A Masonic Yarn Told At Sea.

A Masonic Yarn told at Sea .

| : p % ^ 2 r | pME few years since when visiting tbe Rock of Gibraltar j ^ f ^ Si ^ N jiy I was sitting in the Alemadu one sunny afternoon | \^^^ Na listening to the Band of the Royal Ritles when a hand m ^ t ^^) . ]| Wils l'hiced upon my shoulder , and a familiar voice £ ^^ s £ 3 ^ 5 l sainted me in pretty broad Yorkshire with " Hello , owd boy ! what the dickens art- tha' doing here Y" On

turning round I belield an old friend—a-u Alderman and a brothci ' chip . On comparing notes we found that both of us had comp leted the respective businesses which had taken us out to that lively spot , and were contemplating a speedy return home . I had arranged to return by a Cumtrder , provided some other steamer did

not arrive sooner , and my old chum at once decided that he would accompany me . A visit to the Agents' olliccs enabled us to settle that question without further delay , as we found that the Palmyra was expected in port early the next morning . Our arrangements for departure were soon completed , and after spending a pleasant eveniiitr with some Masonic friends , we retired to rest .

Between five and six o ' clock the next- ( Sunday ) morning I awoke , and my bedroom being conveniently near to the flat roof of the Royal Hotel , I made a hasty toilet , and , taking with me my binoculars , proceeded to the top of the house , when , on looking at the signals on the top of the Rock , I found that a steamer was arriving . In a very

short space of time the red funnel of ( he Cuiiard liner came in sight round the Enropa point . Notwithstanding the early hour , my xery civil and attentive guide ( Hatchwell ) , who had also been on the look out , assisted me to finish packing , after which he was dispatched to the " Calpe , " where my Aldernianic friend was located , to apprise him of the arrival of the steamer .

After a hearty , though hasty , breakfast and a farewell handshake with the jolly host of the Royal , I hastened to call for my friend , and then we wended our way lo the old market-place luiuling-sfuge , where we found tlie Agent and other officials seated in the steam launch waiting to take us on board . On arriving alongside I was delig hted to sec the smiling lace of my old friend Captain Mac , with whom 1 had made several pleasant voyages .

As usual during "coaling , " the decks were in a most unpleasant state , but that ever welcome refuge , the Captain ' s deckhouse , was placed at our disposal until things were made ship-shape . B y noon we were bidding good-bye to oni Rock friends , and having by that time hud our berths allotted to us by the Stewards , we began to make our cabins as homely as possible . I may mention that

having rendered a special service to the Steamship Company during my visit , 1 had , at the request of ( he Agent , a state room to myself , The sound of the luncheon gong was welcome , and on entering the saloon J had a good survey of my fellow voyagers . Besides the Alderman , there were two young Lancashire spinners , an Assyrian merchant , a lady with four children and nurse , also several

gentlemen , amongst them an elderly , white-haired , benevolent-looking individual , next lo whom 1 found my room number placed on the fable . Conversation was soon established , us the strainer was then in smooth water . 1 learnt Unit my aged neighbour bailed from Canada , and after paying a visit to England , he had taken an allround trip on the Palmyra on what is known as ( he Italian route .

As the afternoon advanced and as our steamer proceeded along the Straits , passing Tarifa , and making for Trafalgar Hay , the wind freshened to a rather stiff gale and heavy rain-clouds hung around ; consequently , when at o ' .. ' ! u ( he dinner gtmg sounded the assembly , there were not so many ready to put in an appearance , as the rolling

of the vessel did not increase the appetites of some of the passengers . When the meal was over , those who could manage it resorted to the solace of the weed , but unfortunately the Piilmyra . was not well provided with smoking accommodation ; the night being dark and wet we were rather at a loss , until good old . Mac gave the tip to the Alderman , the Canadian , and me to adjourn to the deck-house .

A Masonic Yarn Told At Sea.

The services of the Captain ' s steward were requisitioned , and in due course we found ourselves comfortably seated on settees and camp-stools , each with a steaming glass and a pipe . The wind was whistling through the ri gging , the raindrops came patter-patter upon the wooden roof , the gentle roll of the steamer , the swinging of the bun ]) , all gave to the moment a snug and companionable

feeling . ' It did not take us long to find out that we were all members of the Fraternity , and , as a natural consequence , the conversation drifted to that direction : the surroundings were so conducive to " yarning" that first one and then another related some of their Masonic experiences , wJien our venerable Canadian brother volunteered to relate an account of a Masonic event which he looked upon

as one of the turning points of his life . Instinctivel y my hand was upon my note-book , seeing which , our friend desired that if at any time the circumstances he was about to refer to should be made use of the names of parlies and places should be suppressed . In deference to that wish I will omit all names and introduce him to the reader as the narrator .

After the steward had paid another visit and pipes had been replonisJied , we settled down for the yarn wJiich our venerable brother commenced . " Well , " said he , " 1 must first tell you that I am over seventy years of age ; my father was a solicitor in extensive practice in London , and lived in a Southern suburb . He always provided plenty

ot outdoor recreation for his two sons ( myself and elder brother ) in the shape of hunting and shooting , and by this means I grew passionatel y fond of Jiorscs and other animals . After a good sound education at one of the best public schools and a short probationary service with u surgeon , 1 was placed in one of the London hospitals , my brother having been articled in my father ' s ollice . Freemasonry

was at that time much talked about amongst my fellow students , and , with others , I was initiated somewhere about- the year 1810 , in a lodge which , though select , was sadl y short of workers . 1 was soon put in harness ; first us Steward , then Deacon , and the next year Senior Warden . Since my initiation , 1 had attended Lodges of Instruction with regularity , and Jiaving a liking

for the ritual and being pretty smart and blessed with a good retentive memory , 1 was entirely master of the work . When the time came round I was elected to the Worshi pful Master ' s chair , which office I filled fothe . satisfaction of my brethren , and under the guidance of one of the best Preceptors , I installed my successor—a ceremony seldom performed by a retiring Master in those days .

"About this time my father died , and when his will was read I discovered that my brother had taken an unfair advantage of his position in regard to the disposal of the property , which led to so much unpleasantness and brought mutters to such a pass that I determined to leave home and cut off all communication with my famil y by either enlisting into some cavalry regiment or else going

abroad . Accordingly very early one morning 1 dressed in a shooting suit , packed my bag , and with a fair . sum in my pocket , left my parental roof and landed at Euslon Station in time to catch the first train to Liverpool . Willi my ticket in my pocket , I was soon on my way to thai place without having made up my mind as to any definite course to pursue . At one of the intermediiiiestntion . s a jolly-looking

individual entered the compartment , and seeing me sitting moodily in one corner , commenced to rouse nic up by directing bis conversation to inc . It did not take him long to draw me out and make himself pretty well acquainted with my position and prospects , although I took care to give an assumed name , in return he informed mo that he was connected with the surveyor ' s department of a new line of railway then being constructed in the Midlands , and promised

that it 1 would accompany him to headquarters he would find me employment , which oiler I accepted . "On arriving at the next station we left the train and made for the hotel where his conveyance was in waiting , having before us a drive of twelve miles . Here we found the man in charge of the horse in a helpless state of drunkenness . Being an expert whip J undertook the coaching . On arriving at our destination my friend

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