TALES OF MASONIC LIFE. The Widowed Sister's Lodge.. A TALE OF WOMAN'S DEVOTION. Inscribed to Bro. John Augustus Williams, PRESIDENT DAUGHTERS' COLLEGE, HARRODSBURG, KY. a HERE is much in the nomenclature of Masonic Lodges worthy of record. We have gathered up many curious statistics under this head. Many a noble deed is hidden under some lodge name, that, conveying no meaning to the uninformed, is significant, to those cognizant of the christening, of charity, fortitude, or undying truth. When the disciples were "first called Christians at Antioch," the christening was not a matter of popular interest-to the mass, indeed, the name must have fallen dead upon the ear; but to the enlightened, to those who knew the story of the miracles, the supper, the agony, the crucifixion, the resurrection, and the ascension, the name Christian recalled incidents dear as the apple's eye to the persecuted band; pregnant, more than any other word that the language contained, with mournful, triumphant, deathless interest, "Jacob called the name of the place PENIEL; for I have seen God face to face," says the sacred record, "and my life is preserved." "Therefore was the name of it called GALEED and MISPAH; for he said, the LORD watch between me and thee when we are absent one from another." "He was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. And he called the name of that place BETHEL.” "He called that place BEERSHEBA, because there they sware both of them." "Abraham called the name of that place JEHOVAH-JIREH; and as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen." "He called the name of the well EZEK, because they strove with him." "He called the name of it REHOBOTH; and he said, For now the LORD hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land." These Scriptures, like all others, are for our instruction; and surely there is an eminent propriety in entitling our lodges by names significant of God's gracious dealings with us. If we adopt those of living or deceased benefactors of the Order, let us use those only whose worthiness will reflect credit upon the system we profess to cultivate. Names so often in men's mouths should be good words. Widowed Sister's Lodge was worthily named, as the reader will acknowledge, when he is advised of the circumstances from which the cognomen was derived. Mrs. Page is the honored widow of an honored Mason of the ancient stock. She is of that class of widows whom Paul credits with the epithet, "widows indeed," and describes as "trusting in God, and continuing in supplications and prayers night and day," and concerning whom Timothy was exhorted to give special honor. She is not overburdened with the riches of this world; yet, by prudent foresight and management, she is enabled to keep her little family upon their inheritancerising early and retiring late to secure this object. Of this estimable widow it shall be said, in her funeral eulogy, in the words of the wise man: "When the ear heard her, then it blessed her; and when the eye saw her, then it gave witness to her: "Because she delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him. "The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon her, and she caused the widow's heart to sing for joy. "She was eyes to the blind, and feet was she to the lame. "She was a mother to the poor." After the hurricane of political excitement which grew out of the disappearance of William Morgan had in part subsided, and men began to breathe again with freedom the same atmosphere with Masons, the Craft in and about the village of Spafford gathered together to inquire, Shall we revive the lodge or not? Their temple was indeed in ruins; the Chaldeans had "broken down the wall of Jeru salem, and burnt all the palaces thereof with fire, and destroyed all the goodly vessels thereof." Their furniture, books, charter, everything that could identify them as a lodge, were seattered broadcast and lost. They had forgotten the work, forgotten the lectures, alas! in two instances, forgotten the principles of the institution which once they had solemnly vowed to cherish. But they retained, some of them at least, the love of Masonry, and remembered, with a keen relish, the employments and enjoyments they had once experienced in its exercise. And when a voice, as the voice of King Cyrus, was heard proclaiming, "Who is there among you of all God's people? the Lord his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem;" a response, feeble but sincere, was heard from them, "Here I am! I will go up!" But a survey of the existing obstacles chilled the zeal of these few, and appalled the remainder of the brethren to whom the project of re-organizing the lodge had been broached. The expense was great— a house, a charter, jewels, furniture-it was very great. The trouble was more; to visit intelligent Masons abroad; to commence again the very rudiments of Masonic instruction. But the opposition to be encountered, this was the worst of all. Ridicule might be anticipated from all that generation which had sprung up since last a Masonic procession was seen in the streets of Spafford. Annoyances of various sorts would, undoubtedly, be thrown in the way. The trash of antimasonic literature was in every house; and, vile and mendacious as it was, |