The Irish standard., 1909-12-18
REL. 1 / DIR. LAMBERT
AND THE .fREEMAs0A

St SAAS W AAAS4 - SAAS NS0AssAAAAAO
Of his Paper Which May be
Of Interest to Persons be-
longing 70. Oath Bound or
ganizations, of Which
there are Thousands Today
in the United States.
A few hours between change Of cars,
the other day. in 2 Southern Ohio coun-
ty seat, gave me an opportunity to wit
ness a procession in the town, pre-.
Fparatory to laying the corner stone Of
a new federal building, says r. C..
Cleaner in the Columbian.
A chance travelling companion and
myself began % compare notes after
we left the town. His first observa-
tion was: .'I'm from Kentucky and
my father was Union man, but,
great Scott, I can't stand for what :
saw in that procession! A colored
politician seated in, an open barouchc
with some city onicials and imme
diately behind them walked a G. A. R
post Of gray haired veterans, two of
whom were minus a limb and hobbled
along on crutches that's the limit
for me. stranger! Did you observe
the sight 2" '
u repeated that had, and also re-
marked that it seemed strange that
no association or organization seemed
capable Of laying that corner stone
except the Free Masons, whose Grand
Master, according to the local paper.
spread the mortar and placed the
stone in position and whose Past Mas
ter, bearing the level. plumb and
square then tested the stone TO aee
:tltat II was properly .placed md an
other Past Master emptied MON tie
stone the corn which he carried III
an open vessel and then some more
rast masters poured upon 1t oil and
wine, ETC., etc"
Yes. yes" said the Kentuckian
''that's, not right. I am q K. Of. r
and a whole lot Of other things, but
L am not in favor Of any secret ..o-
ciety taking to- itself such public
functions" The. conversation drift
ed along these lines for some time
until gave him a clipping, which
had culled from recent number Of
the Freeman's Journal anent Free
Masons; an incident related by its
editor, Father Lambert, and which is
to this effect: IL,
When a young priest we became
acquainted with Col. Ashley Of
southern Illinois, who as a contractor
built the southern part Of the Illinois
Central railroad. He was man .oi
ability and education, Protestan!
and Freemason. He was q man 81
fine character and Of attractive per-
,sonality, and we became intimate:
One day in a soul to soul talk. he
said:~ you are q young man begin.
ming your career Every young mas
shoald set before him some one grea,
purpose in life, some ideal, toward.
which he should, labor and never, lose
sight OF in all the various occupations
that may engage his attention. q.
..Now there is noble end towards
which you might devote your life.'a5
What is the end you would propose
Colonel /? al st 81,
'It is the reconciliation OF the Cath.
olict Church and Freemasonry. hav:
been q Freemason for many years ant
have never seen anything wrong Ii
1t, or in Its teachings. In fact some
Of its proceedings and ceremonies ar,
similar to some Of those / have see,
in Catholic churches. have becom,
greatly Interested In the Catholi,
Church. In fact I have thought seri,
ously Of joining It, but ind I scanno
do so without leaving Fresmasonry
I
and / do not like to do that. I, "a
Suppose Undertook that enterprisc
how do YOU think Ifousht to proceed
| How begin? n .E lssst3
'well. you might represent q III,
authorities that there Is nothing wroni
lin Freemasonry.''' ST "a. II
II aid That they would smile d
me benignantly, and ask: Are you
1 Free1nason? I :would have to answer
NO. Then they woud ask, What h
duces you to think you know NOR
about 1t than we do? y II
4 III would say. q very reliable Frse.
4 mason told me 30. a. Y. III 4
But, they would say, This reliabl'
mason was, under oath not To- tell 70,
the secrets, the mysteries ana esoter5,
doctrines Of the order. II 10, / HI
ssbrole his oath and 8 therefore no
Ss1ss :. r.. ~ 1,v.ss,,., Atts kl,&