Knights Templary. By W. J. Hughan... In Memoriam. Poetry. Knights Templar-Address of Sir George F. Moore.. Lamb, The Divine. By Blazing Star... PAGE ..336 Law, The Book of the...... Light of Freemasonry, The Lyte, Reply to Brother..... Masonry Among the Aborigines 97 ...228 ..20, 85, 133, 221, 279, 331 ...288 .293 .352 65 ..352 I .150 ...289 A MASONIC INCIDENT IN THE EARLY HISTORY OF BALTIMORE. The Baltimore of to-day differs greatly from the Baltimore of sixty years ago in its extent, wealth and ambition, as well as in its social character. In 1886 it claims to be metropolitan; in 1819 it was truly provincial. Every man felt an interest in his neighbor, and had time to turn aside from his own pursuits to extend a helping hand to a less fortunate brother. The incident I am about to relate occurred at the latter period, and is an example of this knowledge and sympathy which existed between the higher and lower classes of society. In the lower part of Baltimore, east of the Falls, then the fashionable quarter of the city, lived two young men, brothers, who were in the habit of walking together every morning to their respective offices. On one occasion, in passing an alley, not far from their. home, their attention was attracted to a shanty, which had been put up against the wall of a carriage-house and in which they could see an old man sometimes working with tools, and sometimes crouching over a small fire. It was November, and very coldShow was upon the ground, and his shelter too open to protect him from the inclemency of the weather. Their interest was excited, and they determined to offer him assistance. They entered, and beheld standing before them a fine-looking old man, who evidently Vol. 66.-No. 6.-1. 321 had seen better days. He was over six feet in height, large in proportion, with a grand head, nearly bald, his snow-white hair falling on his neck Bitterly cold as it was, he had on a pair of nankeen trousers, so short as to show his ankles, no stockings, and his feet— much swollen from dropsy-were covered only by slippers. An old dress-coat, buttoned up to the throat, completed his costume. Yet, with all these indications of poverty, his appearance was profoundly impressive. His bearing was that of a dignified gentleman, too proud to tell his needs, and yet gracious in acknowledging kindness. He bore the countenance of old Belisarius in all its calm majesty, but the practiced eye soon recognized a mind falling into ruin. It was impossible to offer charity-his manner forbade it. Day by day these young men watched for an opportunity of relieving him, but for some time in vain. In the same alley lived a smith, who wrought in the finer parts of iron work. This man was seen to go in and out of the shanty, and they applied to him for information. The smith was a Scotchman, a skilful workman, and possessed of more refinement and ideality than men of his class usually have. When asked what he knew of the old man, he replied: I do not know where he comes from. All I do know is that he is the most learned man I ever met. He speaks many languages; he is an amateur mechanic; a great philosopher; and is just on the point of bringing to a successful conclusion the discovery of perpetual motion, through the means of the hydrostatic paradox. I have worked for him for several weeks to complete the model with brass and iron, which the old gentleman could not execute himself, for want of materials and a shop. Oh! he is a great man, but so poor; I cannot sleep these cold nights for thinking of him. He lies on his work-bench, with little covering, and I fear he may 'die of cold. He supports himself by doing small jobs of carpenter work, but they are small, and bring small pay. He is so clever. He could do many things that would bring him money, but he is jealous of every moment spent away from his beloved model." The gentlemen asked the smith to obtain for them leave to examine the apparatus, which he finally did. The model was beautiful and quite ingenious, coming nearer the end aimed at than any they had ever seen, but it could not command much attention in the presence of the grand old man who they felt so powerless to assist. |