Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1860-12-01


was neatly dressed, and had a superior
look Of rcspeCtability. The jacket and the
pataloons on his person were blue pilot
cloth, and black silk handkerchief was
tied in sailors knot around his neck.
There was nothing found in his pocket that
could lead to his identity. However, in
removing the flannel from his bosom, q
silver mark of a Mark Master was dis
covered, upon which was engraved the
initials of his name. A little further in-
vestigation revealed to the beholders the
most oat,e exhibition of Masonic emblems
that was ever drawn by the ingenuity of
man on the human skin. There was
nothing in the history of Free Masonry
equal to it. Beautifully dotted on his left
arm, in rcd and blue ink which time could
not efface, appeared all the emblems of the
Entered Apprentice. There were the
Holy Bible, the Square and Compass, the
twenty four inch gauge, and the common
level. There was also the Masonic pave
ment representing the ground floor of King
Solomon8 temple the indented Fcsscl
which surrounds it, and the Blazing Star
in the centre. On his right arm, and
arsistically executed in the same indelible
liquids, were the emblems pertaining to
the Fellow Craft degree, viz the Plumb,
the Square, and the Level. There were
also five columns representing the five or
ders of architecture The Tuscan, Doric,
Ionic, Corinthian, and Composite,
In removing the garments from his body,
the Trowcl presented itself, with all the
other working TOOLS of operative Masonry,
besides all the emblcms peculiar to the
degree of a Master Mason. Conspicuous
ly on his breast were tho three Great
Lights of Masonry. Over his heart was
the Pot Of Incense. On other parts Of
his person were the Bee Hive; the Book
of Constitutions guarded by the Tyler's
Sword, the sword pointing to naked
heart; the All Seeing Eye, the Anchor,
and Ark, the Hour Glass, the ScytLc,
and the forty-scvcnth problom of Euclid !;
the Sun, Moon, Stars, and a Comet; the
Three Steps cmblematical of Youth, Man
hood and Age. Admirably executed was
the Weeping Virgin, reclining on broken
column, upon which lay the Book of Con-
stitutions. In her left hand she held the
Pot Of Incense, tie Masonic emblem of a
pure heart, and in her unified right a
sprig of acacia, the beautiful emblem Of the
immortality of tho SOUL Immediately
bchia4 her stood winged Time with his
scythe by his side, (Which cuts the brittle
thread of life," and the Hour Glass at
his feet, which is ever reminding us that
''our lives are drawing to u close" The
withercd and attenuatcd fingers of the
Destroyer were dclicato(y picked amid the
long and graccflly flowing ringlots Of the
disconsolato mourncr. Thus were the
striking omblems of mortality and immor-
tallty blended in one pictorial ropresenta~
ton. 1t was a spectacle such as Masons
never saw before, and in all probability
such as the fraternity may never witness
again,
In the meantime the sun was rising in
the east. The smoke Of thousand tents
was now ascending from the surrounding
hills and valleys, which plainly told that
the hardy pioneers were busy preparing
their morning ropast. The flags of differ
ent nations were waving from the masts Of
the cmigrant ships that were anchored in
the bay, and sounds Of sweet music in the
distance fell family on the ear. There was
a solomnity and tranquility all around,
peculiarly betting the occasion The
news soon spread from tent to tent, and
crowds hurried to the spot where the body
was exposed. No one, however, could
identify him. A perfect mystery hung
over the stranger, and still hangs over his
memory. His history may never be known,
1t mattcrcd very iittlo to the Masons who
were present, from what country or cline
he came, or in what language he spoke
when living, 1t was enough for them tC
know that he was man and Mason, tC
secure him decent interment. The body
was placed in rude but substantial coffin
and borne in silence to the brow Of a neigh
boring hill, where it was buried with be
coming honors. The mourners stoot
around his grave, each one wearing whiLC
apron, which from time immomorial hai
been the "emblem Of innocence" and the
badge of Mason. There were eyes be
dewed with tears that were unused to weep
The occasion was extraordinary. In th'
entire absence Of all worldly pomp an(
| ostentation. there were the manly and uu