The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-01-02

n.uce in civil service which made them
historical charaeters.
In 1siS Gen. Sam Houston, then United
4 States senator from Texas. related 10 me
/ a similar circumstance by which, through
/ the influence of Free Masonry. his life
1 was spared 10 become the hero OF war,
/ the founder of a new state and sen
4 ator in congress The famous duel be-
/ tween Henry clay aud John Randolph.
/ seyerally leading men of two great polii-
| ieal parties. was stopped Just short, or
/ fatal results. after one exchange OF shots,
ana the parties finally restored 20 amica-
bic social relations by the intervention OF
| Free Masonry.
IL Bridges All Divis oas.
| I cite these few instances of unwratten
/ history, which have come 10 my kaowl-
/ edge through perfectly authentic sources,
| TO illustrate the mighty power Free Ma
/ sorry has exewed. through its silent
forces, upon the history OF society ard
/ the destiny of nations. invariably on the
| side of peace and justice. The influence
/ Of Free Masonry in mitigating the hor-
| rors of civil war by acts of charity and
| courtesy between the helligerent forces
| as circumstances might admit. and in re-
| storing fraternal relations between the
| conqueror and conquered. without which
| union under one government would be a
| mockery and curse to both, can be at
| tested by thousands OF living witnesses,
| and may be observed by all who have
| seen the meetings of brother Masons who
| had encountered each other in deadly
/ strife upon the battlefield. To witness
such meeting of brave men-''enemies
| in war, in peace friends'-would give any
/ man of ordinary sensIbility a better opin-
! ion of his kind. and greater faith in the
stability of his government.
| The chief characteristics of Masonry.
| and the secret OF it's conservative infiu-
| ence. may ba expressed by the homeiy
| maxim: Mind your own business. 1t
| seeks no accessions to its membership.
| but specifically forbids PROSECUTING, and
/ requires the candidate for initiation to
/ affirm that he makes the application OF
| his own free will and has no, been infiu-
| enced thereto by any solicitation or In
| ducements 20 influence his Judgment; IL
! prescribes no political or religious test
| beyond the common recognition OF an
| overruling Providence denonMnated Our
| Father. and makes no discrimination be-
| tween those worthy OF fellowship. NO
| one can be admitted without the free
| consent of every member. indicated by
| secret ballot, which no member Is per-
mitted 10 question or discuss. When
/ once within the sanctuary. by regular
! process, the initiate stands upon an equal
| footing with the best, and all questions
| in controversy which distract and divide
| communities into hostile factions are left
| upon the outside. The immediate heir to
| the most mighty empire on earth. as
| grand master of the Grand Lodge OF his
realm. stands in the lodge room on the
same level with the worthy mechanic, ar
tisan ana shopman. and has had to work
his way, by the aid of a guide. in the
same humble condition as the lowliest of
the order. When called upon to lay the
cornerstone of any public edifice IN his
dominion he puts on the apron and takes
the working tools of a master mechanic,
instead of the regalia of royalty which he
is entitled to wear upon public occasions.
George Washington. when president of
the United States, put aside his almost
kingly Office to assume the apron, trowel
and level of master Mason to lay the
cornerstone OF our national capitol.
In my experience with Free Masonry
as member of the order have found 1t
the same everywhere; and long life of
almost perpetual conflict has given me
many opportunities of testing the fidelity
OF the order to it's members against false
accuse tons and popular clamor, and the
utter exclusion from the lodge room of
every subject calculated to disturb the
fraternal feeling of the brotherhood. To
go no further back than our OWN lodge,
there are members of nearly my own age
with whom | have been in the habit of
meeting for the last twenty-four years in
lodge meetings. and by whose permission
affiliated with the lodge and was subse-
quently made life member. with whom
had no political or religious sentiments
or associations in common outside OF Ma
sonry, but, on the contrary, many sharp
ly defined antagonisms, all Of which were
left outside and never permitted to dis
turb or weaken the cordial fellowship of
the lodge room. ] have never seen an at
tempt to use Masonry for any personal or
party ends. any subject discussed
which might be offensive to the senii-
ments or association OF brother.
/ am conscious OF the fact that i have
made this communication too long and
not very perspicueus; hut as, In the
course OF nature, it is probably the last
communication / shall be called upon 10
make to the lodge or any other public
body. the sincerity must atone for other
deficiencies. ObedientIy and fraternaily
yours. BERIAH BROWN, +. NJ.
The Unexpected Discharge of Cannon