LOCAL TESTS
Nothing is more calculated to limit the universality of Masonry
and render a stranger more uncomfortable than the application
of local tests. These are no less pernicious than useless: pernicious,
because what was at first adopted, for temporary convenience,
becomes in the next generation incorporated into the permanent
work; and senless, because the ancient test is abundantly sufficient
to protect the fraternity against impostors and expelled Masons.
The localities in which these modern tests principally flourish
are inland points, which foreign brethren are not likely to visit.
A LATE CASE
The widow of a Master Mason, not long since, applied to the Lodge in which her husband had held his membership, and prayed for relief. This was in the good city of P , where there are many Lodges occupying the same hall. The Lodge in question, appropriated forty dollars, and pinned the petition to the pedestal. The next night another Lodge opened, observed the call, and donated ten dollars. The next night, twenty was given, then five, forty, thirty, etc., until more than one hundred and fifty had thus accumulated. The whole was then collected, and poured in the widow's lap, moistened by the widow's tears.
MISCELLANEOUS
Three excellent Masonic tales could be written from 2d Maccabees iii. 28.; ib. chap. vii.; ib. vi. 18., etc. a tale of Masonic kindness from 2d Chron. xxviii. 10., etc.
John Shuff was a bright Mason married
asked Lucy might he attend Lodge she said yes, but looked did'nt
go for a year then the baby he must nurse it before it got
big baby, another baby he must nurse that then a third, a fourth,
a fifth, etc. until John merged his speculative Masonry into
pure operative, and he has never been to the Lodge since.
Did King Solomon ever visit the Arabian Gulf, or any tide water?
if so, the Bible is silent on the subject. In memorizing subjects,
how convenient to learn them in threes. Poor T went deranged
was on his way to a lunatic asylum stopped at J, his old residence
chapter night he was so well, they permitted him to visit and
preside he never did it better died shortly after, quite insane.
Masonry was planted in Mexico the year Brother J. R. Poinsett
went there, as minister plenipotentiary.
When Pope Clement XII issued his Bull against Masonry, the craftsmen
continued to meet, but under the assumed name of Xerophagists
those who live without drinking. No dispensation authorizes a
Lodge to confer more than two degrees upon a candidate, at the
same meeting.
Back to Lights and shadows of Freemasonry Previous Next
