Harry Watson;

HARRY WATSON ;

OR , SECRETS OF FREEMASONRY , BY H . A . JI . HENDERSON . From the "Kentucky Freemason . " IN due time Harry was passed to a

Fellow Craft , and raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason . He passed the Junior and Senior Warden ' s Chairs , and was Master of his Lodge . He studied the work and became expert in the conferring of degrees and well versed in Masonic

history , usuages and jurisprudence . At a celebration of the anniversary of St . John —the 24 th of June—he delivered a Ma ? sonic oration , much to the delight of the Craft and of his wife , who was proud of the effort of her gifted husband . The proceeds were for the benefit of the Widows '

and Orphans Home , and at night there was a fair and concert given under the auspices of the ladies , and among those who participated none were more busy than the wife of Harry Watson . She had seen her husband ' s interest in the Lodge , while

the husbands of her neighbours were spending their evenings at the club and in the bar-rooms . She always knew when he was absent that he was breathing the pure atmosphere and mingling in the refined and chaste associations of the

Lodge room , and that the matters which were engaging his attention were those related to an alleviation of the wretchedness of a smitten , suffering humanity . In the meantime the old clergyman , by

frequent intercourse with Harry , who kept him informed as to the benevolent works of the Order , had abandoned his hostility to Masonry , and , of his own free will and accord had knocked at the door as a poor blind candidate seeking light , the scales had

dropped from his eyes and he saw the Order as a handmaiden of religion , and on that very anniversary clay had opened the public exercises with prayer , which rati , as near as we can remember , thus : " 0 , thou Supreme Architect of the Universewe are

, persuaded that an Institution that has survived the criticism of centuries of inquiring thought , survived the hostility of crowned and mitred heads , grown grander as it grew older , and which has secured the fealt y of the sages , the philanthropists ,

the patriots , whose path is a continued tracery of mercy , which has dried the tear of orphanage , hushed the wail of widowhood , and helped the stranger to friends , and the poor to benefactors , must command Thy fatherly approbation . Had it

not been worthy of its long and prosperous career the good would have turned from its altars and the wicked long since have profaned them . Had it not been designed by Thee as an agent for promoting Thy glory among men and the good of a

suffering humanity , it would , long ere this , been dashed into remediless ruin by the rod of Tby avenging power and providence . We thank Thee for an Institution that binds men in a common brotherhood , and translates into practical life the

anthem' Glory to God in the Highest : peace on earth , and good will to men . ' 0 , Thou who has promised to be a husband to the widow and a Father of the fatherless , bless this Order which takes to its ward and

protection the bereaved and dependent . Command Thy blessing on the ' Home ' this great brotherhood is building . Open the hearts of our Fraternity , and of a sympathizing world that abundant means may be afforded for the completion of the noble plans drawn by the hands of

masterspirits upon our trestle-boards . Enable us so to live as to meet with Thy approval when we come to die , and to secure a welcome to the hospitalities of Heaven—we ask in Thy Great Name . Amen . ' - ' From more than two hundred reverent

hearts and lips there went up the response so mote it be . Then was sung those tender lines of

Pope" Teach me to feel another ' s woe , To hide the fault I Bee ; That mercy I to others show , That mercy show to me . " At the close of Worshipful Master Watson ' s orationhe said : " If

Provi-, dence shall spare my life aud health a term of years , and continue to bless me in the future as in the past few years of my professional career , I will be able to provide for my family while living and bequeath to them a competency when dead . It is

not , therefore , from any selfish motive that I make the plea I utter to-day in behalf of our ' Masonic Home . ' I desire to do good , and to those who apprehend aright