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Article SOME PEOPLE WE DIFFER WITH. Page 1 of 2 Article SOME PEOPLE WE DIFFER WITH. Page 1 of 2 →
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Some People We Differ With.
SOME PEOPLE WE DIFFER WITH .
IT is given to few men to pass through hie -without occasional differences with their fellows . We are not alluding to differences of opinion . It is in the order of things that different people should hold different opinions on different subjects . The differences we have in our
mind are better described , perhaps , as quai * rels , and at times are of a serious character . It is by no means necessary we should be either cantankerous or litigious , morose , or ill-natured . We may be among the most genial people in the world , and yet there are those who , if we
will not quarrel with them , will find , some way of quarrelling with us . Of course , Masons are bound , by the tenour of their obligation , to avoid giving and taking offence , and where two brethren are at issue , a ready means is provided for securino- a reconciliation between them . But Masons
are mei'ely mortals , and as liable , therefore , to error as the rest of mankind . The most elaborate , the most comprehensive code of laws will not prevent Masons from occasionally yielding to human weaknesses . Thus it comes about that the relations between brethren of tho mystic tie
cannot always be described as fraternal . It being , then , impossible to wholly avoid disputes with certain brethren , let us devote a little space to noting some of those whom it may be our misfortune to differ with , glancing briefly at
their various points aud temperaments , so that we may at least be on our guard , against saying or doing any thing to cause them any annoyance . So shall we be acting according to our vows , both in the letter and the spirit .
Foremost among the number of disputatious brethren , comes Bro . Cantanker . He makes a point of saying unp leasant things . It is , in fact , in his nature that he should make himself very disagreeable to all whom he comes in contact with . When he became a Mason he
omitted , not unnaturally , perhaps , to leave outside the Lodge doors tho very un-Masonic feature which chiefly characterised him then , as it still does now . We have before referred to Bro . Cantanker , as one of those who object , on principle , to any aucl every proposition . A good
many people are not a little disconcerted at first on finding themselves in his company . If they are foolish , unseeming squabbles often follow . If they are wise , they take his objections in good part , making the best they can of a very angular-minded brother . They very soon learn that his
disagreeable utterances are not intended to be offensive , and must always be taken with a qualification , exceptis excipiendis , that is , present company always excepted . He is at heart a very good fellow . Ho acts up to the spirit , if not to the letter , of his obligation . He is Bro . Cantanker by name , as well
as by nature , but he is not ill-natured . He gives of his substance to worthy objects . He knows well enough the uses of a chisel , but he never applies it to smooth away the roughnesses of his own nature . Those who know him thoroughly , respect him , but they cannot be said to love him . It is
inevitable that differences should arise with such a brother , for he has a mortal antipathy to anything like agreement . But this induces no feeling of enmity , or even of anger . We come to look upon his invariable objections as a part of the price we pay for the privilege of knowing him . We
forget and forgive but too readily the roughness and acidity of the temper , out of respect for the sterling worth of his character . Not so with Bro . Litigant , who likewise objects on principle , but the principle which animates him in his display of cantankerousness is far Jess respectable . He is not overparticular iu tho conduct of his relations with
Some People We Differ With.
others . It does not follow , of course , that a litigious should also bo a grasping man , but we always fancy somehow he is under the influence of mercenary motives . He seems as though ho were always on the look out to gain some advantage over us , and we are far from sure that he is scrupulous
in the means he employs in order to gain his ends . The man who wars with us on principle , though the principle involved exceeds not in value one halfpenny , may be worthy of all respect as a thoroughly honest and honourable man , yet , rightly or wrongly , Ave have always a presentiment ,
not only that he would like to triumph over us in the particular point at issue , but that he will strive to do so at all hazards , and be glad to acquire somo further and unfair advantage as well . Bro . Litigant , in our estimation , is a great nuisance , with his perverse determination to havo it
out with everybody . We feel considerable satisfaction if we beat him ; we are unusually nettled if we are beaten . Wo may be momentarily angered by Bro . Cantanker , but we soon recover equanimity , and are ready to meet him again and again in any company and at any time . But
somehow , when we have once had a taste of Bro . Litigant ' s quality , we fight shy of him afterwards . Wo may not be in a position to explain the reason ; wo may even laugh at ourselves for being so silly , but the fact remains ; there is a certain sense of dislike for him rankling- in our breast ever
afterwards . Bro . Peevish we endure with as much philosophy as we can command . He is usually fretful about trifles , but he is very often a good fellow , and if he could only be brought to see it , a greater source of annoyance to himself than to others . Of course , the battles we engage
in with Bro . Pepper are very terrible , while they last ; he hits out incontinently at whoever offends him . He is not particular in his argument : he is whirled along too rapidly in his outbursts of passion , aud one would not unnaturally conclude that anything like reconciliation with Bro . Pepper
was utterly out of tho question . But this were an error . Bro . Pepper is choleric enough when his blood is up . but no one is more ready to withdraw anything he may have said in the moment of anger . No one is more ready to apologize for any unintentional wrong he may have
committed . No one is more ready to meet his opponent again on friendly terms . While ever exercising a proper degree of self-respect , he is always rea ao ' rm ' t himself in the wrong , if wrong he has committed . He will even take blame to himself , where none is due , if he
see a chance of reconciliation . He acts on the spur of the moment , but he is generous , and never allows any ill feeling to exist in his mind . Bro . Whiteblood , however , is another sort of personage . He is more placid in his bearing , and seemingly more manageable . The idea that he
could ever take part in a squabble is most unlikely . But , in spite of an apparently easy-going temperament , he is a far more objectionable man to differ with than any of those wo have already named . He works on very silently , very cunningly . He assumes towards those persons he will
quarrel with a geniality he is very far from feeling . He never allows you to know whether anything you have said or done in all innocence has given offence , but he never forgets that you have offended . Unlike Bro . Pepper , who speaks his mind freely and at once , Bro . Whiteblood
cherishes in his memory every fancied slight , but outwardly he is as much your friend as ever . At length the time comes for him to pay off old scores , and then , in a cold
and passionless manner , he sets himself dead against you . You find that from the very day you unwittingly gave him slight offence till the day he opposes you actively , he has been silently working to your disadvantage , to over-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Some People We Differ With.
SOME PEOPLE WE DIFFER WITH .
IT is given to few men to pass through hie -without occasional differences with their fellows . We are not alluding to differences of opinion . It is in the order of things that different people should hold different opinions on different subjects . The differences we have in our
mind are better described , perhaps , as quai * rels , and at times are of a serious character . It is by no means necessary we should be either cantankerous or litigious , morose , or ill-natured . We may be among the most genial people in the world , and yet there are those who , if we
will not quarrel with them , will find , some way of quarrelling with us . Of course , Masons are bound , by the tenour of their obligation , to avoid giving and taking offence , and where two brethren are at issue , a ready means is provided for securino- a reconciliation between them . But Masons
are mei'ely mortals , and as liable , therefore , to error as the rest of mankind . The most elaborate , the most comprehensive code of laws will not prevent Masons from occasionally yielding to human weaknesses . Thus it comes about that the relations between brethren of tho mystic tie
cannot always be described as fraternal . It being , then , impossible to wholly avoid disputes with certain brethren , let us devote a little space to noting some of those whom it may be our misfortune to differ with , glancing briefly at
their various points aud temperaments , so that we may at least be on our guard , against saying or doing any thing to cause them any annoyance . So shall we be acting according to our vows , both in the letter and the spirit .
Foremost among the number of disputatious brethren , comes Bro . Cantanker . He makes a point of saying unp leasant things . It is , in fact , in his nature that he should make himself very disagreeable to all whom he comes in contact with . When he became a Mason he
omitted , not unnaturally , perhaps , to leave outside the Lodge doors tho very un-Masonic feature which chiefly characterised him then , as it still does now . We have before referred to Bro . Cantanker , as one of those who object , on principle , to any aucl every proposition . A good
many people are not a little disconcerted at first on finding themselves in his company . If they are foolish , unseeming squabbles often follow . If they are wise , they take his objections in good part , making the best they can of a very angular-minded brother . They very soon learn that his
disagreeable utterances are not intended to be offensive , and must always be taken with a qualification , exceptis excipiendis , that is , present company always excepted . He is at heart a very good fellow . Ho acts up to the spirit , if not to the letter , of his obligation . He is Bro . Cantanker by name , as well
as by nature , but he is not ill-natured . He gives of his substance to worthy objects . He knows well enough the uses of a chisel , but he never applies it to smooth away the roughnesses of his own nature . Those who know him thoroughly , respect him , but they cannot be said to love him . It is
inevitable that differences should arise with such a brother , for he has a mortal antipathy to anything like agreement . But this induces no feeling of enmity , or even of anger . We come to look upon his invariable objections as a part of the price we pay for the privilege of knowing him . We
forget and forgive but too readily the roughness and acidity of the temper , out of respect for the sterling worth of his character . Not so with Bro . Litigant , who likewise objects on principle , but the principle which animates him in his display of cantankerousness is far Jess respectable . He is not overparticular iu tho conduct of his relations with
Some People We Differ With.
others . It does not follow , of course , that a litigious should also bo a grasping man , but we always fancy somehow he is under the influence of mercenary motives . He seems as though ho were always on the look out to gain some advantage over us , and we are far from sure that he is scrupulous
in the means he employs in order to gain his ends . The man who wars with us on principle , though the principle involved exceeds not in value one halfpenny , may be worthy of all respect as a thoroughly honest and honourable man , yet , rightly or wrongly , Ave have always a presentiment ,
not only that he would like to triumph over us in the particular point at issue , but that he will strive to do so at all hazards , and be glad to acquire somo further and unfair advantage as well . Bro . Litigant , in our estimation , is a great nuisance , with his perverse determination to havo it
out with everybody . We feel considerable satisfaction if we beat him ; we are unusually nettled if we are beaten . Wo may be momentarily angered by Bro . Cantanker , but we soon recover equanimity , and are ready to meet him again and again in any company and at any time . But
somehow , when we have once had a taste of Bro . Litigant ' s quality , we fight shy of him afterwards . Wo may not be in a position to explain the reason ; wo may even laugh at ourselves for being so silly , but the fact remains ; there is a certain sense of dislike for him rankling- in our breast ever
afterwards . Bro . Peevish we endure with as much philosophy as we can command . He is usually fretful about trifles , but he is very often a good fellow , and if he could only be brought to see it , a greater source of annoyance to himself than to others . Of course , the battles we engage
in with Bro . Pepper are very terrible , while they last ; he hits out incontinently at whoever offends him . He is not particular in his argument : he is whirled along too rapidly in his outbursts of passion , aud one would not unnaturally conclude that anything like reconciliation with Bro . Pepper
was utterly out of tho question . But this were an error . Bro . Pepper is choleric enough when his blood is up . but no one is more ready to withdraw anything he may have said in the moment of anger . No one is more ready to apologize for any unintentional wrong he may have
committed . No one is more ready to meet his opponent again on friendly terms . While ever exercising a proper degree of self-respect , he is always rea ao ' rm ' t himself in the wrong , if wrong he has committed . He will even take blame to himself , where none is due , if he
see a chance of reconciliation . He acts on the spur of the moment , but he is generous , and never allows any ill feeling to exist in his mind . Bro . Whiteblood , however , is another sort of personage . He is more placid in his bearing , and seemingly more manageable . The idea that he
could ever take part in a squabble is most unlikely . But , in spite of an apparently easy-going temperament , he is a far more objectionable man to differ with than any of those wo have already named . He works on very silently , very cunningly . He assumes towards those persons he will
quarrel with a geniality he is very far from feeling . He never allows you to know whether anything you have said or done in all innocence has given offence , but he never forgets that you have offended . Unlike Bro . Pepper , who speaks his mind freely and at once , Bro . Whiteblood
cherishes in his memory every fancied slight , but outwardly he is as much your friend as ever . At length the time comes for him to pay off old scores , and then , in a cold
and passionless manner , he sets himself dead against you . You find that from the very day you unwittingly gave him slight offence till the day he opposes you actively , he has been silently working to your disadvantage , to over-