Masonic Adventure.

MASONIC ADVENTURE .

LONDON , SATURDAY , AUGUST 3 , 1861 .

( Continued from page < 1 . ) " It was some four or five years ago that my elder brother James sailed as mate in a fine vessel bound for London . After a quick passage and discharging cargo , they again loaded for the Indian and China markets ; all went well for some time till they reached the neighbourhood of the Cape of Good Hope , when a severe storm befel them ; in the words of my brother's favourite author Falconer : —

"' In confluence borne before the blast , Clouds rolled on clouds the dusky noon o'er cast ; The blackening ocean cowls , the winds arise , And the dark sand in swift succession flies . A lowering squall obscures the southern sky , Before whose sweeping breath the waters fly ; It comes resistless and with foaming sweep ,

Upturns the whitening surface of the deep . In such a tempest borne to deeds of death , The wayward sisters scour the blasted heath ; The clouds with rain pregnant now impend , The storm and cataracts tumultuous blend , Deep on her side the reeling vessel lies , Brail up the rnizen quick , the master cries . The ship still labours in the oppressive strain , Low bending , as if ne ' er to rise again . '

" The gale lasted three days , and when , on its subsiding , the pumps were sounded , they found the ship had sprung a leak , which , in spite of all their efforts , slowly , but surely , gained upon them . The only chance of saving their lives and the ship was to reach the Cape ; several vessels were sighted , but too far off ; at length on the fifth day when all were nearly exhausteda sail was seen

, heading straight for them ; signals of distress were hoisted , but their agony and distress may be imagined but not described , when she was seen , the wind being favourable , to pay no attention to them ; as a last resource , my brother went to the captain , who was also a Mason-, and begged him to hoist the Freemason's flag .

This was done ; the strange vessel ' s course was stopped , then again her sails Avere filled and she appeared leaAdng them to die , when once more she altered her com'se ana ran down to them ; a boat was sent on board , and finding it impossible to save my brother's ship , all hands were taken on board the strangerand in a le of

, coup days landed at the Cape . It appears that the strange vessel had encountered contrary winds for some time , and her captain , who was not a Mason , refused to delay to assist the distressed ship ; Avhen , however , the Masonic flag was hoisted , the two mates belonging to her , and who were Masonsordered the shito be laid-tothe

, p ; captain would not consent , and it was only when the mates solemnly declared they would not assist the captain any longer , but leave him on the first opportunity , that he consented to run down and succour those in distress . Thus did Masonry save the lives of all on board the ill-fated vessel . "

"Well , " said John Christian , "that reminds me of what I once saw myself ; but go on now , Cap , and I will tell my story Avhen you have finished telling us about Freemasonry . " Charles thus recommenced : " The anecdote we have just heard the charitand also the brotherllove

proves y y of Masons , for by the exercise of brotherly love we are taught to regard the whole human species as one family , the high and low , the rich and poor , who , as children of the same first parent , and inhabitants of the same planet , are to aid , support , and protect each other . On this

principle Masonry unites men of eveiy country , sect , and opinion , and conciliates true friendship among those who might otherwise have remained at a perpetual distance . Instructed in the same principles , a uniformity of opinion which is pleasing in familial' life , and which ( as is exemplified in my own case , and in that of Joe

Brown ' s brother ) , is useful in exigencies , prevails , strengthens the ties of friendship , and promotes love and esteem . Masons are brethren by a double tie ; among them , as brethren , no invidious distinctions exist ; merit is always respected , and honour rendered to whom honour is due . The monarchthe statesmanthe

ihlo-, , p sopher , the artist , are reminded that , ivhatever be their dignity of station or superiority of intellect , their origin is derived from the common parent of mankind , and is no better than that of the most humble of the brethren , since , in every son of Adam , Ave view a brother of tho dust . As Masons all are brotherseach one is a

, member of the same large family , and is taught not only to render to each brother ' every kind office in his power , by always doing unto him as you would he should do unto you , but also by cherishing and protecting as a brother those defenceless and Aveak ones most dear to him in the persons of his wife , his sister , or his child .

JSTOW , then , you see not only why the Major and I were such firm friends , but also why he so freely confided his sister to my care . " " "Well , I declare , " said Christian , "the captain might have heard iny story before he began to speak , for what I am going to tell you proves all he said to be quite true . In my younger days , you must know , I was for some years a sailor . "Well , one voyage was to the "West Indies ; the craft was a crank concern , and the master

not a very good seaman . We were running on with all sail set and a fair breeze , when one of those heavy squalls came down on us , and , before we knew where we were , the schooner turned a turtle , as they call it , and over Ave Avent . As Providence would have it , the skipper had set us to work to paint her stern and dandif

y her before coming into port , so the boat was towing astern at the time . There were only eight hands on board ; three were asleep below , and the rest on deck . I happened to be aft ; and the first thing I saw floating near me was the boat , which had broken adrift ; a few strokes soon brought me to herand I got on

, board ; looking around , I found two others , the mate and our black cook ; the oars had been lashed to the thwarts , so I soon picked them up ; we kneAv we were in the track of the vessels , and not more than three days' sail from our port , but it is no joke being in a small boat on the open ocean in those latitudes without water .

Luckily it rained , and Ave saA ed a little , but for twentyfom hours we were in the boat , when we were picked up by a Dutch homeward bound craft . They used all kindly enough , but what was our surprise next [ day to see Sambo the cook in long togs , and to find that ' the captain had taken him into the cabinwhile Ave whites

, , who had always looked down on Sambo , had to rough it in the forecastle . "Well , this puzzled us a good deal , so the first time I got a chance I asked Sambo the reason . ' Oh ! ' says he ' captain and me brothers . ' ' Brothers , ' says I ; ' how's that ? you're as black as a coal , and he is a fair Dutchman . ' ' It's uite true we're brothers all

q the same for that , ' says Sambo ; ' we are brother Freemasons . ' "Well , I resolved to become a Freemason myself ; but , when I reached home , first one thing and then another happened , and so I am still not one . "

Sleep , induced by their fatigues , now asserted her power , and all were soon slumbering around the fire . Early next day they again resumed their journey , and ,