DIVULGING THE MASON'S WORD.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VI, Issue 45, 22 February 1871, Page 4

DIVULGING THE MASON'S WORD.

The following amusing anecdote is taken from the Weston-super-Mare Gazette : — Curiosity and timidity are two importaut traits in the character of Ralph Sloogey. The former quality some years ago made him desirous of learning the secrets of the Masonic fraternity ; but as he had heard that hot gridirons and puguacious goats with sharp horns are made use of during the ceremony of initiation, to satisfy himself on this point he endeavored to " pump" an intimate personal friend, Jacob Sleeton, whom he knew to be a Mason. For a long time Ralph tried to worm out something concerning the fraternity ; on every possible opportunity he would renew the attempt, until at last Jacob became offended with Ralph's persistency, and determined to punish him. Early one morning as Ralph and. Jacob were hurrying to their respective places of business, the former renewed his inquiries. " I'd give fifty dollars if I knew the signs and password. If you tell me about the password and grip, I'll promise never to ask you another word about Masonry. Come now, Jacob — you've known me since I was a boy, and you ought to be aware that if I am a little curious, I never blab. Will you tell me ? Surely you don't doubt your old schoolfellow ? Out with the password, and I promise you that I'll be mum as a mouse." When Ralph had completed his request, which was spokeu in a loud tone, Jacob turned his head, thinking that the words might have been overheard by a gentleman who happened to be walking behind them. This getleman proved to be a Mr. Hinslow, who, a few weeks before, had been dismissed from his position as keeper of the Bellevua Hospital, charged with stealing spoons. The charges against Mr. Hinslow had not yet been proved ; but a committee of the Common Council were to inquire into the facts of the case at an early day, and Jacob had been appointed a member of that committee. The last question propounded by Ralph angered Jacob, and as he turned his eyes and beheld the man who had stolen the spoons, an idea instantly entered his mind. He conceived an admirable plan for punishing Ralph, and resolved to immediately put it into execution. "If I tell you the password," said Jacob, purposely slackening his pace to allow Mr. Hinslow to pass before them ; " if I tell you the Masonic password, you promise never to divulge it — not even to a brother." " Never ! " exclaimed Ralph exultingly, thinking that at last his curiosity was to be satisfied. "Upon your soul you swear it ? " "Upon my soul I swear it ! " responded Ralph. By this time Mr. Hinslow had passed ontbefore them, leaving Ralph and Jacob abcru\three yards behind. " iou'll never utter it in the hearing of man, woman, or beast ? " asked Jacob. " I solemnly swear." " I think that I can trust you. Well, Ralph, I am about to make known to you one of the great secrets of Masonry. When you wish to form the acquaintance of a Mason, all you have to do is to whisper in his ear the ' mysterious password. That password is — Spoons ! " " Spoons ! O, that be ! " ejaculated Ralph. " I tell you truly — the Masonic password is spoons." " Spoons ! Ha ! ha ! ha ! " and Ralph made a feeble attempt to laugh. " Spoons — that's *a strange password! You must think that I am a confounded fool." " I am in earnest, Ralph. When Masons get into difficulty, and need assistance, they roar out the word 'spoons' three times. Were you to say ' spoons ' three times, even here in the public street, and a Mason should hear you, he would immediately rush to your assistance, thinking that you needed it." Ralph did not b'efteve him ; and to show that he could not be so easily gulled, he roared out, at the top of his voice, " Spoons ! spoons ! spoons ! " Ere the second syllable had passed his mouth, Mr. Hinslow turned round and faced Ralph. "You said 'Spoons,' did you ? Take that — and that ! " As he spoke, Hinslow struck Ralph between the eyes, and then under the ear, the second blow lifting the inquisitive man off his feet, so that he staggered and fell to the pavement, completely stunned. "I'll give you spoons!" roared the excited Hinslow, as he advanced and repeatedly kicked the prostrate man. As Ralph made no effort to rise, the enraged Hinslow coon tired of kicking him, and slowly passed on, occasionally looking behiDd to see if Ralph were following to obtain satisfaction. Ralph did not require satisfaction, thinking he might get too much of it ; so

he prudently postponed returning to consciousness until his enemy bad disappeared. As he rose to his feet, he said to Jacob in a subdued tone, "Why did that man strike me ?" "Because you uttered the Masonic password, but could uot respoud to the countersign. He is a Mason ; and, as he was solemnly bound to do, immediately answered tho password by making the countersign with his hand. You were unable to auswer his countersign, and for that reason he knew you to be a clandestine Mason — a man who has learned the secrets in an improper wny. Therefore it, was his duty to chastise you. Your life may yet be forfeited for that indiscretion." "My life! By all that was good, I thought you were only humbugging me when you said that ' spoons was the passi word.' " "Sh-h-h! Beware!" said Jacob, putting his hand on Ralph's mouth. " Never utter that word again. Masons are übiquitous, and you might lose your life. As it is, you are in danger ; for all the lodges in the city will be immediately convoked to adopt measures that may discover the man who has betrayed them. My life, as well as yours, is in jeopardy. Promise me that you will never again utter that password." "And so 'spoous' is the password!" Ralph was at last convinced that his old friend had been telling truth. " Well may I be broiled on a Masonic gridiron and turned with a red hot trowel if ever I hallo ' spoons' again ! " Ralph has most religiously kept his word. Should he need a spoon while at table, he now asks his wife for a " sugarshovel," fearing that if he raeutioned the proper name of the required article, some pugnacious member of the mystic.brotherhood.mjght respond to the Masonic (password.