The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1909-12-18
THE REV. DIR. LAMBERT
AND THE FREEMAS0N
\ Story Recently told by
the Former in the Columns
of his Paper Which May be
of Interest to Persons be-
longing to Oath-B Bound or
CARNATIONS, of Which
there are Thousands Today
in the United States.

IN the Onlteo 0t0te6.
A few hours between change of cars,
the other day, in a Southern Ohio coun-
ty seat, gave me an opportunity to wit
ness a procession in the town, pre-
paratory to laying the. cornerstone OF
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-
ton was: I'm from Kentucky and
my father was a 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 officials and imme-
diately behind them walked a G. A. R
post Of gray haired veterans, two OF
whom were minus limb and hobbled
along on crutches-that's the limit
for me. stranger! Did you observe
the sight?' ,
I repeated that I 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 see
that it was properly placed! and an
other Past Master emptied upon the
stone the corn which he carried in
an open vessel and then some more
Fast masters poured upon it oil and
wine, ETC., ETC."
Eyes, yes" said the Kentuckian,
"that's not right. am K. of p
and whole lot Of other things, but
am not in favor of any secret to-
ciety taking to itself such public
functions" The conversation drift
ed along these lines for some tina
until I gave him clipping, which
had culled from a recent number Of
the Freeman's Journal anent Free
Masons; an incident related by its
editor, Father Lambert, and which is
to this effect:
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 a man of
ability and education, a Protestant
and a Freemason. He was a man Of
fine character and Of attractive per-
,sonality, and we became intimate.
One day in soul to soul talk, he
said: you are a young man begin
ming your career. Every young maA
should set before him some one great
purpose in life, some ideal, towards
which he should labor and never lose
sight of in all the various occupations
that may engage his attention.
ANoW luClO ~ q AOOAC OAA IoWdk III
which you might devote your life."
What is the end you would propose,
Colonel?
1T is the reconciliation Of the Cath
olic Church and Freemasonry. have
been a Freemason for many years and
have never seen anything wrong in
| ~, &c koo = (v,o.o Ts, 20
of it's proceedings and ceremonies are
similar to some of those have seen
in Catholic churches. have become
greatly interested in. the Catholic
Church. In fact have thought seri-
ously of joining it, but I find cannot
do so without leaving Freemasonry
and do not like to do that, 51
Suppose undertook that enterprise
how do you think ought to proceed:
How begin?
"Well, you might represent to the
authorities that there is nothing wrong
in Freemasonry."
If 1 did that they would smile or
he peh'SndA4y' anu ash' <AIe yOu
Freemason? I would have to answer
No. Then they would ask, What in.
duces you to think you know more
about it than we do?
i would say, very reliable Free.
mason told me so.
But, they would say. This reliable
mason was under oath not to toll yos
the secrets, the mysteries and esoterit
doctrines Of the order. If 80, h.
broke his oath and is therefore mo-
! reliable. In fact We know all thai