Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-04-09
The Legend Of the Third Degree.

The legend, as it is called, of the Mas.
ter Mason, is one of the most touching
and beautiful in the great drama Of life.
Founded, as il is, upon the mysteries
! and ceremonies Of the ancient Egypt
ians, il has come down to us as the very
embodiment and substance of Masonry.
1t is the impressive exemplifca.ion of
| the birth, the life, the duties, the death
aud the resurrection of man. 1t stamps
upon the intelligent Mason the sublime
doctrine of the Immortality of the soul;
and II was wise provision Of all Grand
Lodges, that that degree should never be
given in part only, but should be COM
pleted at every undertaking. To omit
this legend is to omit the degree ITSELF
and for its omission the ordinary excuse,
not even the ignorance of the master,
who may not have the talent or industry
to learn il. This legend is the grand
land mark, the unfailing beacon Of Ma
sonic centuries, II is never changed; it
will adGit Of no removal, for it is the
true point of the universal Brotherhood.
1t conveys thought, and furnishes food
for the reflective mind down to the grave,
and as simple drama stands unequaled
beside any Of the productions Of genius.
No Mason ever participated in and for
got it; he felt its moral upon his soul,
as though it were touch OF Divinity,
and when properly understood, it in
spires a solemnity second only to the
scene of death.
THE GREAT SECRET OF MASONRY.
An anecdote is related of Master
Mason, well known to most of our rea-
ders, noted as he is for his many acts of
charity. He is withal q man OF good
presence and great favorite among the
ladies--so much so as to cause some de-
gree Of Jealousy on the part of his worthy
spouse. One evening, not long since,
bundle came to the house for him, label.
ed private" OF course this was sufi.
cient for female curiosity, and therefore
she indulged in an inspection. Horror
of horrors Blankets, baby linen, ETC.,
greeted her astonished vision, and dreams
of two families hoated through her brain.
The husband soon came in, and after
tea, when the wife had discovered in his
eye the treachery of his conducts she
supposed--he took the bundle and went
out, but not alone, for the jealous wife
was on his track. The faithless husband
little imagined that she who supposed
herself SO foully wronged was lowering
after him. He halted before a small |
which he entered. Here she
paused to hold council of war. What
tactics to follow she was in doubt; but
she at once determined to storm the cit
adel, boldly knocked, and brushing past
the little child who answered the sum.
mons, she stood in an instant before her
husband, the embodiment OF injured in
nocence. Her feelings were about to
find expression, when the scene before
her caused her to pause. A pale and
careworn man shivering over the expir-
ing embers of scanty fire, psor wo-
man on sick bed, babe not old
enough for christening, aud two little
girls snugly slowed away on some straw
in corner, met her ferocious gaze She
read the story at glance, and returned
home with her husband a better and
wiser woman, satisfied that she had dis
covered the great secret of Masonry.