A Remarkable Masonic Incident

The ürst Masonic funeral that occurred in California took place in 1849, and was performed over a brother found drowned in the bay of San Francisco. An account of the ceremony states that on the body of the deceased was found a silver mark of a Masón, upon which was engraved the initials of his name. A little further investigation revealed to thebeholder the most singular exhibition of Masonic emblems that was ever drawn by the ingenuity of man upon the human skin. There is nothing in the history or traditions of Preemasonry equal to it. Beautifully dotted on his left arm, in red and blue ink, which time could not efface, appeared all the emblems of the entire apprenticeship. There was the Holy Bible, square and compass, the twentyfour inch guage and common gavel. There were also the Masonic pavement, reprnsenting the first floor of King Solomon's temple, the indented tessol which 8iirrounds it, and the blazing star in the center. On his right arm, and artistically executed in the same indelible liquid, were the emblems pertaining to the Fellowcarft's degree, viz : The square, the level, and plum. There were also the five columns representing the flve orders of architecture ; theTuscan, Doric, Ionic, Corinthian and Composite. In removing his garments from his body, the trowel presen Ded itself with all the other tools of operative masonry. Over his heart was the pot of incensé. On other parts of his body were the bee-hive, the book of constitutions, guarded by the Tylei's sword, pointing to a naked heart ; the All-Seeing Eye, the anchor and ark, the hourglass, the scythe, the forty seventh problem of Euclid, the sun, moon, stars and comets ; the three steps which are emblematic of youth, manhood and age. Admirably executed was the weeping virgin, reclining on a broken column, upon which lay the book of constitutions. In her right hand she held the pot of incense, the Masonic emblem of a pure heart, and in hor left hand a sprig of acacia, the emblem of the immortality of the soul. Iminediately beneath her stood winged Time, with his scythe by his side, which cuts the brittle thread of life, and the hour-glass at his feet, which is ever reminding us that life is fading away. The withered and attenuated fingers of the destróyer were placed amid the long and flowing ringlets of the disconsolate mourner. Thus were striking emblems of uiortality and immortality Hended in one pictoriul representation. It was a spectacle such as Masons never saw before, and in all probability such as the fraternity may never witness again. The brother's uame was never known.