ANONYMOUS
The nicest thing happened in lodge
tonight," began the New Brother enthusiastically to the Old Tiler in the
anteroom. "I don't know when I have been more touched."
"Tell me about it," suggested
the Old Tiler.
"Brother Wells said he had
received an anonymous letter from some brother of the lodge inclosing a $5.00
bill, which was to go towards buying a birthday present for Brother Wells' boy.
He told us about his boy being injured in an automobile accident and how he has
struggled with the doctor's bills. He said he had bought the boy some books with
it; and that it would be the biggest part of the lad's birthday. When he thanked
the unknown brother, I would have cried, if I wasn’t a pantswearer."
''Why did the unknown brother send his
gift anonymously?'' inquired the Old Tiler.
"Oh, didn't I tell you? That was
the prettiest part of it. The letter said the present wasn’t from any one in
particular, just from the ‘Masonic spirit’ and came because the ‘agent’
– that’s what the anonymous brother called himself - he benefited from
instructions received from Brother Wells. Wells is always instructing someone,
so he can't tell which of dozens of men sent it."
"That was a nice thing to
do," agreed the Old Tiler. "Brother Peters' work bearing more
fruit."
"Peters? Peters? I don't think I
know him. . . " the New Brother considered thoughtfully.
"He's dead ten years,"
explained the Old Tiler. "You never saw him in lodge, but he started the
idea. He made a talk once in lodge about lodges not being Christian or Jewish or
Mohammedan, just Masonic. He didn't see why Masons shouldn't observe the lovely
things in any religion. He didn't want to inject religion into the lodge, he
would like to see brethren take part in the generosity taught in all religions.
"Brother Peters had a comfortable
income; could afford it. But it cost him some effort. And gradually we found out
about it by comparing notes and asking questions. Brother Peters had made
himself the lodge benefactor. He learned which brethren were poor and had
children, and he sent them all birthday gifts. He always had a list of the sick,
and they all had flowers and visits. If a widow didn't have much she got a ton
of coal or a cord of wood, or some man
appeared and told her he had been hired
by the Masonic Society to clean off her snow. But no one knew, until his talk
started us to investigating, that he was the individual who had made this lodge
a Giver with a capital G. He'd draw a square and compasses on the package, or
just a letter G, beside the address. He had a lot of fun out of it. When he
died, he had the biggest funeral this town ever saw.
"The anonymous five dollar bill
must have come from Brother Peters - someone else was indeed the agent, but it
was Brother Peters' idea here. Of course it wasn't his originally.
"It's a pretty idea, too – using
Masonry to make someone happy. Some brother who doesn't expect a visit from you
– you go and see him on his birthday, just to let him know you are thinking of
him; think of the joy he'd have. Half a dozen boxes of flowers sent to as many
hospitals marked for birthdays would give sick people a lot of pleasure. A few
small greenbacks, sent like Brother Wells received his, without a name, but with
a letter; can you imagine anything more joyful?
"There is no taint of alms about a
birthday gift – the proudest of the poor might be happy to be so remembered. I
recall one old lady who got money from someone in this lodge once - there was
nothing in the envelope except the ten spot and the card saying ‘Birthdays
should be merry; the lodge hopes yours will be.' I knew her - she insisted I
find out who did it, so she could thank him. Of course I couldn't. But I have
always thought that whoever he was and is, he and Brother Peters found out more
about how to have a good time than most of us know."
"There isn't any patent on the
idea, is there?" demanded the New Brother. "I can do that if I want
to, can't I?"
Of Course you can,'' responded the Old
Tiler.
"Will you find out and tell me
where to send them?''
"I will not. If I did the work,
you wouldn't have the fun. Besides, I supervise no brother’s gifts. The Master
will tell you. . . "
"You said it wasn't Brother
Peters’ idea originally. Whose idea was it, in the very beginning?"
"Someone who said, 'Inasmuch as ye
do it unto the least of these, my brethren . . . ' "
"Oh!" said the New Mason. And
again, "Oh!"
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