The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1868-04-10
FREE MASONRY EXPOSED
BY A VICTIM.

| have Joined the Masonic Fratern
| ity, Mr.. Editor. | am free and &C
cepted son, or brother, or whatever j
is, of that ancient and mysterious or
ganization. l have belonged to many
secret societies in my time: l have
been an OraugemaD, and Son o
Temperance, and Fenian, and, if
remember Alright, l once belonged to
gang of coiners; but this Masonic ar
rangement, this institution Of the com
pass and square, distances them all.
| had often wondered what sort Of {
thing a Mason was--in what respect
he differed from an ordinary human
being. Time and again I have pump.
ed persons who l thought knew whal
was what, with a view of finding ont
something regarding these remarkable
men; but it was no 60. Mum was the
word. Those who could tell wouldn't
and those who would couldn't; for
further information l was advised to 60
and find out. / had vague idea ol
my own that a Mason was sort Of
supernatural being, regular ring tailed
roarer, with horns and hoofs to match,
who could come down the chimney or
get in the key hole, and disappear like
fash of lightning chap that could
knock blazes out Of a fellow with a
wink of his eye, and of whom the very
devil himself was afraid.
There is one singular thing con-
nected with Masonry of which you
are not perhaps aware, and that is, a
Mason never dies. Occasionally it is
given out that a brother has departed
this life, and the fraternity is respect
fully summoned to do honor to his
remains, but it is all sham-a big
swindle got up to throw dust in the
eyes of the uninitiated. The coffin is
stuffed full of bricks, and deposited
with due solemnity in the cemetery,
while the brothers and friends are
blubbering their eyes over the grave of
the dear departed, and the dear de-
parted himself quietly enjoying himself
in the back room of some hotel, pre-
paratory to leaving for parts unknown.
It is fact, Mr.. Editor, Masons never
die. They may change their outward
appearance and move off to other
spheres, but as for dying, they don't
do it. 1t is supposed by some that
after they have transacted enough wick
edness on this earth, they are trans
formed into comets and meteors, and
go. wandering through space, kicking
up shiudies and raising the devil gen.
orally; and great many people sup
pose that the last meteOric display was
nothing more nor less than a free fight
between some rival lodges that had
crossed each others path; the differ
ent-colored lights betokening the DIFF
fereut degrees they had acquired while
in the flesh.
Free Masonry is of an;ient date, as
proven by the fact that during the
wet season Noah used to hold meet
ings in a corner of the Ark. He was
obliged TO give it up however owing
to the curiosity of Mrs. Noah, who,
anding the fact that her hus-
band placed a couple of lions aud big
crockodile at the door as outside guard,
came pretty near finding out the Sc
cret aud starting female lodge on
her OWN hook.
l must tell you Of the perils and
trials / bad TO undergo to become a
Mason. On the evening in question 1
presented myself at the door Of the
No. 1886, sign of the
skull and cross bones. l was conduct
81 to an aute-room, where five or six
chaps in sashes and en-
broidered napkins were waiting to
receive me. On my entrance they all
sot up and turned back summersaults,
md then resumed their seats. A big
at fellow, who sat in the middle, and
who seemed to be the proprietor, then
aid; Sinner from the outer world
ldyance!' l advanced. Will YOU
yiye up everything to join us!' Not
{ know it, said there's my wife
md fourteen fine-.' Another
,arty here told me TO aay yes as it
vas merely q matter of form. SO l
aid 'yes, [ give up everything The
elbows in the towels then groaued, and |
aid, ''tis well. DO you swear never