which circumstance I probably owe my life. The horrors of that night why should I relate? Consciousness fully restored. One by one of my muscles yielded to my agonized will, and I moved my feet and hands, opened my eyelids; I screamed aloud. More than once I must have fainted, and recovered. And when my mother, tottering into that horrible receptacle of the dead, came to look upon my face, it was bathed with a clammy perspiration, the eyes were open, an expression of horror overspread it which was too much for her affectionate heart. She fell upon my coffin senseless, and was long in being revived.

I need not say that no time was lost in releasing me from my confined situation and restoring me, by the aid of hot baths and tenderest care, to strength. A handsome sum of money was made up, by which I was enabled to travel for several months in the company of my mother, and until the horrible impressions of that premature interment faded from my mind.-The Keystone.

PLEDGING THE MASONIC WORD.

In the Alabama Grand Lodge report on Foreign Correspondence, there occurs this passage:

"We would add that the offering to pledge one's Masonic word on every trifling subject is no less silly and demoralizing. There are some cases in which it may be requisite, some where it is allowable, and every true and bright Mason will readily recognize them; but to attempt to bolster up one's assertion on trivial occasions by pledging one's Masonry, is an admission that one's average veracity is of a very inferior kind."

It is, we are aware, a common practice to pledge the Masonic word, and it is done, too, on occasions when it might be thought the least required. Unfortunately, however, there are brethren who do not consider themselves at fault in thus bringing Masonry into contempt, as they unquestionably do, if they keep placing everything "on the square." It is difficult to understand why a brother should be continually in the habit of talking "on the square," when he should know that, as a Mason, no pledge can be required of him by another Mason. To be true to one another is one of the most important commands, and no sincere Mason would deceive another; hence the folly of pledging the word. To show the danger arising from the practice alluded to, we need only refer to the case which gave rise to the admonition of the Grand Lodge of Alabama. A member of one of the Lodges, as we stated in the Craftsman last month, who was also a senator, had paired off with another senator, and pledged his Masonic faith that he would not vote. He afterwards violated that pledge and voted, thus proving himself unworthy of his position as a member of the fraternity. It is

true he was expelled, and a contemporary says the other senator should have shared the same fate, but we hardly go so far as that, unless he asked the other senator to so pledge himself.

It is not a little curious that brethren who are so ready to pledge their Masonic faith are almost in variably the last either to assist or warn a brother. We have heard of instances wherein such brethren have pretended to do their best on behalf of brethren requiring their aid, while all the time they were giving help to others, not Masons. Of course, any brother is at liberty to exercise his judgment in matters where his help or recommendation is asked, but he should not promise to act on the square," for the simple reason that it is his imperative duty to do what is right by a brother Mason. His obligation does not bind him to do more than he can conscientiously do, and if the object of his assistance is unworthy of it, then he does not deserve it. A contemporary very justly remarks:

"The man who asks credit in business on his Masonic faith should be refused—the one who pledges his "Masonic word" in order to give strength to an assertion or a promise is not entitled to belief-he who is continually giving his confidence "on the square is to be avoid

ed — neither is he sincere, for he deals too lightly with Masonic honor and is using it for purposes incompatible with the Masonic design.— Canadian Craftsman.

WEARING MASONIC JEWELRY.

IS IT RIGHT, OR IS IT WRONG?

This is a question which has engaged the reflecting minds of the craft for several years, and they are somewhat divided in opinion, as all find it difficult to draw the line of demarkation between the proper and improper use of our symbols; and it is in fact that very issue which makes it a difficult question to discuss. For myself, we approach it with difficulty, having doubts as to our ability to shed any new light, or to offer any practical solution of the question. The custom is not a very old one, except when jewels were worn as charms on the chain or watch-guard; and even in olden days, they were generally carried in the pocket, or used as signets on rings. The habit of adorning the clothing with our symbols is of very modern date, and has grown so rapidly as to attract the attention of Grand Lodge legislation, as an evil which should be discouraged when carried to excess.

The first introduction of jewels on clothing arose in the Orders of Knighthood where the symbol of the cross was enjoined to be worn as an emblem of faith, and in fact, since the days of recognized christianity the cross has been worn as much by women as men, and it can

scarcely be considered as a jewel of any particular Order either in or out of Masonic Knighthood.

Next came the keystone with its mark, which each Mark Master is expected to be possessed of, without any injunction as to its being publicly worn. It however followed, that the Templars were Royal Arch Mason also, they blended the two into one jewel to be worn as the cross. Royal Arch Masons (not also Templars) seeing their emblem thus displayed by those possessing no better right, adopted the custom of publicity, although they generally confined their use to the watch-guard as a charm, and not for the purpose of apparent advertisement, and even to this day but few keystones are worn on the shirt bosom or outer clothing.

We are of the opinion that, had it not been for the Knights Templar, Masonic symbols would be almost unknown to the public eye, especially those of Ancient Craft Masonry, which always shrank from public notoriety. We track the public use of Lodge jewels first to prominent Masons who were also Templars, and when the young members saw those in authority wearing them, they naturally imitated the custom, deeming it perfectly proper, and in fact a duty, especially if they had a particular friend who dealt in such jewelry, or had been hinted to by some traveling agent, that such emblems were good things to have about them. Step by step the custom increased, until now it has become so common, and has been so generally abused by impostors, that experienced Masons begin rapidly to abandon it, and to look with suspicion upon any stranger having a Lodge jewel particularly exposed on the person.

From what we have said it will be seen that Templars are expected to wear their emblems, but even some of them show wretched taste, not only in the size of the cross, but the improper places where they 'expose it.

As to Royal Arch Masons, they all know they are expected to have a mark of a certain value, but they should exercise great taste in telling the world of it by conspicuous exposure, and it looks better when very small and only worn as a charm.

Relative to Master Masons, we know of no law on the subject, except in all things let secrecy and silence be the two chief public jewels. In no part of the ritual or work are our symbols exposed to the public, except in the regulation, clothing and furniture of the Lodge, in procession, and under proper authority. It is natural for any one to wear, and be proud of a present, and it is a common thing to receive presents of a Masonic character, and this has helped to spread the use of them. Again, they have not been instructed, when initiated, as to the proper use of such things, for we believe more young Masons have been outrageously swindled by impostors and dead-beats through the use of

Masonic jewelry than any other cause. They should wait awhile and learn by experience and observation that all is not gold that glitters, and that all are not Masons that profess to be, although not as yet suspended or expelled. When very young as a Mason (like all such) we were very enthusiastic, and a good brother gave us a breast-pin (a square and compass) which we wore for six months with all the pride and satisfaction incident to such an occasion. That pin, though a present, cost us just one hundred and ninety dollars before it was lost in a crowd, and that is the last we ever had. Now-a-days, if anybody wants to find out whether we are a Mason, and if he has any right to know it, he knows how to find it out, and if he.don't know, then he is not worth wasting time on. We do not propose to set up our own opinion or experience for others to be governed by, or dictate to the many good men who wear Lodge jewelry, for as we started out, we repeat, that there are differences of opinion on the subject. We will, however, suggest that greater care and better taste be exercised than is witnessed too often in the public streets, and in promiscuous crowds. The first thing a traveling impostor or anti-Mason does in a car or on a boat is to look around and pick out some young looking Mason with a large square and compass on his clothing, and then begin the "pumping" operation, and should our young brother be taken sick on the road, to stop over and sit up with him, and if possible, steal his jewelry, certificate and diploma. If we were to suggest any law at all on the subject, it would be to prohibit any Master Mason from wearing a Lodge emblem until he had been an affiliated member for at least five years, and who could prove that he knew what Masonry is. This would in some cases seem arbitrary, for some learn quicker than others, but on the whole we believe it to be a safe rule. As Ancient Craft Masonry is the mother and foundation, and in fact all there is of Masonry proper, her members can afford to be silent and circumspect, and pay no attention to those who ridicule her seeming humility and sterling modesty, resting upon true merit and strength.

To our Templar friends we have one more word in conclusion as a suggestion. In every-day life do not wear a cross on the coat, heavy enough to make you lopsided, and in procession be satisfied with the simple emblems of rank and office, and not like a little fellow we once saw in a neighboring city on parade, so covered with ribbons, crosses, etc., that he reminded us of a little premium bull in a Babylonish triumphal procession, loaded down with the holy vessels taken from King Solomon's Temple.-St. Louis Freemason.

GENEROSITY during life is a very different thing from generosity in the hour of death. One proceeds from genuine liberality and benevolence, the other from pride or fear.

"Well, Mr. Warder, you had quite an extended discussion on secret societies with father, the other day ?"

"Yes, Agnes, he ventilated the subject, to some extent. Has your father spoken of the controversy ?"

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'Only incidentally. He alluded to meeting you, but seemed indisposed to say much about the matter; and his reticence is somewhat annoying to us. Did you say anything to him that would be naturally calculated to render him reserved and morose ?"

"Not that I am aware of. As we were about to part, I gave him a sort of argumentative illustration which, he said, was to him a new phase of the subject; and he asked time for its consideration."

"Ah, that accounts for his incommunicableness. He is probably weighing your argument with great care; and when he reaches a conclusion thus deliberately, there is no turning him from it"

"Is that true of him in regard to all questions submitted to him ?"

"As a rule, it is."

'I can only hope, then, that his decision affecting the first question I propounded to him on Thursday was not deliberately reached."

"What was the nature of the question, Mr. Warder ?"

"It was one in which you, equally with myself, are interested; and it was at variance with your decision, I am pained to say."

now.

"Well," said Agnes, "I had not dared to hope for a more favorable result, just Father's opposition to secret societies is so intensely bitter, that he experiences great difficulty in treating any of their members with the commonest courtesy, even in his official relations. And he is strictly honest and conscientious in his course, and