Mr. Sawyer Toasts The Women

The mornrng's Tribune gives a very good synopsis of the response of Hon. A. J. Sawyer of this city, at the Masonic exercises last niglit in the armory. It says : Mr. Sawyer was received with applause, the ladies leading. "Out home there is a sweet little lady to whom I liave said many pretty things. (Laughter.) She has of ten asked if I knew any more nice thiugs to say, and I have told her I knew no more. When she heard upon what subject I was to speak to-night she determined to come along and she is here. Now I'm in a fix. (Laughter.) I want to say all the nice things I can, and I have learned several from the eider, and if I teil the ladies anything I. haven't told my wife - well yon know what will happen. (Laughter.) .This was Mr. Sawyer's beginuing. After reviewing a number of the traditions of Masonry Mr. Sawyer said that one of these landmarks provided that every candidate for Masonry must be a man. "Tliis is from no lack of confidence in and respect for woinan," said Mr. Sawyer, "On the contrary, the history of the order discloses that the wives, ehildren, widows and orphans oí the worthy brother Masons have ahvays been niiHiiig the chief objects of Masonic care. "The first free school ever instituted Eor the protection and salvation of exposed little girls was instituted by the Masons in the sixteenth century." Mr. Sawyer mentioned several other schools which had been established by the Masons in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. "Froni these examples set by Masonry," said he, "the world has profited until to-day'we stand upon the eve of a system of universal free schools. MASQNRY IX THE DAEK AGES. "It was Masonry that in the darkest of the dark ages gathered together the widows and orphans of their slain brethren and provided for their wants and necessities. The world, profiting by this example, has continued in thegood work until now public alms houses are found everywhere." ïo the question of why the doors of Masonry were barred against women, Mr. Sawyer answered, "Because of her dependent condition in life," wliich lie said Masonry did not créate and Masonry was powerless to remove. Mr. Sawyer told about the atteinpts of Queen Elizabeth to extermínate the Masons after they had denied her admission to the order. The soldiers whom she sent to seize the Masons were initiated into the lodges instead, and returned to lier with the report that the government had nothing to fear f rom that source. "But why not admit ladies who are not dependent? " the speaker was asked. He answered by saying that Masonry had a difficult time as it was to escape the tongue of calumny. "What do you think wonld be the result," he asked, "if aselect few women were to be placed in the chamber of reflection?" But then, he said, it is suggested that ïuabands and wives be admitted. "Thetrouble is," said be, "that they 0 not die at the same time. The wife ften survives her husband and there is o way provided in nature and certainly one in masonry by which she can be orced to accept a masón for her second husband. 'Must masonry then open lts doors to whoever she may see fit to marry? IL so then the selection of candidates for masonry must be conferred upon widows and not upon brethren of the lodge." LADIES DON'T I.IKE THEM. The speaker related an amusing incident, illustrating the detestation with which many women view masonry. One of his lady clients who had been faithfully served gathered up her papers and sailed out of the office in a rage when she foundout that he was, "A Murdéring Mason." (Laughter.) "But the better informed class of 1 t ti '3't . e ii " i il tl Útiles, StUU Iltí, K.UUW LUU Wtíll Uit? J enefits that fall to the wives, widows, ' daughters and sisters of masons not to '■ ■espect the institution of masoury. lí i they knew what the masons know, could they but faithfully comprehend iov other dangers that lurk about the pathway of the daughters, sisters, wives of masonry deftly removed, if tliey but knew how often the strong arm of masonry had proteeted its sisters from want and destitution, could they but onderstand the quiet, secret iniluence that had been Ihrown around them by the hand of Masonry uo female voice I am persuaded would eVer he heard against Masonry." The speaker closed with the following toast which elicited great laughter : "To the ladies- God bless them, while lhejr can never he made Masons, vet from them all good Masons spring."