New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-11-06
LETTERS OF COINCIDENCE.
A CUSTOM MUCH ABUSED.

A
There are two pretty things often zone In our
loipes and very often overdone the one. honorary
membership and second the sending or presenting
OF letters Of coincidence. upon the death OF
brother or Of n brothers. wife; that IS expressions
OF sympathy upon any affection or trouble
When member of the lodge dies and the oreth-
ron have assembled around his grave and have
Maid the last sad tribute OF respec; to his memory
NV ne-formjng the Masonic rites OF the dead and
finally hand the weeping widow ana crying chI-
dren into the carriage. they feel that something
more should be done for them ana
the deceased brother has left his family In
comfortable circumstances. nothing further Is re-
ouired of the lodge members at least In money
matters but they feel that some outward ex-
presslon OF sympathy should be SHOWN W
the bereaved woman. and 1t is very pretty
thing 10 do present her with a lci ter or CONGO
lence to show her that all her FRIENDS have not
left her that the friends and brethren Of her dead
husband are her friends and will be brothers 20
her II encourages the bowed widow. 1t strengthens
her In her grief: and let IT be ever thus: II Is
pretty thing to do
I remember taking a letter Of coincidence nicely
written and framed TO poor broken-hearted
woman. and when took the paper wrapper OF
and stood Il upon little side table the poor thing
almost broke down and burst out In tears ana soDs.
and with her three fatherless little ores around
her she sank upon her knees. as though the little
able had suddenly been transformed into an altar
made sacred by this letter upon H.
The oldest child, sweet little baby girl OF about
five years asked her mother wonderngly:
Mamma is dis deter from papa DO dis deter
tome from Heaven" Hush Oracle dear. soboeo
the mother pressing her youngest an infant OF
few months 10 her heart, But the little fodder
would no; hush She turned to me. saying: Il tan
wife: | tot a pencil. and / doing 10 wife 10
papa In Heaven mysefs an tive It 10 the postman;
he knows me-" | could not stand this sort OF
thing long and very elad 10 see some woman
friend arrive. which gave me an opportunity 10
sin quietly away promising the widow that
would call again.
Another letter | remember we brought 10 An OLD
lady who had recently lost her husband. an old and
esteemed member Of the lodge. She was surround
ed by her children and grandchildren and ret very
proud of II as a recognition OF the worth OF her
husband and the compliment we paid her. that
We thought enough of him to bring her this beaut-
fully engrossed letter. They had been marrieo
some forty odd years, and the old lady oid us anna
tears and stifed signs OF the time her good man
first Joined the Lodge 1t time when Masonry
was looked down upon said the old lauy, nut
her husband told her there was nothing bad IN 1t
and that he was going stick to 1t. and he did, as
he Always did stick to what was right and honest
and noble in life. This old dame did not survive
her husband long and | heard afterward that she
had a codicf made to her will. bequeathing our
letter to her second son, in Vermont, VINO was
Master Of a lodge there.
II is most pleasant recollection where you feel
that YOU have dore some good be 1t ever so slight;
where YOU feel that YOU have helped in DRYING even
of sorrow. wheI an aching heart has turned 10 you
for sympathy and you stood ready 20 extend tne
fraternal hand OF friendship and brotherly love
to grief-stricken brother; stand by him and
buoy him ny IN this the hour OF ms bereavement ,a
in the lodge id.e words. Ike sunbea ms scat
torm: and il is an EXQUISITE and touching thing in
nature that when the heart is touched by grisi
It opens for the gief of others and is most sym
But il often occurs that letter of coincidence Is
entirely out OF place much II may please one or
the other OF the party most interested. remem-
her We had once very COCO ana acHne h4 Ios
his wife. We did not attend the fun neral ana ana
usual expressions of sympa thy. etc. were made
but some one moved to appoint Nc nm nrepep
resolutions and then present them to the nersaved
widower The brethren were surprised When %rN,her
S %ss s nD Presbyeran While his wife had
been devoq % me ndrC during their
married life the good sense and superior education
children followed their mothers creed. and when
We came the house with our letter the brother
felt p:eased. yet annoyed: for ne knew there was
no room for picture with a squire and com
pass and in fact the walls were covered by ns sp
was room for ". and the children did not IKE
TO see their home invaded, or desecrated by these
Masons. In this case. the confidence business vas
out Of place although. in Difference 10 ther fathe
they were very polite 10 us. and received US ana
the letter most graciousy. but 1t was nevertheless
out Of place - ,. ,,,,
d ffn result Occurred in our lodge Brother
McNamy had been a good and attentive member
G for i eng shh Time he Of friends go
to Ms s h0me d in the s ga ent Wr good old
Irish people and devout Catholics but they thought
son who had lived away from home for many
years. knew Of their strong preigdices and feared
home but he felt that he would have better care
and better air in the country, and he bade US fare
% Tede T6 To se eeas s or again We wrote
TO the lodge in the little town to take care OF hm
back that there little chance for them to call
he died ne requested 70 be buried In the hurying
plot owned by the Masons and with Masonic
folks were honest enough to let their boy have his
way and acquesced in his last WISH and the Iodge
had grand turnout and buried our brother. for
/ which Kindness we sent them letter of thanks.
handsomely engrossed and framed. and which nov
case where the letter was eminenty proper
BROTHER lost his wife and seemed to feel the
loss deeply We appointed a committee to draft
and procure suitable resolutions. and we resolved
framed letter Of coincidence The brother evidently
believed that it was not good to dwell alone so he
the death OF the first and before We got our ette~
a d as gTobay 6e n in the
/ who knew of his hasty second marriage yet the
/ and was expected make a heart breaking speech
full OF pathos and coincidence, knowing all the
while that there was young woman at his house
who could console him and condole with him much
/ better than / couId 90 H. YET eot 'hroueh WIN
my task and after closing all went out together
and helped the poo, grlef-stricken man 10 drown
his sorrow A short time after this called at the
brothers. house and formally introduced to the
wife. l glanced around the room. and discov-
cred my letter OF coincidence in corner on the
floor face turned toward the wall. He seemed TO
see my furtive look. and said: Il have not hung
! this up yet" II never hung up. That letter
was not only OF place. II was in the way. and !
suppose was finally consigned among the rubbish. "
Mrs. lilly Maria Mitchell was dashing blonde OF
commanding presence and very handsome; her
husband belonged my lodge. and was one Of a
committee to wait her and present 10 her our
expression Of sympathy. this time only an ordinary
! letter. Now. | used 10 pride myself upon my obit-
uary talent and when | would read Of my
| heartrendng letters | expected all the lodge TO
weep and any who would not he moved by my
touching epistes friend Of mine. Armed