FREEMASONRY AND THE WAR.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 750, 15 December 1870, Page 2

FREEMASONRY AND THE WAR.

The present war has been prolific in illustrations of the value of Freemasonry in dangerous emergencies, and thu anecdotes are endless of the lives saved hi its means. A»nong the cart loads of wounded of both nations which arrived from Sedan were two men whose consideration for each other were so marked as to occasion inquiry. They wore the Prussian and French uniform respectively, and though neither could understand a word of the other's language, they shared their rations, and seemed to be interchanging signals of amity all day long. Their story was a very simple one. The Prussian, who is an officer, and a man of thirty-five or so, with a stern, grave face, and a heavy overhanging moustache, had met the Frenchman, who is at least a dozen years his junior, on the battlefield, the latter being supported by a couple of comrades. Twice did the wave of conflict bring these men in contact, and on the last occasiou the Prussian, who was himself badly wounded in the chest, pressed the young Frenchman hard, and had, indeed, his sword up. lifted to administer the coup dc grace when the latter, who was taint from loss of blood, made a hasty sign to his victor, which caused the latter to stay his hand. Parley was impossible, both from the exigencies of language and turmoil of battle; and besides, both men lost consciousness, and fell at each other's side. It turned out that the young Frenchman had been made a Freemason a few months before the outbreak of the war, and that he had instinctively made the sign by means of winch members of the fraternity are taught to ask their brethren for help. The Prussian was an old Mason, who recognised it instantly, and who as instinctively paused, and before there was time for consideration both men fainted away. W hen consciousness was restored they found themselves side by side, and with the dead and dying .round them. By a strange coincidence, their wounds were such that each could giv% the other some slight relief, jind the late enemies employed their weary hours, in which they lay disabled and untended, in rendering little kindnesses to each other, and in thus cementing the friendship which had begun so strangely. I When help came, they petitioned to bo permitted to keep together, telling their story with considerable effusiveness to the doctor, who, after some time, came to them on the field. This gentleman, who was not a military surgeon, but a member of the blessed Society which dates from Geneva, raised his hands in pleased astonishment at the tale he heard, and at ouce showed himself to be a Freemason too; so that three brethren of the mystic tie were to be seen wondering over the strange chance wbich had thrown them together. I don't profess to be able to explain the particular influence brought into play, or the kind of solace which Freemasons find in each other's company, but it is certain that the wounded men are supremely satisfied at the result, and that their Btory

is given them quite a celebrity among icir fellow-sufferers. At lges, where le French prisoners were placed after ie capitulation of Sedan; and where, IB but too true, they wero all but arving, some of their number con ived to make it known to their cap>rs that they were Masons, and though lis was ineffectual in many instances, ie sturdy and uninitiated Prussians ughing the Masonic gestures to scorn, herever it succeeded the men obtained ttle comforts which were priceless.

i stout trooper was seen handing a arm frieze coat to one prisoner, and ivingpartof his rations to another; and splained his conduct to an inquirer ith a sheepish smile, which spoke olumes. " They are my brothers, allough I have fought with them, and ley are hungry and cold, and must e helped. They would do it for me." 'hese are mere typical cases. But it i impossible to mix much with the roops, particularly after a battle, rithout hearing of kindred instances f Masonic usefulness. The Masons hemselves are very proud of their rder, and of the way in which its rinciples have, they say, risen superior o war. How it is that those loving irothers could ever have flown at each ither'B throats, and mangled each ther's bodies, is another question; larticularly as they tell you that Louis iapoleon and Prince Frederick Wiliam of Prussia are both Freemasons f high degree.