New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-23
THE DOWNWARD PATH.
GOOD MAN AND TRUE MASON. But WEAK.
HE GAVE WAY. FELL. AND DIED
ALONE AMONG STRANGERS


Master Mason. and again were together when
allied In the same chapter 20 the Royal Arch and
ia'er on one night when all prying eyes were
closed IN sleep together descended TO the
secret vaults OF tho Ninth Arch. and together for
years We visited nearly every lodge then in ex-
istence In this city and Brooklyn We were known
pretty near everywhere in Masonic circles and We
were usually announced the two brothers OF
blank Lodge" and thus for years continued
close friendship begun and formed at the sacred
altar OF Frecnasonry.
Brother Blank was a true Mason and a noble
hearted often have / seen him literally
empty his pockets into the outstretched hand OF
some suffering widow and often seen his eyes
moisten when listening to the mournful tale Of
some desolate orphan And when the Master at
some meeting night then the custom would
call Tor volunteers 10 visit some sick brother.
perchance SIT w with him to relieve the worn-out
family. all eyes turned toward Brother
Tom. for he was always ready 10 do every act OF
Masonic charity that needed he could not and
never did say no. | had many times. and under
different circumstances occasion 10 see and admire
MS noble nature and i9herent manliness that
naturally overlooked or was blinded TO his fault
his only Nay. / could not did not even call 1t
fault. rather weakness. TOO often met with In
our community-he loved his cup too well.
thought slightly of this at first like too many OF
us. Possibly was even guilty early IN our Masonic
life OF encouraging his bad and unfortunate
habit. for 1t not until some time after we had
become closely acquainted that It gradually
dawned upon that Brother Blank drank more
than was good for him. and not only the light
wines. beer and light beverages. but would often
indulge in heavy liquors and whskey.
demonstrated with him chided him. scolded
him severely and the result first would be good
behavior for week a month. and then some
new evidence Of his unfortunate habit would crop
out again. | found TO my great disnay that this
habit was fast growing upon him. 1t grieved me
greatly invented all sorts OF excuses resorted 70
all sorts OF expedences exhausted all possible
means to keep MIN from drinking but with only
occasional success and the duration of his good
behavior became shorter and shorter and at last
the love OF the cup had so grown upon him that
It could not be said that he Inveigled In a
cal way. but would deliberately start out for the
purpose Of ndulging In drink
| remember one Fourth OF July. prior 10 starting
cut for few days vacation. promised to abstain
from all strong drink during our outing if he would
do the same. told him that his constitution
could not withstand this constant strain; that he
was simply killing himself | used all the argu-
ments of the Prohibition apostles. appealed to his
honor. to the sacred obligations taken at the
cred altar Of Masonry years ago | made him
promise never again 10 touch anything lntoxca'-
ing With tears In his eyes and moved by my
earnest appeals and evident sincerity ne would
solernnly promise to obey my demands for his own
good. | thought al eacl o. theS' sometimes stormy
seances that he would keep his promise: that he
would redeem himself. but alas for poor weak
many things but not in this for soon found. and
10 my great sorrow and real sincere grief. that hts
love Tor drink was much stronger than his love for
me or augh; else and in shorter and shorter inter-
walls he again relapsed into his old ways.
| gradually felt that we We're drifting apart-that
sooner or later our paths W9u and must diverge
MS company any longer If he did not reform his
habits one more Resource had Yet left uniried.
| knew that NJ thought much OF his mother. who
died since We became Masons and knew that she
had been an ardent church member and most
minister OF the Gospel brother Mason told him
my trouble. and asked him 10 aid me In redeeming
brother should send me a letter asking m" 10 call
some evening AT his house, and was 20 ask Brother
done but. Ike most ardent ministers Of the Gospel
this good and worthy brother thought much more
a. 81, Ia, i, 'V G'' anu VI, r,4 i,n ~,
tt' piol wa conlp"le idliuIt ana prON'u almost
disastrous for Brother Blank felt very sore over H.
had called upon stranger to teach him. said ne
knew better than 10 20 on In his old way h. could
ding minister etc; but unfortunately he did not so
reform
about. mat Is "" slowly ana surely drlft"d apart
found that had done all In my power to re-
deem this good but weak brother. and now could do
no more. IT, did not attend lodge. a. usual. any
more. nor the chapter nor any Of the Masonic
h." lost hi- good standing. In chapter ana lodge
paid for him several times. and saved him from suS
pension. then dropped him I'm the chapter and then
while. but var after year passed. and had lost
out and spend days trying to find him inquire
Of his former acquaintanceS. but TO- no purpose.
nothing Others would tell M what | knew only
too well. that h. had gone TO the bad. had become
appeared. the great world had swallowed him up.
About this time had to pass under the rod Of
trouble. aud misfortunes of all sorts overcame me-
and II was hard work for me 10 keep up my good
ne m1ny drin1nSs upon my pI's' 80 0t't Em, ~
md ha trio from
the roll non-pa ymen OF dues. No spoke for
him. the younger brethren did not know MIN. the
older ones did not care and few only even remem-
bered him Tearfuly made the entry In the |
lodge reg , IT. GTd to me- as dn was putting Jni
Ioote - the old ales Of The lodge An atom gone |
out OF the Masonic Universe. zone out of Masonic
existence there TO remain until perchance some fut
old history OF tn. lodge and he will merely glance
at the name. that IS an, dust, spot wiped out,
Year- passed ana I had long since given up all |
hopes Of ever again meeting the brother or hearing !
from rim. IN fact thought Of him as dead from his
e,iI habits as | knew ne was not very robust at |
lest, when ono day Received letter from Bro. |
Thorne Ohen captain, afierward inspector OF |
police to call on him that evening AT the station !
house knew Bro Thorne was "A good man and |
thorough Mason. and suggested al once some Ma /
sonic work Upon entering his office ~ the station
house that evening ne showed NJ ntdV} goa |
thirty second-degr"c ring; with me initials T. l. |
engraved on th" inside ! recognized the ring AT /
glance as the one gave 70 Bro Blank in exchange
showed il to Bro Thornc. The initials 7. - wer-
inside OF mine IN the years gOn" by, IN IN" ex- !
ubcrance OF our youth. full OF love and enthusias m
for Masonry and in the closest ties of Masonic
we exchanged these rings shortly after :
We had both received our thirty second degree.
Brother Thorne then Informed M that the owner /
Of tn" ring had died In the statiOn-hOusc the preNi-
Ous evening. ana that the ring was not upon his |
finger but suspended by dirty skrn ribbon h
Wor- around his mex aud that This was all Of any
hgS'' r yag o. .b kn4nors Of Hrothor Tborne
and other police officials reclaimed the body and
,orciimgiy mad arrangcments TO bury H.
! tried ~ fracc out some history OF his life during
the period Intervening since | had last seen him.
but found thn. the details were truly Sickening
From step 70 step this poor weak brother sank
lower ana lower In the depths Of human de-
prayliy and though several times II seems as II
his better nafur. 'eVOl'ei. and he tried 20 raise
himself out Of his misery out OF the slough. yet
again and again the lemon drink Overpower"d him
until - last IL oy,r"imc him ike thief In a."
night and ne dieh alone IN one Of the cells or a
= 1871. N.