Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1868-06-19
Free Masonry Exposed.
BY A VICTIM.

ulGy, MI. EulUOr. L am Tree ana &C
cepted son, or brother, or whatever
it is, of that ancient and mysterious
organization. | have belonged to
many secret societies in my times. |
have been an Orangeman. and Son
of Temperance, and a Fenian, and if |
remember Alright, | once belonged to
gang of coiners; but this Masonic
arrangement, this institution of the
compass and square, distances them
all. | had often wondered what sort
of a thing a Mason was-in what re-
spect he differed from an ordinary
human being. Time and again | have
pumped persons who | thought knew
what was what, with view of finding
out something regarding these remark
able 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 |
was advised to 60 and find out. | had
a vague idea of my own that a Mason
was supernatural being, a regular
ring tailed roarer, with horns and
hoofs to match, who could come down
tn chimney or get in the key hole,
and disappear like flash of lightning
clap that could knock blazes out of
fellow with wink of his eye, and of
whom the devil himself was afraid.
There is one singular thing con-
nected with Masonry Of which per-
haps you are not aware, and that is,
a Mason never dies. Occasionally it
is given out that a brother has de-
parted this life. and the fraternity is
respectfully summoned to do honor to
his remains, but it is all a sham-a
big swindle cotton up to throw dust
into the eyes Of the uninitiated. The
coffin is stuffed full of bricks, and de-
posted 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 departed quietly enjoying
himself in the back room of some
hotel, preparatory to leaving for parts
unknown. 1t is a fact Mr.. Editor, Ma
sons 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 wickedneSS on this earth, they
are transformed into comets and
meteors, and go wandering through
space, kicking up shines, and raising
-, the devil generally; and a great many
n suppose that the last meteoric display
- Tree hght between some rival lodges
p that had crossed each others path
the different colored lights betoken
ing the different degrees they. had ac
: quired III the flesh.
Free Masonry is of ancient date
as proven by the fact that during the
. wet season Noah used to hold meet
lngs III a corner OF the Ark. He was
y obliged to give it up, however, owing
q to the curiosity of Mrs. Noah, who
!, Notwithstanding the fact that her hus-
: band placed couple of lions and q
. big crocodile at the door as outside
+ guard, came pretty near finding the
f secret, and starting a female lodge
: on her own hook,
| must tell you of the perils and tri
ais had to undergo to become Ma
n son. On the evening in question
q presented myself at the door of the
n lodge room No. 66,666, sign of the
, skull and croSs-bones. was conduct
% ed to an ante-r0om, where five or Si1
n melancholy chaps in SaSheS and EN-
+ broidered napkins were waiting to re
n ceive me. On my entrance they al
= got no and turned back somerSaults
and then resumed their seats. A biz
O fat fellow. who sat in the middle, anC
q who seemed to be the proprietor, thel
- said: "Sinner from the outer world
i advance advanced. "Will yol
Il give up everything to join US ~ "No
Il if | know it, | said, there's my wife
and fourteen fine--" Another
party here told me to say eyes" as i
5 was merely a matter of form. So
K, said ''yes, give up everything Th'
at fellows in the towels then groaned
N and said, "tis well. Do you swea
le never to reveal anything that you may
a. see or hear this evening to any human
to being, nor your wife ?" | said, "upo
1t my word | will not Then they e2
III amined nay teeth and felt my muscles
Y and made me put out my tongue, ant
ot then groaned again. | said, 'if yo1
don't feel well | have got little bot
N tie here that" The fat man her
ID took the little bottle from me, and toll
ip me to shut up. He then, in a voic
re of thunder, said, bring forth tn
n goat" Another fellow then came u
le with big cloth to blindfold me. IN
: you don't Mr.. Mason" l said, ''n
IN tricks on travellers, if you please;
ID don't believe in playing blind man
n. buff with goat. I'll ride the dew
re if you like, but | don't go it blind
e. Stand back, or I'll knock you int
| smithereens. They were too muc
th for me, hewever, so | had to submi
~ and be blindfolded. The goat was the
| led in, and | could hear him make a
ee awful racket among the furniture.
IS began to feel that | was urgently neeC
ed at home, but was in for it, an
* could not help myself. Three or fou
We fellows then seized me, and, with
OF lllomnniacaI launh nitchnh rnn ON III