The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1890-01-30
AS 1T is SAID TO BE DONE IN A
LANCE ROOM

LODGE ROOM.
"Who comes there, Most Worthy
Outside Guardianw
"A candidate who has seriously in
dulged in all of the outer luxurious of
our ancient Order and is before you
for initiation and for further instruc-
ionr
experiencedP"
Thus far he appears to be perfectly
satisfied
The nightly rascal!
But does he thirst for more knowl-
edge and lightP"
He says he is still athirst."
Yes, was very much athirst: by
the way. thought | recognized the
voice of the Most High n. e., as being
that of my friend Johnson.
Candidate, what busin IS or profess
sion are you engaged in the outer
wOrldP
II am an editor, SIR"
AN editorm
Here some one in the audience rose to
his feet and said:
Worthy Chief of the Odds, l must
enter my protests against this diluti n"
Il must also enter my protest" said
another.
Against what, Most Worthy Past
Grand GeneralissimUp
Against these unseemly admissions
into our order By and by bar
ber, ailOr and even printer, will be
proposed
This was followed by speeches, pro
and con, from some of the most distin
guished men in the country, and | be-
gan to hink tina l was in grand com
pany But after hitting right and left
some time the question as to whether
the ceremony should proceed or not
was put to vote and decided in favor
Of continuing, l wish it handnt.
was placed against the wall and
pinioned there securely. The members,
in their different DISCUSSES. gathered
around to see what effect the illustrat-
il z of the uncertainties of life had upon
me.
This cons sted in seeing a blindfolded
| juggler throw knives and axes at me.
On it was such fun The knives just
cleared my person and stuck in the
wal fastening me against it in the most
diabolical manner imaginable But he
was ski lful cuss, this juggler, for
two of the young swords hich he
threw at me actually went between my
body and my arms. and yet. in spite OF
his sklllfulness | was not happy.
Finally. after pinming me around with
knives, he ceased his filings, and the en-
tire lodge appIauded me-in fact, they
seemed delighted to know that had
wilhstood the ordeal and had escape
tor future fun. Then tn y unpinioned
ne and shook me by The hand some
what
l felt glad, quite as glad as they did,
TO think that my hide was still whole,
that | was still uushaded and in my
own senses.
81 guess he has gone ack on me-
'You have no cause to get anxious
aid a friend. Everything in this con-
cern goes on time, and you hall not be
cheated moment one way or another.
Come"
Here he approached and unlocked my
letters, after which he led me into an
other apartment where band of low
ing brothers stood wal ing for me. One
Of them had a coffin attached to he
goat, or rather goat was attached to
he coffin, another was harnessed to q
wheelbarrow, while others had cross
cut saws battle axes, spears, swords
and pruning hooks. They were all
deeply masked and somewhere about
he premises an internal gong was toll
ing in dreadful way.
Every body seemed to have a double
bass voice on the occasion.
Mount him on the funeral car"
Twas placed upon the wheelbarrow.
he the man who worried the gong gave
it another whack.
Forward to the blockn
The coffin with the goat led off, and |
was wheele along in the dismal pro
cession. In some portion of the estab-
lis ment the organ was playing a dirge.
and the gong was putting in the solemn
unctuation points with sturdy effect
actually began to feel a trife melan-
choly myself out of pure sympathy for
those around me.
Al last WE reached the block, or iathpr
looked much more like IA dissectIng
'b!e, and was placed upon it as sub
CT for manipulating and shortening.
Justice should be tempered with
mercy. Let the grand surgeon admin
I'teT chloroform to the unhappy culprlt
hat the pain of parting with his head
nay not be acute"
Somebody approached me as l lay
apOn that table, and administered Jusi
hloroform enough to quiet my fear
nut not enough to make me entirely ob
vlous 10 what was going on.
Then the two men with the cross Gu
avs came forward and commenced the
peration. | could feel the sharp teeth
Il my throat, but just then some moIe
'hlOrotorm sent me into Lethe, and !
vas not at all certain but that l had
passed from one world into another
The only thing that made me question il
was that felt no increase of tempera-
ture.
When l returned consciousness
found myself In the lodge room, the
lghts burning brightly, and the entire
uarly standing around me. | felt for
my head and found il still on my body.
The worthy cOmmandant proceeded to
ddress me:
Worthy brother, congratulate you
IN your fortitude and nerve. You have
low passed through the last ordeal, and
it only remains for Won to take the great