issues, which tend to create conflicting 
sects. 

For many years St. John’s Day has 
been celebrated in the interest of the Ma- 
sonic Widows and Orphans’ Home and 
Infirmary of Kentucky. Great material 
aid has been secured for this noble charity 
by such celebrations in different parts of 
the State. The Masons in the State have 
caught the inspiration from their fraters 
near the Home, and have worthily sec- 
onded the efforts in behalf of the Widows 
and Orphans committed to their care. 
The Knights Templar have nobly respond- 
ed to every appeal which has been made 
n behalf of their Home. Permission was 


given this year to all Knights Templar 
and to the Subordinate Commanderies of 
Kentucky to appear in public, in full reg- 
ulation uniform, or in fatigue dress, to 
participate in any gathering of Masons 
called together or assembled for the pur- 
pose of giving financial strength to, or 
otherwise enhancing the interests of, the 
Widows and Orphans’ Home and Infirm- 
ary. 

Bro. Jacob Norton, a veteran Mason, 
died at his home in Boston, March 19th, 
aged 83 years and 2 months. He was a 
Hebrew, and a writer of some ability. 
Many years ago he, with others, asked to 
withdraw from Masonic membership if 
Grand Lodge of Massachusetts refused to 
take out of the ritual what he claimed to 
be sectarianism. The Grand Lodge denied 
the charge of sectarianism, and also their 
petition. He was a devoted Freemason 
till the day of his death. 


There is a Grand Jurisdiction in the 
United States wherein a brother is allowed 
to disclose his ballot. He is allowed to 
disclose a blackball if he chooses, but not 
a white one. Queer kind of a rule, law, 
custom, usage, or whatever it may be, and 
seems to embody a distinction without a 
difference . — Kansas Freemason. 

This is the first step toward abolishing 
the iniquitous secret ballot. The good 
sense of the Fraternity is beginning to 
assert itself,, and brethren will gradually 
become disgusted with the caprice of the 
blackball, and inaugurate the more sensible 
methods of meeting each other on the 
square, and discussing the merits and de- 
merits of the profane applicant for degrees, 
and act together as brothers should. The 
secret ballot is an innovation, and it has 
already existed too long. The sooner it is 
abolished the better. 


The remains of the late Mrs. Rosalie L. 
de Coney, wife of Bro. Alexander D. 
Coney, Consul General of Mexico in San 
Francisco, were interred at Mountain View 
cemetery, Oakland, Sunday, June 13th, 
with special ceremonies by members of the 
Masonic Fraternity, a large number of 
whom were present. Mrs. Coney became 
prominent a few years ago by bringing to this 
country the heart of Bro. Ignacio Herrera 
y Cairo, who was killed in Mexico, and 
prior to his death expressed a desire that 
his heart should be placed in the safe keep- 


THE TRESTLE BOARD . 


33 * 


ing of his brethren, and the deceased lady 
carried out his desire. The heart was in- 
terred at the Herrera plot in Mountain 
View Cemetery, where also was the body 
of Mrs. Coney laid at rest. Bro. Edwin 
A. Sherman delivered an address appro- 
priate to the occasion. 

The Grand Lodge of Iowa, at its recent 
annual communication, recognized the 
“ Grand Dieta Simbolica of Mexico” as 
exercising sole jurisdiction over the three 
degrees of ancient Craft Masonry in Mex- 
ico, and that all Masons from Lodges not 
in affiliation with said body be denied ad- 
mission to the Lodges of Iowa. 


Durant Lodge, No. 268, at Berkeley, 
Cal., visited Golden Gate Lodge, No. 30, 
on June 22d, and conferred the third de- 
gree on a candidate, performing the work 
in their excellent manner, and in their 
new and beautiful costume. Durant is the 
first Lodge in California to adopt a dra- 
matic representation of the work, and this 
embellishment was heartily approved by 
about three hundred brethren who wit- 
nessed the work. Several speeches of 
commendation were made, and generously 
applauded. 


The Monitor thinks the Masons of Santa 
Cruz “are a disgrace to their city, to their 
society and to humanity,” because they 
allow the truth to be spoken in their hall 
concerning their hierarchy by an ex-priest. 
It only echoes the fiat of their pope at 
Rome, which refused funeral ceremonies 
to one though a Catholic was a Mason, 
and excluded his remains at the portals of 
their “church” in San Francisco. Did it 
ever occur to the Monitor that this is a 
free country, and that all men are entitled 
to the privilege of expressing their opin- 
ions whether those opinions be in opposi- 
tion to Freemasonry or the Roman Church ? 


Bro. Henry A. Belcher, of Massachusetts, 
says: “ While Masonry does not claim to 
be religion, it inculcates and promotes in 
its teachings much that lies at the basis of 
true religion.” The Trestle Board 
would ask the brother to define true re- 
ligion, and also if Masonry includes any 
more or less than is included in that defi- 
nition. We think it does not. In fact, 
the Romish church, the most dogmatic 
opponent to Masonry, bases its opposition 
in the declaration that it is a religious 


/ 

sect as much as any other sect, and as 
such it can have no fellowship with it. 
We accept the statement of the Romish 
church, and oppose that hierarchy for its 
intolerance, for while it will discard its 
members who become Masons, Masonry 
will not discard any man for his sectarian 
views. 


Bro. Fred Macdonald, of Butte, Mont., 
was kindly caned on the occasion of his 
seventieth birthday. For fourteen years 
he has tyled every meeting of every Ma- 
sonic body which has met in the Temple 
in that city. The cane was accompanied 
with a silver service, a banquet and ap- 
propriate speeches prepared especially for 
the occasion. 


The fee for the 33 0 in the Southern 
Jurisdiction is $150 instead of $180 as we 
stated in our May issue. We hope no 
one has been misled. The fees for the 
Scottish Rite in the Southern Jurisdiction 
are higher than in the Northern, and 
should be equal. They are from the 4 0 to 
the 33 0 inclusive, $200 in the Northern 
and $330 in California. This will account 
for the greater growth of the Rite in the 
Northern. The disparity is still greater 
in the matter of annual dues. 


At the festival in celebration of the 
109th anniversary of the Royal Masonic 
Institution for Girls, held at Freemason’s 
Tavern, London, England, May 12th, the 
collection amounted to ^16,026 63 6d, 
being the second largest return ever an- 
nounced at the festival; that of 1888 alone 
excepted. 


From a statement prepared by the 
Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of 
Scotland it appears that during the past 
97 years there has been a total of 245,750 
initiated, being an average of a little over 
2,533 per year. Last year it was 5 343; 
but the largest number was in 1S91, which 
was 6,078. 

Bro. P. B. Cornwall, of San Francisco, 
is credited with bringing the charter of the 
first Masonic Lodge started on the Pacific 
Coast for Multnomah Lodge at Oregon 
City, Or., fifty-one years ago. The Lodge 
was chartered by the Grand Lodge of 
Missouri. It was delivered to him at St. 
Josephs, Mo., late in December, 1847, or 
early in January, 1848. It reached Ore- 


332 


THE TRESTLE BOARD . 


gon City in the first part of September, 
1848, in a small hair tanned cowhide trunk, 
which the Grand Lodge of Oregon has pre- 
served as an interesting relic of the intro- 
duction of Freemasonry on this Coast. 

If a Lodge from a sister jurisdiction 
presents an account of expenditures in- 
curred in the relief of one of our brethren, 
we would recommend that the Lodge from 
which he hails make haste to discharge 
the debt, but never let it be said of the 
Masons of this State that we sought return 
for relieving a brother in distress. 

— Bro, John Stewart , G. M., of N K 

If every Lodge in the United States 
adopted this plan as a rule of action, then 
the Wisconsin plan would not be needed. 


The Voice of Masonry says “the Ma- 
sons of this country should not recognize 
any of the Mexican Bodies claiming to be 
Masonic. Not one of them can show a 
regular and lawful genealogy.” Will the 
Voice please tell us how regular and law- 
ful Masonry can be established in Mexico ? 

The requirement of unanimity in the 
ballot as a prerequisite to gaining admis- 
sion to the Masonic Institution prevails 
throughout the United States, but in Eng- 
land one or two blackballs may, but three 
must exclude. 


The Trestle Board would like very 
much to see a Lodge in San Francisco 
established on the basis of contributions 
instead of dues exclusively, and without 
fee or ballot for affiliation. How many 
will give us their names for such a Lodge ? 

The corner-stone of the new Masonic 
Temple at Salinas, Cal., was laid June 
10th by the Grand Lodge of California. 
A banquet and ball followed. 


Ionic Lodge, No. 90, at Seattle, Wash., 
conferred the 3d degree upon Herbert 
Schoenfelt, whose father was Master and 
his elder brothers were Senior and Junior 
Wardens. This was an unique family 
affair. 


The Stockton Record says that the Ma- 
sonic Hall in that city may be sold for a 
mortgage of $33,000. It cost $98,000, 
but would not bring more than $40,000 in 
the present state of affairs. Why should 


not the Grand Lodge endeavor to save 
property for its constituents, which is be- 
ing sacrificed. It is disheartening to the 
Craft to lose their home in such a way, 
and beside the adage is true that “a re- 
move is almost as bad as a fire.” Such 
waste of property accumulated is worse 
than the extravagance which gathered it. 


A new Lodge has been instituted at 
Jerome, Arizona, with Charles Fisher, 
Master; J. F. Sharp, S. W. ; G. B. Nib- 
lock, J. W. 


A new Lodge is proposed to be estab- 
lished at San Pedro, Cal. 


The Past Masters Association of San 
Francisco made their annual excursion to 
Angel Island on St. John’s Day. About 
one hundred and fifty gentlemen and 
ladies were present. The Third Artillery 
Band furnished the music. 


The Drill Corps of California Command- 
ery, No. 1, K. T., made an excursion last 
month to Eureka, Cal., by steamer, and 
were very hospitably entertained by Eu- 
reka Commandery, No. 35, the youngest 
and smallest Commandery in the jurisdic- 
tion. Excursions to various localities in 
the vicinity were made, and the party re- 
turned very much pleased with their week’s 
excursion. 

The Fraternity in San Jose, Cal., cele- 
brated St. John’s Day, June 24th, in a 
social way interspersed with music, drill 
by the Knights Templar, fancy drill by 
thirty young ladies, a bear concert, fairy 
and brownie drill and entertainment by 
one hundred girls and boys. The occa- 
sion was very enjoyable. 


It is said that King George of Greece is 
a Knight Templar. If so, why might not 
he apply for aid to his fraters in the 
contest with the Turks? Hundreds of 
thousands of lives were sacrificed in the 
same cause during the Crusades, and why 
should not the Templars interfere ? 


The Grand Lodge of England, in com- 
memoration of the event of the sixtieth 
anniversary of Queen Victoria’s reign, has 
made the following donations: To the 
Prince of Wales Hospital Fund, ^2,000; 
to the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls, 
^2,000; to the Royal Masonic Institution 


THE TRESTLE BOARD. 


333 


for Boys, ;£ 2,000; to the Royal Masonic 
Benevolent Institution, ,£2,000; or about 
$40,000. 


The Craft in Massachusetts are enjoying 
a season of centennial celebrations of the 
organization of many Lodges in that Grand 
Jurisdiction. 


In West Virginin no Lodge can pass 
by-laws denying a member the right to 
vote by reason of arrears of dues, except 
to be tried and suspended for the same. 

Yerba Buena Lodge of Perfection, No. 
1, of San Francisco, paid a fraternal visit to 
Isaac Davis Lodge of Perfection, at Sacra- 
mento, on the 26th of June, and conferred 
the 14 0 on seven candidates. After the 
work was finished the Craft adjourned to 
the banquet room, where an alegant repast 
was served, w T ith the accompaniments of 
music and toasts. Bro. E. C. Atkinson 
presided in his usual happy style, rarely 
excelled anywhere. The brethren in Sac- 
ramento expressed themselves as very 
grateful for the visit of the San Francisco 
body. 


What do you think of a man w ho owes 
money that he is not able to pay, yet who 
can w*ear fine clothes, spend money for 
various luxuries and allow* his family to 
dress fine and other like things as though 
he was out of debt, and had money ahead? 
Well, it strikes us that his sense of hon- 
esty is not as acute as it should be. A 
man who owes money that should be paid, 
should spend only what is necessary for 
his subsistence, and his family should do 
the same, and he should be up and doing 
early and late till the last farthing is paid. 
And if he has that high sense of honor 
that he should have, this is the course he 
will be sure to take. 


Perhaps the most interesting figure at 
the session of the Masonic Grand Lodge, 
which has just concluded its w*ork at New* 
York, w*as Daniel Sickles, or “Uncle Dan,” 
as he is familiarly knowrn. He is now* in 
his eighty-third year and resides in Brook- 
lyn. He is the dean of the Masonic Fra- 
ternity, being the oldest thirty third de- 
gree Mason in the United States. Tall 
and dignified in bearing, with snowy hair 
and beard, he is held in the deepest rever- 
ence by his brother Masons. “Uncle Dan” 
received his first light in Masonry May 4, 


1S48, in Lebanon Lodge, and in the fol- 
lowing year was elected Master. In the 
Ancient Accepted Rite on May 15, 1849, 
he w*as created Sovereign Grand Inspector- 
General, the thirty- third and last grade of 
this beautiful rite, and was made Grand 
Secretary General of the holy empire. 
He w*as the creator of the present United 
Supreme Council of the Northern Juris- 
diction, and was the Grand Secretary- 
General for eighteen years. He was the 
founder and first President of the Masonic 
Veterans of the State of New* York, and is 
the author of several text books. 


In New* Jersey “the fact that an accused 
brother has been judged guilty in a court 
cannot be used in a Masonic trial.” 


David Crockett’s Masonic apron is now* 
in the possession of Bro. E. M. Taylor, of 
Paducah, Ky. 

The Government of Spain prohibits any 
Mason from wearing a Masonic charm or 
pin in public. 

Some Masons are like a postage stamp, 
when they get badly stuck on themselves 
they are not worth two cents. 

Nothing can be more disgusting to a 
refined man than vulgarity about the ban- 
queting board, especially when it comes 
from him who should know* better, and 
w*ho is the one that points out to its mem- 
bers these very things as being immoral, 
and w’hich he requests them to avoid. 

Illinois takes the lead in membership in 
the Order of the Eastern Star, with 167 
chapters and 16,738 members. 

Be scrupulous in the admission of mem- 
bers, but not narrow*-minded in discussing 
their claims on application; ever remember 
that the busy, active and energetic man 
usually has enemies. 

Some years ago, while Judge Theodore 
Brace of the Supreme Court was Grand 
Master of Masons for Missouri, the subject 
of the propriety of Masonic burial rites at 
a funeral by cremation came before him 
for consideration. The result w*as that he 
issued a dispensation permitting the cele- 
bration|of Masonic rites at an incineration. 
At the next meeting of the Grand Lodge, 
in order to provide for the emergencies 


334 


THE TRESTLE BOARD . 


arising out of the extension of the system 
of cremation, the constitution of the order 
was amended by the insertion of a clause 
reading as follows: “No Mason shall be 
denied a Masonic funeral on account of 
any request made prior to his death, or by 
his family, as to the disposition of his re- 
mains. M This clause is now a part of the 
Masonic law for the Missouri jurisdiction. 

The rules governing admission to the 
Home at Utica forbid the reception of a 
Mason who has been unaffiliated for five 
years until his restoration and subsequent 
Lodge membership for two and a half 
years. 


Charity is one of the grand character- 
istics of Freemasonry. What we need is 
more practice of it and less boasting about 
it. Then we would not so of en permit a 
single error of a brother to obliterate an 
after life of usefulness. 


There are but two European potentates 
who manage to get along without change 
of residence. These are the Pope of 
Rome and the Sultan of Turkey. The 
Sultan has never left Constantinople since 
he ascended the throne in such tragic cir- 
cumstances nineteen years ago, and his 
holiness has remained within the precincts 
of the Vatican since the triple tiara was 
placed upon his head. 


When a brother is raised to the degree 
of Master Mason in Virginia he has the 
privilege of declaring himself a member of 
the Lodge in which he receives the de- 
gree. If he neglects to do so he becomes 
a non-affiliate, and must afterwards seek 
affiliation in the usual manner. In that 
Jurisdiction also a Master Mason may be 
a member of two or more Lodges at the 
same time. 


A veteran in Masonic workings and one 
of the ablest ritualists said: “If I had my 
Masonic career to live over again, I would 
take all the Masonic degrees, both York 
and Scottish Rite, for the intellectual and 
moral power that is in every degree, but I 
would never hold an office, for he who 
would couple with Masonic knowledge the 
bright ambition of official position will 
find it the bitter dregs in the end. The 
jealous stabs of envious incompetents will 
take all the pleasure that official position 
might bring. My advice to all young Ma- 


sons who may possess ritualistic ability is 
to fling away ambition. ” 


The Grand Lodge of Nevada held its 
annual communication at Elko on June 
8-9. The following officers were installed: 

Albert Lackey, Grand Master; Matthew Kyle, D. G. M.; 
J. M. M’Cormack, G. S. W.; J A. Miller, G. J. W.; H. L. 
Fish, G. Treasurer; C. N. Noteware, G. Secretary; Tren- 
mor Coffin, G. Orator; T. L. Bellam, G. Chaplain; B. H. 
Reymers, G. Marshal; J. D. Campbell, G. St. B.; Thos. 
Nelson, G. Sw. B.; Geo. A. Morgan, G. S. D.; W W. 
Stephens, G. J. D.; A. S. Dickson and Geo. R. Mullins, 
G. Stewards; C. H. Galusha, G. Organist; G. A. Krenkel, 
G. Pursuivant; J. F. Triplett, G. Tyler. 


The Grand R. A. Chapter of Nevada 
held its annual convocation at Elko, June 
12-13. The following officers were in- 
stalled : 

Matthev Kyle, G. H. P ; S. H. McCormack, D. G. H. P.; 
A. O. Perv, G. King; M. A. Murphv, G. Scribe; Enoch 
Strother, G. Treasurer; C. N. Noteware, G. Secretary; John 
Hancock, G. C. of H.; W. W. Stevens, G. R. A. C.; J. A. 
Miller, G. Chaplain; A. D. B rd, G. Organist; Christian 
Diehl, Grand Guard. 


The Grand Chapter R. A. M. of Oregon 
held its 37th annual convocation at Port- 
land, June 14-15. The following officers 
were installed: 

L. N. Loney, Eugene, G. H. P.; H. S. Strange, Oregon 
City, D. G. H. P.; W. T. Wright, Union, G. K,;0. O. Hod- 
son, McMinnville, G. S ; D. P. Mason, Albany, G. Treas- 
urer; J. F. Robinson, Eugeue, G. Se retary; T. M Hurlbut, 
Portland, G. Lecturer; H. B. Thielson, Independence, G. C. 
ofH;S. M. Yoran, Eugene. G. Chaplain; W. A. Cleland, 
Portland, G. P. S ; W. S. Myers, The Dalles, G. R. A. C.; 
W. B. Blanchard, Brownsville, G. M. 3 d V.; Frank J. Mil- 
ler, Albany, G. M. 2 d V.; J. S. Purdom, Grant’s Pass, G. M. 
1 st V.; Gustav Wilson, Portland, Sentinel. 

The Grand Chapter of O. E. S. of 
Oregon held its 8th annual communication 
at Portland, June 14-16. The reports 
showed a total membership of 2,943 — a 
gain of 392 during the year — and $2,468 
on hand in the treasury. The following 
officers were elected: 

Mrs. Madeleine B Conkling, Roseburg, G. Matron; Bro. 
Charles C. Poling, La Fayette, G. Patron; Mrs. Margaret 
Lutke, Portland, A. G. M.; bro. W. P. Connoway, Inde- 
pendence, A. G. P.; Mrs. Jessie L. Cavana, La Grande, 
G. Secretary; Mrs. Jennie G. Muckle, St Helens, G Treas- 
urer; Mrs. Susan J. Heppner, Albina, G. Cond.; Mrs. Min- 
nie E. Lee, Corvallis, A. G. C.; Mrs. Mary J. Kelly, Albany, 
G. * haplain; Mrs. Laura M. Loun-berry. Astoria, G. Mar- 
shal; Bro. William Clemmons, Dayton, G. Leciurer; Mrs. 
All te E. Townsend, Dallas, G. Adah; Mrs. Lida Poorman, 
Woodburn, G. Ruth; Mrs. Bertha Caro, Roseburg, G. 
Esther; Mrs. Mabel Johns, Baker City, G. Martha; Mrs. 
Anna M. Holman, Grant’s Pass, G. Electa; Mrs. Isabel S. 
Palmer. Bandon, G. Warder; Bro. C. E. Miller, Portland, 
G. Sentinel; Mrs. Carrie Wise, Myrtle Point, G. Organist. 


The Grand Lodge of Washington held 
its 40th annual communication at Seattle, 
June 8th, Bro. Yancey C. Blalock, Grand 
Master, presiding. The Treasurer’s re- 
port showed cash on hand and credits 
amounting to $6,717.67. The following 
officers were elected: 

A. W. Frater, Snohomish, Grand Master; W. H. Upton, 
Walla Walla. D. G. M.; Wm. M. Seeman, Puyallup, G. S. 
W.; S ; J. Chadwick, Colfax, G. J. W.; Benj. Harned, 
Olympia, G. Treasurer; T. M. Reed, Olympia, G. Sec’y. * 


THE TRESTLE BOARD 


335 


The Grand Commandery of Washing- 
ton held its tenth annual conclave at Ta- 
coma, June 2-3. Tne returns show a net 
increase in membership during the year of 
22, making the total number of members 
in the State 656. Since the last annual 
meeting 25 were knighted, 15 affiliated, 
26 were reinstated, 17 demitted, 17 sus- 
pended, 1 expelled and 9 died. The fol- 
lowing officers were elected: 

George E. Dickson, Ellensburg, G. Commander; Jacob 
Weatherwax, Aberdeen, D. G C.; Charles Dibble, What- 
com, G. Geno,; Frank W. Churchouse. Spokane, G. C. G.; 
H. W. Eagan, W 11 a Walla, G. Prelate; Beverly W Coiner, 
Tacoma, G. S. W.; Edwin W. Craven, Seattle, G. J. W.; 
Wm. McMick-n, Olympia, G. Treasurer; Yancev S. Bla- 
lock, Waila Walla, G. Recorder; John Lillie, Townsend, 
G, St. B.; Edward S. Ingraham Seattle, G. S. B.; Lincoln 

F. Gault, Tacoma, G. Warder; Frank P. Weymouth, Spo- 
kane, G. Sentinel. 


The Grand Chapter R. A. M. of Wash- 
ington held its annual convocation at Ta- 
coma, June 2-3. The following officers 
were elected: 

Carmi Dibble, New Whatcom, G. H. P.: John Moore, 
Spokane, D. G. H. P.; D. Lew Paramore Snohomish, 

G. King; S. Harry Rush, Spokane, G. Scribe; William Mc- 
Micken, Olympia, G. Treasurer; Y. C. Blalock, Walla 
Walla, G. Secretary; Rev. H. W. Eagan, Walla Walla, 
G. Chaplain; A. Nilsson, Dayton, G. 1*. of H.; J. Weather- 
wax, Aberdeen, G. P. S.; George E. Dickson, Ellensburg, 
G. R. A. C.; G. N. Alexander, Seattle, G. M. 3d V.; J. H. 
Babbitt, Tacoma, G. M. 2d V.: R. L. McCroskey. Colfax, 
G. M. 1st V.; N. T. Caton, Sprague, G. Orator; J. W. 
Stearns, Tekoa, G. Steward; M, Gerson, Port Townsend, 
G. Sentinel. 


The Grand Council R. & S. M. of 
Washington held its annual assembly at 
Seattle, June 7th. The following officers 
were elected: 

S. H. Rush, Spokane, G. Master; D. H. Shaw, Colfax, 
D. G. M.; T. C. Blalock, Walla Walla, P. C. W.; J. M. 
Prather, Seattle, C. C.; Conrad L. Hoska, Tacoma, C. ofG.; 
D. L. Deraorest, Tacoma, G. Treasurer; Ed R. Hare, Ta- 
coma, G. Recorder; N. S. Peterson, Sentinel; P. A. Dag- 
gett, Spokane, Steward. 


The Grand Chapter of Colorado O. E. 
S. held its annual meeting at Colorado 
Springs, June 3d. The following officers 
were installed: 

Mrs. Mary L. Carr, Longmont, Grand Matron; D. R. 
Callaway, Trinidad, Grand Patron; Mrs. Lizzie B. Spreyer, 
Canon City, G. A. M.; John McCoach. Victo . G. A. P.; 
Mrs. Eliza S. Cohen Colo. Springs, G. Secretary; Mrs. 
Meta T. Alcorn, Greeley, G. Treasurer; Mrs. Mary Barr' , 
Denver, G. Conductress; Mrs. Jennie Safeley, Boulder, 
G. A. C.; Mrs. Josie S. H gg, Telluride, G Adah; Mrs. 
Annie M. Walsh, Cripple Creek, G. Ruth; Mrs. Carrie P. 
Carney, Ouray, G. Esther; Mrs. Ailleen Frowine, Manitou, 
G. Martha; Mrs. Cora Foster, Colo. Springs, G. Electa; 
Mrs. Lettie Kessler, Golden. G. Warder; Thomas Fair- 
hurst, Denver, G. Sentinel; Mrs. ulia Watson, Aspen, G. 
Chaplain; Dr. Sarah E. Calvert, Denver, G. Marshal; Mrs. 
Marie Mignolet, Denver, G. Organist. 


The 22d annual conclave of the Grand 
Commandery of Colorado was held in 
Denver, June 1st. The following officers 
were installed: 

George J. Dunbaugh, Pueblo, G. Commander; John M. 
Maxwell, Leadville, D. G. C.; Harry A. Lee, Denver, G. G.; 
Julius B. Bissell, Denver, G. C. G.; John Wallis Ohl, Sal- 
ida, G. Pre.; George W. Roe, Pueblo, G. S. W.; Ed. G. Ar- 


nold, Denver, G. I. W.; William T. Todd, Denver, G. 
Treasurer; Ed. C Parmelee, Denver, G. Rec William J. 
Fine, Gunnison, G. St. B.; Richard W. Corwin, Pueblo, G. 
Sw. B.; James B. Severy, Colorado Springs, G. Warder; 
Thomas Linton, Denver, G. C. of G, 

Committee on Jurisprudence — James H. Peabody, Canon 
City; William W. Rowan, Ouray; Engene P. Shove, Colo- 
rado Springs. 

Committee on Correspondence — Harper M. Orahood, 
Denver; Alphonse A. Bnrnand, Leadville; Eruest LeNe/e 
Foster, Denver. 

A charter was granted to Cripple Creek 
Commandery, No. 26, at Cripple Creek. 
Twenty-two of the twenty four Comman- 
deries were represented. 


At the 8th annual communication of the 
Grand Lodge of North Dakota, held at 
Fargo, June 8th and 9th, the following 
officers were installed: 

Robert M. Carothers, Grand Forks, Grand Master; Geo. 

H. Keyes, Ellendale, D. G. M.: John A. Percival, Devils 
Lake, G. S. W.; Ed^in H. James, St. Thomas, G. J. W.; 
Evarts C. Stevens, Towner, G. Treasurer; Frank). Thomp- 
son, Fareo, G. Secretary ; John Trenaman, Cassdton, 
G. Chaplain; Theodore F. Branch, Jamestown, G. S. 
D.; Thomas L. Foulks, Lisbon, G. J. D.; George A. Fridd, 
Valley City. G. S. S ; Louis B. Hanna, Page, G. J. S.; Emery 
S. Beardsley, Bismarck, G. Marshal; John Schuler, Hills- 
boro, G. Sw. B ; Louis A. Jacobson, Hope, G. Pursuivant; 
Draper A .Lindsey, Fargo, G. Lecturer; Thomas Kleinogle, 
Fargo, G. D. Secretary; James Johnson, Minot, G. Tyler; 
Committee on Correspondence, Frank J. Thompson Fargo. 

At the 8th annual convocation of the 
Grand Chapter R. A. M. of North Dakota, 
held at Fargo, Thursday, June 10th, the 
following officers were installed: 

David E. Morgan, Devils Lake, G. H. P ; George H. 
Phelps, Fargo, D. G. H. P.; Geo. L. McGregor, Ft. Totten, 
G. King; De Witt C. Moore, Grafton, G. Scribe; Victor 
Lundquist, Casselton, G. Treasurer; Frank J. Thompson, 
Fargo, G. Secretary; Fred D. Aplin. Lisbon, G. C. H. 
Wm. H. Topping, Grand Forks, G. P. S.: Robert D. Hos- 
kins, Bismarck, G. R. A. C.; Samuel E. R> an, Jamestown, 

G. Chaplain; Carl Aurland, Minot, G. D. Secretary; Geo. 

H. Keyes, Ellendale, G. M. 3d V.; John Holmes, Valley 
City, G. M. 2d V.; Evarts C. Stevens, Towner, G.M. 1st \\; 
George Guthrie, Casselton, G. Sentinel. 


The 25th annual meeting of the Grand 
Chapter of Vermont was held in Barton, 
June 2d. The following grand officers 
were installed: 

F. W. Baldwin, Barton, Grand Patron; Mrs. Ida I. Wing, 
Montpelier, Grand Matron; J. H. Mcl.oud, Hardwick, A. 
G. P.: Mrs. Mary L. Paine, Windsor, A. G. M. H. L. Still- 
son, Bennington, G. Secretary; Mrs. Helen M. Whitney, 
Windsor, G. Treasurer; Mrs. Elma M Miller, Newport, 
G. Conductress; Mrs. Lue D. Clement, Bradford. A. G C.; 
Mrs. Olive J. Stowell, Putnev, G. Lecturer; Rev. I. P. 
Booth, MorrisvUle, G. Chaplain; J. S. Weeks. St. Johns- 
bury, G. Marshal; Mrs. Helen C. Cole, North Bennington, 
G. Warder; E. J. Parsons, Island Pond, G. Sentinel; Mrs. 
Frances M. Watchie, West Burke, G. Adah; Miss Helen 
E. Howe, Northfield, G. Ruth; Mrs. belle M. Parker, Wol- 
cott, G. Esther; Mrs. Geo. F. Leland, Springfield, G. Mar- 
tha; Mrs. Mary B. Smith, Pawlet, G. Electa; Mrs. Olive J. 
Stowell, Putney, Committee oil Foreign Correspondence. 

The 26th annual convocation will be 
held in Springfield, Wednesday following 
the first Tuesday in June, 1S9S. 


The Grand Lodge of Manitoba held its 
2 2d annual communication on June 9th at 
Winnipeg, M. W. Bro. Judge Locke, Grand 
Master, presiding. The reports showed 
2,641 members, an increase of 202. Total 


336 


THE TRESTLE BOARD . 


revenue, $3,282.07; expenditure, $2,- 
590.09; balance, $691.98. The following 
officers were installed: 

Thomas Robinson, Winnipeg, Grand Master; G. B. Mur- 
phy, Moosomin, D. G. M.; G. W. Garton, Emerson, G. S. 
W.; W. Craword, Medicine Hat, G. J. W.; J. McKechnie. 
Winnipeg, G. Treasurer; W. G Scott, Winnipeg, G. Sec- 
retary; J. O. Smith, Winnipeg, G. R.; A. A. Chisholme, 
Rapid City, G. Chap.; John McBride, G. Tyler; R. H. 
Meyers, Minnesota, G. D. C.; L. Minchin, Winnipeg, G. 
Orator; R. K. Wilson, Macleod, G. S D.; W. A. Burton, 
Mooseiaw, G. J. D ; H. E. Hyde, Pincher Creek, G. P.; 
J. C. Saul, R. A. Campkin, L. Remey, J. S. G. Van Wart, 
W. Lindsay, C. H. Edmonton and R. Wynne, Stewards. 

At the recent session of the Imperial 
Council, A. A. O. N. M. S. at Detroit, 
Michigan, the following officers were 
elected: 

A. W. McGaffey, Denver, G. P.; M. E. T. Allen, Kansas 
City, I. P.; J. H. Atwood, Leavenworth, C. R.; L. B. Win- 
sor, Reed City, Mich., A. C. R.; P. C. Shaffer, Philadelphia 
H. P.: H. C. Akin, Omaha, O. G.; W. B. Rowell, Boston, 
Rec.; W. H. Brown, Pittsburgh, Treasurer. 


The Grand Lodge of (colored) Masons 
of California held its 43d annual session 
in Sacramento, June 7th, Edwin A. Clark, 
Grand Master, presiding. The returns 
showed eight lodges with 150 members. 
The financial report shows receipts $172, 
disbursements $2, balance $109 The Aid 
Association has collected $r2 4.65 and dis- 
bursed for charity $120; total disburse- 
ments to beneficiaries since organization 
$543. The following officers were in- 
stalled: 

Wm. H. Mauldin, Sacramento, Grand Master; Samuel 
E. Young, San Francisco. D. G. M.; Wm. N. Sanderson, 
Oakland, G. S. W.; A. D. Wall, Marysville, G. J. W.; Geo. 
W. Mitchell, San Francisco. G. Treasurer; Frank W. Jack- 
son, San Francisco, G. Secretary; J. R. Dorsey, Sacramen- 
to, G. Chaplain; John A. Barber, San Francisco, G. Lec- 
turer; Abram F. Holland, Oakland, G. Orator; W. R. 
Strickland, San Francisco, G. Marshal; F. J. Butler, San 
Francisco, G. St. B.; R. Wilkinson, San Francisco, G. Sw. 
B ; John G. Pallier, San Francisco, G. B. B.; Edward Mills, 
Sacramento, G. S. D.; J. L. Clayton, San Francisco G. J. 
D.; E. Cooper, San Francisco, G. S. S,; H. S. Clay, Marys- 
ville, G. J. S ; W. R. Page, San Francisco, G. Pursuivant; 
W. H. Blake, Oakland, G. Organist; Thomas Smith, Marys- 
ville, G. Tyler. 


As to when Masonry was organized, how 
should a brother wear his apron and 4 ‘where 
does the Master hang his hat,” etc., pale 
into insignificance whencompared with the 
questions, Have we any brothers in dis- 
tress, and have we any widows and or- 
phans in want ? 

A Masonic Temple, ten stories high, 
and which will cost at least $200,000, is 
about to be erected in Atlanta, Ga. 


The general Grand Chapter of the United 
States meets in Baltimore, Md., in October 
of this year. 


The Supreme Council of the 33 0 for the 
Southern jurisdiction of the United States 


will meet in Washington, D. C. , on Mon- 
day, October 18, 1897. 

o 

Elections in California. 


Santa Rosa Commandery, No. 14 — E. W. Davis, Com- 
mander; A. B Ware, Geno.; M. J. Striening, C. G.; R. F. 
Crawford, S. W.; C. M. Bumbaugh. J. W.; J. D. Barnett 
Treasurer; J. C. Mailer, Recorder; W. Philips, St. B.; a! 
W. Arnold, Sw. B.; S. I. Allen. C. E. Humbert and G. A. 
Tupper, Guards; H. J. Ross, Sentinel 
St. Omer Commandery, No. 30, Santa Barbara— J. N. 
Hiller, Commander; J. K. Harrington, C. G.; F. A. Conant 
Geno; W. A. Hawley, Prelate; A. f. Hardy, S. W.; J. H. Bur- 
son, J. W.; J. W. Garretscn, Treasurer; A. Ott, St. B.; O. 
P. Squier, W.; J. C. Hassinger, Third Guard; J. C. Wilson, 
Second Guard; I. Loomis, First Guard; D. Moyer, Sentinel. 

Ukiah Commands y, No. 33— James M. Mannon, Com- 
mander; George W. Stout, Geno.; John H. Barker, C. G.; 
L. W. Babcock, Prela e; Samuel Wheeler. Treasurer; J. r! 
Mathews, Recorder; Hale McCowen. S. W.; W. R. Elliott 
J. W.; W. T. Kirkwood, St. B.; John Snow, Sw. B.; Samuel 
D. Paxton, Warder. 

Visalia Commandery, No. 26— J. C. Ward, Commander; 
W. H. rtammond, Geno.; Wm. Vettner, C. G.; Christian 
Hausch. Prelate; Thos. A. Chatten, S .W.; Fred A. War> 
ner, J. W.; J. E. Denny, Treasuier; E. H. Miles, Re- 
corder; W. G. Dozier, St. B.; A P. Hall, Sw. B.; J. S. John- 
son, Warder; Richard Chatten, J. N. Bowhay and Thos. 
Mclntire, Guards. 

Mt. Olivet Commandery, No. 20, Petaluma— R. H. Brown, 
Commander; M. D. Goshen, Geno.; A. Rosenburg, C. G. * 
J. Partridge. Prelate; C. E. Reed, S. W.; O. Dunton, J. W.’ 
Wm. Hill, Treasurer; H. P. Braiuard, Recorder; J. Cava- 
naugh, Sw. B., F. M. Collins, St. B.; A. Heinecken, Ward- 
er; L. C. Byce, Wm. Zartman, J. M. Bowles, Guards. 

Oroville Commandery, No. 5— C. D. Dunn, Commander; 
H. C. Hills', Geno.; W. H. Dixon, C. G.; G. H. Stout, s. 
W.; E. Tucker, J. W.; John C. Gray, Treas; G. J. Graham, 
Recorder; C. M. Spangler, St. B.; G. W. Duryer, Sw. B.; 
H. E. Reid, Warder; W. H. Chappelle, Sentinel; C. F. 
Lott, A. F. Jones and T. M. James, Guards. 

Naval Commandery, No. 19. — Geo. Rounds, Commander; 
F. A. Small, Geno.; G. A. Bergwall, C. G.; W. H. Clarke, 
Prelate; F. J. Kinsey, S. W.; J. C. Ford, J. W.; John 
Brownlie, Treasurer; C. F. MugriJge, Recorder; J. H. 
Ford, St. B.; J. F. Deininger, Sw. B.; S. Warford, Warder; 
H. Bruce, Sentinel; C» T. B. Hallin, A. J. McPike and W. 
D. Anderson, Guards. 

Robert Bruce Chapter, Rose Croix, No. 3, at Los An- 
geles— Charles Campbell, Wise Master; G. W. Van Al- 
stine, S. W.; Dr. W. E. Pritchard, J. W.; Frank F. Davis, 
Orator; H. S. Orme, Almoner; John S. Pavkovicb, Secre- 
tary; Samuel Conradi, Treasurer. 

Hugues de Payens Council, Knights of Kadish, No. 3, 
at Los Angeles— George Sinsabaugh, Commander; Charles 
Campbell, First Lieut. Commmander; Robert Z. Montgom- 
ery, Second Lieut. Commander; J. R. Dupuy, Chancellor; 
F. F. Davis, Orator; H. S. Orme, Almoner; John L. Pavko- 
vich, Recorder; S. Conradi, Treasurer. 

O 

Chips from Other Quarries. 


The minimum fee for the symbolic de- 
grees in Missouri is twenty dollars; too 
cheap to be good, brothers. 

— Bun F. Price . 

Is money the standard by which man 
and Masonry is to be measured ? Is a man 
less worthy who can afford only $20 than 
he who can afford $100? We surely do 
not wish to measure the dignity of Ma- 
sonry by dollars, and neither do we desire 
to estimate its value on the Price Current 
plan. Masonry will wear just as long at 
$20 as at $50, and often the Masonic gar- 
ment of the former wears much better and 
longer than the latter. The Masonic de- 
grees or Masonry is a gift to him that is 


THE TRESTLE BOARD . 


337 


worthy, and as precious to him who is 
rated low in finance as to him who controls 
his millions. No man buys Masonry; it is 
not a financial transaction; it does not enter 
on the market or stock exchange; it is a 
priceless jewel, conferred upon and worn 
by the worthy. In this age of booms and 
shams the world may estimate a man’s 
standing by the size of his bank account, 
but Masonry can not, must not, have a 
pecuniary value. — Orient 

We are glad to find that our principles 
are penetrating the exclusiveness of the 
churches. Many preachers take credit for 
the great advances made in the closer 
union of professing Christians in works of 
charity and mercy, but we think the credit 
is due more to the laymen who are the 
leaders in the Craft and other associations 
similarly constituted, in bringing about 
this happy result. However, the world 
moves, and the clergy and churches must 
follow the trend of right, and we trust the 
day is not far distant when all those who 
believe in the principles of Masonay may 
be enabled to meet “Upon the Level.” 

— Canadian Craftsman . 


A short time ago I visited one of our 
prominent Lodges that has a membership 
of over three hundred. We noticed a young 
man who seemed to be lost. No one spoke 
to him or extended to him the hand of fel- 
lowhip. Several committees were appoint- 
ed; he was not asked to serve. I asked 
an officer of the Lodge who he was. He 
answered: “Really I don’t know his name; 
he was raised here a short time ago. I 
am not acquainted with him.” We watched 
him during the evening ; when Lodge closed 
he passed out into the ante-room, and into 
the street unnoticed by all, another candi- 
date for non-affiliation. Who is at fault, 
the brethren or the members of the Lodge ? 

— C. S. Glaspell , in Orient . 


Near the city of London, Eng., alone, 
there are three great Masonic benevolent 
establishments supported by voluntary 
Craft contributions approximating and 
sometimes exceeding a quarter of a mil- 
lion dollars annually. One of these in- 
stitutions is “a home” for aged Free- 
masons and their wives. The two others 
are for the sustenance and education of 
the needy sons and daughters of departed 
Freemasons (founded ninety-eight years 
ago). Of the culture received therein by 


the two latter classes, it will suffice to say 
that many of these youths (boys and girls) 
pass with credit examinations in the Uni- 
versity of London. Situations, too, are 
found for many of them, at the close of 
their tutelage, and others are given a start 
in business for themselves. 


An effort has been made to establish a 
Shelter House for those Masons who have 
been so unfortunate as to be in New York 
city seeking employment without monev 
and without friends. They can obtain a 
lodging for a few days, and not be obliged 
to sleep in station houses or run the risk 
of being arrested as vagabonds. A small 
fund has already been formed for this noble 
charity, and Greenwich has offered a dol- 
lar for each member towards the fund, and 
asks each Lodge to follow its example. 
There are 20,000 Masons in New York 
and vicinity, and if this plan is carried 
out, no brother will be burdened. It is 
hoped that the Lodges outside will do 
something to forward this matter. 


The late Mr. Boyesen, in the Forum , 
speaking of excess of novel reading, says : 
“Who that has read Rousseau’s ‘Confes- 
sions’ will fail to remember the emphatic 
avowal that he was unfitted for life by the 
reading of novels ? Like the opium habit, 
the craving for fiction grew upon him, 
until the fundamental part of him had 
suffered irreparable harm. He is not the 
only one who has experienced detrimental 
effects from dwelling too long in the 
pleasant land of romance. As soon as a 
man — and particularly a child — gets ac- 
climated there, he is likely to become of 
very small account, as far as reality is con- 
cerned. He becomes less and less able to 
apply sound standards of judgment to the 
things of this world, and as a success in 
life, for which we are striving, depends 
primarily upon the ability to see things 
straight, and to judge them clearly, no 
one can escape the conclusion that a large 
consumption of romantic fiction tends dis- 
tinctly to disqualify a man for worldly 
success.” 


The Masonic meeting, at the Royal Al- 
bert Hall, London, Monday afternoon, 
June 14th, in commemoration of the 
Queen’s diamond jubilee, was a notable 
function. The hall was packed by over 
10,000 Freemasons in gorgeous regalia. 
The Prince of Wales and the Duke of 


338 


THE TRESTLE BOARD. 


Connaught arrived at 4 o’clock, preceded 
by trumpeters sounding fanfares. When 
they entered the hall the organ played a 
grand, processional march, and all present 
rose to their feet. The grand officers lined 
the aisle to the dais. The Prince of Wales, 
as Grand Master of England, followed by 
an imposing staff composed of grand offi- 
cers, moved to the sound of majestic music 
to his throne, where, surrounded by a 
brilliant phalanx of officers, he was re- 
ceived and greeted in the united form of 
salutation reserved for his high station. 
The Prince then addressed the audience, 
and announced that the admission fees for 
the ceremony amounted to £7 000 ($3 5,- 
000), half of which would go to the Prince 
of Wales hospital fund and the other half 
to the different Masonic charities. The 
Duke of Connaught moved an address to 
the Queen in behalf of the Masons, and it 
was carried with loud applause, after 
which the whole assemblage joined in 
singing the national anthem, to the ac- 
companiment of the organ. 

A Cuba telegram, printed in the New 
York World , stated that trans-Atlantic 
steamers are crowded with Freemasons 
and other suspects exiled to the island of 
Fernando Po. An exchange says that 
quite recently a citizen of Venezuela was 
named for transportation. He belonged 
to the Lodge of which President Crespo 
was a member, and Consul Lara demanded 
his release. Following his usual custom, 
Weyler denied that any Venezuelan had 
been arrested. That same afternoon the 
Venezuelan, in handcuffs and shackles, 
was recognized while being driven on 
board a Spanish transport. Consul Lara 
hurried to Weyler and renewed his de- 
mand. Weyler again declined, intimat- 
ing that the Consul was making himself 
decidedly disagreeable. The Consul at 
once wired President Crespo of Venezuela. 
The reply came in two hours. It read: 

“Unless prisoner be released before ves- 
sel sails close your Consulate, and leave 
Cuba immediately; and, in withdrawing, 
intimate to Weyler that Venezuela will 
hold Spain responsible for the outrage he 
is committing.” 

The big trans-Atlantic transport had al- 
ready weighed anchor when signaled to 
stop by orders from General Weyler. A 
police boat put off, and bore the Vene- 
zuelan ashore. 

Consul Lara was banqueted by the 


Venezuelan colony that night. Champagne 
glasses clinked merrily, and friends of the 
freed prisoner drank to the health of Gen- 
eral Joaquin Crespo, the plucky South 
American executive, who had dared to call 
Weyler’s hand and check Spain’s arbitrary 
treatment of Cuba’s foreign residents. 


It has been stated that from twenty five 
to thirty per cent of church members give 
nothing unless it be drawn from them by 
what has been called “secondary machin- 
ery,” such as church fairs, picnics, excur- 
sions, drawings, socials, or other expedi- 
ents resorted to. It has always been a 
mystery why people will refuse the strong- 
est appeals, and then go and pay an enor- 
mous price at a bazaar for some trifle they 
do not want. As has been frequently said: 
A bazaar, a dinner, or an excursion may 
bring some money to a benevolent enter- 
prise, but it does not contribute to self- 
discipline. It does not bring a reflex 
benefit to the contributor because of his 
having done a good thing. There is no 
devotion, no gratitude, no benevolence in 
the heart of such a patron. There is no 
development of the true spirit of benevo- 
lence, apart from growth in grace, with an 
increasing love for humanity. When the 
heart is warmed with Christian love, the 
hand will open to every proper call for 
help in the cause of Christ or humanity. 

— Herald and Presbyter. 

o 

Literary Notes. 


Fifty Years of Masonry in California, 

No. 2, is on our table, and fully sustains the promise of the 
preceding issue. A very correct steel poi trait of Bro. 
Thomas H. Caswell, 33 0 Grand Commander of the Su- 
preme Council, Southern Masonic Jurisdiction of the 
United States, adorns the number with other engravings of 
merit. The preliminary work is finished, and this issue 
enters upon the field which its title indicates as its object, 
and cannot fail to be attractive to every California Mason 
espec ally. Geo. Spaulding & Co., 414 ^lay St., San Fran- 
cisco. 

We have received printed copies of the 

proceedings of the following Grand Bodies for which the 
Secretaries have our thanks: Grand Lodges of North Caro- 
lina and Indiana; Grand Commanderies K. T. of Noith 
Carolina, Missouri, West Virginia, Newjerseyand Georgia; 
Grand onsistory of California; Grand Chapters O. E. S. of 
Maine and Indiana. 


Deaths. 

At Porterville, Cal., June 2d, Robert M. Wood, a native 
of Decatur county, Indiana, a member of Porterville Lodge, 
No. 303, aged 59 years. 

In San Francisco, June 3d, Barlow Dver, a native of 
Maine, a member of Oriental Lodge, No. 144, aged 76 
years. 

In San Francisco, June 16th, Daniel M. McKellips, a native 
of Vermont, a member of Hiram Lodge, No. 50, Madison, 
Wisconsin, aged 56 years. His funeral was attended by 
Mission Lodge, No. 169. 

In North Berkeley, June i6th, Capt. M. J. Little, a native 
of Maine, a member of Durant Lodge, No. 268, aged 76 
years, 5 mnoths. 


THE TRESTLE BOARD. 


339 



A Beautiful Home, built by the aid of the Continental Building and Loan Association. 


BUILDING AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS . 

WHAT THEY ARE DOING IN CALIFORNIA. 

By William Corbin, Manager of the Continental Building and 

Loan Association. 


A desire for a home of one’s own is as 
natural to mankind as the desire for aeon- 
genial helpmate to adorn it, and a family 
to grow up around its hearthstone. 

But the desire is not always accompanied 
with the necessary money to acquire one. 
Such being the case, some method of co- 
operation was devised whereby the certain 
sums of money paid by individuals at 
regular stated periods could be lumped in 
a common amount, and this amount in- 
vested in land and a building, which was 
to be occupied by one of the number, sub- 
ject to certain conditions, and which, in 
time, on the fulfillment of these conditions, 
would become absolutely his property; the 
next common amount providing for an- 
other contributor, and so forth. This ar- 
rangement worked satisfactorily, provided 


homes, and is, with extension, expansion, 
and the addition of the loan feature, the 
practical Building and Loan Association of 
to day. 

These are associations of men of mod- 
erate means, for two purposes, namely : to 
assist one another to acquire homes, and 
to provide a medium through which those 
already in possession of the coveted goal, 
a home, secured possibly by inheritance, 
may invest their savings profitably and 
safely, to be loaned to those desiring 
homes, but who are without the necessary 
means or credit. The system allows the 
acquired home to be paid for in an easy 
manner and at convenient intervals, while 
at the same time amply protecting the in- 
vestment of his associate whose savings 
were loaned to assist in its acquirement. 


340 


THE TRESTLE BOARD. 



A Shareholder’s Cottage/ built by the aid of the Continental Building and Loan Association. 


The general United States history of 
the inception and success of Building and 
Loan Associations is a matter of pleasant 
and profitable history, but is too long to 
retell in a magazine article, and it is my 
purpose now to write of California Asso- 
ciations and the great amount of good 
they have accomplished in the State in 
the little over twenty- one years since the 
formation of the first company, the num- 
ber of homes built by their aid alone, and 
the amount of money distributed among 
the laboring classes of the State. 

Prior to 1892 and the formation of a 
Board of Commissioners of the Building 
and Loan Associations, the different asso- 
ciation accounts were kept individually 
and as pleased the management. So no 
very definite figures can be arrived at as 
to the number of houses built by their aid, 
and the amount of money received and 
distributed by them; but from the third 
annual report of the Building and Loan 
Commissioners the following approximate 
fact is obtained, that since their organiza- 
tion these associations have been instru- 
mental in the founding of 9,343 homes. 
Of these, 1,001 were built during the fiscal 
year covered by this report. That more 
than "9,000, and, up to the present^ date, 


more than 11,750, citizens of California 
can look to this system of co-operation as 
the chief means through which they ac- 
quired that great desideratum, a home of 
their own, is one of the proudest boasts of 
Building and Loan institutions. That these 
homes are increasing at the rate of more 
than a thousand a year, through such times 
of stringency as these, is no less a cause 
of congratulation than of wonderment. 

As before stated, one of the original 
aims of the founders of this system was 
to provide a medium through which the 
working man could procure a home. I 
doubt much if the originators ever thought 
of the multitude of benefits that would 
accrue to the communities in which Build- 
ing and Loan Associations are in active 
operation. In California alone over one 
thousand houses were built in the year 
1896. Assuming that every family aver- 
ages five members, we can safely assert 
that over five thousand more people were 
domiciled in their own homes in this State 
at the end of 1 896 than at the close of 1 895. 
And the proportionate increase promised 
for 1897 is even greater. These thousand 
houses not only house persons whose in 
terests are with good government, who are 
of necessity opposed to any subversion of 


THE TRESTLE BOARD. 


34i 



A Typical Los Angeles Home, bnilt by the aid of the Continental Building aud Loan Association. 


law or order, but house persons whose ex- 
ample encourages others to follow, aiding 
the prosperity of the State. 

In building the average house will be 
required the services of three carpenters, 
two laborers, one plasterer, two painters 
and one plumber; total number employed, 
nine. Consequently, in building one thou- 
sand houses nine thousand men are re- 
quired, who are nearly all skilled laborers, 
and receive the pay of such. Now, as- 
suming that it requires about six weeks to 
build the average house, we find that these 
associations have given employment to 
1. 125 men for an entire year. Again, 
using our average of five to a family, we 
have 5,625 more people whose support has 
been derived from and who are directly 
benefited by this mutual system. Carrying 
it still further, consider the material used 
in the construction of these houses, by far 
the greater proportion of which is the 
product of our own State, the stone and 
brick used, the lumber, hardware, plumb- 
ers' supplies. In preparing this material 
for the builders, etc., still more men are 
employed in our forests, brick-yards, quar- 
ries, planing mills, pipe foundries, and 
other establishments, who also feel the 
direct benefits of these building operations. 
And the dealer — think of the benefits that 


must have come from the disbursing of 
over a million dollars among the material 
men of the State in such a stringent year 
as 1S96. 

To go still further, the houses being 
finished and ready for occupancy, they 
have to be furnished, and then again is 
reached another class of supply men and 
workmen, the carpet houses, the furniture 
stores, the stove and tinshops — the pur- 
veyors of everything of use or adornment 
in a home are called on, and they, too, 
feel the benefits and derive no inconsider- 
able sum; for with the home comes a de- 
sire for its adornment. 

In fact, practically all branches of busi- 
ness and labor are fostered and benefited, 
and this in all parts of the State. 

It must be understood, too, that this 
large amount was kept in circulation in a 
year of stagnation in business, when all 
banking institutions in the State and na- 
tion were calling in every cent possible, 
and avoiding as much as they possibly 
could the making of new loans, excepting 
onlv the mutual banks, which we term 
Building and Loan Associations. 

The question is often asked, if these as- 
sociations are as solid, and as profitable to 
the investor, as claimed, why don’t the 
rich men take hold of them? It must be 


342 


THE TRESTLE BOARD. 



A Ukiah Dwelling, built by the aid of the Continental Building and Loan Association. 


understood that the moment a banker gets 
hold of an institution of this kind it ceases 
to be mutual and merges into a private 
bank. To obviate such danger, most 
Building and Loan Associations limit the 
amount of stock that can be carried from 
ten to two hundred shares, the limit usual- 
ly being governed by the capital stock au- 
thorized to be issued. Many bankers and 
moneyed men carry the full limit, but the 
full limit is so small compared with the 
amount of capital carried by the people at 
large that it is not noticed, and naturally 
brings forth the query above quoted. 
While these associations are, as a rule, 
operated by men in the ordinary walks of 
life, the elements of strength are so prom- 
inent that they have shown that no form of 
banking has been so successful and safe. 
Of all moneys invested in these associa- 
tions in the past thirty years, which has 
amounted to many millions, the loss sus- 
tained has been about one tenth of one 
per cent, while the amount returned to 
stockholders has been nearly twenty-five 
per cent more than that paid in. 

By referring to the last report of the 
Building and Loan Commissioners, we 
learn that at that time there were in active 
operation in California 153 associations, 
with resources of $2 ',470,309 88, and that 


their receipts for the year past had been 
$13,484,792.94, and their disbursements, 
$545,374.28 less than that amount. By 
estimates, not exact figures, obtained from 
reliable sources, it can be predicted that 
the report for 1897 will show a decided 
gain both in resources and the number of 
outstanding shares. 

The growth of Building and Loan As- 
sociations in California can best be shown 
by a comparison 

The Continental Building and Loan As- 
sociation had, on June 30, 1894, 6,507 
shares in force. By its eighth semi-annual 
statement of December 31, 1896, theie 
were 39,861, and, at the present time, the 
number of shares reaches over 50,000. Its 
assets were, on June 30, 1894, $109,377.90; 
on December 3c, 1896, $ 395*559 44; and 
now are something over $500 000. This 
money has all been invested in first mort- 
gages on real estate, and has been loaned 
by the Association for the purpose of 
building homes — over 350 located in all 
parts of California having been built by its 
aid. 

This company is only a sample of all 
the other associations, and its statement is 
merely used to show the beneficial results 
of this form of mutual investment and co- 
operation. William Corbin. 


THE TRESTLE BOARD. 


San Francisco, Cal., June 15, 1897. 
Mr. C. M. OAKLEY, Manager Mutual Reserve tund 
Life Association, San Francisco, Cal. 

Dear Sir — I take pleasure in acknowledging receipt 
of check for $io,oco. payment in full of the policy of in- 
surance held by the Mutual Reserve Fund Life Asso- 
ciation on the life of my deceased father, Thomas B. 
Shannon, of San Francisco, Cal. 

Permit me to thank the officers sincerely for the 
promptness with which my claim has been paid, and to 
assure them that I shall take every opportunity to re- 
commend the Mutual Reserve to such of my friends 
and acquaintances as mav d sire insurance. 

Yours very truly, 

MARY BEESON nee SHANNON, 

2319*4 Larkin St., San Fr ncisco. Cal. 
If the late Thomas B. Shannon had taken an ordinary 
life policy in an old system company, and paid the same 
amount in premiums as he paid the Mutual Reserve, 
his heirs would only have received $5252.00 instead of 
$10,000. Gain by being insured in Mutual Reserve 
$4,748 00. For fu ther information call on or address 
MAERATE CORYELL & OAKL'-Y, 

Chronicle Building, San Francisco. Cal. 


Premiums for 1897. 

We will send The Trestle Board 
one year to any subscriber who will send 
us three ?iew names and $3.00 at one re- 
mittance. 



Masonic Bodies in San Francisco. 


LODGES. 

No. Name. Time. Place. 

1 California ist Thursday Masonic Temple 

17 . Parfaite Union . . . ist Friday . . “ “ 

22 . Occidental ist Monday . “ “ 

30 . Golden Gate . . . .ist Tuesday. “ “ 

44 . Mount Moriah . . .ist Wednesday “ 

120 . Fidelity ist Thursday. “ “ 

127 . Hermann ist Monday “ “ 

136 . Pacific ist Tuesday 121 Eddy 

139 . Crockett ist Wednesday 121 Eddy St. 

144 . Oriental ist Tuesday . Masonic Temple 

166 . Excelsior ist Wednesday “ “ 

169 . Mission ist “ Valencia & 16th 

212 . So. San Francisco . ist Thursday.South S. F. 

216 . Doric ist “ 1 21 Eddy St. 

219 . Speranza Italiana . 2d Friday . . Masonic Temple 
260 King Solomon’s . . ist Monday . Geary & Steiner 

ROYAL ARCH CHAPTERS. 

1 . San Francisco . ist & 3d Monday . Masonic Temple 

5 California . . ist & 3d Tuesday . “ ‘ 

COUNCIL ROYAL & SELECT MASTERS. 

2 . California . . . ist Wednesday. . . Masonic Temple 

COMMANDERIES OF KNIGHTS TEMPLAR. 

i . California . . Friday ... . Masonic Temple 

16 . Golden Gate . ist & 3d Monday . 625 Sutter St. 

LODGE OF PERFECTION, 14° SCOTTISH RITE. 

6 . Yerba Buena . . . Friday Masonic Temple 

CHAPTER OF ROSE CROIX, l8°. 

4 . Yerba Buena ... At Call Masonic Temple 

COUNCIL OF KNIGHTS OF KADOSH, 30 0 . 

i . Godfrey de St. Omar . . At Call . . Masonic Temple 

GRAND CONSISTORY, S. P. R. S., 32 0 . 

California At Call Masonic Temple 

MYSTIC SHRINE. 

Islam Temple .... 2d Wednesday . . 625 Sutter St. 

CHAPTERS OF THE EASTERN STAR. 

i . Golden Gate . . ist & 3d Thursday . . 629 Sutter St. 
124 Harmony. . . . 1st & 3d Friday. . . 32 O’FarrelSt. 

27 . Ivy 2d & 4th Tuesday . . 625 Sutter St. 

99 . Beulah, 2d&4th Monday . Corinthian Hall. So. S. F. 
.Mission, . . . 2d & 4th Saturda* , Valencia & 16th. 

. King Solomon, 2d & 4th Friday, Geary & Steiner. 
GROUP OF GOOD SAMARITANS. 

i . San Francisco ... ist Saturday . . 625 Sutter St. 

MASONIC VETERANS ASSOCIATION. 

Pacific Coast . . 2d Thursday 

Past Master’s Association, Last Saturday each mo. 


Masonic Bodies in Alameda. 

215 . Oak Grove Lodge 2d Thursday Masonic Temple. 
70 . Alameda Chap. R. A. C. ist & 3d Sat. “ “ 

115 . Carita Chap. O.E.S. 2d & 4th Wed. “ “ 

Masonic Body in Berkeley. 

168 , Durant Lodge 1st Friday . . , 1 . U.O. F. Hal’. 


Masonic Bodies in Oakland. 

61 Live Oak Lodge. . ist Friday . . Masonic Temple. 
188 . Oakland “ ist Saturday “ “ 

225 . Brooklyn “ ist Tuesday. . 555 East 12th St. 
244 . Alcatraz “ ist Monday . 7th & Willow Sts. 
36 . Oakland Chap. R. A. C. ist & 3d Wed. Mas. Tern. 
12 . “ Coun. R. & S. M. 3d Thursday “ “ 

11 . “ Com’d’y, K. T. ist Tuesday “ " 

12. “ L. of P., 14 0 , A. A.S. R. ist &3d Mon. “ 

5 . Gethsemane Chap. R. C. 18 0 , “ 2d Monday 
2 . DeMolay Coun. K of K. 30 0 , “ 4th “ „ 

8 Oak Leaf Chap. O. E. S. 2d & 4^h Thursday „ 

& . Unity Chap. O. E. S. 2d & 4th Mon. 7th & Peralta*. 

Masonic Bodies in Boston. 


LODGES. 

Grand Lodge meets on second Wednesday in March. 
June, Sept.. Dec., and Dec. 27, at Masonic Hall, 18 
Boylston street, cor. Washington. 

Aberdour, 2d Tuesday, Masonic Hall, 18 Boylston st., 
cor. Washington. 

Adelphi, 3d Tuesday, 372 W. Broadway, South Boston. 

Amicable, ist Thu.. 685 Mass. Ave., Cambridgeport. 

Baalbec. ist Tu., Meridian, cor. Eutaw, hast Boston. 

Bethesda, ist Tu., 337 Washington st., Brighton. 

Beth horon, 2d Tu., Brookline. 

Charitv, ist Mon., I. O.O. F. Hall, North Cambridge. 

Columbian, ist Th., Masonic Hall, iS Boylston street, 
cor. Washington. 

Eliot, 3d Wed., Green st., opp. depot, Jamaica Plain. 

Faith, 2d Fri., Thompson Square, Charlestown. 

Gate of the Temple, 4th Tu., 372 W. Broad’y,S. Boston. 

Germania. 4th Mon , Masonic Hall, 18 Boylston street, 
cor. Washington. 

Hammatt, 4th Tu., Meridian, cor, Eutaw, E. Boston. 

Henry Price, 4th Wed.. Thompson Sq., Charlestown. 

John Abbot, ist Tu., Gilman Sq., Somerville. 

Joseph Warren. 4th Tu., Masonic Hall, 8 Boylsion st*, 
cor Washington. 

Jos»^h Webb, 1st Wed., Masonic Hall, iS Boylston st., 
cor. Washington. 

King Solomon, 2d Tu., Thompson Sq., Charlestown. 

La Fayette, 2d Mon., 2307 Washington st., Roxbury. 

Lodge of Eleusis, 3d Th., Masonic Hall, 18 Boylsion 
street, cor. Washington. 

Lodge of St. Andrew, 2d Th., Masonic Hall, 18 Boyl- 
ston street, cor. Washington. 

Massachusetts. 3d Monday, Masonic Hall, 18 Boylston 
street, cor. Washington. 

Mizpah, 2d Mon., 185 Mass. Ave., Cambridgeport. 

Mt. Lebanon, 2d Mon., Masonic Hall, 18 Boylston st., 
cor. Washington. 

Mt. Olivet, 3d Th., 6 : 5 Mass. Ave., Cambridgeport. 

Mt. Tabor, 3d Th., Meridian, cor. Eutaw, E. Boston. 

Prospect, 2d Mon., Roslindale. 

Putnam, 3d Mon., E. Cambridge, Cambridge and 3d sts. 

Rabboni, 2d Tu., Masonic Hall, Hancock st., Dorchester 

Revere, ist Tu., Masonic Hall, 18 Boylston street, cor. 
Washingion. 

Robert Lash, *th Wed., Masonic Hall, Chelsea. 

St.John’s, ist Mon., Masonic Hall, iS Boylston street, 
cor. Washington. 

St. Paul’s, ist Tu., 372 West Broadway, South Boston. 

Soley, 3d Mon., Gilman Sq., Somerville. 

Star of Bethlehem. 3d Wed., Masonic Hall, Chelsea. 

Temple, ist Th., Meridian, cor. Eutaw, E. Boston. 

Union, 2d Tu., Hancock st., near Upham’s Cor., Dor- 
chester. 

Washington, 2d Th., 2307 Washington st., Roxbury. 

Winslow Lewis, 2d Fri., Masonic Hall, 18 Boylston st., 
cor. Washington. 

Winthrop, 2d Tu., Masonic Hall, Winthrop. 

Zetland, 2d Wed., Masonic Hall, 18 Boylston street, 
cor. Washington. 

ROYAL ARCH CHAPTERS. 

Grand Chapter, Tu. preceding 2d Wed, of March, 
June, Sept. and Dec., Masonic Hall, 18 Boylston st., 
cor. Washington. 

Cambridge, 2d Fri., 685 Mass. Ave., Cambrideport. 

Dorchester, 4th Mon., Hancock st., near Upham’s 
Corner, Dorchester. 

Mt. Vernon, 3d Th., 2307 Washington st.. Roxbury. 

St. Andrew’s, ist Wed., Masonic Hall, 18 Boylston st., 
cor. Washington. 

St.John’s, 4th M011., Me idian, nr. Eutaw, E. Boston. 

St. Matthew’s, 2d Mon., 372 W. Broadway, S. Boston. 

St. Paul’s, 3d Tu. Masonic Hall, 18 Boylston street, cor. 
Washington. 

Shekinah, ist Wed., Masonic Hall, Chelsea. 

Signet, 2d Th., Thompson Sq., Charlestown. 

Somerville, 3d Th., Gilman Sq., Somerville. 

COUNCILS ROYAL AND SELECT MASTERS. 

Grand Council, 2d Wed. in Dec., Masonic Hall, 18 Boyl- 
ston street, cor. Washingtoh. 

Boston, last Th., Masonic Hall, 18 Boylston street, cor. 
Washington. 


THE TRESTLE BOARD. 


East Boston, 2d Tu., Meridian cor. Eutaw, E. Boston. 

Orient, -.d Wed., Gilman Sq., Somerville. 

Naptbali, 4th Fri., Masonic Hall, Chelsea. 

Roxbury. 4th Mon., 2307 Washington st.. Roxbury. 

COMMANDERIES KNIGHTS TEMPLAR. 

Grand Commandery, May and Oct., Masonic Hall, 18 
Boylston street, cor. Washington. 

Boston, No. 2, ?d Wed., Masonic Hall, 18 Boylston st., 
cor. Washington. 

Cambridge, No. 42, 1st Wed., 685 Massachusetts Ave., 
Cambridgeport. 

Coeur de Lion, No. 34, 3d Tu.. Thompson Sq., Charles- 
town. 

De Molay, No. 7, 4th Wed., Maso ic Hall, 18 Boylston 
street, cor. Washington. 

Joseph Warren, No. 26, 1st Mon., 2307 Washington st., 
Roxbury. 

Palestine, No. 10, 2d Wed , 685 Masonic Hall, Chelsea. 

St. Bernard, No. 12, 2d Wed., Masonic Hall, 18 Boyl- 
ston street, cor. Washington. 

St. Omer, No. 21, 3d Mon. 372 W. Broadway, S. Boston. 

Wm. Parkman, No. 28, 2d f h.. Meridian, cor. Eutaw, 
E. Boston. 

SCOTTISH RITE. 

Boston Lafayette Lodge of Perfection, 14 0 , 1st Fri. in 
Feb., April, Oct. and Dec., Masonic Hall, 18 Boylston 
street, cor. Washington. 

Giles F. Yates Council, Princes of Jerusalem, 16 0 , 2d 
Fri, in Feb., April, Oct. and Dec., Masonic Hall, 18 
Boylston street, cor. Washington. 

Mt. Olivet Chapter, Rose Croix, 18 0 , 3d Fri, in Feb. 
April, Oct. and Dec. , Masonic Hall, 18 Boylston st., 
cor. Washington. 

Massachusetts Consistory, 32 0 , 4th Fri. in Feb , April, 
Oct. and Dec., Masonic Hall, 18 Boylston straet, cor. 
Washington. 

MYSTIC SHRINE. 

Aleppo (irregularly), Music Hall. 

EASTERN STAR. 

Vesta, No. 10, 1st and 3d Fri., 11 City Sq., Charlestown. 

Queen Esther, No, 16, 1st and 3d Thurs., Dudley, cor. 
Washington. 

Keystone, No. 18, 2d and 4th Tu., 730 Washington. 

Signet, No. 22, 1st and 3d Tues., Cambridgeport. 

Mystic, No. 34, 1st and 3d Monday, Meridian, cor. Eu- 
taw, E. Boston. 

Ruth, 2d and 4th Mon., 280 Broadway. Chelsea. 


DIVIDEND NOTICE. 

CONTINENTAL BUILDING & LOAN ASSOCI’N, 

222 Sansome Street. 

For the year ending with 30th of June, 1897, a divi- 
dend has been declared of 6 per cent on ordinary de- 
posits, 7 per cent on term deposits, and 12 per cent on 
installment stock, all free of taxes. 

Dr. Ed. E. HILL, President. 
Capt. OLIVER ELDRIDGE, Vice President. 

Wm. CORBIN, Secretary & General Manager. 


BLAKE, MOFFITT & TOWNE, 

Importers and Dealers in 

Book, News, Writing, and Wrapping Papers, Card 
Stock, Straw and Binder’s Board, 
Manufacturers of Patent Machine Made Paper Bags 
512 to 516 Sacramento St., San Francisco. 


MANN & COMPANY, 

Book Binders, 

535 Cla y Street, 

SAN FRANCISCO. 


Fifty Years 
of flasonry 

In California. 

(A Masonic History.) 
Published in Twenty Parts Monthly 
at $1.00 per part. Agents wanted. 

Part I and II now ready. 

GEO. SPAULDING & CO., 
Publishers. 

414 Clay Street, San Francisco. 

GEORGE GOODMAN, 

Patentee and Manufacturer ot 

ARTIFICIAL STONE, 

In all its branches. Schillingers Patent Sidewalk. 

Garden Walk a Specialty. 

Office, 307 Montgomery Street, 
Nevada Block. San Francisco. 

DIVIDEND NOTICE. 

THE GERMAN SAVINGS AND LOAN SOCIETY 

526 California Street. 

For the half year ending June 30, 1897, a dividend 
has been declared at the rale of four and twenty hun- 
dredths (4 20-100) per cent per annum on Term Depos- 
its, and three and fifty hundredths (3 50-100) per cent 
per annum on Ordinary Deposits, free of taxes, payable 
on and after Thursday, July 1, 1897. 

GEO. TOURNY, Secretary. 

THE IMPROVED 


“ DOM ESTIC.” 



Preeminently the Sewing Machine 
for Family Use. 


Send for Catalogue. 

J. W. EVANS, Agent, 

1021 Market St., San Francisco. 


Established 1850. Telephone No. 43. 

N. GRAY & CO., 

TTITIDEK.'X'-A.EIEK.S , 

641-645 Sacramento, Corner Webb Street, 

Embalming a Specialty. SAN FRANCISCO. 


THE TRESTLE BOARD. 


California Safe Deposit and Trust Company. 

Corner California and Montgomery Streets. 

Capital fully paid, - $1,000,000 00 

Transacts a general Banking business and allows interest on deposits payable on demand or after notice. 
Acts as Executor, Administrator and Trustee under wills or in any other trust capa ity. Wills drawn by the 
Company’s Attorneys *»nd are taken care of without charge. 

SAFE DEPOSIT BOXES to rent at prices from $5 per annum upward according to size, and valuables of all 
kinds are stored at low rates. 

DIRECTORS— J. D. Fry, Henry Wi'liams, I. G. Wickersham, Jacob C. Johnson, James Treadwell, F. W. 
Lougee, Henry F. Fo r tmann, R. B. Wallace, R. D. Fry, A. D. Sharon and J. Dalzell Brown. 

OFFICERS— J. D. Fry, President; Henry Williams, Vice President; R. D. Fry, Second Vice President ; 
J. Dalzell Brown, Secretary* and Treasurer; E. E. Shotwell, Ass’t Sec’y; Gunnison, Booth & Bartnett, Attorneys. 


The German Savings and Loan Society. 

526 California Street, San Francisco. 


Guaranteed Capital and Surplus, 
Capital actually paid up in Cash, 
Deposits December 31, 1896, 


1,840,201 66 
Si, 000 000.00 
27*730,2+7 45 


OFFICFR c — President, B. A. Becker; ist Vice President, Daniel Meyer; 2d Vice President, H. Horstmann 
Cashier, A. H. R. Schmidt; Assistant Cashier, Wi liam Herrmann; Secretary, George Tourny; Assistant Secre- 
tary. A. H. Muller; Attorney, W. S. Goodfellow. 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS— B. A. Becker, Danid Meyer, H. Horstmann, Ign. Steinbart, X. Van Bergen, Emil 
Rohte, H. B. Russ, D. N. Walter and X. Ohlandt. 




i The BEST 
W Only. 


f"4I2 


S Washington St. W~ a w * wasmngion 

^ ^rJos.A Jackson 


Hats 

Styles UNSURPASSED. 

U MBRELLAS 

NEWESTz^LATEST£ 

412 

Washington StK 


The “GUILD PIANO " is 

Equal to any in General Excellence , 
Superior to AH in Vital Improvements 

Do not fail to examine before buying another. 

AT HALF PRICE. 


Regular $500 Jacob Bros. World’s Fair Prize Uprights, S250. 

Regular $500 Benedict Bros. New York, Popular Uprights, .... $250. 


Other Patterns at LOWER PRICES. EASY TERMS. 

GUILD PIANO WAREROOMS, 

Franklin A. Shaw, Manager. 228 Tremont St., Boston, Mass 



NEW PIANOS 


MASONIC, 


KNIGHTS TEMPLAR, ETC., CARDS, BADGE 5 , INVITATIONS. 
PROGRAMS AND MENUS. 

The largest manufactory in the United States. 

Having the cuts and dies for all the different bodies of Masonry, 
we can furnish same on any kind of stationery at low rates. " 0/3 ~7^ 535 CLAY ST 

If you wish a Menu for a special occasion write us WA1TFR N 7\ JZ/// 37j^ 
particulars and we will send an appropriate sample. ~ ^ San Francisco 

Telephone, Main 330 California 



THE TRESTLE BOARD. 


THE WHITE IS KING. 


Chicago, Milwaukee 

& St. Paul Railway. 



BEAUTY and QUALITY 
make the WHITE 

BICYCLE. 


Handsome in appearance, 

Light Running, 

DURAB LITY. Simplicity 

of Construction, and Modern Improvements 
make a WHITE SEWING MACHINE. 

Write us for catalogue, prices and terms to agents. 

WHITE SEWING MACHINE CO., 
Corner Ellis & Mason Sts., 

San Francisco, Cal. 


THE SHORT LINE BETWEEN 
OMAHA AND CHICAGO, 

And connecting with all Transcontinen- 
tal Lines at Omaha, St. Paul and 
Kansas City, for Eastern points. 

SOLID TRAINS, 

Vestibuled, Electric Lighted and Steam 
Heated, with the finest Dining, Sleep- 
ing and Reclining Chair Service in the 
world, via the “ Chicago, and Omaha 
Short Line” of the Chicago, Milwaukee 
and St Paul Railway. 

Double daily train service. 

Apply to nearest coupon ticket agent 
for tickets and further information to 
C. L. CANFIELD, 

General Agent, 

5 Montgomery St., San Francisco. 

GEO. H. HEAFFORD, 

General Passenger and Ticket Agent, 

Chicago, 111 . 


Tours in the Rocky Mountains. 



The “Scenic Line of the World,” the 
Denver & Rio Grande Railroad, offers 
to tourists in Colorado, Utah and New 
Mexico the choicests resorts, and to the 
trans continental traveler the grandest 
scenery. The direct line to Cripple 
Creek, the greatest gold camp on earth. 
Double daily train service with through 
Pullman sleepers and tourists’ cars be- 
tween Denver and San Francisco and 
Los Angeles. 

Write S. K. Hooper, G. P. & T. A., 
Denver, Colorado, or W. J. Shotwell, 
General Agent, 314 California St., San 
Francisco, for descriptive pamphlets. 



The Original Swain’s Bakery. 


SHIP US YOUR 


213 Sutter St., San Francisco. 

SWAIN BROTHERS. 

Edward R. Swain, Frank A. Swain 

Country Orders will Receive Prompt Attention. 


HIGHEST PRICES. 

QUICKEST SALES. 

PROMPTEST RETURNS. 

TRY US. 


POULTRYMAN’S UNION, 
Co-Operative Commission Merchants, 
425 1-2 Front St., San H rancisco. 


CHARLES S. TILTON, 

ENGINEER & SLRVEYOR. 


Twenty-five years experience in the City and Count\ 
Surveyor’s office. 



Charges Moderate and all Work Warranted. 

420 Montgomery St., San Francisco. 


THE TRESTLE BOARD. 


HIGH GRADE 


Merrill Pianos. 

Inspection Invited. 



Terms to Suit Purchaser. 

Correspondence Solicited. 


THE MERRILL PIANO CO., 

118 Boylston St., Boston, Mass. 



A Homeopathic treatment for the 
cure of the tobacco habit. One course 
of treatment, lasting about ten days, is 
guaranteed to remove the craving and 
produce a positive aversion to the use 
of tobacco. 

Co7iiabaco is perfectly harmless and 
is devoid of all the obnoxious and dis- 
agreeable features common to nearly 
all other methods of treatment! for the 
cnre of the tobacco habit. 

One complete course of treatment 
with full directions, nicely packed in a 
vest-pocket case, may be obtained from 
your druggist or will be sent to any ad- 
dress, postpaid, on receipt of Sf.oo. 

Manufactured only 
by 

The Contabaco Company, 

San Francisco, Cal. 


% 





Small Attendance. 


If you are having small attendance at 
your Lodge meetings, a wise proceeding 
may be to make the work a trifle more 
realistic by properly costuming those 
participating in it. 

Shakespeare is not adapted to ordin- 
ary clothing and slouch hat and Ma- 
sonic .Ritual is conceded to be even 
more beautiful, but needs to be properly 
“set” to be fully appreciated. 

I can supply the “setting” to perfec- 
tion, and many more Lodges will find 
it a first-class investment. 

All goods guaranteed. 

Address 

ALVIN PLUMMER, 

408 California Street, 

San Francisco, Cal. 




Irving 

Institute. 

Boarding & Day School for Young Ladies. 
1036 Valencia St , San Francisco. 

An Accredited School to the Universities. 

Full Seminary and Normal Courses. 

Conservatory of Music, Art, and Elocution. 
Primary and Kindergarten Department for Children. 

The Twenty-first Year will begin on 

Monday, August 2, 1897 

For Catalogue or information address the Principal, 
Rev. EDWARD B. CHURCH, A. M. 


New England^ 
Conservatory of Music, 


FRANKLIN SQUARE, 
BOSTON, MASS. 


The Leading Conservatory in America. 

MUSIC, ELOCUTION, 
and MODERN LANGUAGES. 

Complete and Systematic Instruction in all 
Departments from the most elemen- 
tary grades to the highest 
artistic standard. 

Students received at any time. 

Send for Prospectus and Calendar. 


A Beautiful Home recently Built by the Aid of the Continental. 
Building Loan Association, Home Office 222 Sansome St., S. F.