The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1869-03-06
Free Masonry Exposed.
BY A VICTIM.

|
Ihave joined the Masonic fraternity
Mr.. Editor. am free and aceepte
syn, OF brother, or whatever it is, of ths
, ancient and mysterious organization.
have belonged to many secret societie
in my time / have been an Orangemar
and Son of Temperance and Feniar
and, if | remember Alright, l once belong
cd K, a gang Of coiuers ; but this Mason
ic arrangement, this institution of tn
compass and square, distances them all
| had often wondered what sort of
thing a Mason was-in what respect b
differed from an ordinary human being
Time and again have pumped persons
who [ thought knew what sas what
with view of finding out something re
garding these queer men, but it was ne
90. Mum was the word, and those who
could tell wouldn't and those who would
couldn't; for fnrther information | was
told to 20, and ind out. | had vague
idea of my own, that Mason was sort
Of supernatural being, a regular ringtailed
roarer, with horns and hoofs to match,
who could come down the chimney OF
get in the key-ho!e, and disappear like
a flash of lightning-a chap that could
knock blazes out ola fellow with the
wink of his eye, and of whom, the devil
himself was afraid.
There is one singular thing connected
with Masonry of which you are perhaps
not aware, ard that is, Mason never
dies. Occasionally it is given out that
a brother has departed this life, and the
fraternity is respectfully summoned to
do honor to his remains, but it is all a
sham, big swindle gotten up to throw
dust in the eyes of the uninitiated. The
coffin is stuffed full of bricks, and depos.
led with due solemnity in the cemetery,
while the brothers and friends are blub-
bering their eyes out over the grave of
the dear departed, and the departed qui-
etly enjoying himself iii the back room
ofsome hotel, preparatory to leaving for
1t is afact. Mr.. Editor, Masons never
die. They may change their appear
ance, and move on to other spheres; but
as for dying, they don't do it. 1t is
supposed by some, that after they have
Observation-Disclosures enough upon this
earth they are transformed into comets
and meteors and 60 wandering through
space kicking up shines and raising the
devil generally. And great many peo-
pie suppose that the last meteorio display
was nothing more or less than free fight
between some rival lod ges that had cross
I'd each others path the different color
ed lights betckening the different degrees
they had acquired in the flesh.
Free Masonry is of ancient date, as
proven by the fact that during the wet
season, Noah used to hold meetings in |
corner of the ark. He was obliged to
give it up, however, owing to the Curl
osity of Mrs. Noah, who notwithstand-
ling the fact that her husband placed a
Dig pair of lions and big crocodile at
he door as outside guard, and came
pretty near finding out the secret and
starting female lodge on her own hook.
must tell you of the perils and trials
had to undergo to become mason.
IN the evening in question I presented
myself at the door of the lodge-room
No. 66,666, sign of the skull and cross
,o-es, I was conducted to an ante-room
where five or six melancholy chaps in
ashes and embroidered napkins were
waiting to receive me.
Cn my entrance they all got up and
urned back somersaults, and then re-
umed their seats. A big fat fellow,
7ho sat in the middle, and who seemed
0 be the proprietor, then said: "Sinner
rom the outer world, advanced" I ad-
anced. "Will you give up everything
0 join usa" "Not if know it, said !;
there my wife and fourteen fne-.' {
Another party here told me it was {
nere matter of form. The fellows in
he towels then groaned and said, "'tis S
Fell:" "Do you swear never to reveal i
nythlng you may see or hear this even s
ng to any human being nor your wife," {
said, "'pon my word [ will not. "
They then examined my teeth and a
elt my muscles, and made me put out
~ tongue, and then groaned az ain. I a
did. If you don't feel we'll I have got s
little bottle here that" That fat +
ian here took the bottle from me and c
I'D me to shut up. He then in voice h
thunder, said, e. Bring forth the goat?" .
mother fellow then came up with a big
9th to blind-fold me. "No you don't, Il
II. Mason" I said: "no tricks on .
avelers, if you please; I don't believe
playing blind mans buff with goat
II ride the devil if you like, but I don't r;
} 1t blind. Stand back, or I'll knock Il
'u into smithereens. They were too O
ueh for me, however, so [ had to SUBJ s.
it and be hIindfolded The goat was