Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1846-02-13
SCARED BY A RED HOT GRID
IRON.
INITIATION FRUSTRATED.

A number of years since, (says the Cinen-
natl Commercially when our city was new
and there was no splendid halls, the Masonic
body held its slttngs in the upper story Of d
well known public house, kept by Major
SIT, who was himself hi Oh Mason
AS is the case now, many new members
we're Offering, or asking admission into The
fellowship and mysteries ofthis ancient body
OF brethren. Why ii is we cannot say, but
there are many stories sfloat among the peo-
pie, and there ever have been, that The now.
liate is introduced to seal on red hot grid
iron that in making a man free and &C
cepted brother, they must undergo a great
many very interesting ceremonies, besides
being shown the CUPS and signals Of the
order.
On one occasion-and il must be some
forty years ago, according TO our niormsn,
Of many of the particulars the lodge met,
and young good looking spruce clerk ofone
OF the stores came INTO the lower room 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.
The time dragged, and his mind conjurng up
what he was about to meet, he commenced
walking backwards and forwards through the
passage leading to the lairway Of the lodge.
On the right Of the passage way was the
kitchen, in which, and directly before him as
he passed the door, was a 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 servant girl, and she was the only per-
son left with the stranger in that part of the
house; Betty had heard Of the hot grid.iron
operation of the Masons, and, knowing that
the young clerk was to be admitted that night,
thought she would have Bit of innocent fun.
She took large grid-iron on which she had
broed many steak, and placed it on the
fire, in full view of the young expectant Of
mysterious grips; stirring up the blazing fire
and returned to watch the result. Cerky
continued TO pass and repass the door and
ever and anon, Betty saw him, cast wish
full glance at that fire place The iron was
growing redder and redder every time no
passed. He shook his head, sigh escaped
HIM Betty was in ecstaces. To place her
victim still deeper in agony, she placed
small screen, taken from another room, be-
tween the fire and the door leading TO the hall,
Us if to hide from his view the fearful instru-
ment Of honorable torture. As the cunning
jade was retreating, the young man, with the
wink OF the eye, and beckon of the hand,
and come here nod of the head, succeed
ed in arresting her progress for a moment.
"A-a.a-what is that gridiron on the fire
for nOw, said he, "my good girl, will you
tell me p
"Oh! sir! Blu, raaly don't like too. 1t
wouldn't be perlite."
"Oh never mind. I'm exceedingly anx.
ious TO know"
""hy,-s-'hare is Lodge up stairs 10
night and a."
"Well, well, ] know there is Lodge up
stairs o-night. But what is that iron IN the
fire for Tell ME good girl, pray you, tell
me quickly"
"Why-why-l"
"Why, the ma or told ME as how they
were going to make a mason tonight, and
that's all know abou, it,"
That was enough. The Oft told tale was
true That grdiron was for him! A change
came over him in moment. He would
not be burned with as hot an iron as that,
any how. The putting on of hat and cloak
was momentary atfair.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 Betty, who seeing the re.
suit OF her fun, and fearing the consequence,
came toward her master sobbing and crying
in most affecting manner.
The Major soon learned the story of the
young mans flight, also the cause, and an
swered:
"Never mind. Betty. If he is sucha fool
as that, we don't want him."
One would naturally suppose that the
Lodge had fine laugh over that good Joke
upon the return of the major. The inevila-
bic conclusion is that the young clerk never
offered himself again as candidate for adj
mission into the mysteries of Free and ac-
cep,ed Masons, sad seat on their rascslly
red hot gridron.