Impostors.

IMPOSTORS .

ri'MIAT we must take the sweet with tho bitter . is \ w ¦ * - journey through life , is an oft-repeated , : ; r . d * olfevident maxim iu thia world , and it is also u fact in Masonic life and Masonic charity , that as we often haw the supremo pleasure aud satisfaction to aid and assist tho

worthy , wo also often find ourselves confronted by the moat unmitigated frauds and impostors—some who havo beon admitted to the Craft through careless investigating Committees ; others , who havo been probably good enough at first , but havo gone down the road of sin and

degradation , until their Lodgo was in duty bound to expel them ; still others , who never were Masons at all , but picked up somo Masonio phrases here and there , and although they cannot prove themselves yet apply to our doors , and appeal to tho great Masonic heart , and thus impose upon the Committee sent out to look after them .

There are many kinds and different species of theso impostors . There is the brazen kind . He has beon a Mason so and so many years , has served tho Craft right royally , and now demands , from this Lodge or that Chapter , immediate and substantial aid—and must havo it .

Then there is tho meok and lowly one . He does not caro for money , only so far as it will buy him bread , and if wo do not seo fit to give him anything—well , ho will pray for us all the same . Ho is so full of that inexhaustible can of tho milk of human kindness , so overflowing

with Christian charity himself , who could refuse this kind and gentle brother ? Why , wo must give him something of course , and with imaginary tears in his eyes ho thanks

the Committee , showers his pious blessings upon tlio Lodge , and decamps with your funds in search of now fields , and to find others who aro as easily imposed npon as yon have been .

Then wo havo tho home-sick mendicant . Ho wants to go to his dear home . If only once moro he could behold tho old church steeple in tho sweet little village of Brattleborough as it nestles beneath the mountain . Ho would never , no , never leave there again to go forth

into this cold and heartless world ( to proy upon unsnspecting brothers ) , and ho would bo well received too ; ho could make shift there , ho could get along very well , when onco homo again ; but how is he to get there ? Tho faro is ton

dollars ; he has got four dollars towards it now , and if the good brethren would only contribute the balance , ho would take the first train , which would carry him to his dearly lioloved Brattleborough , to stay there .

But he stays right here , all tho while , keeps right on collecting that balance from easily deceived , and too kindl y hearted brethren . Again comes the wild one . He is desperate ; he has

not tasted food for two days , has not swallowed a spoonful of anything ; ho looks and acts wild , his eyes glare at you like thoso of a ferocious animal . He says that this is positively his last appeal ; this is the last time ho will ask the brethren for anything .

If they refuse—well , then , his " berrlud be upon them all . He can stand this misery , this torture no longer ; he is going straight from the Lodge-room to the river , there to end his miserable existence for ever , and may God have mercy on his soul . An old temperance brother , with

a keen scent , mildly suggests whether he had been drinking . "Yes , " the would-be suicide hisses through his clenched teeth , while wildly rolling up his eyes ; " yes , I fainted in the street , and I had to take some whisky to

recover myself . " The good temperance brother said that if that one glass of whisky dyed his nose the beautiful ruby lino , and generally saturated him so thoroughly , it must have been all powerfully strong .

A very interesting species is the dying impostor . He ascends the stairs very slowly , and is entirely out of breath when he reaches the Lodge rooms . He talks very low ; his voice is heard scarcely above a whisper , and he frequently interrupts himself to take breath . He suffers

from asthma very much ; is nearly used up with consumption , has a touch of Bright ' s disease , and has besides a number of other fatal diseases , tho cure of which would require at least a dozen of the most approved and best

advertised patent medicines . He is only now trying to collect a small sum of money sufficient ( this with a deep drawn sigh ) to pay his funeral expenses , that is all . His days are numbered , his sands of life are run out ; he will not trouble you mnch longer , expects to be dead to-morrow

Impostors.

ov ttfixt day , in fact tho committee are afraid he will dio on their hands if they do not hurry and give him some cash , so that he may go out and have somo fresh air . This species is very MI morons ; his looks and manners are his stock in iradc , and ho has practised so ranch that ho has become an expert in d ying ; but never , never , no , never dies .

The careless and homeless ono is also a good species to bo considered . He is entirely destitute , has not one penny , does not know where to lay his head to-night , has no where to go , and no money even to bny a loaf of bread , ov a meal , only justs wants a quarter , or oven ton cents wonld do .

The best way to rid yourself of this tramp is to offer to go with him to tho nearest restaurant and there to pay tor a good square meal for him . He will at onco become indignant , and probably ask you : " What do you take him

for . " But when he finds that that is tho only thing you will do for him , that no money can bo had , that no cash is forthcoming , ho will speedily depart , heaping curses upon yon and all Masonic frauds like you .

These aro only a few of tho most common frauds wo meet , and no doubt many readers of tho Standard have mot each of those described above . Besides theso however are tho more elaborate ones , who havo their regular plan of action , who study the Masonio directories , and who know

where and when every Lodgo in the city and vicinity meets , and somo even know what kind of Committees they usually send out , whether tho brethren aro liberally inclined or " no good , " and above all this is tho important point , what Lodyc belongs to the Hoard of Iiellef . This is tho groat

stumbling block to tho Masonic fraud . If the members of this Board have had tho praise of the worthy brother , thoy have also had heaped upon them the curses , deep and loud , of the Masonic fraud and impostor . Tho Board of Relief has spoilt their profitable trade , for where tho tramp

comes to tho door of a Lodgo which belongs to the Board , ho is sent there , but ho knows better than to go ; ho is too well known by them . There is no doubt but that the Board of Relief , by thoir

excellent and systematic work , havo saved thousands of dollars to the brethren , and especially havo cleared tho atmosphere of many of tho frauds described above . Evory Lodgo in tho metropolitan district should belong to the Board of Relief .

Tho writer remembers a very funny incident that happened somo years ago in old King Solomon Lodge , in ante-bellum times . A brother applied , who after duo examination was admitted , and proved to be an applicant

for charity , and as usual in the Lodgo his case was referred to a standing committee on charity . Tho brethren spoke to him ; and without much discussion voted him five dollars , and their action was immediately approved by tho Lodge .

The Treasurer seeing that the Secretary was busy , took a five-dollar bill from his pocket and handed it to tho visiting brother . Now , as stated above , this was before tho war , and before greenbacks were dreamed of . The applicant accepted the bill ( a State bank bill ) , deliberately

adjusted his spectacles , brought forth a " Thompson Bank note Reporter , " and finding the State from which tho bill was issued , compared the note diligently and carefully with tbo description given in the " Reporter . " All the brethren looked at him in surprise . He looked like an

expert , as he stood up , scanning and comparing the donation , and although somo of the brethren wore indignant , the whole proceeding was so extremely ludicrous that tho brethren burst out laughing , and some gave him

their cards , telling him should the bill prove a counterfeit to call on them and they would change it for him . But ho was not at all disconcerted . He calmly folded up his Bank note " Reporter , " pocketed his five-dollar bill , and politely bade them all " good night . "—Hebrew Standard .

Bro . G . C . Blanchard , of 131 London-wall , is tho now W . M . of the Star Lodge , No . 1275 , which meets at tho Ship Hotel , Greenwich .

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