The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-10-15
PRESS.
CORTLAND.
Saturday Morring, October Is, 1870.

BEAUTIES OF FREEMAsoNRY.-The pres.
ent European conflict, and indeed all wars,
| have been prolific in illustrations of the value
OF FreemasoDry in dangerous emergencies
and the anecdotes are endless of the lives
saved by its means. Among the cart loads of
wounded of both nations which arrived fiOm
Sedan were two men whose consideration for
each other was so marked as to occasion in
quiry. They wore the Prussian and French
uniforms, respectively, and though neither
could understand word of the others Ian
guage, they shared their rations, and seemed
to be interchangins signals of amity all day
long. Their story was very simple one
The Prussian, who is an officer, and man of
thirty-five or so, with stern, grave face and a
heavy, overhanging moustache, had met the
Frenchman, who is at lie sst dozen years his
junior, on the battlefield, the latter being sup
ported by a couple of comrades.
Twice did the wave of conflict bring these
men in contact, and op the last occasioo the
Prussian, who was hi, 1t badly wounded
in the chest. pressed young Frenchman
hald, and had indeed sword upiiited 10
ter. who was faint from the loss of blood,
made hasty sign to his victor which caused
the latter to stay his hand. Farley was i'm
possible from the exisencies of language and
the turmoil OF battle; and besides, both men
lost consciousness and fell at each others side.
1t turned out That the young Frenchman had
been made Freemason few months before
the outbreak of the war, and that he had in
stinctively made the sign by means OF which
members OF the fraternity are taught to ask
their brethren for he p. The Prusslan was
an old Mas IN, who recognized it Instantly,
and as instinctvely paused. and before there
was time tor consideration both men tainted
away. When Consciousness was restored
they fornd themselves side by side, and with
the dead and dying around them.
Ky 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 INTENDED, in rendering little kindnesses
to each other. and in thus cemen ing the
friendship which had begun so strangely.
When help came they petitioned to be per
mitted to keep together, telling their story
with considerable effisiveness to the doctor,
who after some time came to them on the
field. This gentleman, who was not a mill.
tary surgeon, but a member of the blessed
society which dates from Geneva, raised his
hands 10 pleased astOnishmept at the tale be
hear,l, and at once showed himself to be a |
Freemason too; so that three brethren Of the |
mystic tie were to bo seenI wondering over
the strange chance that had thrown them to-
gether.
The wounded men are supremely satisfied
at tue result, and their story has given them
quite celebrity among their fellow sufferers.
At Iges, where the French prisoners were
placed aft the capilulation OF Sedan, and
where. it is too true they were all but starv-
ing, some Of their numbers contrived to make
it known to their captors that they were Ma
sors, and though this was Intellectual in many
instances, the sturdy and urini,iated Prus-
slams laughing the Masonic gestures to scorn,
wherever it succeeded the men obtained little
comforts which were priceless.
A stout trooper was seen handing a warm
frieze coat to one prisoner, and giving part
OF nls ratiOns to another; and explained his
conduct to an inquirer with sheep sh smile,
which spoke volum-s, "rhey are my brothers,
though I have fought with them, and they
are hungry aud cold, and must be helped.
They would do it for me-" These are mere
typical cases. But 1t is impossible to mix
mucn with the troops, particularly after a
battle, without hearing OF these kindred in
stances of Masonic usefulness