Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1902-05-06

minds CT the people who naturally hes |
itated to adopt so radical a departure !
from their old ways and remedies.
Masons Among Whalers.
The lodges of Freemasonry establish.
ed in Honolulu have ever been appre-
ciated by the stranger.brother, who
has. either from chance or during his
travels around the world, touched at
these shores. But by none perhaps
have they been more appreciated than
Ivy the officers of the great whaling
fleet visiting Honolulu upon their re-
turn from the northern cause in the
late autumn months of the fifties and
carly sixties. Here they discharged
their stores of oil and bone for trans
shipment to the Atlantic ports Of the
United States and refitted for their
midwinter trip to the souhward, re.
turning in the spring months to again
reflt for the Arctic and Okhotsk Sea.
This was for some years regular
occurrence and whenever the soma.
phore above the old postoffice at the
head of Kaahumanu street, swung its
arms to No. II (whaleship off Koko
Head, we knew that II meant a few
more of the brethren returning to the
welcome shelter of our lodge and the
mes and faces of the masters and
mates OF this fleet were as house.
hold word and greeting until in 1865.
The Confederate cruiser Shenandoah
swept the northern seas and annihilat
ed the fleet that carried only harpoons
! Ger self.Iefense. and sent the impOver.
lshcd crews, densely crowded upon
| tho few vessels that they released for
| the purpose of carrying them to this
rCrt.
In those days there was no Royal
! Hawaiian or Moana Hotel. in fact
! taCre was no hotel worthy of the name
! unless II might be the neat and well
cared for "SailorG' Home" at the cor.
nrr Of Merchant and Bethel streets,
which sheltered many of the whale.
mems officers and their wives during
| the season. A few of the foreign resi-
dents had also accommodation for
bOarders and dodgers. But for amuse.
ment and recreation there was little
save the occasional advent OF some
theatrical or minstrel troupe, who, as
q rule. we're eventually stranded here,
and II being too deep to wade" were
helped back by generous contributions
In the way of prepaid passages to the
Mainland. This was considered the
proper method of aiding these profes-
siOnal waits, for they generally con-
tessed to such love for Honolulu and
It's surroundings that a money contri.
button tended to lengthen their stay as
long as II lasted.
l II the spirits of departed actors and
actresses could haunt the scenes OF
their temporary triumphs. we might
find ourselves surrounded in the small
hours of the night by the "spooks" OF
those who, many years ago. delighted
cur isolated population, packed on
sweltering nights, in the illy.ventilated
old Derby Theater, which occupied the
very spot where our Temple now
stands.
Save for this occasional refreshment
there was only the barrOom OF the
public dance house to resort to. Under
these circumstances our brethren
from the sea hailed the advent OF lodge
night.
: Upon arrival in port they were
, prompt to report at the lodge room
q WHY NhNs ulN'hhtu uSbluuONSlN ,
joining earnestly in our labors anC
ever genial in our hours OF refresh
ment. until duty called them forth
again to their operative labor upon the
mighty deep.
Among the most valued treasures Of
Hawaiian Lodge today-a treasure up
on which the casual visitor may gaze
with but passing interest, is a framed
collection of daguerreOtypes and am
berotypes. including many of our for
mer stalwart brethren. whose callinl
led them to brave the dangers of the
frozen north year after year in theil
hunt after the great leviathan. Mer
Injured TO hardship in every form. MeI
who had fearlessly faced privation and
possible death. time and again. in pur
suit of their venturous calling. Men
who in the pride of their fraterna
right, carried the banner with the
square and compass to the frozen Arc
tic seas, and at times they have told
; how, amid hardship and danger, eyes
have been gladdened and hearts beer
warmed when the blue flag OF Mason
nv, with its well known symbol, has
flown swiftly TO the missen truck In
recognition and assurance to the shiI
CT brother in distress; in assurance
Pthat those who flew the flag; woult
: come to their aid. risking even life It
self in the attempt for their rescue.
These were the men who knew truly
the meaning of fraternal love. rhes,
were the men, rough and gluff, per
haps, under the stern discipline of {
: life spent largely away from the
haunts OF civilization, but under whose
weather beaten eXterior carried hearts
=. tnat beat as tenderly as any lovinl
, wuman's, when calamity, distress anc
sickness or sorrow appealed to then
FOR relief. These were the brethren
who were ever welcome within oul
PORTALS and these also ere the breth
I'm who. when disaster overlook them
knew that they were sure OF relief ant
, refuge in this outpost Of our order.
Very many Of these men and breth
reT have vanished from the scene anC
we have little left of them save thes,
pictures and a fading remembrance
, In few years more most OF tn,
: names will have passed from recollec
ton.
Yet they are not quite all gone, fol
on our lodge roll we stin carry IN.