Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1935-08-24

tains" This lodge was held probably
on Sept. %, 1852.
A few days later, en- route from Deer
Lodge to Bannack, the Langford party
was Unexpectedly accosted by three or
four men, roughly clad, suspicious and
almost hostile in manner. One Of the
men, inquiring about the Langford
party, used a Masonic expression;
Langford replied appropriately Friend
ship was quickly cemehted, and midst
the objections Of his non-Nasonic as
sociates, Langford and his brother,
named Gwin, walked away together.
Langford never revealed TO his worried
associates why he had so quickly shown
confidence In an apparent outlaw.
The next Masonic event was the
death of Mr.. Bell at Bannack: Lang
ford conducted the funeral. OF it he
says:
1.-THE strange pecuIiarities OF the oc-
casion added a moTnful interest to the
Impressive truths Of the ritual. A large
congregation had assembled. Nearby,
and surrounding the grave, stood the
little band Of brethren, linked by an
indissoluble bond to him for whom they
were now performing the last sad Of
flee. With clasped hands and uncov-
cred heads they reverently listened to
the solemn language which in that far
off land committed one of their num-
Der to his mother earth; while further
away, and encircling them, stood a cur
ious multitude, whose eager gaze be-
trayed that they there for the first time
beheld q Masonic burial ceremony.
Among the latter might be seen many
whose daily lives were filled with deeds
Of violence and crime-wfo mayhap ct
the moment might be meditating muir
der and robbery-who, for the first time
IN many years, were listening 10 langu-
age which recalled the innocence Of
boyhood, the early teachings OF par
ents, and hopefully pointed the way TO
an eternity Of unmixed enjoyment. How
strange 1t seemed to see this. large
assembiage, all armed with reviewers
and bowie knives, standing silently,
respectfully, around the grave of a
stranger, their very features distorted
BY the lines which their hardened lives
had planted now saddened by a
momentary fleeting thought Of the
grave and immortality.
Nor was this all They learned from
what they saw that here was an as
ISOLATION, bound together by bonds Of
brotherIy love, that would stand by and
protect all it's members In the hour Of
danger. They saw the scroll deposited
which signified so plainly that death
alone could break a link In the mystic
chain which bound them together. They
saw each brother drop the evergreen
as symbol Of the surrender Of him
they n1oTned 10 the eternal care OF q
Higher Power. And while the brethren,
as they regarded each other In the light
Of their strong obligations, felt that In
themselves there was power equal to
their exposed condition, we may rea-
s0nably suppose that the ru1ians who
had marked them for ultimate destruc-
ton felt that q new and formidable adj
versary had thrown itself across their
bloody pathway.
who can fIttingly describe that sol
ernn scene, wherein was the beginning
Of the redemption Of Montana from
rs1fgian rule. In vast sense the death
az Brother Bel was q vicarious sacri~
nee. A new power arose in that be-
les0uared land from that very hour.
Is which all honest men instinctavely
armed f09 inspiration and strength
Tle rising power Of Maeoury 80 inas
erease0 Henry Plunmer, road agent
boa. that he puhllcly expressed q STRONG