The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1870-09-01

cutter upOu uu entirety new iInc 0i
life you must change your habits ;
you must cultivate taste for virtue
and goodness. You must bring your.
self to that state that yci lJathc
vice
" So hard so much to do ~
Surely. All this and more must
be done. You must live dowr the
projudiccs that your misconduct has
created against you. You must 81
demcan yourself that people will for
get that you were once addicted to drunk.
cnness and lirentiousncss."
" would do all this, and yet you
refuse to assist me in the lea poss
bic degree. You refuse to throw
those safeguards around my pathway
that might prevent me from strayins
from the pathway OF virtue"
4" Bat you NJ rly refdsc TO do it ~
You mistake. You are now stray =
ing from the path of virturc we can.
rot prevent you. 1t IL possible to re-
,.iil, you from wondering"
II Audb lui iNuSu W inun !.
- # the once proud man. strong in his
wa power TO be as ho would ?"
Alas. have learned that | am
.owerlcsS to resist the approaches of
vice"
"Anl you ask me to be iustrumcn-
tai in introducing you to an order
where purity of life and rectitudc of
conduct are prerequisites 2"
That | might be pure and upright,
led by so good examples
And. should you fall, think Of the
disgrace TO the body of which you
would then be an unworthy mem.
bcr."
at would be shamefuI.'
And to save you FROM that shame
| will not be instrumental in placing
you in II position where you will be Ii.
able to endure it. But this | will do,
and it depends entirely upon youscli
whether can assist you in your 10.
formation. You desire to become Il
Mason
'utl N NY tiluSSl ut7lIts
Masonry is not strictly rclorma.
tory institution. 1t doe, not 20 to the
moral lazarcttos and bring forth the
inmates to heal them of their maladies.
1t rather takes the sound and perfect
man and prevents him from falling II
victim TO the contagion."
Aud | am already in the pest
house.
But YOU may get into Gods pure
air. aud with recovered health you
may associate at length with those
who have never been ail'cc,cl'
What would you have me do?'
lod are not just entering upon au
other convivll season. The holiday,
are approaching when usually the tenn
tatious u vice aud excess are the
strongest. ForSake your old habits
from this moment. Be temperate
and c'rcum.pect in you" actions
through the season Of temptation that
is coming be nan through the com
ing year, and il you can show II clever
record on the Christmas eve of the
next, | will then grant your request,
and so far rs my inf is%oncerned
it shall not stand in the way Of y, i,
entrance within the veil which | hope
is to be safeguard for you through
long years Of life
The youth suddenly left the position
Of leaning on the back OF the chair.
knclt at the feet OF the aged man, and
raising his baud exclaimed
"As God lets me live. so will be
all YOU ask of NE for the coming year,
and forever
"God assist you to keep your SOL
emn oath was the reply
Edward Lincoln was the son of n
man who was much in public life md
paid little attention 10 his family
His wife died when his son was jus,
entering his teens, aud for several
years the boy was exposed to the dan
gers and alluremenis Of college lie,
with few home recolIrct'ons to s'caiy
,iiS principles or to repress his Thoughts,
Caturary Of a ioval nnd social di>po-
u ion, he naturally contracted habits
Ic5 dissipation, and when he came T.
de with his uncle, William Leslie
"A judge OF considerable en,'neuce in
a western state-at the age OF twenty,
il WI soon found that the vicious hab.
were SO settled ia his nature
that they we're not easily overcOm',
The uncle demonstrated against his
practices, and the nephew promised
amendment uriil oil confccnce in
promise and oath was lost, md matters,
so far as the..vonng mans habits were
conce swiftly went from bad to
worse. Sometimes, 10 paroyysm Of
despondency, be wo d acknowledge
his vices aud so!emoly agree thu he
would reform. aud for few days or
weeks the promise was kept; but soon
he would be owe ke0, and tho I
te would be worse tho first.
The father of the young man had
been \ on. aud his devotion TO that
order had made strong impression oo
mind Of his son. aad this led bin
to desire himself to become member,
He seemed to belive that Their; rain,
which the ge would throw n, .
him would crially aid in his refor
alton. This may have been po 5'e,
but the uncle believing that re 2eutance
nd reformation should preesde rather
! ian follow initiation, refused to pre-