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Correspondence
CORRESPONDENCE
A CASE OF REAL DISTRESS
Me . Editor , — I beg to humbly introduce myself to your notice as the Gridiron that hangs up in the dark passage passing from the noble kitchen of Christ Church , Oxford , to the well-garnished buttery of the same classic locality . Knowing well the philanthropic principle which animates all Masons ( not a few of whom number themselves among the members of what I am proud to call our most noble and learned body ) , I feel constantly aggrieved at being made the subject of personal jokes . Sir , I have once
stood as much fire as the most experienced of City gridirons ; chops and steaks have been a responsibility that I have often sweated under in behalf of those whose appearance at five'o ' clock indicates a wholesome appetite after a day ' s labour ; but why is it that I , who have now grown gray in , and rusty after , an honourable retirement from the service , should be a victim to the laical witticisms of facetious people , whenever they pass me in company with a Masonic friend ?
[ The Editor does not hold himself responsible for any opinions entertained by Correspondents . ]
I need not say that I hold no member of Christ Church , Mason or non-Mason , in the slightest disrespect ; but , in my entire ignorance of Masonry , I feel curious to know why suspicious glances , sarcastic nudges , and other signs of mystery are constantly directed against me . I am no longer a public character , and had hoped that the honourable retirement ( on a nail quite strong enough to sustain me ) , and the fact of my not having long since been sold for old iron , would have screened me from the public gaze , and allowed me to rest in peaceful contemplation of a past , and I trust not wholly unuseful life . But it is otherwise . Non-Masons accuse me of unheard of cruelties towards Masonic Brethren . That I have often conduced to their gratification , I freely grant ; but that I ever contributed to any of the practical cruelties alleged , I must leave to your own conscience to determine . If I were a champion for the " ITireirons-in-Distress Society , " I could show you
that similar complaints are made by my friend the Poker , who has been my companion on numerous and stirring occasions . What other Gridirons may be guilty of I know not , nor do I wish to pry into secrets that no Gridiron of common honour should seek to learn ; but I hope that henceforth , when worthy members of the University , Cockneys , excursion-ticket and other people , honour our dark passage with their visits , they will spare me the painful repetition of inuendos , under which I already feel my frame is sinking .
Trusting to your genuine humanity towards all distressed Brethren , however remotely connected , believe me , your hard and once warm Friend , The Gridiron of Cheist Chubcij . P . S . —If I am to be exposed to such witticisms , I really ought to be cleaned anew , as I am almost ashamed to be seen .
to the editor of the freemasons' monthly magazine . Sir and Brother , — Observing amongst the ISTotices to Correspondents , in your last number , that you have had a correspondence with " W . Gaylor / ' I presume G . S . N . of the Sup . Chapter of Scotland , in reference to the " London Bon-accord Mark Lodge /'
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Correspondence
CORRESPONDENCE
A CASE OF REAL DISTRESS
Me . Editor , — I beg to humbly introduce myself to your notice as the Gridiron that hangs up in the dark passage passing from the noble kitchen of Christ Church , Oxford , to the well-garnished buttery of the same classic locality . Knowing well the philanthropic principle which animates all Masons ( not a few of whom number themselves among the members of what I am proud to call our most noble and learned body ) , I feel constantly aggrieved at being made the subject of personal jokes . Sir , I have once
stood as much fire as the most experienced of City gridirons ; chops and steaks have been a responsibility that I have often sweated under in behalf of those whose appearance at five'o ' clock indicates a wholesome appetite after a day ' s labour ; but why is it that I , who have now grown gray in , and rusty after , an honourable retirement from the service , should be a victim to the laical witticisms of facetious people , whenever they pass me in company with a Masonic friend ?
[ The Editor does not hold himself responsible for any opinions entertained by Correspondents . ]
I need not say that I hold no member of Christ Church , Mason or non-Mason , in the slightest disrespect ; but , in my entire ignorance of Masonry , I feel curious to know why suspicious glances , sarcastic nudges , and other signs of mystery are constantly directed against me . I am no longer a public character , and had hoped that the honourable retirement ( on a nail quite strong enough to sustain me ) , and the fact of my not having long since been sold for old iron , would have screened me from the public gaze , and allowed me to rest in peaceful contemplation of a past , and I trust not wholly unuseful life . But it is otherwise . Non-Masons accuse me of unheard of cruelties towards Masonic Brethren . That I have often conduced to their gratification , I freely grant ; but that I ever contributed to any of the practical cruelties alleged , I must leave to your own conscience to determine . If I were a champion for the " ITireirons-in-Distress Society , " I could show you
that similar complaints are made by my friend the Poker , who has been my companion on numerous and stirring occasions . What other Gridirons may be guilty of I know not , nor do I wish to pry into secrets that no Gridiron of common honour should seek to learn ; but I hope that henceforth , when worthy members of the University , Cockneys , excursion-ticket and other people , honour our dark passage with their visits , they will spare me the painful repetition of inuendos , under which I already feel my frame is sinking .
Trusting to your genuine humanity towards all distressed Brethren , however remotely connected , believe me , your hard and once warm Friend , The Gridiron of Cheist Chubcij . P . S . —If I am to be exposed to such witticisms , I really ought to be cleaned anew , as I am almost ashamed to be seen .
to the editor of the freemasons' monthly magazine . Sir and Brother , — Observing amongst the ISTotices to Correspondents , in your last number , that you have had a correspondence with " W . Gaylor / ' I presume G . S . N . of the Sup . Chapter of Scotland , in reference to the " London Bon-accord Mark Lodge /'