DIVULGING A MASONIC PASSWORD.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 169, 4 May 1871, Page 3

DIVULGING A MASONIC PASSWORD.

Curiosity and timidity are two important traits in the character ( *>f KaJph Sloogey. The former quality, some years ago, made him desirous to learn the secrets of the Masonic fraternity ; but as he had heard that hot gridirons and pugnacious goats with sharp horns are ' made use of during | the ceremony of initiation, to satisfy himself on this point he endeavoured 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 opportnnity he would renew the attempt, until at last Jacob became offended with Ralph's persistency, and determined to punish him. Early one morning, as Italph and Jacob were hurrying to their respective places of business, the former renewed his inquiries. " I'd give fifty dollars if I knew the sign 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 awai'e 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 I'll be mum as a mouse." When Ralph had completed his request, which was spoken in a loud tone, Jacob turned his head, thinking that the words might have been over heard by a gentleman who happened to be walking behind them. This gentleman proved to be Mr. Hinslow, who, a few weeks before, had been dismissed from hij position in the Bellevue Hospital, charged with stealing spoons. The charges against Mr. Hinslow had not been formally 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 the 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 l tell you the password," said Jacob, purposely slackening his pace to allow Mr. Hin&low 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. I By.this time Mr. Hinslow had passed on before them, leaving Ralph and Jacob behind. " You'll never utter it in the hearing of man, woman, or beast 1 ?" asked Jacob. " I solemnly swear." " I think 1 can trust you. Well, Ralph, I am about to make known to you one of the greatest 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! 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, Balph. 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 shuold hear you, he would immediately rush to your assistance, thinking that you needed it." Ealph did not believe 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 Balph. "You said 'Spoons,' did you? Take that — and that ! " As he spoke, Hinslow struck Ealph between the eyes, and 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 Ealph made no effort to rise, the enraged Hinslow soon tired of kicking him, and slowly passed on, occasionally looking behind to see if Ealph were following to obtain satisfaction. Ealph did not require satisfaction, thinking he might get too much of it ; so he prudently postponed returning to consciousness until his enemy had 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 not respond to the countersign. He is a Mason ; and, as he was solemnly bound to do, immediately answered the password by making the countersign with his hand. You were unable to answer his countersign, and for that reason he knew you to bo a clandestine Mason — a man who has learned the secrets in an improper way. Therefore it was his duty to chastise you. Your life may yet be forfeited for that indiscretion." "My life ! By all that is good, I thought that you were only humbugging me when you said ' spoons ' waa the password." " iSh-h-h ! Beware," said Jacob, putting his hand on Ealph's mouth. "Never utter that word again. Masons are übiquitous, and you may lose your life. As it is, you are in danger; for all the lodges in the city will be 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 'spoons' is the password!" Ealph was at last convinced that his old friend had been telling the truth. " Well, may I be broiled on a Masonic gridiron and turned with a red hot trowel if ever I hallo 'spoons' again." Ealph has most religiously kept his word. Should he need a spoon while at table, he now asks his wife for a " sugar shovel," fearing that if he mentioned the proper name of the required article, some pugnacious member of the mystic brotherhood might respond to the Masonic password.

The "Canterbury Press" mentions the death of a boy four years old, at Mound Grey Downs, from profuse inflammation, arising from a scratch on the heel, caused by wearing a new boot.