Stray Leaves From A Freemason's Note Book.

excep t O'SnlHvan , Grand Secretary—ono of tho grand old Irish gentlemen of former days , and a brother by the namo of Vincil , who I think is still an active member of that Grand Lodge . Who was the Grand Master I do not remember , bnt ho appeared to be entirely devoted to tho dnties of the honr . The Deputy was a different kind of man—so full of fun and mischief that he conld not restrain

himself , even during the session of the Grand Lodge . He sat at the loft of the Grand Master , while I was honoured with a seat nt the left of the Deputy . The latter seemed to take bnt little interest in the current transactions , yet thoy may have only been informal , and of no special importance , but his eye was wandering , as though waiting " for school to turn out . " I watched him closely , for his face and

manner interested me . He appeared to dwell in tho sunshine , and live on anticipated mischief . Wishing no harm to any ono , ho seemed to be waiting to victimise some friend . Soon a member came in , apparently about the age of the Depnt y , and , as seats were scarce , he advanced to the front and took a seat on the second step leading to the dais , nnd directly in front of the

Depnty Grand Master . Between tho latter and myself stood a basket full of scraps of paper and old tickets that had been nscd in voting at the election . The basket must havo held half a bushel of debris . It seemed to be the opportunity for which the Depnty Grand Master had been waiting . His eyes brightened up at once . Ho looked at the basket of debris , and then at his friend on the step before him .

The temptation was too great for him to resist , so he picked np tho basket and emptied the entire contents upon the head of his victim , who , knowing who was behind him , took it as a matter of conrse . The Deputy replaced the basket and resumed his seat with the quiet gravity of a Quaker preacher , while the victim did not even turn his head towards the Depnty , as thongh he need not be surprised at the

infliction of the official mischief from the Deputy , who sat in his chair with an innocence as though knowing nothing about what had transpired . I suspect it was settled that night in their room over a bottle of wine—such things will occur sometimes . This was a little by-play , a gleam of sunshine that will come now and then to bring a glow over the sterner realities of life , and make

Lodge meetings , when work is over , specially attractive . Most of the then active workmen in the Grand Lodge of Missouri , I presume , have retired from labour to refreshment , but it is still pleasant to recall the sunshine and summer glow of years long past . From one of the leaves of my earlier note-books I will select

another incident which may provoke such a smile as it did from the writer when the event occurred , and was one of the pleasant incidents that come to the hard-working Craftsman when the labours of the evening are ended . Of course , the sunny playspells are not Freemasonry , but the outgrowths of that warm fraternal fellowship and social union when hearts have been bound together around our

common altars . In former years we had a faithful old brother who tyled all the Masonic bodies in Cincinnati , and tho Grand Bodies of that Stato as well . As there wore not so many Boc os in that city then DS thero aro now , thoy all met in the same Hall , and Joseph B . Covert was tho Tyler , but we called him " Undo Joe , " for short . Ho wns very fond

of a joke , and wonld sometimes perpetrate ono on some assuming young brother who lingered too long about tho outer door to chat , when his place nnd duty were in tho Lodge , and Uncle Joo desired to bo let alone to attend to his work . Among tho younger brethren , I will call him Jacob , was a very faithful member in his attendance , but was usually late iu coming

Ho would como to tho door and say : " Undo Joe , what aro they doing to-night ? " Obtaining tho desired information he wonld frequently retire , but sometimes go into the Hall . This continued practice and repetition of the same question at last became annoying , and the faithfnl old Tylor determined to set a trap for Jacob at the first favourable opportunity , and see if he could not cure him of the

habit of coming lato and repeating tho usual question . One night an initiation was taking placo , and tho Master of tho Lodge was possessed of a very stern manner , though , whan work was finished , could enjoy n . joke as woll as any one . After tho work waa nearly completed , Bro . Jacob , as was nsnal , presented himself , and with the customary question : " What aro they doing to-night , Uncle Joe ? " The old Tyler rose to his feet and assumed a manner of great

indi gnation , declared it was tho most outrageous conduct he had over heard of in a Lodge . "Why , what's the matter , Uncle Joo ?" exclaimed Bro . Jacob , who was sure there must be something wrong to thus excite the venerable and usually quiet Tyler . " Matter , " said Uncle Joe , " why , I never read of such a transaction in my life , nor do I think ijow have ; I can hardly be induced to sit here at my post of dut y while such work is being done . " " Do toll mo what it is , Uncle Joe ? if it is wronsr it shonld be attended to at once . " " Wron g !"

said the old man , giving his hands a whack together , as if to "xpress his tenibie indignation : "Why , sir , it is in violation of all Masonic law I ever read ; I only wish tho Grand Master would make his appearance just now ! Why , sir , you will hardly believe that tho oldest Lodge but one in tho State , and with snch a Master , should bo initiating a man who can see no more than a dead liovsc ! " " Why ,

Uncle Joe , yon surprise me ; are you sure of this ? " " Sure ? Did I lot see the candidate and conduct him to the prepaiing-room ? I should have protested , but feared to embroil myself with the Master . ¦ The ceremony will close in a few minntes , and I will then admit you and you can seo for yourself . " The initiation beiig concluded , Bro . Jacob was admitted , and ,

approaching the altar , inquired of the Manlcr if it , were true that they « ad initiated a man who could not see . The Master at onco suspected something , and in his nsnal stern manner asked who had told him snch a singular story . Jacob said Uncle Joe hnd given him tho ' ¦" wrrnation , when tho Master , drawing down his heavy brows , ininired

if Bro . Jacob had ever seen a person initiated into Masonry J ™ o could see ? Tho question awakened a new thought , and Jacob Pgan to suspect that he had been victimised by Undo Joe , nnd sked permission to retire , but the Master would not permit it until 16 Lcl ge was closed , when all h md * , inclut ' ng Uncle Joe and Bro .

Stray Leaves From A Freemason's Note Book.

Jacob , enjoyed such a langh as had not been heard in that hall for many a day or evening . Jacob did not forget tho lesson Uncle Joo had taught him , and the Tyler was not troubled again with the question : "What aro they doing , Uncle Joe ? " Bro . Jacob over afterwards came in good time , or , if his business prevented , ho remained absent , yet ho was the same faithful and devoted Mason aa

ever . If the poor wero to bo relieved , or tho sick attended to , Bro . Jacob conld always be depended on ; ho was ever ready with hia timo and bis means to aid a brother , his widow or hia orphan . Bnt tho kind-hearted old Tyler , and hia victim Bro . Jacob , had many a langh over the manner in which tho latter had been cured of an nnpleasant habit . Bnt Tyler and Jacob havo long slept under the sod , while tho venerable Master still lives in age and decrepitude , as ho

" Walks thoughtful on the solemn silent shoro Of that vast ocean we must sail so soon . " I believe , Bro . Brown , I have room for one more leaf from my old scrap-book , and as it refers to an intellectual malady which I believe still prevails to a limited extent , and in a modified form , " in and about" your good City of Chicago , I will copy it for the benefit of

" whom it may concern . " You know the disease is a troublesome one , and difficult to cure . The last case that I knew of in Ohio wag one of " spontaneous combustion . " No one could tell whence it came nor where it went , but like Arab robbers in the desert it went aa rapidly ancl aa suddenly as it came , and took refuge in a desert where neither reason nor religion conld roach it .

The authorities had determined to erect a new Court House in Bellofontaine , Ohio , and asked the Grand Lodge of Freemasons to lay the corner-stone of the new building with tho usual Masonio ceremonies . This act of the Commissioners excited the displeasure of certain ultra-religionists of the county , and they prepared and filed a terrible protest against the wicked procedure , but aa you have seen

so much of anti-Masonio literature I need not describe to you this offensive twaddle . It waa so offensive that even thoae who signed it were ashamed of it , more especially when they learned that the Commissioners had determined to deposit a copy of it in the corner-stone as a enrioaity of the age , and that other generations of one or two centuries hence might know of the offensive document , and of the namea appended to it .

This , act greatly alarmed the Antis , and they would have given almost anything to have the document withdrawn , but it was too late . It had been printed , and the boys on the street read and ridiculed it , while every man of sense denounced it . But it went into the cornerstone , and if auy readers of the Voice should be alive two or three centuries henoe they may get a peep at that curious document and learn something about the creed and professions of the anti-Masons of the nineteenth century .

The Rahere Almoners.

THE RAHERE ALMONERS .

THE second anniversary banquet of this ancient fraternity took place on Monday evening , at Cannon-street Hotel , under the patronngo and presidency of tho Right Hon . Bro . Sir John Whittakor Ellis , Bart ., who was supported by tho Sheriffs of London and Middlesex , Mr . Alderman De Keysei- and Joseph Savory , Esq ., together with tho members of tho Conrt of Common Council for the Ward of Farringdon Without . There were also present a j . argo number of

Visitors , and tho gallery was occupied by ladies , who appeared to take a lively interest in tho proceedings of the evening , which were of an unusually attractive character throughout . True it is , " that nothing succeeds liko success , " and thoso associated with this memorable fraternity are resolved that they will , if possible , " success achieve . " Perhaps at tho outset , some may inquire who and what are these

" ancient Almoners ? " Wo will answer these questions . Their intentions and objects aro to afford assistance and relief to deserving necessitous persons—and their name is legion—in memory of Rahere , tho pious founder of the ancient priory of St . Bartholomew . In order to effect this , a fund , which from time to time will accumulate , ia to be devoted to charitable purposes . In

addition , offerings in kind from benevolent persons will be bestowed to clothe the naked and to feed the hungry , and thia without reference to creed or nationality ; " the hand of melting eharity " will be opened to all whom Providence haa reduced , forreaaona and purposes which often it is quite impossible to fathom . The deserving will re . ceive substantial and ready aid , the undeserving will be sent empty

away . What a noblo undertaking to do this , and much more ! What a gracious task to clothe the naked and to feed tho hungry , to minister in the name of " sweet charity " to dying wants , to com - fort tho widow and tho fatherless , and all that are desolate nnder the chastening rod of bitter affliction . No wonder , therefore , that the ladies testified by thoir presence on Monday evening that they

cordially sympathised in this noblo movement . Passing , however , from this—with reluctance—for various reasons , we return to what occurred at Cannon-street Hotel . The executive of thia noble fraternit y aro gentlemen who do things as they shonld be done , and not b y halves . As a matter of course , in order to do what is required at their hands , there mnst be a vast amount of self abnegation , to which

they cheerfully and readily submit . There is no looking back ; ou tho contrary , "forward" is their watchword , and this will undoubtedly carry them through . The programme of the evening waa tho handiwork of Bro . Jas . Stevens V . W . G . Counsellor . Whether we regard its artistic merits , or the literary ability it exhibits , we must freely , but no less impartially , confess it is a masterpiece , and

as such elicited the encomiums of all present . His is no ' prentice hand . Mr . Thos . Sangster , Grand Recorder , acted as Master of the Ceremonies , and that eo ably aa to pat the possibility ot a bitch out of the question . The City of London Rifle Corps acted as a body guard to tho Lord Mayor , a flourish of trumpets , " both loud and long , " heralding his arrival . The banquet was well served and unreservedly comnended . During this repast a boar ' s head was brought in on the