The Sweetwater forerunner. [volume] (Sweetwater, Tenn.) 1867-1869, 1868-12-10
Masonry.

THE GOOD INFLUENCE WHICH 1T ExERTs
OVER DEPRAvED HUMANITY.
From the Racine (Wis.) JOurnsl.l
II 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 every thing
wore that dreary look which one always
sees on rainy day, that we strolled into
Langlois & Romans billiard store, more
to get out of the rain than in the hope Of
finding any items, though we were sadly
in need of something of the kind. The
store wore look that correspondent with
the weather: il was dark and silent, and
although the afternoon was but half spent,
the gas Jets twinkled where the senior
member was industr1usly at work over his
volumes of accounts. There was no one
in to buy, and the clerks we're lounging
about in the most comfortable attitudes
possible upon the softest bales ofcanvass,
while the unfortunate but classical Heyer
(having been beat out of his seat By a GUS
toner calling), leaned pensivcly against a
barrel of Ochre. Near the stove were
seated few outsiders, among them two
or three lake Captains. As is customary
upon such occasions, the conversation en-
braced all topics, ranging from grave to
gay, from lively to severe, and at last
how we cannot tell now--the subject Of
Masonry was brought up, and its influence
upon the world, and its good in general
sense, was discussed, when Captain p,
a gentleman well-known in this city, in
terrupted the speaker with the remark
that whatever good or evil Masonry may
do in the world, or ever has done, it was
the means of saving his life once.
There are, as everybody knows, thou
sands of instances related where men have
been saved from death, even among the
rude and savage tribes, where civilization
had no existence but we venture to say
that this was the first instance which any
of us had ever heard related BY party
particularly interested. Without mucl
urging, the Captain was prevailed upor
to give US the story or the adventure
which in substance is as follows;
"Many years ago, the first voyage eve.
made--by the way, shipped a cabin-bo.
in the old brig Hope, commanded b.
Captain Roberts--we sailed from Liver
pool, bound for the port of Rio Janeiro
There was nothing to make the outward
bound passage, and nothing of interes
transpired while we were in Rio, save
that interest that everything had to me
youngster in a strange land. Twill no
attempt to describe my astonishment a
the sights saw-of the quaint houses
the throngs from all nations, the dress onc
the dialect of the people. Captain Rob
erst was very kind to me, and often tool
me ashore with him, and seemed to take
pleasure in answering my many questions
which certainly was condescension OF
his part; sailing was not those days wha
| it is now. I noticed that very often, q:
we walked along the streets he would
salute people, sometimes even stopping tc
shake hands with them they were from
ali nations, and I wondered at his extern
sive acquaintance, and boy like I asked
him about it. why said he, 4 do not
know one of them; never saw them be-
fore, and probably shall never see then
again; they are Masons." 1 started back
with something of horror, suppose, as
asked him, why, you are not Mason !
And never shall l forget the feeling that
came over me as he answered in the af'
firmative. Had he acknowledged that he
belonged to a band of pirates and asSas
sins, I could not have been more shocked
for, from earliest youth, | had been train
ed up to the idea that Masonry was ar
evil principle-the fatal tempter OF failel
mankind-that beneath the mantle Of
mystery that surrounded it was practicec
Pagan rites of idolatry; that it abjuret
the Christian religion, and that its mem
bers we're joined together in unholy ALI
ance by the most frightful oaths and GER
emonies to defend one another against al
assaults, and to wage an internal war IN
on virtue. Do you wonder that l wa
shockedl
1--WE we're not long in getting in on