Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1846-01-15
NJ 7 s. @ iA u Il a N g o
s G AIRED BY A GR1DrRoN
INITIATION FRUSTR ATED

"A number OF years since, (says the Cincin-
natl Commercially when our city was new
and there were no splendid halls. the Mason
&c Body held ills sitngs in the upper story of
a we'll known public house, kept by Major
S-t, who was himself high mason,
AS is the case now, many new members were
Offering, or asking admission into the fellow
snip and mysteries of this ancient body of
brethren-Why it is we cannot say, but there
are many stories a6oat among the people, and
there ever have been, that the novliate is in
troduced to seat on a red hol gridiron.
nat IN making man free and accepted
orother, they must undergo great many verv
interesting ceremonies, besides being shown
the grips and signals of the order.
On one occaslon-and il must be some for
ty years ago, according to our informant of
many of the particulars-,he lodge met and
young good looking, spruce clerk of one of
the stores came into the lower rooms of the
building, it having been arranged TO initiate
him that evening. He was ordered TO remain
below until all was ready for his reception,
Ihe time dragging, and his mind conluring
up what he was about to meet, he commenced
walking backwards and forwards through the
passage Leading to the stairway Of the lodge.
oh the right OF the passway was the kitchen
ID winch and directly before him as he pass
ed the door, was large fire burning, il, being
IN that season of the year requiring artificial
heat for bodily comfort
1t SO happened that the Major kept an Irish
servant girl, and she was the only person left
with the stranger in that part Of the house.
Betty had heard of the hot grdiron operation
OF Masons, and, knowing that the Young
clerk was TO be admitted that night, thought
she would have bit of innocent fun. She
took large gridiron on which she had broIl-
ed many steak, and placed it on the fire in
full view of the young expectant of mysteri
Gus gri2s-stirred up the blazing fire and re-
turned to watch the result. Clerky continu-
ed to pass and repass the door, and ever and
anon, Betty saw him cast wishful glance at
that fireplace The iron was growing red
der every time he passed. He shook his head
"a sigh escaped him? Betty was in costa.
cies. TO place her victim still deeper in
agony, she placed small screen, taken from
another room, between the -fffe and the door
leading to the hall, as if to hide from his view
the fearful instrument Of honorable torture
AS the cunning jade was retreating, the young
man with wink Of the eye, a beckon of the
hand, and scome here' of the head, sue
ceeded In arresting her progress for mo-
ment.
n-o~WhdN 10 tlldt SrlOlTOn or the fire IOI
nonc,' said he, my good girl? will YOU tell
me? p
ooh, sir ! but rally don't like too. |,
wouldn't be perIite.'
sob, never mind. Pm exceedingly anxious
to know
'Why-a-there is Lodge up stairs tonight
And-a-'
well, well, kno,o there is lodge UP stairs
TO night. But what is that iron in the fire
for! Tell me, good girl, pray you! Tell
me quickly
sWhy-why-I-'
Speak out Dol Pm aching 10 hear;'
'Why the Major told me as how THEY'RE
going to make q Mason TO niglt, and that's
all know about it,
That was enough. The ort-told tale was
true That gridiron was for him. A change
came over him in moment. He would moi
be burned with as hot an iron as that, any
how. The putting on of hat and cloak was
momeniary affair; he sought the street
when legs, if ever, did their duty.
Soon after, the brothers having got all
things ready, the Major came down for his
young friend, but met BETTY, who seeing TIE
result Of her fun, and fearing the consequen-