New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-16
A FdTTHFTL PAST MASTER

When ! frs, became a Mason I found among the
membership Of my lodge a brother to whom from
the first. had tak"u a great dislike. could
never even 10 myself account for this feeng.
was there any valid reason why should have any
aversion TO this particular brother any more than
70 any Of the others with whom I had become nc
uuainted through the associations Of the mystic tie;
bu, this liz doubt often tho case. We meet with
people by whom are repealed. or are spiritually
drawn toward them without any apparent cause.
II there Is any truth in what modern SpiritUalisn
sueses-ihat certain "afinities' exist between Ger
tain natures--then this may account for H. How
ever did not Ike Bro Traynor, and could not
help IT, At that time most lodges. and ours among
the rest; met ever week. ana were therefore
thrown together more than the brethren are now.
This meeting once a month Of lodges and chapters.
~ seems 10 be the fashion nowadays. may do well
now but tho time OF which ] am speaking
nearly half a century ago-our meetings were Ike
family gatherings: seemed 10 he drawn nearer
each other and enter more into our worldly az
fairs than IL the at present. Somehow then.
when h newcomer was brought into the family cir
cie he was closely scrunized and sized up and
we very soor had him classihed-that Is. We would
put him under the special banner Of this or that
brother; no, that there was any division faction
in tbs lodge. but there always exist little circles
within the circle and | was supposed 70 belong
:nsiructed me in my early Masonic duties. and al
together seemed 10 take great Interest IN me from
Of character. any approach 10 any similarity In
ANYTHING between us ] was just old enough 10
mani years and was almost old enough to be my
father lie Canadian Of Scotch origin. with
sr0ns onposs 10 ali Who dSred from him on
those principles, whether OF divine inspiration or
agita,e our pious brethren OF the church. Espe-
cisy bitter was his prejudice asains' tne a9uIGn
of Rome. and he often said mat II ne nag ne
making OF our laws he would make i a land
mark NOT TO admit ne 81 had aa not and
We ind many worthy brothers OF that creed among
~ Egr 6e4 ,h ods s hsd best families nt o
lowers Of this Church. and yet very liberal In their
as' ge as good good and loyal American Citizens
Bro. TraynoIr proprietor OF n cigar store In
lor's hail. back Of MS store and here we would
often meet snd plan our Tork lor the 6 9dg e:,rAd
any information ne was sure to md out al about
lodge matters by calling on Bro Ira ln1o and
boys in this Tor here they would consregate
seats S Il he senate c6amber 0''0 %
Rro. Traynoir In consequence OF this. personally
h N all onr 'an ar 1a a'
knew the work, was well versed In Masonic Juris-
TF@sFH sSsr ana H i:' vqr Therefore was Of
weight with us, especially as he was most honest
tool TOOK pains to teach me the work he dill 4 with
view TO push me ehTSd and so tnr9I d ms kGd
gradually began 10 ike the man. as had long re-
Then came the War OF tn. Rebellion. and many OF
those who were Masons then viii remember the
doors Everybody who enlisted as soldier. thosr
who were ready 10 sacrifice their lives upon the
altar % their country suffers. and those.
Artemus Ward neatly put IT, who were ready To
shed the last drop Of blood of al their relation
in fact. everybody who had anything 10 do with
the Arnv IN reality. was furnishing tho Govern
fncnt with Army clothes or had other contracts or
sub-conrracts. al. everybody, wanted 10 become :
Mason ,or ,he good II might do them they al
thought II sIcn nice thing 70 belong 70 this
ancient fraternity. The price OF Initiation was
"a sod o. some lodges 20 double and treble the
or ginsI smouni. and still they came.
Tho fraternity with the re1i OF III, country was