Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1879-03-08
Fish Commissioner of Missouri
TEST OF THE POWER OF MASONRY
BY II r.: Boyce, p. q. W.. Of Mon
tana, formerly of COlum.
bia Missouri.


that ..old man eloquent" Cornelius
Moore. an article headed Masonic Rem
inlscences. too, have "reminiscences
of the past in masonry. and although
cannot SO graphically describe the
scenes. nor so forcibly tell of these past
"reminiscences, with your permission 1
will relate one which made deep and
lasting impression.
The scene IS laid in one of the then
quiet villages of Missouri, (Columbia).
now thriving and flourishing town.
boasting of being the seat of the State
University. was then a young man,
but was the worshipful master of the
lodge. A gentleman and myself were
standing in front of a store on the street.
and two old masons, both members OF
the Same lodge, passed, not together,
but in full view. These brethren were
both members Of the same church, and
both keeping hotels. as rivals. and un-
der some circumstances they had fallen
out, and were bitter in their denuncia-
tions of each other. The church of
which they were members. through their
pastor, also II mason, had tried to heal
the breach between them but. in lieu
thereof, they were more bitter than be-
fore. The one could say nothing more
bitter and malignant than the other.
Thee case was desperate one, and moth
ing but their obligation kept them from
personal violence. As master, lclt my
position keenly; knew it was my duty to
do something, and yet being the junior
of both OF them In years as we'll as in
masonry. felt tho delicscy OF my posi-
ton. and timidly covered under it. But
as these two brethren passed in view,
the gentleman with whom was con-
versing, not then being a mason, re-
marked to me, in substance:
II once had a very high opinion OF
change"
said to HIM: "What has produced
this result?"
He responded: "Look at those two
old masons chow they villily and traduce
each other. l once thought masonry
had power over its votaries, and that the
tie between them was SO strong that all
breaches could be healed but see it is
weak like other institutions, and has no
vitality"
said nothing, but determined to test
Its strength, and if it was powerless to
accomplish its great mission of peace
and harmony that l should feel my
idol had fallen. With this purpose fully
matured, ordered the secretary to issue
summons tor all the members OF the
lodge, giving no reason therefore nor
did state to any the purpose OF that
summons. The appointed time came
on. The lodge was fully represented,
and all looked anxlously to the east for
an explanation. All knew there was no
work to do, and regular business could
not come up. Both OF these belllgerent
brethren were present.
arose and said had called the lodge
to test the strength and power of ma
sonry over its members, and dwelt some
time on the Importance of unity and
brotherly love, and closed by person
al address to these two brothers, re-
minding them OF their mutual vows and
duties, and said that l demanded OF
them both. in the presence of God, the
lodge, and with their obligations before
them, to advance to the altar, one at a
time, and as they both proiessed to be
christian men as well as masons, to
kneel at the altar and there ask their
God to enable them to state candidly and
carefully the cause of their difficulty,
and to bear in mind that no language
unbecoming them and the place they
were in would be tolerated; that l held
in hand the emblem of power and that l
should use it promptly if they deviated.
Silence, deep and profound prevailed.
One of them approached the altar, knelt,
remained for a few moments in silent
devotion. and rose with tears in his
eyes. asked him to proceed, but he
was so sotened that he had little 10 say
in accusation OF the other, and sat down
| called the other to the altar. addressed
him softly, kindly, but firmly, asked him
to kneel and offer his prayer before he
proceeded. He did SO, arose in tears
and had nothing to say eliminating the
other, spoke kindly and softly, and sa,
down. | arose and asked them If they
could not advance to the altar and there
extend the hand of friendship and
brotherly love to each other, and bury
their animosity SO deep that the hand o
resurrection could not resuscitate it?
They simultaneously arose. met at the
altar, and instead OF extending hands,
fell upon each others necks and wept
While they were thus standing,
sounded the gavel and called the breth
rem around the altar and asked them tc
kneel in a circle. with these brothers IL
the centre. Among the brethren pres
ent was minister peculiarly gifted il
extemporaneous prayer l called upor
him to pray, and such prayer scarce
ly ever heard from the lips of morta
man. When he said Amen" looked
through my tears around, and nearI,
hat of the brethren were bowed witt
their faces to the floor. and all in tears
l stepped back to the east, unceremonl
ously declared the lodge closed. and tn,
members commenced grasping hands
and some the necks. and such scene O
rejoicing you seldom see, except at a,
eld-iashioned Methodist camp meeting
and all thanked God for the power o
masonry"
The brethren thus restored to eacl
, others affections ever atterward live,
in love, peace and harmony. The gen
tleman aforementioned atterward chang
ed his opinion OF masonry, sent in hi
petition, and became an honored mem
Der OF the order.
A NEW TESTING MACHINE.