Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1846-04-01
SCARED BY A RED HOT GRID-IRON.
INITIATION FRUSTRATED.

y
mercial,) when our city was new and there was no
splendid HALLS the Masonic body held its sttings in
the upper story of well known public house, kept
by Major st, who was himself high Mason.
AS is the case now, many new members were offer
ing, or asking admission into the Fellowship and
mysteries of this ancient body of brethen. Why it
is we cannot say, but there are many stories aoat
among the people and there have been, that the
novitate is introduced to seat red hot gridron
that in making free and accepted brother, they
must undergo great many interesting ceremonies
besides being shown the grips and signals of the
der.
On one occasion-and it must be some forty years
ago, according to our informant of many of the par
ticuars; the lodge met and young spruce clerk of
of the stores into lower room of the bull
ding, it having been arranged to initiate him that
evening. He was ordered to remain below until all
was ready for his reception. The time dragged, and
his mind conjuring up what he about to meet he
commenced walking backwards and forwards through
the passage leading to the stairway of the Lodge
On the right of the passage way was the kitchen in
which, and directly before him as he passed the door
large fire burning, it being in that season of the
year requiring artificial heat for bodily comfort.
1t so happened that the Major kept an Irish ser
want girl, and she was the only person left with the
stranger in that part of the house; Betty heard of
the hot gridiron operation of Masons, and knowing
that the young clerk to be admitted that night,
thought she would have a bit of innocent fun. She
took large gridiron on which she broiled many
steak, and placed it the fire, in full view of the
young expectant of mysterious grips: stirring up
the blazing fire and returned to watch the result
Clerky confined to pass and epass the door and
and anon, Betty saw him, cast wishful glance at
that fire place. The iron growing redder and
redder every time he passed. He shook his head
sigh escaped him! Betty was in ecstaces. To place
her victim still deeper in agony, she placed small
taken from another room, between the fire and
the door leading to the hall, if to hide from his
view the fearful instrument of honorable Torture.
AS the cunning jade was retreating, the young
with the hand, and come here of the head, succeed
ed in arresting her progress for moment.
"A-a-a-what is that grdiron the fire for now,"
said he, ''my good girl will you tell me!'
'Oh! sir! Bnt raaIy don't like too. 1t wouldn't
be perlite."
On! never mind! am exceedingly anxious to
know"
"Why- there is a lodge up stairs to night and
"a
':Well, well, know there is Lodge upstairs to
night. But what is that iron in the fire for2 Tell
me good girl pray you! Tell HE quickly"
~Why-why-F'
"Speak out. Do! I'm aching to hear
"Why the major told me how they're going to
make mason to night, and that's all l know about
it,
That was enough. The oft told tale was true?-
That er.diron was for him! change came over
him in moment. He would not be burned with as
hot an iron as that, any how. The putting of hat
and cloak was a momentary affair, he sought the
street, ween legs, if ever, did their duty.
Soon after, the brothers having got all things ready
the Major came down for his young friend, but Betty
who seeing the result of her fun, and fearing the
sequence, came toward her master sobbing and cry
NC in a most affected manner.
The Major soon learned the story of the young
mans flight, also the cause, and answered.
"Never mind, Betty. If he's such fool as that I
We don't want him.
One would naturally suppose that the lodge had
inc laugh that good joke upon the return of the
Major. The inevitable conclusion is that the young
;lerk never offered himself again candidate for
into the mysteries of free and accepted Ma
sons, and seat their rascally red hot grdiron.
A LAWYER AT FAULr.-Every body in Philadel- I
phi, we believe, (says the Germantown Teegraph,) |
knows or has heard of Goteib Scheerer tall robust
welcomed German with small twinkling eye, and
look that tells you quite distinctly as language
that he 'knows thing or two Being called upon |
the stand as witness on one occasion, he was cate
,hised rather severely las the story goes,) by Mr.
Dallas, who expected to make out a strong point by
elicting something from the following questions.
@Were you at Harrisburg, Mr.. Scheerer, in De-
,ember!''
Sat Harrisburg in December, did you say, Mr.
BALLAST"
yes, sir, l said at Harrisburgh in December
Putting his head down thoughtfuly for moment
lie replied:
NO sir, was not
Were you at Harrisburg in January Mr.. Schee-
err
AT Harrisburg in January, did you say Mr.. Dali
asp
sYes, sir said at Harrisburg in January
selapsing into thoughtful mood for moment:
sNo, sir, was not at Harrisburg in January
.Well Mr.. Scheerer, were you at Harrisburg in
7ebruaryf
did you say at Harrisburg in February, Mr.. Dali
asp
yes, sir-answer me if you please-1 said at Har-
sburg in February
Studying for moment or two as before.