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MASONIC
O U R N A L
• IJ ' .
'•Yoamay well say that. Ever since
he attacked poor Mr. Milford so savage
ly nobody spears to him.”
‘‘He attacked the late Mr. Milford, did
he.?”
^essir; a most unprovoked assault.
It seems that Mr. Milford offended this
man in some way, and one day there was
a sale in town, and Mr. Miliord and Dor-
■sey both bid for the same article. It was
knocked down to the former, and it was
after the sale that the assault was com
mitted.”
‘‘Was Dorse/ prosecuted for it.?”
‘‘I'e.s, he wa.s imprisoned for a year,
and had to pay a heavy fine.”
I learned all I wanted to know, and
changed the conversation.
I made inquiries as to the e.xact spot
where the witne.ss of thS will lived. I
learned that it -vas across the river on a
small island, the whole of which he own
ed. I procured a boat and rowed direct
]y across—the river was not very broad.
I then skirted along the shore until I
came to a landing place. After I had
piroceeded a quarter of a mile, I reached
a spot where the marks of horses’ feet
were plainly to be traced on the snow. It
was evident that horses had been embark
ed at this fioint on a boat or raft; and
had been conveyed to the ot’ner side at
the point from which I had .started.
I made my boat fast and looked around
me. I found that the island was small,
and so tbicaly studded witli green trees
that I could see but very little in advance
ot me. Taking however, the horses hoofs
for my guide, I came upon an old dilapi
dated stone building which had evidently
beer, built long anterior to the Revolution.
It seemed to be entirely unoccupied, for
the shutters were closed, and thick grass
and weeds grew in. profusion.
I walked aU around the house, but
could not find a living soul visible, but
1 was rewarded by a sight which made
my blood tingle in my veins, for it serv
ed to substantiate my theory with respect
to clearing up the mystery, and this sight
was nothing less than the impression of a
club foot many times repeated; near the
front entrance of the house, thus showing
conclusiveip' that Mr. Oliver Milford was
a frequent visitor at Mr. Dorsey's,
I rung the bell, and receiving no an
swer, I opened the door which was un
fastened, It was evident that Mr. Dor
sey lived by himself, for there was only
one room furnished, and that but meager
iy. The first thing I noticed was a can
dle and bo.v of lucifer matches on the ta
ble in the room. Although it WaS day
light I lighted the candle and begun to
e.xplore the house. I first of al; e.vamined
the upper portion of it, but found noth
ing. I then e.xatnined the ground floor
with the same success. I did not feel
discouraged, for I felt almost satisfied
from the fact that the ca tulle being there
that such would be the result.
I ne.xt proceeded to e.vamine the cellar
and had not descended half a dozen steps
before I heard a faitit groan. I rushed
forward and entered a spacious vault.
In a corner of this damp), dark and dis
mal dungeon, reclining on a heap oi
.straw, with matia.ules on his wrists and
ankles, I saw an old man whom I was sat
isfied was Mr, Herbert Milford, I held
the catidle over his head atid saw tliat he
was sleeping. At t hat moment I hearu
the soiirid of footstepis behind me, and
turning round saw that it was Mr. Oliver
Milford advancing toward me with all
the ferocity of a tiger. A terrible strug
gle ensued, but I was the younger man of
the tw’O, and finally succeeded in over
powering him, and in fi.ving the mana
cles, wTth which he had loaded his poor
brother, on his wrists and feet.
The poor old gentleman W’as conveyed
^ back to his residence and was .soon grati-
, fifed with his daughter’s presence. Young
' Waring was iminediately released from
oonffnement.
! 1 may add that in a month’or two Eli
za Milford and Henry Waring were mar-
! ried. Oliver Milford died after four
years confinement in State prison, where
he had been coiider.nned for life. Dorsey
escaped. By -some means he learned that
his victim had been discovered, and at
I once started for Hew York. I need
^ scarcely add that it was Dorsey and Oli-
, ver Milford who had made the attack on
Waring, and placed the watch and purse
I of therr prisoner in his pocket, for the
purpose of causing him to be su.sp>eoted
I of having murdered the oM gentleman.
What Benefit?
i An old friend, not a member of the
}'raternity, recently asked our opinion
concerning his son who had shown some
i intention of joining the Masons. The
father set forth the capabilities and ex
i celient traits of the young man, just en-
j teiing upon apiomising business career,
j end then said; -‘I cannot .see why a
, young man so situated, and with such
advantages and prospects, should desire
to connect himself with the Masonic In
stitution ; ivhat benefit will it be to him.
: The thouglit in the mind of this intel
ligent parent evidently was, that, unless
1 there were some material help) to be re-
i alized, which in this case did not seem
to be called for. Masonry had no pro-
I vince to fulfill or influence of good to
.bestow. No doubt many persons enter-
rain the same opiinion, and the query at
' the head of this article will but signify
their feeling of scepticism in regard to
the benefits of Masonry to such as are
favorably situated m life. The class
i holding to such an opinion may be re
minded of this fundamental teaching,
that no man should seek to become a
' .Alason impelled thereto by a merely sel
fish motive. He is no deseiving candi
date, who presents himself at the door
of the Lodge because be anticipates an
improvement to his business or social
position, or some material gain, by the
i step he is taking. To the worthy candi
date it will not be altogether a question
of receiving good, but something also of
conferring good. He seeks membersliip
, in the Fraternity to be a helper unto
I others, to gain the open door of oppor-
’ tunity through wliieti he may join his
Brethren in communicating gifts and
blessing that make no small part of the
zest and satisfaction of present being.
A man should be quickened by some
thing of this spirit that impels to sym
pathy and willing service for others, be
fore he seeks to enter the portals of the
Masonic edifice. He should reg-ard the
Bociety with wnich he is to become con-
! nected, as a means and instrumentality
. that will enable him to p>our out more
abundantly the m nistries of a noble life.
But Masonry has its benefits to con
fer; nor are these benefits limited to
those who may need its influence of help
and supiport in their weakness, or who
may reipuire the bestowal of its benefac
tions. It has benefits of quite another
order that fall alike on all. To .=ay
■nothing of the lessons it symbolically
presents; its instructions and traditions
1 which relate to important matters of his
tory and philosophy no less than to those
of morals and religion, Masonry is yet of
benefit in certain other directions, so that
its worth and importance deserve to be
recognized by the clas,s of which -jui fi iend
appears as a representative, It is some
thing that a young man shall pledge him
self to principles of virtuous living; shall
spend his evenings at the Lodge where
the open Bible is always before him; shall
join in services .so serious and devout, as
every Mason knows the exercises of the
Lodge room to be. And beyond these
helps there are certain special ministries
of a Lodge, whose formative influence
upon the life of a young man will surely
be ranked as of great benefit. Thu; be
will be taught obedience. A Masonic
Lodge is the one place of all others where
men are taught both to resepet and obey
constituted authority. A Lodge is not a
debating societ'.', nor a mass meeting, but
an assembly governed by old rules out of
which the strength has never departed,
and a personal presence well nigh des
potic in its character. Obedience to this
authority is enjoined and compelled, and
then succeeds the lesson of obedience to
the moral law, and the laws of the State
and the Nation.
Thus also the young man will be held
to an orderly course of proceedure. Ma
sonry seeks to do all things “decently and
in order,” and to stamp system, method
together with a due and dignified move
ment, upon all her acts. No small bene
fit attaches to such well arranged man
agement and opei-ations.
Being made a Mason, the young man
is introduced into a true democracy.
Differences of rank, social position,
wealth and culture have co.mpaTatively
little influence in the Lodge; while dif
ferences of opinion, regarding the vexed
qiiestioiis of Church and State, are not
allowed to affect the harmony of a re.-
treat where ail meet on the same level,
and hail eacli other as members of the
same family. To insti act in such broad
toleration, to imbue with noble catholici
ty of spirit, is the great mission of Ma
sonry, and herein consists one of the chief
of its benefits.
And then succeeds that crowning
teaching and influence of good, the im-
bueing of heart and mind with that Chari
ty, which is the bond of pei fection, whose
manifestations are not only the feeding
of the hungry, the clothing of the naked,
and the caring for the orphan and the
destitute; but, more than these exhi
bitions of practical beneficence, the fill
ingofthe heart with love, that Isve
which makes the heart even here take on
the light and peace of Heaven,—Hebrew
Leader.
Origin of Names of States.
Maine takes its name from the Prov
ince ot Main, in France, and was so-call
ed in compliment to the Queen of Charles
I, lleiirifctta, its owner.
New Hampshire—first called Laconia
from Hampshire, England.
"'Vermont, from the Green Mountains,
(French verd mont.')
Massachusetts, from the Indian lan-
I giKxge, signifying flu country about the
i great hills.
! Rhode Island get? its name from the
j fancied resembiauce of the island to that
I of Rhodes in the ancient Levant.
Connecticut was Mohegan. spelled
; originally Quon-eh-ta-cut, signifying “a
1 long river.”
New York was so named as a compli-
, ment to the Duke of York, whose broth
er, CharlfcS II, granted him that territo-
’ >'y-
j New Jersey was named by one of its
original proprietys, S'r George Carter,
. after the island of Jersey in the British
: Channel, of which he wa.s Governor.
; Poniusyivania, as is generally known,
' takes its name from William Penn, and
the word “sylviuiia,” meaning woods.
I Delaware derives its name from Thom
I as West, Lord De la Ware, Governor of
: Virginia.
! Maryland receives its name from the
^ Queen of Charles 1, Henrietta Maria.
I Virginia got its name from Queen
Elizabeth unmarried or Virgin Queen.
; The Carolinas was named in honor of
j Charles I, and Georgia in honor af
1 George II.
I ForiJa gets its name from Kasquas de
* Flores, or feast of the flowers.”
Alabama comes from a Creek word,
signifying “the land of rest.’’
Louisiana was so named in honor of
Louis XIV.
Mississippi derived its name from that
of the great river which is, in the Nat
chez tongue, “The Father of waters ”
Arkansas is derived from the Indian
word Kansas, “smoky waters,” with the
French prefix of “ark”—a bow.
Tennes.see is an Indian name, meaning
“The river with a big bend.”
Kentucky also is an Indian name—
“Kain-tuk-ee,” signifying ‘-at the head
of thfe river.”
Michigan’s name was derived from the
lake, the Indian name for fish weir or
trap, which the name of the lake sug
gested.
Indiana’s name came from that of the
Indians.
Illi nois' name is derived from the In
dian word “Illini” (men and the French
affix “oi,o,” making “Tribe of men.”)
Wisconsin’s n...me is said to be the In
dian name for a wild, rushing channel.
Missouri is also an Indian name for
muddy, having reference to the inudui-
ness of the Missouri river.
Kansas is an Indian word for smoky
water.
Iowa signifies in the Indian language
“The drowsy ones,’’ and Minnesota a
“cloudy water.”
Too Late for the Boat.
The woman who arrived at the wharf
just as the excursion boat had a start of
ten feet didn’t comprehend the situation
for a moment. She didn't know but
that boats had a habit of startin g off and
backing up to keep the machinery from
getting rusty. When she realized that
she was being left she jabbed a man in
the back with her elbow, knocked a hat
off with, her parasol, and squealed at the
top of her voice ;
“Hold on t'heie—you haven't got
me!”
“Make a jump!” screamed one boy;
“Swim for it!'’ called out another, while
the “left woman’’ fiercely shouted :
“Why don't some of you folks up there
tell the captain ?”
The people on the upper deck replied
by laughing and waving their handker
chiefs. The woman on the wharf recog
nized only one among the crowd, and,
pointing her parasol directly ar. her and
holding it extended, as if taking aim, .she
shouted:
“You want to understand, Mrs Baker,
that you can never, never bonow any
more butter or flatirons of me !’’—I)c-
trod Free Frees.
Take Counsel with Yourself.
Young men cannot estimate too highly
the advice of parents and friends. It
j affords them the benefit of experience,
j and is given from .sincere solicitude for
their welfare. It it should be remember
ed, and weighed and acted upon.
But, after all, every man has his own
individual existence ; he has his own 1 fe
i to live, for which he alone is acoount-
able. He should derive all the benefit
, he can from the counsel of those older
i and w'iser than himself. Then he should
sit down and meditate for himself, and
■ make up bis own mind as to the course
which he wishes to pursue in the world.
. Having done this he should, enter upon
the execution of his plan.5 with a deter-
1 minatiori to accomplish what he iiuder-
takes without reference to the opinions
of others. No man is of any real account
in the world unless he is something in
and of himself.
yl!
Ill