Page:Don Coronado through Kansas.djvu/191

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180 GOD PITY him! litvSfifedf Masons. The offieje of the one was "In the West," the other's was "To the jRight." A person who belongs to a secret society knows that it is Of^ftl for the presiding officer to ask sometime during the meletimg if anyone has anything to offer for the good of the order. At a meeting of the Masonic lodge this question was asked. The friend of the fallen brother then arose from his seat, and with a lump in his throat, and in tremuloms accents, pointed to his friend and brother on his right, and in the presence of thirty-five members told the story of his dishonor. You could have heard a pin drop in the room; every man' was affected; all were sorry for their weak brother and were willing to show their interest in the welfare of him who could not govern his appetite. There was no equivocation, but he, with cheeks bathed in tears, admitted his faults and told of his burning desire to desist from the use of all intoxi- cants. So he was taken to the altar, his hands placed upon the Holy Bible, the thirty-five men forming a circle around the altar, and then the worshipful mas- ter administered an obligation which was repeated by the penitent brother as follows: "I, 'Hiram Adrift,' of my own free will and accord, in the presence of Almighty God and the brothers here assembled, do hereby and hereon promise and solemnly swear that from this time and henceforth I will not drink any in- toxicating liquors of any description, binding myself by no less penalty than that of losing the respect of my brothers here assembled, as well as the condem- nation of all good men. So help, me God, and keep me steadfast. And in token of this solemn obligation