Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1867-07-06
SATURDAY MORNING, JULY 6, 1867
OLD SERIES, VOL. 81, NO. 3S.

to you one of the great secrets of Masonry.
When you wish to form the acquaintance OF
a Mason, all you have to do is to whisper
in his ear the mysterious password. And
that password is--SPooNs n
"Spoons!" "Oh that bel" calculated
Ralph, as the smile on his face was displaced
by frOwn.
81 tell you truly-the Masonic password
is Spoons"
"Spoons Ha ha ! ha |" and Ralph made
feeble attempt to laugh "Spoons that's
q great password You must think I'm
coniounded fool ~
"rm in earnest. Ralph. When Mssons
get in difficulty, and need assistance they
roar out the word spoons three times. Were
you to say spoons three times, even here, on
the public street, and Mason should hear
you, he would Immediately rush to your
assistance. thinking that you needed it,"
Ralph did not believe him and to show
that he could not be so easily gulled; he
roared out at the top of his voice.
Spoons! Spoons Spo0ns!"
Ere the second syllable had passed his
mouth, Mr.. Hinslow turned round and faced
Ralph
You said spoons did you. Take that
and that !" AS he spoke, he struck Ralph
between the eyes, and then under the ear,
the second blow lifting the inquisitive man
off his feet, 50 that he staggered and fell to
the pavement, completely stunned.
"I'll give you spoons |" roared the excited
Hinsow, as he advanced and repeatedly
kicked the prostrate man.
As Ralph made no eff to rise, the en-.
ragged Hinslow soon tired of kicking him,
and slowly passed on, occasionally looking
behind to see if Ralph was following to
obtain satisfaction.
Ralph did not require satisfaction, think
! ing he might get too much of it, so he pru.
! IDENTIFY postponed returning to consciousness
until his enemy had disappeared.
As he rose to his feet he said to Jacob in
a subdued tone, "why did that man strike
NE so 2"
because you uttered the Masonic pass
word, but could not respond to the counter
sign. He is Mason and as he is solemnly
bound to do, Immediately answered the
password by making the countersign with
! bis hand. You were unable to answer his
countersign, and for that reason he knew
you to be a clandestine Mason, man who
had learned the secrets in an improper way
Therefore, it was his duty to chastise you
Your life may be forfeited for that indiscre
ton"
| MY liIef Dy the Sreut JehoNau tuouSu
you were only humbngging me when yo'
told me that spoons was the password"
"Sh.h-h.h Beware !" said Jacob, putin!
his hand Oh Ralph's mouth.
"Never utter that word again, Masons ar
ubiquitous, and you might lose your life
AS it is you are in danger; for all the lodge
in the city will be convoked to adopt mea
sures that may discover who has betrayed
them. My life, as well as yours, is in jeo
pardy. Promise me that you will neve
again utter the password 2"
And so spoons is the password 2" Ralpl
was at last convinced that his old friend ha(
been telling the truth. "Well, may l b.
broied on a Masonic gridiron, and turneC
over with red no: trowel, if ever halo,
spoons again !"
Ralph has most religiously kept bis word
Should he need a spoon while at the tabl
he now asks his wife for sugar. shovel
fearing that if he mentioned the prope
name of the required article some pugnaciou
member of the mystic brotherhood nigh
respond to the Masonic password.