Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1868-05-14
FREE MASONRY EXPOSED.
BY A VICTIM.

l have joined the Masonic Frater-
nifty, Mr.. Editor. l am free and
accepted son, or brother, or what
ever it is, of that ancient and mys-
terious organization. / have be
longed to many secret societies in
my time. l have been an Orange.
man, and Son of Temperance, and
a Fenian, and, if l remember Alright,
| once belonged TO a gang OF coin
ers; but this Masonic arrangement,
this institution of the compass and
square, distances them all had
often. wondered what sort of q thing
q Mason was-in what respect he
differed from an ordinary human be-
ing. Time and again l have pumped
persons whom / thought Knew what
was what, with view of finding out
something regarding these remarka
BILE men, but it was no go. Mum
was the word. Those who could
tell wouldn't, and those who would
tell couldn't; for further information
l was advised to 90 and finG out |
had vague idea of my own that
Dcrssg, aTcgur TlrfrsszI s,... -,
with horns and hoofs to match, who
could come down the chimney or get
in at the key hole, and disappear
like flash of lightning chap that
could knock blazes out of a 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 you
are not perhaps aware, and that is, a
Mason never dies. Occasionally it
is given out that brother has depart
ed this life, and the fraternity are re-
spectfully summoned to do honor to
his remains, but it is sham-a big
swlndle gotten 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 blubberlng their eyes
over the grave of the dear departed,
and the dear departed quietly enjoy
ing himself in the back room of
some hotel, preparatory to leaving
for parts unknown. 1t is fact, Mr..
Editor, Masons never die. They
may change their outward appear
ance, 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 wicked
ness on this earth, they are trans
formed into comets and meteors, and
60 wandering through space, kick,
ing up shines, and raising the devil
generally; and a great many people
suppose that the last meteoric dis
play was nothing more or less than
a free fight between some rival lodges
that had crossed each others path;
the different colored lights betoken-
ing the different degrees they had ae-
quired in the flesh.
Free Masonry is of ancient 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, Notwithstanding the fact that
ler husband placed couple of lions
md big crocodile at the door as
outside guards, came pretty near
inding out the secret and starting
'emale lodge on her own hook.
must tell you of the perils and
rials 1 had to undergo TO become
! Mason On the evening in ques-
ion l presented myself at the door
If the lodge room No. $4,000, sign
,f the skull and cross bones. l was
to an ante-room, where
i've or six melancholy chaps in
ashes and embroidered napkins were
Waiting to receive me. On my en-
rance they all got up and turned
,ack somersaults, and then resumed
heir seats. A big fat fellow. who
'at in the MIDDLE, and who seemed
% be the proprietor, then said
Sinner from the outer world, ad-
I advanced. "Will you
give up everything to join us2"-
Not if 1 know it," said; "there's
ny wife and fourteen fine" An
,ther party here told me to say
'yes," as it was merely matter OF
'orm. So / said ''Yes, | give up ev-
The fellows in the tow
lis then groaned, and said, tbs
veil" s'Do you swear never to re-
zeal anything you may. see or hear
his evening to any human being,
,or your wife?" 1 said, "'pon my
word I will not" They then exam
ned my teeth and felt my muscles,
md made me put out my tongue, !