Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1868-06-13

drew johnson. President sof the United
States, Past Grand Master Of Tennessee,
walked aide by side With Most Worshipful
Grad Master ii. b. French, OF that city.
Hod. II. p. II. Bromweil, Past Grand Mas.
ter OF Illinois, was orator Of the day.
TEE CoxxoS GAvfL-There 10 . fund Of
amusement 10 . careful observer who notes
the pscul,aritiss Of character which our in
stitution has tendency to devsalope. To
be master Of Lodge 10 . just and laudable
ambition, provided, always, that the broth
whose glsnces are turned TO the East un-
dsrstands the responsibilities OF official
station, and 10 willing to assume the labor
ofpreparation for, AZ well - the honofs OF,
official position. All who succeed in reach
ing this pointin the Masonic horizon are
BY no msass prepared for the duties they
expect 70 discharge. and whom they COM
msncs operations there 10 often occasion for
qniet smile. Some Of them appear to
think that dignity 10 measured BY the guam
tity ofsound they can make when coca
sion calls for the use Of the gravel. They
grasp it With nervous energy and switch
off the end Of it with astonishing CELEBRITY.
Others, again, like old Billy Peters, Of
Bsechnut Lodge, seem TO approach it with
awe, left it rsveyently up. and apply It to
the ashlar a. though they were moved by
clock work, and could only sound certain
note by the incest attention 70 the laws OF
propulsion and resistsncs. We know one
worthy brother who invariably lifts it
above his head and brings it down again
with force Of sixty pounds 70 the square
Inch, making . racket to which moderate
thunder in child's play and another who
invariably rises, bends forward and sharp
" inspects his works ~ il there were
small nail to DO accurately hit upon the head
at each blow.
We have eftsn been amused ct these
sccentricities and have always believed
them indications Of character. Thus the
man who breaks gravel every time he
psesidss " take 70 - psfsea Of hosty
temper Who would push toward any end
he might have IN view without regard to
impsachments 10 the way; who
would drive . horse 10 death to reach
given point 81 . certain time when he
might just % we'll walk % his lsosuss for any
practical good TO b accomplished BY bis
haste. Uncle Billy u the type Of class Of
easy eesss VIE believe 10 dsias what 10 to
b. desc esserding 70 the rules II such
eases made and provided; who give them
selves up to the minutest delnil, - though
. legion Of spies were waiting 70 pounes
upon the slightest omission ord in6ics upsn
their victim the dirsst pains and penalties.
This good brother will give ysu The lecture
and meniterial 10 the uttsrmost syllable,
and gravsly read you The charge q closipe
- though Il were the last act Of long and
sventful life about to be brought to Q
solemn and imposing end.
The brother who yields the gavsl % q
stalwart helper might swing sledgs ham,
usr. 10 evidently Of naughty and impe
rious temperament, Allied with Q sense Of
his own Importance and dignity, and ex.
pressing in every crash Of tho innoccn,
wood and stone: 81 am Sir Oracle when
speak, let no dog bark" Such man
thinks great deal more Of impressing III,
people with senss Of his personal dignity
than Of illustrating the tensts Of our pro
fesssion.
| The careful inspector :is the symbol o
those who look after the tithes of mint
anisc and cummin TO the..neglect Of tn,
weightisr matters Of the law. Thus NO -,
that the lesson set down for Us in the ston,
hammer has a wider significance than i.
given in the monitorial explanation, ant
that thsre arc few, if airy Of Vi, who nigh
not apply it to our own cases. with bsnsfi
to ourselves and with honor to the craft
National Freemason.