Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Ar01000
session of the diploma , the Secretary took legal steps to recover the debt which the challenger owed him . Taylor ' s "emphatic" denial proved to be an emphatic lie . This is shown in the decision of the Court before which the case was tried , and which is thus * reported : —
"Robertson v . Taylor . —At the Justice of Peace Court , Saltcoats , on the ist July current , John Robertson , mason , sued John Taylor , plumber , Ardrossan , for 23 s . of lent money . Mr . Robertson explained that lie is secretary of Neptune Kilwinning Lodge of Freemasons , No . 442 ; that Taylor had long been intimate with him , and had
frequently expressed a desire to be initiated a Freemason in the said lodge , hut that he had not enough of money to pay the fees , all the money he had on coming to be initiated being 10 s . ; and that he had asked him ( Robertson ) for the loan of 23 s . to make up the amount required ,
and that he ( Robertson ) had lent him the same . — laylor denied receiving the money ; but the Court , after hearing the evidence , gave decreet against him for the amount and costs . —I certify the above to be a true report , "THOMAS KIRKHOI'E , Solicitor , Ardrossan . "
Two of the justices before whom this case was tried are brethren , viz ., J . G . Halket , Esq ., Past Master of Lodge No . 320 , and S . P . G . M . of Ayrshire , and AVilliam Lockhart , Esq ., of Mayfield , Past Master of Lodge No . 169 . The effrontery of Taylor in obtruding himself
before the readers of a Masonic journal circulating in all parts of the globe , will be thus apparent , to every unprejudiced brother . In his letter to THE FREEMASON , Taylor justifies his refusal to pay his yearly subscription to the lodge , by stating that is . 6 d . of the amount charged , ( 2 s . 6 d . ) was " an illegal
demand . " The Bye-laws of thc lodges , which are sanctioned by the Grand Lodge , and of which Taylor got a copy , ordain " the brethren to pay the sum of 2 s . 6 d . annually , ancl payment of the said sum shall constitute membership . " So much then for Taylor ' s second deliberate mis-statement In his
attempted justification of his dishonourable conduct , Taylor allows himself to be made the cat's-paw of a coterie of bilious brethren , whose chronic envy at the prosperity of Neptune Kilwinning has more than once prompted them to the commission of acts the unmasonic character of which has greatly
affected the usefulness of the Lodge No . 320 . The letter signed " Duncan AVilkic , Secretary , " is but an echo of the one bearing the signature " John Taylor . " The unmanly insinuations which these letters contain , and both issue from the same polluted source , have long ago been repelled by the
Lodge Neptune , Kilwinning , and the present R . AV . Master , Senior AVarden , and Secretary , against whom the insinuations are directed possess the unqualified confidence of the brethren , and are held in the highest esteem not only by members of their own lodge , but also by many worthy brethren of No .
320 , and other lodges is tins province . The best proof of thc groundlessness of Duncan AVilkie and Co . ' s insinuations , now of several years standing , against Neptune Kilwinning , or any of its office-bearers , lies in the fact that neither the Grand Lodge nor the Provincial Grand Lodge have ever
yet deemed them worth consideration . If the Lodge No . 320 should anew give its pretended " complaint" an airing at the expense of others , Neptune Kilwinning must also be heard in thc case , though it must be admitted , the affair is devoid of interest to thc Craft in general . By order of the Lodge No . 442 ,
JOHN ROBERTSON , Sec . Ardrossan , July nth , 1 S 70 .
HENRY PRICE ONCE MORE . ( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Your readers may probably remember two of my letters on the question whether Henry Price was ever appointed Provincial G . M . of America , printed in your
valuable journal in February last . In the letter published February 5 th , 1 pointed out , that whereas . Price claimc I of having himself paid three guineas to Deputy G . an . l Mailer 11 isson , on or before April 13 th , 1733 , for his deputation . Though the name of Price may by accident have been omitted from
toe record , yet the three guinea 3 oug . it to be found on the cas ' i account of the G . L . of En gland . To this question , the R . W . Pro . Jo ' . in Hervey was kind to reply as follows : — " 1 have searched the cash aceoaiits in Grand Lodge books for the years 1733-4-5 , an . I do not find the mention of Bro . Price ' s
name 111 connection with any payment , or mentioned in any way wh never . " ' With regird to fees for deputation I cannot find any trace of their having been pai . l at all at that nerio . l . " ' T . ierc is a deputation set out at full length to Bro . Daniel Cox , as P . G . M . of New York , New
Jersey , and Pensylva . nia , dated 5 th June , 1 730 , but n i fee appears to have been paid . " This answer will necessitate further inquiry , for if it can be proved that no fee was demanded in 1733 for a Provincial Grand Masters deputation , Bro . Price ' s assertion of having paid the three guineas will prove more than he imagined or desired . Thc second letter , which was published about
Ar01001
three weeks after the first , had reference to Price ' s claim of having received an extension of his authority from the Earl of Crauford . Benjamin Franklin ' s letter dated Nov . 28 th , 1734 , which was embodied in my second communication , fixed the
date of thc second deputation to August preceding . Franklin wrote : " AA ' e have seen in thc Boston prints an article of news from London , importing that at a Grand Lodge held there in August last , Mr . Price ' s deputation and power was extended over all America .
AVe must now repeat that Dr . AVinslow Lewis not only maintains positively thc genuineness of Franklin ' s letter , but also assures me that it even had a post mark on it . AVe must therefore believe that Ben . Franklin " saw in the Boston prints the article of London news , " and we therefore imagined tha . t
Henry Price ' s name ought to appear in the English G . L . Record of thc said August meeting . A \' e therefore asked the question , whether the G . L . of England held a meeting in August , 1734 ? To this question Bro . Hervey replied : — " Our Minute-book shows that no Grand Lodge meeting
was held between 30 th March , 1734 , when Lord Crauford was installed Grand Master , and the 24 th February , 1735 , when he apologised for not having called the brethren together , consequently no Grand Lodge was held in August 1734 . " Here then is positive evidence of a fraud ; a fraud
which so far imposed on Benj . Franklin , as to call forth his letter of Nov . 28 th , 1834 ; and can any one doubt , that Henry Price was thr ; author of that fraud ? AA ho but Price could have originated the said " article of London news , " into the Boston prints ? and if guilty of one imposition , why may he not be
equally guilty of lying with regard to his 1733 deputation ? I have again troubled the R . AV . Bro . Hervey to ascertain and inform me , the precise date , when a fee was first charged for a Provincial Deputation ; but in the meantime if any of your numerous
correspondents are in possession of thc information I am seeking , I hope they will communicate it through thc pages of THE FREEMASON . I may here add , that thc controversy , whether A'iscount Montague or Moutacute was Grand Master in 1732-3 is at last in a fair way of settlement . I
am informed that Dr . Lewis received from Bro . T . Heard , P . G . M . of Massachusetts , who is now in England , a copy of the inscription taken from thc tomb-stone of the A'iscount , also an attested extract from the original Patent of Phillip and Mary , 1554 , creating Anthony Brown " A ^ iscount Montague " or
Moimtague , " but certainly not " Montacule , " so at last the name of Moutacute , together with the fancy crest painted in our Masonic Temple , will have to be brushed over . Thc "Moutacute Lodge" will have to change its name , but whether its future name
shall be " Montague Lodge , " must depend on the decision of some future committee , whether Henry Price did , or did not hold a deputation from the said \ iscoimt Montague . Fraternally and respectfully yours
JACOB NORTON . Boston , U . S ., July 7 th , 1 S 70 .
( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) SIR , —The appointment of our worthy Bro . N . Le Gendre Starkie , Esq ., as the Grand Master of the Province of East Lancashire , is one which commends itself to thc respect of our biethrcn . The appointment seems to have given the bulk of the
Masonic brethren great satisfaction , and is hailed with delight by the majority of thc province . Now , sir , I write to enter my protest to thc underhand work which seems to be going on amongst a few of those who consider themselves of some importance (?) in this large and influential province . I
strongly object to a brother calling meetings at his private house , or even at his private ofiice , for thc purpose of taking into consideration " a certain recent appointment . " It is not respectful to the M . AA ' . G . M . l *< call into que ; tion the appointment , neither is it ri ' ' it to . virJs the iieiv ' v-appu ' nicJ
Provincial Master . It is anyt . iing but geiv . leaiin ' y , or m inly , and V ' -ry m . ich beae . u . 1 lire dignity of a true Mason . If there are to be any meetings , let ilieai be held a'r . > vc- - o \ i \ l , at the proper tim . * , an . I in the proper place . A \* e have a Masonic Ll . dl , why not us * t ' m ? Let the mecl ' nr . if neceisirv , be
calle . l by the proper person , and let no man assume a posit'on that he has no right to do , especially when the voice of the people is against him . I don ' t believe in any man trying to make himself poptltir by taking steps quite al variance with common courtesy . It is an outrage on thc common sens ; of
the province , and I hope , sir , our brethren will stop such unwarrantable proceeding ? . AA'hat necessity is there for any meeting ? Thc appointment is virtually , if not actually made , and why this storm in a tea-pot . ' Let the malcontents
go over to some neighbouring province where their whims may possibly be better appreciated than here . The Prov . G . M . Designate is well-known as a county gentleman , well suited in every respect for the important position he is about to occupy ,
Ar01002
having been not only Prov . S . G . AV . ( E . L . ) , but higher than that , he has actually been S . G . AV . of England , ancl High Sheriff of Lancashire . Surely , a gentleman who has had the approbation of Her Majesty as well as of the M . W . the G . M . of England is not to be treated in such a style by what appears to me to be a few upstarts . Yours fraternally , A BROTHER .
" PRINCE " RHODOCANAKIS . ( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I regret to find that thc person who calls himself " His Imperial Highness Prince Rliodocanakis , " has again appeared on the scene . AVhen the absurd pretensions of the "Prince" were
first put forward , I sought at once to arrive at their value . Knowing Sir Bernard Burke , Ulster King-at-Arms , to be universally recognised as the highest living authority on " Orders of Knighthood , " I wrote to that gentleman respecting the so-called " Prince , " and Sir Bernard in reply disavowed all knowledge of " His Imperial Highness . "
The correspondence between myself and Sir Bernard Burke was placed in the hands of the Editor of the Freemasons' Magasiue some months ago , and I regret very much that it was not then made public . As the Editor of thc Magazine has exercised his
discretion in refusing to insert the correspondence , I am at length compelled to address you on the matter . I therefore submit this simple proposition : If Mr . Rliodocanakis is a " Prince " let him substantiate his claim to thc title to Sir Bernard Burke ' s
satisfaction , and I and many others will then acknowledge its validity , but until that is done the " Prince " had better retire into private life . Yours fraternally , London , July 16 th , 1 S 70 . J . A . H .
A clever and genial writer in the Michigan Freemason gives the following graphic sketch of an incident occurring during a Masonic excursion on the Mississippi , which cool and chivalrous Knight Templarship alone saved from proving fatally disastrous : —
It was a magnificent sight to see our immense boat , accompanied by thc Lady Gay and the Belle of Alton , their decks crowned with fair ladies and Knights Templar , bands of music , distinguished citizens , and invited guests , as they steamed up the Mississippi , then down to Jefferson Barracks , where we all went on shore to spend a pleasant hour , after which we again went on board and
steamed merrily up the river . I was standing near the captain . The commander of the Templars came and leaned wearily on the capstan . I turned to Reuben Milton , and whispered in his car these words : " That man was horn to command . " He had Ihe form of a Hercules , the head of an Apollo , and the eye of an eagle , an 1 , as circumstances afterwards
demonstrated , the heart of a hon . Although not so very large , he appeared larger than he really was ; he was full and athletic , and still every proportion was a symmetry , aad every movement a grace . While he was still leaning silently on the capstan , and while I was yet analysing his fine countenance , ihe cap-U ' m of ihe steamer , wilh pal - lips awl blanched cheeks ,
approached the young lemplar , and in a low tone ami trembling voice , said : "Great God ! sir , we are sinking . AA e arc snagged , sir , in the bottom , and nothing can save us . " " How long can you keep her afloat ? " carelessly inquired thc young Templar . "She may go down in five minulis ; she cannot keep
afloat more than fifteen , replied the captain . " Do not mike your situation known to anyone except your crew , or wc will have a panic , and then all will he lost . Signal the Lady Gay to lean to ; none will notice or understand the signal of distress . Get your crew and hands ready lo move , I will manage ihe rest . " " Blow , Warier , blow , " said the young Templar ,
speaking to his ensign , wno stood near him , at the tame lime leaping upon the capstan . Every one was startled by a s ' iriil blast from tlie Warder ' s tr-impcl . A hundre I Templars' swords Icapc I from their scabbards at the blast . "Ailemiui , Sir Kuigats , " shouted the you ig commin ler . " The ncx ; ceremony i 1 ihe programme is for the Sir llniglus , la lies an 1 gcnlleinea on this lioal , to
in i !; e a visit to o ir friends on board ilicLaly Gay . As t ! ic .-. learners are rapidly npproaclii . igi jli other , and eann . it be kept but a nii . iu ' c or two together , the movement mu , 1 be a rapi I one . Yoa will firm procession at once , a id , as ihe boats come together , pas , over die gangway 1111 ler an arch of sti cl , to ihe lower deck of the Laly Gay . Forward , Sir Knighis , lo ihe gangway . Music in
front . ' 1 Im band , will play "T . ie Knights Templar IJuick-slcp . ' " In obe . lieice to thes : orders , ihe knights formed a double line to the gangway , facing round , with swords crossed above t ' ac heads of ihosc forming tlie procession . In less than eight minutes ihe whole precious cargo of human life had passed from die Mississippi to thc Lady
Criy , even to the c 'bu'e . l c-ioU , except thc two files of Templars , wl' . en Ihe young commander ordered : " From the rear , right au . l lefi inward wheel , march ; " and filing in . vard , the Templars rapidly passed over thc gangway to ihe Lady Gay , ihe young commander being the last to leave . One minute more and the Mississippi steamer sank to the bottom .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Ar01000
session of the diploma , the Secretary took legal steps to recover the debt which the challenger owed him . Taylor ' s "emphatic" denial proved to be an emphatic lie . This is shown in the decision of the Court before which the case was tried , and which is thus * reported : —
"Robertson v . Taylor . —At the Justice of Peace Court , Saltcoats , on the ist July current , John Robertson , mason , sued John Taylor , plumber , Ardrossan , for 23 s . of lent money . Mr . Robertson explained that lie is secretary of Neptune Kilwinning Lodge of Freemasons , No . 442 ; that Taylor had long been intimate with him , and had
frequently expressed a desire to be initiated a Freemason in the said lodge , hut that he had not enough of money to pay the fees , all the money he had on coming to be initiated being 10 s . ; and that he had asked him ( Robertson ) for the loan of 23 s . to make up the amount required ,
and that he ( Robertson ) had lent him the same . — laylor denied receiving the money ; but the Court , after hearing the evidence , gave decreet against him for the amount and costs . —I certify the above to be a true report , "THOMAS KIRKHOI'E , Solicitor , Ardrossan . "
Two of the justices before whom this case was tried are brethren , viz ., J . G . Halket , Esq ., Past Master of Lodge No . 320 , and S . P . G . M . of Ayrshire , and AVilliam Lockhart , Esq ., of Mayfield , Past Master of Lodge No . 169 . The effrontery of Taylor in obtruding himself
before the readers of a Masonic journal circulating in all parts of the globe , will be thus apparent , to every unprejudiced brother . In his letter to THE FREEMASON , Taylor justifies his refusal to pay his yearly subscription to the lodge , by stating that is . 6 d . of the amount charged , ( 2 s . 6 d . ) was " an illegal
demand . " The Bye-laws of thc lodges , which are sanctioned by the Grand Lodge , and of which Taylor got a copy , ordain " the brethren to pay the sum of 2 s . 6 d . annually , ancl payment of the said sum shall constitute membership . " So much then for Taylor ' s second deliberate mis-statement In his
attempted justification of his dishonourable conduct , Taylor allows himself to be made the cat's-paw of a coterie of bilious brethren , whose chronic envy at the prosperity of Neptune Kilwinning has more than once prompted them to the commission of acts the unmasonic character of which has greatly
affected the usefulness of the Lodge No . 320 . The letter signed " Duncan AVilkic , Secretary , " is but an echo of the one bearing the signature " John Taylor . " The unmanly insinuations which these letters contain , and both issue from the same polluted source , have long ago been repelled by the
Lodge Neptune , Kilwinning , and the present R . AV . Master , Senior AVarden , and Secretary , against whom the insinuations are directed possess the unqualified confidence of the brethren , and are held in the highest esteem not only by members of their own lodge , but also by many worthy brethren of No .
320 , and other lodges is tins province . The best proof of thc groundlessness of Duncan AVilkie and Co . ' s insinuations , now of several years standing , against Neptune Kilwinning , or any of its office-bearers , lies in the fact that neither the Grand Lodge nor the Provincial Grand Lodge have ever
yet deemed them worth consideration . If the Lodge No . 320 should anew give its pretended " complaint" an airing at the expense of others , Neptune Kilwinning must also be heard in thc case , though it must be admitted , the affair is devoid of interest to thc Craft in general . By order of the Lodge No . 442 ,
JOHN ROBERTSON , Sec . Ardrossan , July nth , 1 S 70 .
HENRY PRICE ONCE MORE . ( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Your readers may probably remember two of my letters on the question whether Henry Price was ever appointed Provincial G . M . of America , printed in your
valuable journal in February last . In the letter published February 5 th , 1 pointed out , that whereas . Price claimc I of having himself paid three guineas to Deputy G . an . l Mailer 11 isson , on or before April 13 th , 1733 , for his deputation . Though the name of Price may by accident have been omitted from
toe record , yet the three guinea 3 oug . it to be found on the cas ' i account of the G . L . of En gland . To this question , the R . W . Pro . Jo ' . in Hervey was kind to reply as follows : — " 1 have searched the cash aceoaiits in Grand Lodge books for the years 1733-4-5 , an . I do not find the mention of Bro . Price ' s
name 111 connection with any payment , or mentioned in any way wh never . " ' With regird to fees for deputation I cannot find any trace of their having been pai . l at all at that nerio . l . " ' T . ierc is a deputation set out at full length to Bro . Daniel Cox , as P . G . M . of New York , New
Jersey , and Pensylva . nia , dated 5 th June , 1 730 , but n i fee appears to have been paid . " This answer will necessitate further inquiry , for if it can be proved that no fee was demanded in 1733 for a Provincial Grand Masters deputation , Bro . Price ' s assertion of having paid the three guineas will prove more than he imagined or desired . Thc second letter , which was published about
Ar01001
three weeks after the first , had reference to Price ' s claim of having received an extension of his authority from the Earl of Crauford . Benjamin Franklin ' s letter dated Nov . 28 th , 1734 , which was embodied in my second communication , fixed the
date of thc second deputation to August preceding . Franklin wrote : " AA ' e have seen in thc Boston prints an article of news from London , importing that at a Grand Lodge held there in August last , Mr . Price ' s deputation and power was extended over all America .
AVe must now repeat that Dr . AVinslow Lewis not only maintains positively thc genuineness of Franklin ' s letter , but also assures me that it even had a post mark on it . AVe must therefore believe that Ben . Franklin " saw in the Boston prints the article of London news , " and we therefore imagined tha . t
Henry Price ' s name ought to appear in the English G . L . Record of thc said August meeting . A \' e therefore asked the question , whether the G . L . of England held a meeting in August , 1734 ? To this question Bro . Hervey replied : — " Our Minute-book shows that no Grand Lodge meeting
was held between 30 th March , 1734 , when Lord Crauford was installed Grand Master , and the 24 th February , 1735 , when he apologised for not having called the brethren together , consequently no Grand Lodge was held in August 1734 . " Here then is positive evidence of a fraud ; a fraud
which so far imposed on Benj . Franklin , as to call forth his letter of Nov . 28 th , 1834 ; and can any one doubt , that Henry Price was thr ; author of that fraud ? AA ho but Price could have originated the said " article of London news , " into the Boston prints ? and if guilty of one imposition , why may he not be
equally guilty of lying with regard to his 1733 deputation ? I have again troubled the R . AV . Bro . Hervey to ascertain and inform me , the precise date , when a fee was first charged for a Provincial Deputation ; but in the meantime if any of your numerous
correspondents are in possession of thc information I am seeking , I hope they will communicate it through thc pages of THE FREEMASON . I may here add , that thc controversy , whether A'iscount Montague or Moutacute was Grand Master in 1732-3 is at last in a fair way of settlement . I
am informed that Dr . Lewis received from Bro . T . Heard , P . G . M . of Massachusetts , who is now in England , a copy of the inscription taken from thc tomb-stone of the A'iscount , also an attested extract from the original Patent of Phillip and Mary , 1554 , creating Anthony Brown " A ^ iscount Montague " or
Moimtague , " but certainly not " Montacule , " so at last the name of Moutacute , together with the fancy crest painted in our Masonic Temple , will have to be brushed over . Thc "Moutacute Lodge" will have to change its name , but whether its future name
shall be " Montague Lodge , " must depend on the decision of some future committee , whether Henry Price did , or did not hold a deputation from the said \ iscoimt Montague . Fraternally and respectfully yours
JACOB NORTON . Boston , U . S ., July 7 th , 1 S 70 .
( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) SIR , —The appointment of our worthy Bro . N . Le Gendre Starkie , Esq ., as the Grand Master of the Province of East Lancashire , is one which commends itself to thc respect of our biethrcn . The appointment seems to have given the bulk of the
Masonic brethren great satisfaction , and is hailed with delight by the majority of thc province . Now , sir , I write to enter my protest to thc underhand work which seems to be going on amongst a few of those who consider themselves of some importance (?) in this large and influential province . I
strongly object to a brother calling meetings at his private house , or even at his private ofiice , for thc purpose of taking into consideration " a certain recent appointment . " It is not respectful to the M . AA ' . G . M . l *< call into que ; tion the appointment , neither is it ri ' ' it to . virJs the iieiv ' v-appu ' nicJ
Provincial Master . It is anyt . iing but geiv . leaiin ' y , or m inly , and V ' -ry m . ich beae . u . 1 lire dignity of a true Mason . If there are to be any meetings , let ilieai be held a'r . > vc- - o \ i \ l , at the proper tim . * , an . I in the proper place . A \* e have a Masonic Ll . dl , why not us * t ' m ? Let the mecl ' nr . if neceisirv , be
calle . l by the proper person , and let no man assume a posit'on that he has no right to do , especially when the voice of the people is against him . I don ' t believe in any man trying to make himself poptltir by taking steps quite al variance with common courtesy . It is an outrage on thc common sens ; of
the province , and I hope , sir , our brethren will stop such unwarrantable proceeding ? . AA'hat necessity is there for any meeting ? Thc appointment is virtually , if not actually made , and why this storm in a tea-pot . ' Let the malcontents
go over to some neighbouring province where their whims may possibly be better appreciated than here . The Prov . G . M . Designate is well-known as a county gentleman , well suited in every respect for the important position he is about to occupy ,
Ar01002
having been not only Prov . S . G . AV . ( E . L . ) , but higher than that , he has actually been S . G . AV . of England , ancl High Sheriff of Lancashire . Surely , a gentleman who has had the approbation of Her Majesty as well as of the M . W . the G . M . of England is not to be treated in such a style by what appears to me to be a few upstarts . Yours fraternally , A BROTHER .
" PRINCE " RHODOCANAKIS . ( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I regret to find that thc person who calls himself " His Imperial Highness Prince Rliodocanakis , " has again appeared on the scene . AVhen the absurd pretensions of the "Prince" were
first put forward , I sought at once to arrive at their value . Knowing Sir Bernard Burke , Ulster King-at-Arms , to be universally recognised as the highest living authority on " Orders of Knighthood , " I wrote to that gentleman respecting the so-called " Prince , " and Sir Bernard in reply disavowed all knowledge of " His Imperial Highness . "
The correspondence between myself and Sir Bernard Burke was placed in the hands of the Editor of the Freemasons' Magasiue some months ago , and I regret very much that it was not then made public . As the Editor of thc Magazine has exercised his
discretion in refusing to insert the correspondence , I am at length compelled to address you on the matter . I therefore submit this simple proposition : If Mr . Rliodocanakis is a " Prince " let him substantiate his claim to thc title to Sir Bernard Burke ' s
satisfaction , and I and many others will then acknowledge its validity , but until that is done the " Prince " had better retire into private life . Yours fraternally , London , July 16 th , 1 S 70 . J . A . H .
A clever and genial writer in the Michigan Freemason gives the following graphic sketch of an incident occurring during a Masonic excursion on the Mississippi , which cool and chivalrous Knight Templarship alone saved from proving fatally disastrous : —
It was a magnificent sight to see our immense boat , accompanied by thc Lady Gay and the Belle of Alton , their decks crowned with fair ladies and Knights Templar , bands of music , distinguished citizens , and invited guests , as they steamed up the Mississippi , then down to Jefferson Barracks , where we all went on shore to spend a pleasant hour , after which we again went on board and
steamed merrily up the river . I was standing near the captain . The commander of the Templars came and leaned wearily on the capstan . I turned to Reuben Milton , and whispered in his car these words : " That man was horn to command . " He had Ihe form of a Hercules , the head of an Apollo , and the eye of an eagle , an 1 , as circumstances afterwards
demonstrated , the heart of a hon . Although not so very large , he appeared larger than he really was ; he was full and athletic , and still every proportion was a symmetry , aad every movement a grace . While he was still leaning silently on the capstan , and while I was yet analysing his fine countenance , ihe cap-U ' m of ihe steamer , wilh pal - lips awl blanched cheeks ,
approached the young lemplar , and in a low tone ami trembling voice , said : "Great God ! sir , we are sinking . AA e arc snagged , sir , in the bottom , and nothing can save us . " " How long can you keep her afloat ? " carelessly inquired thc young Templar . "She may go down in five minulis ; she cannot keep
afloat more than fifteen , replied the captain . " Do not mike your situation known to anyone except your crew , or wc will have a panic , and then all will he lost . Signal the Lady Gay to lean to ; none will notice or understand the signal of distress . Get your crew and hands ready lo move , I will manage ihe rest . " " Blow , Warier , blow , " said the young Templar ,
speaking to his ensign , wno stood near him , at the tame lime leaping upon the capstan . Every one was startled by a s ' iriil blast from tlie Warder ' s tr-impcl . A hundre I Templars' swords Icapc I from their scabbards at the blast . "Ailemiui , Sir Kuigats , " shouted the you ig commin ler . " The ncx ; ceremony i 1 ihe programme is for the Sir llniglus , la lies an 1 gcnlleinea on this lioal , to
in i !; e a visit to o ir friends on board ilicLaly Gay . As t ! ic .-. learners are rapidly npproaclii . igi jli other , and eann . it be kept but a nii . iu ' c or two together , the movement mu , 1 be a rapi I one . Yoa will firm procession at once , a id , as ihe boats come together , pas , over die gangway 1111 ler an arch of sti cl , to ihe lower deck of the Laly Gay . Forward , Sir Knighis , lo ihe gangway . Music in
front . ' 1 Im band , will play "T . ie Knights Templar IJuick-slcp . ' " In obe . lieice to thes : orders , ihe knights formed a double line to the gangway , facing round , with swords crossed above t ' ac heads of ihosc forming tlie procession . In less than eight minutes ihe whole precious cargo of human life had passed from die Mississippi to thc Lady
Criy , even to the c 'bu'e . l c-ioU , except thc two files of Templars , wl' . en Ihe young commander ordered : " From the rear , right au . l lefi inward wheel , march ; " and filing in . vard , the Templars rapidly passed over thc gangway to ihe Lady Gay , ihe young commander being the last to leave . One minute more and the Mississippi steamer sank to the bottom .