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Article MASONIC ANECDOTE. ← Page 2 of 3 →
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Masonic Anecdote.
public character , who has recorded his renunciation of Freemasonry upon the plea that it is incompatible with the principles of his church . Be it remembered , that the Freemason whose humanity in the present , case thus prevailed in the last trying moment was a Catholic , and that he had neither the fear of his bishop , nor the maudlin sentimentality of a "temperance society , " to prevent the exercise of mercy and charity . Fraternally yours , FIDUS .
About four months since , an English gentleman arrived in the evening at an inn in St . Jean de Luz , after a very stormy journey from Bayonne . On the following morning the weather became remarkably fine , and he was desirous of continuing his route . He rang the bell , and directed the servant girl to inquire if there was any boat about to start for St . Sebastian . In giving these directions , it should be observed , that he inadvertently forgot to mention a steam-boat . The girl soon returned
with the information that a boat would be ready in an hour . The traveller ' s portmanteau was soon conveyed on board , and he himself followed shortly after ; but on arriving at the beach , he found to his surprise and vexation , that the craft in which he was about to trust himself , was a small sailing lugger of not more than twelve tons burthen : it was laden with about a dozen sacks ( apparently of corn ) in the hold . The skipper noticing his disappointmentassured the traveller that the
, voyage would be speedy , and he at length boarded the lugger . The passage across the bar was rough in the extreme , but the weather then moderated , and the scene altogether changed . At this juncture , the skipper addressed his passenger rather freely , intimating his belief that he was a military man . This was evaded ; but the skipper expressed himself convinced that he was in the army from the appearance of the moustache . Nothing further passed at that moment .
Shortly afterwards , indications of foul weather were observed , when the skipper again addressed his passenger , and declared it would be impossible for him to make St . Sebastian , but that he should put into Fonfarabia . Our traveller ' s eyes were now clearly opened ; the " Durango Decree" rang in his ears—he had heard that the Carlists paid as much as 201 . to any boat that landed a Christino officer . Being a man of determination , he collected himself immediately , and throwing aside his
cloak , he exposed his pistols , and declared that they should be used effectually before he would be taken to the Carlists . The crew burst into a loud laugh at this declaration , and the boat proceeded on to Fontarabia . The traveller then in turn implored all hands to alter the course , but ineffectually , and the dreaded harbour was in sig ht . His mental sufferings were agonized by despair , and they were even heightened by the looks of satisfaction which appeared in the countenances of the men ,
who were evidently enjoying the forthcoming reward of their atrocity . Providence , in this awful moment , suggested the attempt to practice the Masonic test ; forlorn-hope as it was , IT SUCCEEDED ! The skipper came deliberately forward , took the traveller by the hand , called him " Brother , " and ordered the mate to " put about . " The course was altered , and he was safely landed at Passages , and even escorted to the protection of his friends .
In the year 1809 , a small sloop in the coasting trade , on its passage to Poole , was run down by a large ship . So sudden was the shock , that VOL . iv . 2 0
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Anecdote.
public character , who has recorded his renunciation of Freemasonry upon the plea that it is incompatible with the principles of his church . Be it remembered , that the Freemason whose humanity in the present , case thus prevailed in the last trying moment was a Catholic , and that he had neither the fear of his bishop , nor the maudlin sentimentality of a "temperance society , " to prevent the exercise of mercy and charity . Fraternally yours , FIDUS .
About four months since , an English gentleman arrived in the evening at an inn in St . Jean de Luz , after a very stormy journey from Bayonne . On the following morning the weather became remarkably fine , and he was desirous of continuing his route . He rang the bell , and directed the servant girl to inquire if there was any boat about to start for St . Sebastian . In giving these directions , it should be observed , that he inadvertently forgot to mention a steam-boat . The girl soon returned
with the information that a boat would be ready in an hour . The traveller ' s portmanteau was soon conveyed on board , and he himself followed shortly after ; but on arriving at the beach , he found to his surprise and vexation , that the craft in which he was about to trust himself , was a small sailing lugger of not more than twelve tons burthen : it was laden with about a dozen sacks ( apparently of corn ) in the hold . The skipper noticing his disappointmentassured the traveller that the
, voyage would be speedy , and he at length boarded the lugger . The passage across the bar was rough in the extreme , but the weather then moderated , and the scene altogether changed . At this juncture , the skipper addressed his passenger rather freely , intimating his belief that he was a military man . This was evaded ; but the skipper expressed himself convinced that he was in the army from the appearance of the moustache . Nothing further passed at that moment .
Shortly afterwards , indications of foul weather were observed , when the skipper again addressed his passenger , and declared it would be impossible for him to make St . Sebastian , but that he should put into Fonfarabia . Our traveller ' s eyes were now clearly opened ; the " Durango Decree" rang in his ears—he had heard that the Carlists paid as much as 201 . to any boat that landed a Christino officer . Being a man of determination , he collected himself immediately , and throwing aside his
cloak , he exposed his pistols , and declared that they should be used effectually before he would be taken to the Carlists . The crew burst into a loud laugh at this declaration , and the boat proceeded on to Fontarabia . The traveller then in turn implored all hands to alter the course , but ineffectually , and the dreaded harbour was in sig ht . His mental sufferings were agonized by despair , and they were even heightened by the looks of satisfaction which appeared in the countenances of the men ,
who were evidently enjoying the forthcoming reward of their atrocity . Providence , in this awful moment , suggested the attempt to practice the Masonic test ; forlorn-hope as it was , IT SUCCEEDED ! The skipper came deliberately forward , took the traveller by the hand , called him " Brother , " and ordered the mate to " put about . " The course was altered , and he was safely landed at Passages , and even escorted to the protection of his friends .
In the year 1809 , a small sloop in the coasting trade , on its passage to Poole , was run down by a large ship . So sudden was the shock , that VOL . iv . 2 0