Electa's Choice.

ELECTA'S CHOICE .

A CHRISTMAS STORY .

Br REV . H . A . GUILD , LINCOLN , NEBRASKA . FAR from it , Mr . Dictum . If you imagine that my judgment ia to be controlled aud my actions directed by such considerations , yon are doomed to disappointment bitter and lusting , it may be . When convinced that a man ' s course of conduct is determined by devotion to a

cherished principle , even though that principle may not commend itself to my approval , I can summon for him some measure of respect , and find excuse for his modes of operation . Bufc when , as in this case , I am forced to t' . e conviction that ho is swayed and governed by tho power of

prejudice , and would compel others to tbe occupancy of a like position , then my soul revolts , and I tnrn from him with indignation . My father was a Freemason for more than twenty years , and was nofc only constantly interested in , but conscientiously devoted to the princi ples of that

ancient organisation . Ihe benefits derived by him from his membership in the Lodge , I have often heard him say , wero greater by far than those accz'uing from all other organisations , and these , as yon are aware , were numerous , for father was emphatically a society man . They were not

pecuniary benefits , tor he had no need of them , but thoso higher and nobler benefits thafc expand the mind and enlarge tho heart , and that even impart to the religion of Christ a greater breadth and a warmer glow . But now you come , without experience and without knowledge in

regard to these affiles , and coolly tell me that Masonry is a cheat , and modestly and generously suggest that if I will abandon all thought of uniting with the Order of the

Eastern Star , onr former pleasant relations may be resumed and closer ones established iu the future ! Was such mugnanimitv over before approached ? Can it ever again be equalled ?"

Are you not disposed to be sarcastic , Miss Electa ? Aud aro you nofc giving to my words an interpretation that they will scarcely warrant ? I am not seeking to impose conditions arbitrarily upon you , nor to demand a sacrifice that to you would be ' revolting . ' I have simply suggested

whether , in the absence of one thing , and in the presence of another , considering the circumstances in which we are placed , and in view of such circumstances and conditions as may yet bo in fche future , it wonld nofc be well to abandon or dismiss such designs and aims as at somo time mi ght

prove mutually embarrassing . Surely , you cannot afford to sacrifice upon the altar of the unknown , and , therefore , the untested , such hopes and aspirations as have mutually characterised us in the past . Were the matter one concerning which you had personal experience , or positive

information , tno case would be widely different . Such information as you possess , I am persuaded , from a careful investigation of the whole subject , has come to you from imperfectly informed sources , and is therefore unreliable .

Believe me that you are misinformed—greatly so—in regard to the history , purposes and processes , both of the Masonic Fraternity and of the Order of the Eastern Star . "

" I shall do nothing of the kind , Mr . Dictum ; nor could I do so without insulting the memory of as good a father ns ever lived , even as yon insult it by your unjust and unmanly proposition and demand . The information I have concerning the two organisations that you contemptuously

allude to came largely from my dear and honoured father , who , long a member of both societies , understood perfectly the matters whereof he affirmed . In no respect did he ever deceive me . On no account would he lead me astray and now , with cool assurance , you come to me with the

impossible proposition that I regard as untrustworthy the information communicated fco me in good faith by that father , and accept iu its place your own unsupported and unsatisfactory declarations ! You , with your ' careful investigations , ' mado in th darkness of superstition and

prejudice , with not a single ray of light illuminating your way ; you , whose * information ' can have no better source than conjecture , hatred , and the Cynosure—you , sir , havo the effrontery to demand that 1 discredit my father ,

and make you the receptacle of my confidence and faith ! Wonderful instance of assurance and modesty of demand I My information untrustworthy and unsatisfying ! Indeed , Mr . Dietnm ? I have not only that referred to , but look here . Behold these bound volumes of " The Voice of

Electa's Choice.

Masonry , " and scan the list of able , respected and compe-: cnfc contributor * . See these other Masonic periodicals and papers , and theso Masonic books . Gaze upon theso shelves laden with the productions of Morris , Pike , Mackey , Mitchell , Macoy , and others equally eminent ami reliable .

I have read all of these works , aud I have also ihe supporting testimony of hundreds of living and reliable witnesses , all about ns—the very best men and women in the community—all affirming that to be good and ennobling which you denominate as fraudulent and demoralisinir . Sir , yon

come to the wrong market with your wares . If , now , you have any facts , any arguments based upon that which is tangible and concretely real , produce them , and I will gt vo te them all the attention that thoy may merit . Bufc be

assured that mere declamation , or declaration , or conjecture , or hearsay , will not answer the purposes of thia discussion . "I fear , Miss Electa , that yon aro becoming excited . There is no occasion for excitement . Nor do I think it

desirable or profitable that we continue a controversy that would seem to give promise of unpleasant results . I suggest that we drop the whole thing for the present , at least , and turn to more agreeable topics . Remember that

Christmas is almost hero , and that we havo not complete ! the arrangements we had in view for that occasion . I am still ready to carry into execution my portion of the programme , despite our little intellectual divergences . "

" If you had no relish for this discussion , Mr . Dictum , it should not have been precipitated by you . It certainly was not of my seeking . As to the programme of which you speak , I do not think thafc ifc is suffering for want of attention . There was a time when I looked forward to the

coming of approaching Christmas with anticipated jos ' . That timo is not now . While Christmas holds in store no terrors for me , so far as I am aware , 1 can not overlook lite fact that conditions have materially changed within tho past few weeks , aud I cannot sny that I will be ready for

my part of the ' programme . ' To-morrow evening , Providenco permitting , I shall become a member of the Order cf the Eastern Star , aud shall thenceforward be eimbled to speak more authoritatively aud definitely iu regard to the

purposes and aims of that organisation . So , having a personal knowledge of the Order , you may ba afforded mors definite knowledge—if you still have faith in me—and then your own course can be more satisfactorily determined . "

" Really , Miss Electa , you cannot mean this . It can hardly be that you will so soon identify yourself with that organisation , in view of what has so recently transpired . I understood that this matter had been postponed indefinitely , aud until you could give it maturer consideration . "

" I am not responsible for your ' understanding' in this case , Mr . Dictum . Yon surely had no such assurance from me . If alive and well , I expect , as I am determined , to enter the Order of tho Eastern Star to-morrow evening . Here is the notice of my election , and of the appointment for my initiation . "

" This being true , then , Miss Electa , I presume that you will have no objection to my spending Christmas in San Francisco ?" " Not the slightest , sir , if such shall be your desire . But

before your departure I hope to have the pleasure of giving you my impressions concerning the Star , promising , should these be unfavourable , to give you the full benefit of your doubt . "

" Certainly , Miss Electa , I shall be moat happy to seo you again before I go , and to receive any genuine inform itipn that you may have to impart . " The evening for " work" had come , and Electa was duly

invested with the several degrees of the Eastern Star . The ceremonies of initiation , while pleasing in all their parts , had failed to fully meet all her anticipations . But if aught were lacking here , there was an infinite compensation in the sublime lessons inculcated throughout the

degrees , as will be seen . " Well , Miss Electa , I am here to make my final call . " " Final ! You really astonish me !" " Well , yes , final before my departure for San Francisco I leave in the morning . "

" This is very sudden , Mr . Dictum , but is perhaps just as well . You wish to carry my new ' impressions ' with you ? These , regarding the Eastern Star , are very favourable . Father had told me thafc the design of Freemasonry was to render its votaries wiser , better , and consequently happier . Of course , I believed him ; but I never accepted