CHAPTER XII 



MASONRY AND SINGERS 



My Mother Lodge — Bob and Roland Cunningham — Amy Sherwin — A 

 Pushing Tobacconist — Wanting Thompson's Patronage — TeUing 

 ofi my Bumps — The Phrenologist wants to go Racing — Good 

 Cricketers — Starting a Time-table 



When just twenty-one I was initiated into Free- 

 masonry, in Hobart, in the Pacific Lodge 801 E.G., 

 and met many good fellows. We used to have a good 

 cold supper, and the lodge was open house in its 

 hospitality ; no introduction nor formality except going 

 through the tests was necessary ; and I can tell you 

 that this should be the true spirit of the craft. Many 

 ship captains will remember with gratification the happy 

 evenings there. Each brother had his stock song or 

 recitation and we knew exactly what to expect, but 

 bore it with the most fraternal amiability. The Mark 

 Lodge was splendidly conducted, the work being perfect. 

 Masonry certainly was a leveller in a place with so 

 many cliques. 



The Cunninghams, Robert and Roland, so well 

 known on the stage and at the Motor Club, came from 

 Hobart. When I was there " Bob " was in a lawyer's 

 office opposite my show, and I can see him as a fat 

 boy walking over to a Government office with a big 

 packet of deeds under his arm. Neither of us thought 

 then that he was destined to develop such a superb 

 tenor voice and be a star in the Carl Rosa Co. Roland 

 was younger, and at school. Lempriere Pringle, an- 

 other star in the Carl Rosa Co., also came from Hobart. 

 Miss Amy Sherwin, who made a big name on the concert 



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