Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1868-11-26
MASONRY.


MASONRY.
The Good Influence which IL ENerts
over DepraVed Humanity.
From the Racine Wis Journal.
1t was one Of those disagreeable, rainy
days of last week, when the rain poured
down in torrents, when heavy, dull clouds
hung overhead when the streets were de-
serted of pedestrians and when everything
wore that drelry look which one always
sees on rainy day, that we strolled into
Langlois d: Romans billiard store, more TO
pet ont Of the rain than 10 the hope of
finding anv itema, though we we're sadly IN
need Of something Of the kind. The store
wore q look that c0rresponded with the
weather: il WIS dark aud silent, and al
though the afternoon was but half spent,
the gas ieis twiD6lcd where the senior
member was indUstTlnusly al work over
his volumes of accounts. There was no
ore in 10 bay, and the clerks were loung
ing about in the most comfortable attitudes
possible upon the suflest bales of canvass,
while the unfortunate but classical Heyer
(having been bent ont Of his seat by Gus
toner calling leaued pensivelv against a
barrel OF ochre Near the s,Oye were
seated a few ou,side-s, among them two or
three lake Captains. A. is customary upon
such occasions, the conversation embrzced
all topics, ranging from grave to gay, from
lively b severe, and lasJ-noW we cannot
tell hoW-,he subject Of Masonry wa
brought. aud it, influence upon the world,
and it, good in a general sense, was dis
cussed, when Capt P, a gentleman
ii tic
speaker with i1e remark that whatever
good or evil Masonry may do in the world,
OF ever hiss done, IL Was the means Of saw
ing his life once.
There are, "a every body knows, thou
sands Of instances related where men have |
lesn saved FROM death, even among the |
rude and savage tribes, where civilization |
had no existence; but We venture to say
that this was ;he lrst instance which any
of ne had ever heard related bv a party
particularly interested. Without much
urging. The Captain WAS prevailed upon TO
give us the story Of the adventure, which
in substance Is az follows:
MANY years ago, the first voyage ! ever
made-by the way, ] shipped as Cabin-boy
in the old brig Hope, commanded by Cap
tain Roberts--we sailed from Liverpool,
bound for tue port Of Rio JaneirO. There
was nothing 10 mark the Uutwa d-bound
passage, and nothing Of interest transpired
while We were in Rio, save that interest
that everything had to me, youngster in
A strange land. / will not attempt to des-
cribe nv establishment at the sights l saw
of the quaint houses, the throngs from all
nations, the dress and the dialect of the
people Captain Roberts was very kind
10 me, and often took me ashore with him,
and seemed TO take pleasure in answering
nv many questions, which certainly was
c0ndefcension on his part; sailing was not
those DAYS what il is now. | noticed that
very often, as we walked along the streets be
would salute people, sometimes even stop.
p,ng 10 shake hands with them they we're
from all nations, and | wondered at his
extensive acquaintance and boy like |
asked him about it, Why said he, 4 do
not know one OF them; never saw them
before and probably shall never see them
again they are Masona." | started back
with something of horror, | suppose, as /
asked him, Why, you are not a Mason p
And never shall / forge. the feeling that
came over me a. he answered in the affirm
alive. Had he aCkrowled that he belonged
TO band If pirates and assassins, ! could
not have been more shocked; for, from
earliest youth, ] had been trained up to
the idea that Masonry was an evil prin-
ciple the fatal tempter Of fallen mankind
that beneath the mantle Of mystery that
surrounded it was practiced Pagan rites Of
idolatry that il abjured the Christian re-
Hgion, aud that it's members were joined
together in uuholy alliance by the most
frightful oaths and ceremonies to defend
one another against ali asraults, and to
= age an Internal war upon virtue. DO you
wonder that was shocked
owe were not long In getting in our load
and then, with many fond farewell in oul
hearts. we babe adieu to Rio and turned
AGAIN towalds home. There was nothing
worthy Of note transpired, until We arrived
near the equator, when a dead calm fell
and for davs we lay idle, with not breezl
enough 90 I'll the sails that hung hlppiug
against the mast About the fourth day
slight bleeze sprung up, the sails filled
and once more we heard the ripple Of th,
water under the bows Of she Hope
Breakfast was Ust over, when the or
of Sail Lor from the masthead attraCte,
he attention Of all. Some ran up IN
rigging 90 catch glimpse Of the stranger
and in the course O. an houT she was plain
Two be seen from the deck. Ard then
hot controversy sVraug Up as TO who an,
vsbet che was--so hot that hut for she in
reference Of the Captain there would hav
been y fight among the parties, ! hsv
often nullCed that men are always reldiei
10 fight about that of which they know tn
least. SuIl the Hope held on, and az tn
y hours went by the stranger steadily game
upon NJ. The Hope was but a slow sale
AZ The best, sud by tie middle of the afte
noon she was within hut a few miles of II
Nesror che came, and stiil steadily gait
ing. And DON We could see that her deCE
were crowded with men and then 81,
denly there hDa,ed up from the deck 10 th
masthead the black flag, and from the por
holes griuBed the mUz2ies Of cannon.
Never shall ] forget, 10 the longest ds
Of nv lite, The CONSERVATION that the sigl
Of The hsg produced amoug the Cre'
Some CTleu, some sware, others prdyC
while somc--l anon, the uumber-stol
A. If trausixtd with horror II the sight
that emblem ui death. Captain Ruber
wIa the uuiv man Hhp wa- calm. Cailt
the men together be told IL, AZ we q
knew, that Our hour had come; that Zig
ar resistance was alike impossible, a.
that all there was 60 do was 10 die III
brave man. aud thus defeat the he'll houu
Of the pleasure Of seeing Us terror-stTicke
81 heard all he said, and vet ! did n,
thought then ot NV hone, and hea
again The voice If nay mother; AID thel
on that foreign sea, / could have sworn
heard the old church bell, and IL seem
10 he iO,liug for the dead,
'By this time the boat was within mi
let shot, when a voice hailed u, orieri
us TO heave 10, which was obeyed and III
from the side uf the pirate craft q boat W