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  • Dec. 1, 1855
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The Masonic Mirror, Dec. 1, 1855: Page 20

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    Article MASONIC REMINISCENCES. ← Page 4 of 10 →
Page 20

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Masonic Reminiscences.

Mrs . Phil would not read , could not paint , cared little for music , and the crocliet stitch was not as generally known in her day , as at present . Like the lil y of the field , pale and interesting , " she toiled not , neither did she spin , " but passed the chief portion of her time , in quarrelling with and being reconciled to her maid , to whose tender care we shall now leave her , and turn to our brother the Eector , who has just arrived , to

communicate to the Colonel all he knew of the generous highwayman who had been so strangely influenced by Freemasonry . An interchange of the usual greetings had scarcely passed , ere the anxiety of the Colonel impelled him to enquire if the Eector knew anything of Mr . Starlight . He had the gratification to hear in reply , " Yes , peculiar circumstances have made me acquainted with his mournful history ; the main

points of which I shall sketch for you as briefly as I can . " " Maurice de Courcy is the son of one of my oldest friends , his father and I were class fellows at school , chums in College , initiated as brother Masons , in the same lodge , on the same night , and remained firm friends , and brothers to the close of his stainless and honorable life ; he was descended from an ancient and illustrious family , but being a younger son was

rather limited as to fortune . Maurice , the subject of our present conference , was handsome , talented , accomplished and daring ; his father entertained high hopes that his career would be a brilliant one , and had sufficient influence to have him appointed , while yet very young , attache to an important embass 3 r , the duties of which he most creditably discharged , but unfortunatelythe noble ambassadorunder whom he servedgot into a

, , , bad state of health , and resigned , and Maurice joyfully returned to the home he loved , and the attractive sports and friends of his boyhood , but there was one for whom Maurice ' s true heart throbbed more fondly still , than for friends , or home , or all the world beside .

" In a modest and secluded villa , not far from the old mansion of De Courcy , resided Mrs . Butler , the widow of as distinguished a soldier as ever won glory on the red field of war . With her pension and small patrimony , she contrived to educate two lovely daughters , the treasured idols of her heart , and the admiration of all who knew them . The Butlers , like the de Courcys , could also look back to ancestors high in the roll of

fame as warriors and statesmen ; both families were proud , and of high bearing ; they had none , however , of that mushroom pride which looks with disdain upon all of humbler birth , but rather that higher pride of true nobility , which disdains to disgrace their high lineage by any act of meanness or dishonour , and who think the best tribute they can offer to the illustrious dead , is to imitate their virtues , and when their ashes shall

mingle with their fathers , to leave behind a pure and stainless name . "' Mary , the elder daughter , was now budding into the lovely and luxuriant roundness of incipient womanhood , like some lovely flower opening its glittering petals to the sun , and sending forth in sweet perfume , its noiseless hymn of grateful incense to its Maker , so the rich treasures of Mary ' s mind shone out , as her beauteous form expanded ; mind and body

in her seemed meetly wedded , and both approached as close to perfection as aught of earth can . Maurice de Courcy and Mary Butler were playmates from childhood , together in the buoyancy of youthful innocence they

“The Masonic Mirror: 1855-12-01, Page 20” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 29 May 2025, django:8000/periodicals/mir/issues/mmg_01121855/page/20/.
  • List
  • Grid
Title Category Page
THE EDITOR TO THE CRAFT. Article 1
THE EDITOR OF THE "MONTHLY MAGAZINE" TO THE CRAFT. Article 3
BON ACCORD MARK MASONS. Article 4
"THE WINK OF INVITATION." Article 6
FREEMASONRY IN ENGLAND. Article 7
MASONIC REMINISCENCES. Article 17
MASONIC INTELLIGENCE. Article 26
PROVINCIAL LODGES. Article 32
INSTRUCTION. Article 37
ROYAL ARCH. Article 37
THE COLONIES. Article 40
CORRESPONDENCE. Article 42
LITERATURE. Article 44
MUSIC. Article 45
SUMMARY OF NEWS FOR NOVEMBER. Article 45
Untitled Article 48
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Masonic Reminiscences.

Mrs . Phil would not read , could not paint , cared little for music , and the crocliet stitch was not as generally known in her day , as at present . Like the lil y of the field , pale and interesting , " she toiled not , neither did she spin , " but passed the chief portion of her time , in quarrelling with and being reconciled to her maid , to whose tender care we shall now leave her , and turn to our brother the Eector , who has just arrived , to

communicate to the Colonel all he knew of the generous highwayman who had been so strangely influenced by Freemasonry . An interchange of the usual greetings had scarcely passed , ere the anxiety of the Colonel impelled him to enquire if the Eector knew anything of Mr . Starlight . He had the gratification to hear in reply , " Yes , peculiar circumstances have made me acquainted with his mournful history ; the main

points of which I shall sketch for you as briefly as I can . " " Maurice de Courcy is the son of one of my oldest friends , his father and I were class fellows at school , chums in College , initiated as brother Masons , in the same lodge , on the same night , and remained firm friends , and brothers to the close of his stainless and honorable life ; he was descended from an ancient and illustrious family , but being a younger son was

rather limited as to fortune . Maurice , the subject of our present conference , was handsome , talented , accomplished and daring ; his father entertained high hopes that his career would be a brilliant one , and had sufficient influence to have him appointed , while yet very young , attache to an important embass 3 r , the duties of which he most creditably discharged , but unfortunatelythe noble ambassadorunder whom he servedgot into a

, , , bad state of health , and resigned , and Maurice joyfully returned to the home he loved , and the attractive sports and friends of his boyhood , but there was one for whom Maurice ' s true heart throbbed more fondly still , than for friends , or home , or all the world beside .

" In a modest and secluded villa , not far from the old mansion of De Courcy , resided Mrs . Butler , the widow of as distinguished a soldier as ever won glory on the red field of war . With her pension and small patrimony , she contrived to educate two lovely daughters , the treasured idols of her heart , and the admiration of all who knew them . The Butlers , like the de Courcys , could also look back to ancestors high in the roll of

fame as warriors and statesmen ; both families were proud , and of high bearing ; they had none , however , of that mushroom pride which looks with disdain upon all of humbler birth , but rather that higher pride of true nobility , which disdains to disgrace their high lineage by any act of meanness or dishonour , and who think the best tribute they can offer to the illustrious dead , is to imitate their virtues , and when their ashes shall

mingle with their fathers , to leave behind a pure and stainless name . "' Mary , the elder daughter , was now budding into the lovely and luxuriant roundness of incipient womanhood , like some lovely flower opening its glittering petals to the sun , and sending forth in sweet perfume , its noiseless hymn of grateful incense to its Maker , so the rich treasures of Mary ' s mind shone out , as her beauteous form expanded ; mind and body

in her seemed meetly wedded , and both approached as close to perfection as aught of earth can . Maurice de Courcy and Mary Butler were playmates from childhood , together in the buoyancy of youthful innocence they

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