JUDGE NOT!
"Well, they'll have to show me!" cried the New Brother to the Old
Tiler, on guard in the anteroom with sword in hand.
"Who will have to show you what?" inquired the guardian of the
door.
"The committee appointed to investigate a couple of petitions for
reinstatement on the rolls of the lodge!" answered the New Brother.
"Old Godfrey was dropped for nonpayment of dues thirty-six years ago. He
has never petitioned this or any other lodge for membership since. Now he wants
to reinstate himself. A brother Jerkins I never heard of, who was raised forty
years ago and took a demit thirty-one years ago, wants to come back- he's never
affiliated in all that time."
"I've heard of those cases," mused the Old Tiler. "I helped
raise them both."
"You can't tell me they haven't put their eyes on our Masonic Home!
Having reached an age which shows them some practical use for the fraternity,
they now propose to pay a year's dues, and then get into the Home to be taken
care of for the rest of their lives! But not if I can stop it!
"Softly, softly, my brother!" warned the Old Tiler. "It is
against the laws of the Grand Lodge to disclose to any one how you have voted or
intend to vote on any application for membership."
"Well, and I won't then!" cried the New Brother. "But they
won't get in!"
"Are you not previous in judgement?" inquired the Old Tiler,
gently. "Seems to me you'd better wait and hear what the committees have to
say on the matter."
"What could the committees say? I won't let any softhearted committee
pull anything on me. I love the lodge too much!"
"Don't love her so much you forget that the 'greatest of these is
charity!'" warned the Old Tiler. "Nor that these whose motives you
judge are yet your brethren, sworn to the same obligations."
"I happen to know something about these cases. Brother Godfrey was a
spoiled child. As a young man he had so much money that he didn't know what to
do with it. It was just carelessness that he allowed himself to be dropped N.P.D.
He didn't care for Masonry. He was all for travel, a good time, balls and
parties and races and such. About ten years ago his wife died- he had a good
wife and he was very fond of her. It changed him. He felt differently about many
things. He commenced to do something for some one beside himself. He still has
more money than he can spend. There is no possibility of his becoming a charge
on the lodge. And I happen to know why he wants to come back."
"Why is it?"
"He's ashamed of himself!" answered the Old Tiler. "He's
offered to pay back all the back dues, with interest. I told him we couldn't
accept that; that he couldn't buy his way back into the lodge. But he is no
worse off than another in like case. If he tells the committee what he told me,
that he is old enough to know better and to value brotherhood; that he wants
again to be a part of our gentle Craft and to make up for what he has lost all
these years, they will doubtless report favorably. This lodge will not override
its committee unless someone has something personal against him."
"Oh, well, that's different, of course!" The New Brother looked a
little ashamed. "How about Brother Jenkins?"
"Well, he's different, too!" smiled the Old Tiler. "Brother
Jenkins was a young man full of promise, fire and energy. He had a good
position, a good income, a fine wife and four little children. Then he fell and
hurt his head; he was two years under the doctor's care. They had no money; she
went to work. Of course the lodge helped. He got his wits back and went to work,
but he couldn't do any but physical labor. Something was gone from his mind. He
was not crazy, but he couldn't think hard or long. So he became a carpenter. He
paid back to the lodge every penny it had spent on him. Then he took his demit.
He couldn't afford the dues and he wouldn't let us carry him. Somehow he brought
up his children; they are all happily married now. The wife is dead, worn out.
He is alone, with an income quite sufficient for his simple needs, and four
stalwart children to care for him if it isn't enough. Now that he can afford it,
he wants to come back into the lodge he loved and left."
"Oh, you make me so ashamed! I'm a first-class moron and no Mason at
all, to judge before I knew!" The New Brother looked at the Old Tiler
remorsefully.
"It never pays," grinned the Old Tiler. "I don't believe any
one will want to drop a black cube for Brother Jenkins, do you?"
"Not I!" cried the New Brother.
"Didn't I tell you now to tell how you would vote?" chided the Old
Tiler. But his eyes smiled
back to top
| 
