THE MASONIC JOUE N A L
General News.
- The fourth N:itio-ial Bank of Chicago has
gone into liquidation.
■ Danville wants a water power. "Who has
one for sale?
DFjr,.vso, Secretary of the Interior, has re
signed, to take effect Oct. 1st.
It is reported that in Tennessee 400 persons
in one county have no other ta.xable property
than dogs.
The Assistant U S. Attorney General and
the Chief Clerk of the same department have
both resigned.
Jackson, Mich., possesses a horse 51 years
old who is perfectly sound in every respect,
and does a good day's work every day.
A .storm prevailed at London on Sunday,
and ranch damage was done to shipping.
Some 80 persons were drowned in different
disasteivs.
Another Cliarlie R )ss case is that of the
disappearance of the child, Joseph Sullivan,
from Jffew York a week ago. SoOO have heeii
offered for his recovery.
.\n 01 l-ffeilows’ asylum is to he built by
the brethren of .Jacksonville, Fla., for the ben-
o!it of those in ttie order who seek the State
for their liealtli.
Hear Cape Horn, on the route to Sacramen
to, the rallroac] runs witiiin foui’ or five feet of
the edge of a pi ecipice fourteen hundred feet
in height, and tliat round a friglitful curve.
The crop news from Europe tins week is
very good. In sections where liarresting is
going on tlie weather is iiie, and the prospect
of abunclaueo, generally, is very fine.
Glass, Nulcy & Co., proprietors of the Key
stone Iron Works at Pittsburgli, Pa., have
failed. Liaiiilities $310,000. Cause, general
stagnation ofbusine.ss. 300 Iiands ousted.
The liorsc disease is rapidly spreading
througtiout New Jersey. This disease is pro
nounced of the ccrebro spinal meningitis type
Number of deaths, fourteen percent.
Bishop Kavanangii, M. E. Cliurcli, Soutli, irs
now on .an official visit to California. The
Bishoj) is seventy-three years of age, and has
been in the ministry fifty-three years.
Tile dissenting Mormons have held a confer
once near Council Bluffs, Iowa. Tliey call
themselves ’‘The Reorganized Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Rio Janeiro, Sept 31.—The Minister of
Public Works presented in the Chamber of
Deputies to-day a request of the Emperor to
sacution a visit of eighteen months duration to
Europe and the United States.
A telegram announces that ttie Revolution
in Sonorc was ended Ang. 3Jd, by a pitched
battle in which the insurgents were defeated.
Martial law has been proclaimed until quiet
prevails.
The bronze statue of Stonewall Jackson, de
signed by Foley, and presented to Va. by
Bresford Hope and other prominent English
gentlemen, has arrived in Richmond and will
be unveiled on the 25th of October. Rev. Dr.
Hodge will deliver the address.
Washington, Sept. 35.—Hon. R. B. 'Vance,
of North Carolina, James Stevenson, of Wash
ington, D. C., and A. P. Davidson, of Ashe
ville, N. C., have been appointed as commis
sioners to appraise the lands recently recover
ed to the Cherokee Indians in North Carolina.
Nf.w-Orlbans, Sept. 22.—A special dis
patch from Galveston reports that the town of
Vetasco, Texas, is entirely .swept away, but
ao lives were lost. A letter from the steamship
and railroad agent at Indianola say.s 200 houses
were swept away, and the .iteamship and rail-
-oad wharf, which cost $200,000, is almost a
total wreck. From 150 to 300 lives were lost.
Floods in Texas.—Five hoirses are left in
Matagorda. No lives lost. Fifteen families
iving in the Matagorda Peninsula are sup
posed to hare perished—not a shred seen. The
toss of the planters is estimated at two-thirds.
Picking is backward. Sugar cane is levelled.
The tide rose some 33 to 14 feet. It could be
'cen coming forward in a plateau. It was six
met deep on ladd hitherto untouched. Only
• wo or three houses lA Valasco and Quintaro
left The people saved nothing. One hun
dred and fifty lived at Quintaro, and fifty at
'Valasco. It will cost one hundred thousand
■ lollars to float the Australia. The open cot
ton all blown out over a large area.
The Common Gavel.
BY BRO. ALBERT G. MACKEY, M. D.
Scientific met. have expressed the opin
ion that in the application of force, the
simple hand ha.nmer is an engine of vast
power, whose appliance is effected in the
simplest manner and yet with the most
potent results.
“Few people,” says one writer, “in wit
nessing the use of a hammer or in using
one themselves, ever think of it as an en-
giije giving out tons of force, concentrat
ing and applying the power by functions
which, if performed by other mechanism
would involve trains of gearing, levers or
screws!”
While admiring the extraordinary re
sults produced by this iiucomplioated
agent in mechanics we are irresistibly and
naturally led to the contemplation of the
Common Gavel, whose moral influence in
Freemasonry is not less wonderful than
the physical action of the hammer in me
chanics.
Newspaper reporters who are continu
ally attempting changes that are not im
provements, in our language, have recent
ly been in the habit of calling the instru
ment generally used so ineffectually to
preserve order in our popular assemblies,
the “President's hammer.” The expres
sion is an incorrect one.—borrowed with
out authority from the technical language
of Masonry—and without any proper sig
nificance. The hammer of a President, a
chairman or a moderator, is an instrument
altogether different from the Masonic
gavel. It is different in the way in which
it is used in the effects which it produces
and even in its form. Hence, the talk
now getting so oommou in the reporters’
gallery of Congress of the “Speaker’s gav
el,” instead of the “Speaker’s hammer,'’
is simply absurd.
The Mason accustomed to the decorum
of his Lodge, where the most excited de
bate is suspended at the single, modest
stroke of the Master’s gavel, will often be
astonished at the futile efforts of the
Speaker in Congress, or the chairman of
a public meeting to maintain order and
silenee, notwithstanding the most vigorous
appliances of his hammer to his desk. If
the discussion is noisy and angry—if the
floor is occupied by many disputants, each
eagerly contending for precedence—and
if others in their seats are continually of
fering interruptions—the many times re
iterated blows of the hammer only add to
the babel of the confusion. ' Tap, tap, tap,
till a break is threatened either in the
hammer or the desk on which it is unmer
cifully pounded, have no other effect than
that of wearying the muscles and the pa
tience of the pounder.
Could such a turbulent scene occur in a
Masonic Lodge, which is not likely, a sin
gle tap of the gavel would at once restore
peace. A single stroke, without vehe
mence, calmly and firmly given, brings
order out of chaos. More than one stroke
is not required ; nay, is not permitted.
Two or three would tend to produce con
fusion. The law of Masonry says at one
blow of the gavel every one must take
his seat, and Masons are taught strictly
to obey the law. Three blows would be
dilierently understood.
Looking to this potent influence of the
gavel in restoring and in maintaining or
der in the Lodge, our old brethreu were
wont to call the Master’s gavel a “Hiram.”
Because Hiram, the builder at the Temple
of Solomoff, is said to have governed with
absolute sway the thousands of workmen
who were engaged in the construction of
tlie building, they bestowed his name on
the instrument, which in the hands of the
Master exerts the same potent influence.
King Solomon employed Hiram to main
tain order and regularity in the Temple;
the representative of King Solomon em
ploys his “Hiram” to maintain the same
order and regularity m the Lodge. The
gavel is to him a Hiram. The word is
becoming somewhat o’osolete but it should
be revived. It is too good to be lost.—
Voice of Masonry,
Meeting of Tobacconists.—The leaf
dealers had a meeting 'Wednesday even
ing. The two leading objects in view
were.
First, to get a redaction on freight on
leaf tobacco to Richmond, and to forward
this end, they appointed Mr. T. 0. Skin
ner to confer with the authorities of each
of the railroad companies.
Secondly, to get the tax of I of one pei
cent, now charged by the commission mer-
chant.s in Richmond abolished. Thi.s is
the tax formerly paid to the U. S. Gov
ernment, and was taken off several years
ago. The leaf dealers here think it noth
ing butjust and proper, since that has
been done, for the Richmond commission
merchants to relieve them to that extent.
The Sentiment of those present was
unanimous in favor of the above measures,
and the meeting adjourned to meet again
on the first of October.—Danville Times.
Lord Russell has written an important
letter on the Turkish question, in which
he concludes that the problem can be
solved only by “obtaining for the people
of Croatia and Herzegovina, as Lord Her
by formerly did for the people of Servia,
something of the nature of free govern
ment.’’
The Central Protestant,
A RELIGIOUS WEEKLY AND FAMILY"
NEWSPAPER,
Publislied at Greensboro, NT. C. Subscription
Price, ■with postage, $2.10.
J. L. MirilAUX, Ediior.
W. K. ODELL, Associate.
The paper is now in its second volume, and
has a large and growing circnlatiou. At the
.same time that it is tlie Official Organ of the
N. C. Conference, Metliodist Prot(‘stant
Church, sucii is its liberality and catholicity
of spirit that it is successfiiliy reaching out in
all directions and among all the denoininaiions
ofthe Slate, and wlierever it has appeared is
received '.vith unexceptionable iieartiness and
approval.
One oftbe features of the Central Protesiant,
and which is part and parcel of itself, is the
brevity and spiciness ofits article.s, on wliich
account the leading, newspaper man of the
Stat(‘. pronounces it superior to all others.
Thos(^ who know him, readily concede that
there is no appeal from Ins judgment.
A paper so eagerly souglitand so thoroughly
read, must also be an excellent advertLing
medium, a fact which t he prompt and repeated
answers to its advertisements abundantly
proves. If you want a paper that is readable,
livel.y, entertaining and i)rofitable, subscribe
for the Central Protestant, If you have an
advertisement which you desire should have
attentive consideration, insert itin the Central
Protestant. Address the editors,
Greensboro, X. C.
DIRECTORY.
The Raleigh Ne'ws,
DAILY AND WEEKLY",
PUBLISlIHD BY
THE NEWS PUBLISHING COMPANY",
Devoted to the best iuterests of the State of
North Carolina, to the success of the Conser
vative pai ty, the developm'cnt of the hidlen
wealth of the State, cause of immigration into
our midst and the advancement ofthe welfare
of our people in everything that serves to make
a State prosperous and independent. Its
ADVERTISING COLUMNS
will be found of great advantage, as the Daily
enjoys the largest circulation of any Daily in
tlie State and'is double that ufany Daily pub
lished In Raleigh, ami the Weekly circulates in
every county in the State. Hates moda-ate.
SUBSCRIPTION RATES ;
Daily—oneyeai, $5,00
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JOHN D. CAMERON, Editor.
JORDAN STONE, Associate Editor,
E. C. WOODSON, Local Editor.
aREENSBORO “PATRIOT.”
Established 1821.
A THIRTY-TWO COLUMN WEELY,
CONSERVATIVE IN POLITICS,
and devoted to the progress of the Slate
Published by
DUFFY & ALBRIGHT,
AT
$2 per Year— $1 for Six Months.
A splendid Job Office attached.
WANTED.
5.000 subscribers to the Ma
sonic Journal by first of Defcember.
Grand Council of N. G.—^.lolm Nichols,
of Raleigli, M. I. G. j¥.; D, W, Bain, Raleigh,
G. Recorder.
Grand Cii.vpter op N. C.—Thos. S,
Keenan, Wilson, G. II. F., D. W. Bain, Ral
eigh, G. Sect' y.
Grand Lodge OP N. C.—Geo. W. Blount,
Wilson, G.M.,T>. W.Baiii, Raleigh, G.Secfy.
Greensboro Council No. 3, R. & S. M,,
Greensboro, N. C.-Tlios. J. Sloan, T. I. il..
S. F. Allen, Recorder.
Time of meeting : 3rd 'Wednesday night of
each month.
CitORAziN Chapter, No. 13, Greensboro,
N. C. Thos. J. Sloan, Iliijli Priest, J. N,
Nelson, Secretary.
Time of meeting: 3rd Friday night of cacli
month.
Elmwood Lodge, No. 346, Greensboro,
N. C.—H. N. Snow, W. M., S. E. Allen,
Secretary.
Time of Regular Communications: second
Saturday niglit of each month.
Caswell Chapter, No. 88, Kinston, N. C„
—S. II. Rountree, High Priest, Alexander
Nieol, Secretary.
Time of meeting: 1st and 3rd Thursday?
in eacli monili.
Kinston Lodge, No. 316, Kinston, N. C.,
—Thos. A. Harvey, 11". M., A. S. Padrick,
Seereiary.
Time of Regular Communications: Thur? ■
day evening of cacli week.
liksoNio ms}f^
i.
TO THE
mmiG FEATEEITITY
IN
North Caroiina
and the South,
This is emphatically an age of progress.
Tire world moves apace, but with us, esiiecially
of tlie South, Masonry ’anguishes, becau.se'
lacking a proper dissemination of those pur.-
pi'ineiples pecuU ar to our grand old Order.
Our brethreu of other more favored sections
have their periodical literature, and are hrigle
and prosperous; we, too, should flourish and
blossom as the rose.
There arc in the South nearly 200,000 Free
masons, and recognizing the imperative need
for a regular .and permanent Organ peculiarl y
suited to the demands of this vast nimiber
“who are linked together by an indissoliibie
chain of sincefe affection,” we liave establish
ed in the city Of Greensboro, N. C,-, a first-cla.s-;
WEEKLY MASONIC
NEWSPAPER,
such as the dignity and advancement of th>t
Fraternity will approve.
Its Literature will be yiure, and of ths
highest order; making the Jo.Urnal a fit coni.-
panion for the most cultivated and refined ,
and a welcome visitor to any household. I ,
thistonnection vi’e have engaged tlie services
of able and popular writers whose hearts glov.-
with a fond desire for the perpetuity of th-
Ancient Landmarks of our “Mystic Rites,” an;
we wUl spare neither labor nor expense to
make tbe paper a higlily instructive and popi -
lar Family and Masonic visitor.
Witli a journalistic experience of seTcra.
years, and a determination to give all our timi',
talent and energy to the promotion of this
important enterprise -we hope to receive fmui
our Masonic brethren that liberal confideucc
and support which, by an entire devotion
its success, we liope to merit.
1®“ All money should be sent by CliecI
Post-Office Order or Registered Letter,
Address
E. A- 'Wilson,
Greensboro, N. c
adiieRTise.
ADVERTISE,
advertise.