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Article HOW MR. JOSS FAILED TO BE MADE A MASON. ← Page 2 of 3 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
How Mr. Joss Failed To Be Made A Mason.
believe that initiation would , at least , give him tbe appearance of bravery , if it did not actually endoAv him with that very desirable attribute ; and , by that means , he might be able to reverse the mahogany on Mrs . J ., so as to become master instead of slave . He therefore besought a friend amongst the " sons of light" to procure him the desired blessing , which , being promised , so elated him that he made the sharer of his bed and smoother of his pilloAva confidant as to his expected bliss . He was- to his utter
, , astonishment , reAvarded with the half angry , half tearful , remonstrance credited to Mrs . Joss at the commencement of this sketch . As before said , he listened meekly and humbly to her remarks , and answered her never a Avord ..
Many a woman Avould have thought she hacl conquered , not so did Mrs . Joss—she kneiv his vices , and laid her plans accordingly . The Masons held their lodge in a large old-fashioued tavern , in the outskirts of the toAvn , and the room in which they assembled Avas at the end of a long passage , in the middle of ivhich Avas a door leading into the spacious kitchen of the establishment . The " Chamber of Penitence" Avas nearly opposite the door of the kitchen , close to
which Avas placed a screen , about six feet high . A portion of the passage was strai ght , the remainder was as crooked as the proverbial ram ' s horn . For the purposes of ventilation , a metal tube passed from the exterior of the building , through the ante-room , and terminated in the kitchen , Avhich was also furnished with the noAv disused appliances of smoke jack , wheels , spits , chains , tfec . These details are necessary to the proper understanding of Mr . Joss ' s Masonic
career . Mr . J . was duly proposed , balloted for , and accepted , according to form , and was warned to be in attendance at the next meeting of the lodge . Although rather dubious as to the quantity and quality of horrors he Avas doomed to encounter , he boldly presented himself at the appointed time , ancl was immediately conducted to the proper apartment , and the preparations for reception commenced . The singularity of this process revived all his doubts and fearsbut these were changed to unmistakeable terror
, when , on being left alone in the chamber of penitence , he heard a mysterious and sepulchral voice exclaim : " Rash man , beware ! Rush not into destruction , but , as thou goest to thy fate , turn thy head and behold what thou shall see . " Afraid , yet suspecting some trick , Mr . Joss examined the room , sought in each crany ancl nook , pryed into every place , possible or impossible , for a hidclen intruder , but found him not . His alarm increasedand he firmlbelieved thatlike MrHomehe hacl received
, y , . , a spiritual manifestation . His terror was enhanced by his hearing the sounds of machinery in motion , the rolling of wheels , the clicking of levers , the grinding of cogs , and clanking of chains , commingled . With this came a satanically sulphureous smell : met
¦ , suddenly , the candle , after one expiring flicker , Avas extinguished by some unseen means . Mr . Joss then observed a number of luminous eyes glaring at him from all parts of the room , ancl was just on the point of becoming insensible , when the whirr of the machinery ceased , the smell of brimstone vanished , the door opened and the Deacon appeared , bearing a light Avhich he set down on the table , ancl , bidding Mr . J . to be of good cheer , proceeded to complete the preparation necessary for his introduction tr > the craft . This clonethe Deacon took MrJbthe handin order to him to
, . . y , guide the entrance of the lodge . Masons will understand that the progress of the candidate Avas very SIOAV . NOAV the Deacon , having left his lamp in the preparation room , the Passage Avas in comparative darkness , except at that point where the lodge is tylecl . Mr . Joss was just turning into the ram ' s-horn passage , Avhen he felt Avhat seemed to be the bite of a snake in his foot ; the pain was so great and unexpected that he fairly yelled , tore away the HWand attempted to rush forward A certain choking sensation
.., . restrained him , as did also the si ght of an apparently gigantic man , holding an immense sword pointed towards his breast . He turned , ancl frantically made his way toAvards } e entrance of the passage , Avhen , to his unutterable horror , he observed , approaching um , a fi gure Avith a most diabolical countenance , Avhich seemed to be red hot . The Monster held in its hand a weapon , someAvhat resembling the trident said to be borne
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
How Mr. Joss Failed To Be Made A Mason.
believe that initiation would , at least , give him tbe appearance of bravery , if it did not actually endoAv him with that very desirable attribute ; and , by that means , he might be able to reverse the mahogany on Mrs . J ., so as to become master instead of slave . He therefore besought a friend amongst the " sons of light" to procure him the desired blessing , which , being promised , so elated him that he made the sharer of his bed and smoother of his pilloAva confidant as to his expected bliss . He was- to his utter
, , astonishment , reAvarded with the half angry , half tearful , remonstrance credited to Mrs . Joss at the commencement of this sketch . As before said , he listened meekly and humbly to her remarks , and answered her never a Avord ..
Many a woman Avould have thought she hacl conquered , not so did Mrs . Joss—she kneiv his vices , and laid her plans accordingly . The Masons held their lodge in a large old-fashioued tavern , in the outskirts of the toAvn , and the room in which they assembled Avas at the end of a long passage , in the middle of ivhich Avas a door leading into the spacious kitchen of the establishment . The " Chamber of Penitence" Avas nearly opposite the door of the kitchen , close to
which Avas placed a screen , about six feet high . A portion of the passage was strai ght , the remainder was as crooked as the proverbial ram ' s horn . For the purposes of ventilation , a metal tube passed from the exterior of the building , through the ante-room , and terminated in the kitchen , Avhich was also furnished with the noAv disused appliances of smoke jack , wheels , spits , chains , tfec . These details are necessary to the proper understanding of Mr . Joss ' s Masonic
career . Mr . J . was duly proposed , balloted for , and accepted , according to form , and was warned to be in attendance at the next meeting of the lodge . Although rather dubious as to the quantity and quality of horrors he Avas doomed to encounter , he boldly presented himself at the appointed time , ancl was immediately conducted to the proper apartment , and the preparations for reception commenced . The singularity of this process revived all his doubts and fearsbut these were changed to unmistakeable terror
, when , on being left alone in the chamber of penitence , he heard a mysterious and sepulchral voice exclaim : " Rash man , beware ! Rush not into destruction , but , as thou goest to thy fate , turn thy head and behold what thou shall see . " Afraid , yet suspecting some trick , Mr . Joss examined the room , sought in each crany ancl nook , pryed into every place , possible or impossible , for a hidclen intruder , but found him not . His alarm increasedand he firmlbelieved thatlike MrHomehe hacl received
, y , . , a spiritual manifestation . His terror was enhanced by his hearing the sounds of machinery in motion , the rolling of wheels , the clicking of levers , the grinding of cogs , and clanking of chains , commingled . With this came a satanically sulphureous smell : met
¦ , suddenly , the candle , after one expiring flicker , Avas extinguished by some unseen means . Mr . Joss then observed a number of luminous eyes glaring at him from all parts of the room , ancl was just on the point of becoming insensible , when the whirr of the machinery ceased , the smell of brimstone vanished , the door opened and the Deacon appeared , bearing a light Avhich he set down on the table , ancl , bidding Mr . J . to be of good cheer , proceeded to complete the preparation necessary for his introduction tr > the craft . This clonethe Deacon took MrJbthe handin order to him to
, . . y , guide the entrance of the lodge . Masons will understand that the progress of the candidate Avas very SIOAV . NOAV the Deacon , having left his lamp in the preparation room , the Passage Avas in comparative darkness , except at that point where the lodge is tylecl . Mr . Joss was just turning into the ram ' s-horn passage , Avhen he felt Avhat seemed to be the bite of a snake in his foot ; the pain was so great and unexpected that he fairly yelled , tore away the HWand attempted to rush forward A certain choking sensation
.., . restrained him , as did also the si ght of an apparently gigantic man , holding an immense sword pointed towards his breast . He turned , ancl frantically made his way toAvards } e entrance of the passage , Avhen , to his unutterable horror , he observed , approaching um , a fi gure Avith a most diabolical countenance , Avhich seemed to be red hot . The Monster held in its hand a weapon , someAvhat resembling the trident said to be borne