Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-10-14
The Story of French Freemasor
How his Life was Saved.


This present war has been prolific in
4 illustrations of the value of Freemasonry
Hin dangerous emergencies, and the anec-
adotes are endless of the lives saved by
Hts means. Among the cart loads of
wounded of both nations which arrived
|jfrom Sedan were two men whose con
3sideration for each other was so marked
las to occasion inquiry. They wore the
6Prussian and French uniform respect
lively, and though neither could under
3stand a word of the others language
sthey shared their rations, and seemed to
4 be interahanging signals OF amity all day
Hong. Tkeis story was very simple
lone. The Prussian, who is an officer,
1aud man of thirty-six or so, with a
stern, grave face and heavy over
Hanging moqstache, had met the free
2n,ason, who is at least dozen years his
1iunior on the battlefield the latter be
I,nr supported by couple OF comrades,
Twice did the Saye OF the eonilict
bring these men in contact, ana on ine
+ last occasion the Prussan who wass MN,
/ self badly wounded in the chest, pressed
the yonng Frenchman hard, and had in
deed his sword uplifted to administer the
jcoup de grace, when the latter, who was
3iaint from the loss of blood, made hasty
'sign to his victor which caused him to
! stay his' hand. Farley was impossible,
both from the exigencies of language
land the turmoil of battle; and besides,
Iboth men lost consciousness and fell at
leach others side. II turned out that the
young Frenchman had been made a
IFrecmason few months before the ont
.hreak of the war, and that he had in
Istinctively made the sign by which mem
! bers of the fraternity are taught to ask
/ their brethren for help. The Prussian
( was an old Mason who recognized it in
sstantly. and who as instinctly paused,
land before there was time for cousidera-
7 3tion both men tainted away, When cont
seriousness was restored they found
themselves side by side, and with the
: dead and dying round them.
4 By a strange coincidence, their
wounds were such that each could give
& the other some slight relief and the late
enemies employed their weary hours, in
which they lay disabled and untended,
1 lin rendering little kindnesses 10 each
other, and in thus cementing the friend
ship which had begun so strangely.
When help came, they petitioned to be
.permitted to keep together, telling their
story with considerable effusiveness to
: the doctor, who after some time came to
them on the field. This gentleman, who
was not military surgeon, but a mem
Der of the blessed society which dates
3from Geneva, raised his hands in pleased
1astonishment at the tale he heard and
at once showed himself to be a Free
mason too; 90 that three brethren of the
mystic tie were to bs seen wondering
lover the strange chance which had
Thrown them together.
4 The wounded men are supremely sat
Iis6ed a the result, and their story has
Igiven thea quite celebrity among then
Ifellow-suhererS. A. Iges, where the
French prisoners were placed after the
.capitulaticn Of Sedan, and where. i i
|bnf too true. they we're all but starving
7sone Sf their numbers contrived to make
III knows 70 their captors that they were
Masons; and theash this was intellectual
. in many instances, the sandy and unin'
|itiated Prussians laughing the Masonic
trestures TO scorn, wherever II. succeeded
4 the men obtained little comforts which
we're priceless. A stout trooper was seen
'handfne a warm friezh coat TO one pris
oner. and giving part Of his F3fions q
2another; and explained his conduct q
! an inquirer uifh o sheepish smile, which
spoke volumes. They are my brothers
.thoueh / have fought 9TH Them; and
iiher are hungry and cold, and mnst Be
'heIDed. They would do il for Rs.
These are mere typical cases. Bat il il
impossible to mix much with the troops,
Iparticularly after battle, without hear.
ing Of kindred instances Of Masonic use
'fulness. ~ |tst TN