Illustrations Of The History Of The Craft.

cat evidence and origin of Freemasonry to the 12 th century . But this unfortunately though a tempting hypothesis in one Avay , as it is very easy of demonstration , antagonizes much of undoubted evidence on the subject . It entirely disregards , nay , disavoAvs the remarkable fact of identical

Masons marks , Avhile it reduces Freemasonry to the creation of some imaginative Haupt-Meister of the German Bauhiitten . But the legend of the four martyrs is very antecedent to such an institution , andindeedthe Avhole frameAvork of

, , Freemasonry rests on an earlier foundation far . I see no reason as yet , to depart from the vieAV lA ontured to propound , in common Avith far abler Avriters , some years ago , that Ave have in our Freemasonry , speculative as it is noAi ' tho lineal descendants of the

, early building corporations or brotherhoods , Avhich running back through medireval generations is connected through Roman and Tyrian , and Egyptian building communities , with the Temple at Jerusalem .

Died At His Post.

DIED AT HIS POST .

A brave man Avas Bro . William D . Guile , the engineer of the ill-fated steamboat train , Avhich Avas Avrecked at Richmond Switch , on the morning of April 19 , 1873 , by the Avashlng aAvay of the bridge OA er Meadow Brook . It seems that he must

have seen , when too late , the terrible chasm , as when found , his hands clasped the lover and the engine Avas reversed , showing that in that awful moment his duty Avas his first thought . It Avas his custom Avhen passing his house ( AVMOII is

situated near the railroad ) to blow in a peculiar manner the Avhistle of the engine , as a signal to his Avife that all was Avell . This incident has been made the subject of a poem by Bret Harte , Avhich Ave copy from tho N . Y . Tribune .

GUILE'S SIGNAL . Two low whistles , quaint and clear , That was the signal the engineer—That was the signal that Guile , 'tis said , Gave to his wife at Providence ,

As through the sleeping town , and thence , Out in the night , On to tlie light , Down past the forms , lying "white , he sped !

As a husband ' s greeting , scant no doubt , Yet to the woman looking out , Watching and waiting , no serenade , Love song or midnight roundelay , Said what that whistle seemed to say : " To my trust true ,

So , love , to you , Working or waiting , Good night . ' " it said . Brisk young bagmen , tourists flue , Old commuters along the line , Brakemen and porters glanced ahead , Smiled as the signal , sharp , intense ,

Pierced through the shadows of Providence"Nothing amiss , Nothing—it is Only Guile calling his wife , " they said .

Summer and winter the old refrain Rang o'er the billows of ripening grain , Pierced through the budding houghs o'erhead , Flew down the track when the red leaves burned Like living coals from the engine spumed : Sang as it flew : " To our trust true ,

First of all duty—Good night , " it said . And then one night , it was heard no more , From Stonington over Kliodc Island shore , And the folk in Providence smiled and said , As they turned in their beds , " Tlie engineer Has forgotten his midnight cheer , " One only knew

To his trust true Guile lay under his engine , dead . The rites of Masonic burial Avere performed over the remains of Brother Guile by St . John ' s Lodge , of Piwidence . —Freemasons Monthly Magazine .

HONOURS TO THE DEAD . —Captain Evan Thomas , one of the victims of the recent Modoc treachery , Avas a Mason , and a member of Potomac Lodge , No . 5 , of Georgetown , in the District of Columbia , lb 5 remains arrived at Washington on the 17 th

of May , in the casket in Avhich they hail been deposited on their arrival at Yreka , and on Avhich was a Masonic apron , Avhici ' had been put there by the brethren at that place . On the 18 th , after the services of the Episcopal Church at the residence «

his father , the casket , on Avhich was an exquisite Masonic emblem in immortelles , Avas deposited in the chapel of Oak Hi " Cemetry , at Georgetown , with the funeral rites of Masonry , performed by Potomac Lodge . —Maelcei / s National Freemason .