North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1867-03-20
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THE LETTER &C."
By MRS. MARY C. HAZLRr.

OF George Stanford said old Mr.. Carleton,
with lowering brow, aud determined
eye.
"And why not" said the gentle Mary,
striving to conceal her emotion. SIS be
not of a good family; is he not regarded
as high minded, honorable young man /;
are not his business prospects fattering,
and is not his attachment to me a. strong
and sincere as you or would wish p
"That may all be very true, my child ;
but be has associated himself with q sose-
ty which dares not to unfold it's secret
workings to the world, and which the
world has never been able to discover as
accomplishing any good. In short, Mary,
Stanford is Freemason.
"And is that your only objection, "a
ther? p
as not that sefficient one y he said
sternly. "Dare you, a mere child, pre-
sumo to arrsy your acknowledgement against
my age and experience"
81 do not wish to be disrespectfnl, my
father, but cannot help thinking you
judge Masonry unjustly. have known,
for long time. that George was Mason,
and this fact has led me TO investigate its
principle. Elder Williams, who lives next
door to Us, IS Mason, and he has allowed
me to read his Monitor, magazines and
other Msaonic works; aud If Masonry is
what these works describe it to be, it is a
good institution. and the world would suf-
fer from its loss"
You can tell nothing about 1t by the
books they publish. They arc only print
ed for effect, and to conceal the real cor
ruptness of the institution. Ii there was
anything good about it, it would not be
kept secret The Bible commands men
not to hide their light under bushel."
'But, father, the Bible says also, let rot
thy left hand knoweth what thy right hand
doeth;' and | think | have discovered
some good deeds by Masons. There Is
old Mr., Strong. who lives down by the
mill, and who has not been able to work
for nearly year. The Masons have Ia
ken care of him for long time. They
brig him provisions and everything els.
be needs, aud every night one or two of
them come to stay with him-for he is
failing very fast, and it would not be safe
TO leave him alone"
"Then he 10 one of their number, and
their caring of him is owing to species Of
honor among thieves" sald Mr. Carleton.
"No," said Mary" he is not, and never
has been a Mason. He told me so him
self only this morning, when went to ear-
ry him some fruit aud flowers, and be said
he should have died of want long ago but
for their kindness, and he hoped God
would bless and reward them. And
then" continued Mary, ''there is dear Mat.
tie Dow, whose father belonged to the So
ciety, the Masons are sending her to the
young ladies' boarding school, and prepsr-
ing her for teacher. They are paying
all her expenses, and she told me they had
cared for her ever since the death of her
parents, and that she loved them as much
as if they were her ows brothers. Oh,
father it cannot be that hose who per-
form such good deeds are bad men, for
tree is knowu by its fruits"
But old Mr.. Carleton was not man to
be turned from his purpose. His preju-
dice against Masonry had grown older,
and the gentle pleading Of his beautiful
daughter only served to irritate him.
"Msry," he said very sternly, "it is of
no use to talk to me about Masonry; and
it is worse than folly for You to attempt to
gam my consent to your marriage with
George Stanford. You were eighteen
yeas of age yesterday, and can, OF course
do as you please in this matter; but. it
YOU dare to disobey my wishes you are no
longer my child. I would sooner sink
my wealth. in the depths of the ocean, or
give it to the most miserable beggar in
this great city of New York, than bestow
il upon daughter who is 80 ungrsteful as
to marry against her fathers will. choose,
therefore. between your fathers wealth and
love, and George Stanford, the Freemason.
/ shall expect your decision to morrow
morning"
Mary Carleton arose and left her ia
theirs presence; with slow, unsteady step
size sought her own room. She felt that
the crisis of her life had arrived, and she
not how to decide. Her father had en-
couraged the attentions of Stanford until
within the last few days. Discovering
that he was Freemason, Mr.. Carleton had
told him haughtily that be must renounce
all connection with the institution or dis
continue his visits to the house, Tbs
young man had met this unreasonable de-
mand with the proper spirit, and firmly,
but respectfully, asserted his determination
to be Freemason while be lived. He had
been ordered from the house, and told pev-
CT to enter it again. Such were the cir
cumstances leading to the above conversa-
tios between Mr.. Carleton and bis daugh.
ter,
Mary knelt at her bedside, and implored
her God to give her strength and wisdom.
She felt that her father was in the wrong
but could she meet his frowns and lasting
dlspleasure? She thought she could not
but there arose before her the vision Of bel
affianced husband, the noble, upright, gen