Papers On Masonry.

PAPERS ON MASONRY .

BY A LEWIS . IV . —MASONRY AND CIVIL OBLIGATIONS ,

" For he embarkcth himself to set sail with a west-northwest wind , every one in heaps did cast into the ship gold , silver , rings , jewels , spices , clouzs , and aromatical perfumes , parrots , pelicans , monkeys , civet cats , black-spotted weazels , porcupines , esc . He was accounted no good mother ' s son who did not cast in all the rare and precious things he had . " —RABELAIS , Gargantua Book , i . 50 .

It mi ght seem strange to tho reader to see at the head of this paper a quotation from an author who shares with Lucian , Aristophanes , and a few others a rare reputation for whimsicality joined with wisdom . But to the Mason , the writer is disposed to think , the words will be found applicable . Indeed it is more than

hkely that Rabelais , who wrote his inimitable budget of fun and satire at a very solemn crisis of the world ' s history , was himself a Mason . Perhaps , among his wide experience , this honourable body had claimed him ; for there are other important allusions in his works to the necessity of charity and prudence . In a

very cautious way he , m the directions given for the erection of the Abbey of Thelcme , symbolizes many important truths of the Order . Monks are stigmatised as being mal-nez ( of ill-bred disposition , or with bad noses ) , whereas those admitted to the androgyne establishment of Theleme were to be Men natures

, bene noli , well-born , the reverse of malnez , ill-born or disfigured in person . See the fifty-third chapter of the first book of Gargantua . At the time when Rabelais wrote , the whole of society was in the throes of emergence from the thraldom of the letter arriving at the better condition of

the spirit . It was his object , therefore , as it should be that of every good citizen , to promote throughout the world what is to be found in a lodge "just , perfect , and regular . " It is well known in the annals of Masonry that the wandering guilds who travelled from country to

country , and built the sacred structures in which the exoteric communities adored the G . A . O . T . U ., in defiance and grim mockery of priestly rule , mingled sarcastic emblems indicative of their solemn protests against priestly arrogance and evil-doing wilh those symbols enjoined by tradition and consecrated b y

laith . From this time forward a deadly animosity has reigned in the hearts of Roman Catholic authorities against the Ordur . Hence the various Inhumations of the Vatican directly against Freemasons . The superstitious priests who held up the sacred branch , unintelligible to them from their crass

ignorance , did not dare to remove these evidences of Masonic playfulness from the edifices raised for them by their opponents ; therefore they remained in grim parabolic manner on the walls " of the cathedrals , abbeys , and churches . Let those who can read , read , and be certified of this important truth .

But henceforward there arose a cry that Freemasons desired to subvert that society which in truth , by precept and example , they only sought to remodel . A charge , therefore , was easily instituted b y the possessors of temporalities , that the Masons were foes to civil as well as reli gious liberty . This , however , is answered by the fact that of all things you may speak in a

lodgeexcept religion and politics . Masons are more peculiarly bound to respect civil and political institutions than other men , but they cannot avoid sharing special political sympathies with the mass of mankind . Hence their ordinances enjoin the most scrupulous respect for that which exists , with the most heartfelt hope of

gradual and orderly improvement in every direction . In the family , Masons are taught to restrain their passions , to respect the ties of blood , and to enforce by precept and example , the rules of temperance and good report . In the State , Masons are enjoined to have confidence in the appointed rulers anil princes

under whose guidance and government they find themselves ; and to be a Mason , in the true sense , is to be a . patriot of the purest character . Thus it happens that a Mason entering the military state is ready , independent of other considerations , to encounter everything for the fionour of his country .

As a sailor , ho shrinks from no danger that may be necessary to increase the security of his native land . As a minister of religion , he seeks to enlarge the boundaries of morality and true humanity ; as a merchant , to increase the wealth of his country without offence or rapacity . As a husband and father , a son

or brother , his duty is plain and straightforward ; and while he more peculiarly respects and cherishes those to whom he is allied by the tie of Li ght , he is led to extend the hand of humanity to those beyond . " Manyare called , but few are chosen . " Those who say that Masons have no such duties as

these , or that they seek mere self advancement , are far from the truth of the matter , and can onl y be pitied . What has been written above may appear eulogistic , and indeed it is so , but it is no more than the fact , nor while the sacred landmarks remain can Masons act otherwise than thus . Of course there are indi-

Papers On Masonry.

vidual exceptions , alas ! to this rule , and some of the legends of the Order point to sad instances of this , but as evil has a mysterious though necessary existence , so occasional instances of erring brethren are to be found . But , as in the world , these do not pass

without censure or punishment . If , however , a man on becoming a Mason is not ready to do as Al pharbel , King of Canarre , is represented as doing in the merry romance of Rabelais , he can never be a Mason "in spirit and in truth . " CRYPTONYMUS .

Divulging The Masons' Word.

DIVULGING THE MASONS' WORD .

The following amusing anecdote is taken from the Weston-super-Mare Gazette : — Curiosity and timidity are two important traits in the character of Ralph Sloogey . The former quality some years ago made him desirous of learning the secrets of the Masonic fraternity : but as he had heard

that hot gridirons and pugnacious goats with sharp horns are made use of during the ceremony of initiation , to satisfy himself on this point ho endeavoured to " pump " an intimate personal friend , Jacob Sleeton , whom he knew to be a Mason . For a long time Ralph tried to worm out something concerning the

fraternity ; on every possible opportunity he would renew the attempt , until at last Jacob became offended with Ralph's persistency , and determined to punish him . Karly one morning , as Ralph and Jacob were hurrying to their respective places of business , the former renewed his inquiries . " I'd give fifty dollars if I knew the signs and password . If you tell me

about tho password and grip , 111 promise never to ask you another word about Masonry . Conic now , Jacob —you've known me since I was a boy , and you ought to be aware that if I am a little curious , I never blab . Will you tell me ? Surely you don ' t doubt your old school-fellow ? Out with the password , and I promise

you that I'll be mum as a mouse . " AVhen Ralph had completed his request , which was spoken in a loud tone , Jacob turned his head , thinking that the words might have been overheard by a gentleman who happened to be walking behind them . This gentleman proved to be a Mr . Ilinslow , who ,

a few weeks before , had been dismissed from his position as keeper in the Bellevue Hospital , charged with stealing spoons . The charges against Mr . Ilinslow had not yet been formally proved ; but a committee of the Common Council were to inquire into the facts of the case at an early day , and Jacob had been appointed

a member of that committee . The last question propounded by Ralph angered Jacob , and as he turned his eyes and beheld the man who had the stolen spoons , an idea instantly entered his mind . He conceived an admirable plan for punishing Ralph , and resolved to immediately put it

in execution . " If 1 tell you the password , " said Jacob purposely slackening his pace to allow Mr . Ilinslow to pass before them ; "if I tell you the Masonic password , you promise never to divulge it—not even to a brother . " "Never ! " exclaimed Ralph cxultingly , thinking

that at last his curiosity was to be satisfied . " Upon your soul you swear it ?" " Upon my soul I swear it ! " responded Ral p h . By this time Mr . Ilinslow had passed on before them , leaving Ralph and Jacob about three yards behind .

" You'll never utter it in the hearing of man , woman , or beast ? " asked Jacob . " I solemnly swear . " " I think that 1 can trust you . "Well , Ral ph , I am about to make known to you one of the great secrets of Masonry . When you wish to form the acquaintance of a Mason , all you have to do is to' whisper in

his ear the mysterious password . That password is—Sl'OONS !" " Spoons ! O that be ! " ejaculated Ralph . " 1 tell you truly—the Masonic password is spoons . " " Spoons I Ha ! ha ! ha ! " and Ralph made a feeble attempt to laugh . " Spoons !—that's a strange password ! You must think that 1 am a confounded

fool . " " I am in earnest Ralph . When Masons get into difficulty , and need assistance , they roar out the word ' spoons' three times . Were you to say ' spoons' three times , even here in the public street , and a Mason should hear you , he would immediately rush to vour

assistance , thinking that you needed it . " Ralp h did not believe him ; and to show that he could not be so easily gulled , ho roared out , at the top of his voice , " Spoons ! spoons ! spoons' . " Ere the second syllable had passed his mouth , Mr . Ilinslow turned round and faced Ralph .

" You said 'Spoons , ' did youY Take that—and that I" As he spoke , Ilinslow struck Ralp h between the eyes , and then under the ear , the second blow lifting the inquisitive man off his feet , so that he staggered and fell to the pavement , completely stunned .

" I'll give you spoons ! " roared the excited Ilinslow , as he advanced and repeatedly kicked the prostrate man . As Ralph made no effort to rise , the enraged Ilinslow soon tired of kicking him , and slowly passed on , occasionally looking behind to see if Ralp h were following to obtain satisfaction .

Divulging The Masons' Word.

Ralph did not require satisfaction , thinking he might get too much of it ; so he prudently postponed returning to consciousness until his enemy had disappeared . As he rose to his feet , he said to Jacob in a subdued tone , " Why did that man strike me ? "

Because you uttered the Masonic password , but could not respond to the countersign . He is a Mason ; and , as he was solemnly bound to do , immediately answered the password by making the countersign with his hand . You were unable to answer his

countersign , and for that reason he knew you to be a clandestine Mason—a man who has learned the secrets in an improper way . Therefore it was his duty to chastise you . Your life may yet be forfeited for that indiscretion . "

" My life ! B y all that is good , I thought you were only humbugging mo when you said that' spoons' was the password . " " Sh-h-h ! Beware ! " said Jacob , putting his hand on Ral p h ' s mouth . " Never utter that word again . Masons are ubiquitous , and you might lose your life . As it is , you are in danger : for all the lodges in the

city will be immediately convoked to adopt measures that may discover the man who has betrayed them . My life as well as yours , is in jeoDardy . Promise me that you will never again utter that password . " "And so 'Spoons' is the password ! " Ral p h was at last convinced that his old friend had been telling truth . " Well may I be broiled on a Mason gridiron and turned with a red-hot trowel if ever I halloo

' spoons again !" Ralph has most religiously kept his word . Should he need a spoon while at table , he now asks his wife for a " sugar-shovel , " fearing that if he mentioned the proper name of the required article , some pugnacious member of the mystic brotherhood might respond to the Masonic password .

Metropolitan Masonic Meetings

METROPOLITAN MASONIC MEETINGS

For the Week ending April 2-4 , 1869 . Monday , April 19 . Lodge No . 1 , " Grand Masters , " Freemasons' Hall . „ 8 , " British , " Freemasons' Hall . „ 21 , " Emulation , " Albion Tavern , Aldersgate-st . „ 58 , " Felicity , " London Tavern , Bishopsgate-9 t „ 185 , "Tranquillity , " Kadlcy's Hotel , Blackfriars . „ 7 . 0 , " Paniuuie , " Balham Hotel , Balham .

„ 907 , " Boyal Albeit , " Freemasons' HalL „ 1201 , " Eclectic , " Freemasons'Hall .

Tuesday , April 20 . Board of General Purposes , Freemasons' Hall , at 3 . Lodge No . 73 , " Mount Lebanon , " Bridge Houso Hotel , South wark . „ 95 , " Eastern Star , " Ship & Turtle Tavern ,

Lcadenhall -street . „ 1 G 2 , " Cadogan . " Freemasons' Hall . „ 191 , " St . Paul's , " Terminus Hotel , Cannon-st , „ 435 , " Salisbury , " 71 , Dcan-stvcet , Soho . „ 857 , "St . Mark ' s , " Horns Tavern , Kennington .

R . A Chapter , 119 , "Mount Sinai , " Anderton's Hotel , Flcolstreet . „ 186 , "Industry , " Freemasons' Hall . Metropolitan Chapter of Instruction , George Hotel , Aldcrmanbury ; Comp . Brett , Preceptor .

Wednesday , April 21 . General Committee of Grand Chapter , Freemasons' Hall , at 3 . Lodge of Benevolence , Freemasons' Hall , at 7 . Grand Steward ' s Lodge , „ „ Lodge No . 30 , "United Mariners , " George Hotel , Alderinanbiiry . „ 1-10 , "St . George ' s , " Trafalgar Hotel , Greenwich . 171 , " Sincerity , " Cheshire Cheese Tav ., Crutched

Friars . „ 190 , "Oak , " Kadlcy ' s Hotel , Blackfriars . „ 700 , "Nelson , " Masoaic Hall , William-street , Woolwich . „ 9 C 9 , " Maybury , " Freemasons' Hall . „ 1150 , " Buckingham & Chandos , " ditto . „ 1159 , " Marquis of Dalhousic , " ditto . Mark Lodge , "Bon Accord , " Freemasons' Tavern .

Thursday , April 22 . House Committee , Girls' School , at 4 . Lodgo No . 60 , ' Grenadiers , " Freemasons'Hall . „ 99 , "Shakespeare , " Albion Tav ., Aldcrsgate-et . „ 706 , "William Preston , " Anerley . „ 858 , " South Mi ( ldlcsex "BeaufortHoiiBe , Fulham . „ 1056 , "Victoria , " George Hotel , Aldcrmanbiiry . It . A . Chapter , Nn . 5 ' 1-1 , " Polish National , " Freemasons' Hall .

Friday , April 23 . House Committee , Boys' School . Lodge No . 181 , " Universal , " Freemasons' Hall . „ 197 , "Jerusalem , " ditto . „ 5 G 9 , " Fit / . Boy , " lion . Artillery Company , Cityroad . „ 801 , " Finsbury , " Jolly Anglers , Bath-street , St .

Luke ' s . Emulation Lodgo of Improvement for M . M . 's , Freemasons ' Hall , at 7 . Stability Lodgo of Instruction , Guildhall Collee House Gresham-strect , at 7 . Metropolitan Lodge of Instruction , George Hotel , Aldernuvnbury , at 7 . Saturday , April 24 . [ Nil . ]