Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-08-04
ABOUT A NEW FRATERNITY
The Unconscious Brotherhood" One of Our Kindp
Members in Every Cline

This is some account of fraternity
which has no name. 40 written laws. no
dues. no officers, no organizations, but
il exists, and ! suspect Is nearly as old
as man. It's Unconscious membership
is probably worldwide. 1 can account
only Tor that part Of the North Amcri-
can continent over which have trav-
cled. but / think the use Of the pass
word-a recognition phrase-would
meet with response in any part of the
world. il stated in familiar language.
This password, or phrase, is the only
purely regular feature of the brother
hood and even that varies much in
form. though not iE meaning.
Most of the members do not know
they are members. though they are
quite sure to use the privileges Of the
brotherhood upon meeting each other.
I had my first knowledge Of this un-
named fraternity some years ago, when
spending a few days at the home Of a
friend whose ability as a fruit-grower
has brought him comfort while his
soul Las been expanding. / met at this
home a mamie was omcially, as a
servant of the United States, pomolo-
gist, hut that doesn't count-who came
there. as I did, to look at a wonderful
strawberry trial-which also wasn't
essential.
l seemed to have known him the
next day, for years instead of hours,
and the three of us sat in happiness on
the sweet June grass, while we talked
of outdoor and Investigated strawber-
ries. The pomoIogist soon asked us
other two if we knew his friend Blank.
and upon receiving a negative answer,
said, "Why. YOU ought to know Blank;
he's one of our kind" Later / under
stood what this really meant; at the
time the remark passed without special
notice.
Not long after I boarded 4 parlor-
car running between two large cities,
on which | knew ! would find a con-
GuctCr with whom had often Travelled.
Indeed, l had waited two hours longer
than needed to for the sake of having
a little chat with him. He greeted me
eagerly, saying, Il have something to
show you. after / have worked the
car" When his passengers were all
seated and ticketed. he came to m,
with a newspaper clipping and read
preserved. 1t began thus: who loves
a tree" and after / had expressed my
appreciation, my friend, the Pullman
conductor, said: II thought you'd like
it; so l wrote off this copy for you.
You may want to show it to some one
else who is one of our kind" Then ]
remembered the phrase of the POM
Ciogist.
whose writings spell love for outdoors
and II was with little surprise. after
had an hours conversation with her.
that l heard the phrase again. refer
ring this time to a man did not know.
whose life is devoted to the defense
and the tudy. of living hirds:- Hes
a lovely man; he's one of our kind"
That spring had a joyous trip along
the lower Susquehanna away from the
main lines of travel. My quest was Il
wonderful flower show. the blooming
of the greater "Wake-robin" NV in
structions as to finding the place came
from an enthusiastic woman who has
GONE much to open closed eyes TO OUT
doors. / WAS to walk n quarter of a
mile south from the station, find a
great rock beside the track. then go A
rod farther. look up the hill to the left.
and prepare to shout"
l did shout. for the long. sloping hill
side was spangled with ten thousand
trilliums, white, blush and pink. Ferns
there were too and UP the hill cunning
Jack-in-the- pulpit stood ready to
preach. respectfully attended by the
delicate sprins-beauty and the noddinr
Wild geranium. 1t was a day of deep
joy, and l went home full of a desire to
share it. and to tell whole city of an
April flower festival which was WORT.
a score of chrysantheInum shows But
l remember my friends caution: Don't
tell any ore where to find the trilliums
unless you're sure he's our kind, for
other folks admire, and then root UT.
these lovely flowers.
Here was the password-for by this
time I had begun to recognize it-but in
the negative. 1t brought to mind a little
talk | had had with member Of VIII
liam PENIS sect, who grows good trees
and loves them so well that he dislikes
to sell them out of his sight He was
speaking of his own brother, a far more
extensive grower of trees. but he does