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Wolfie and Hiram Join
   The Big Parade

by Elliot A. Saron, MPS

One day Wolfie and Hiram were hang-
ing around the house when Hiram's
wife, Marian, decided that, since she
planned to do some housework, it would
be best if Hiram took Wolfie out for a
walk and then played in the yard for a
while until she finished her chores. Both
Wolfie and Hiram were very enthusiastic
about that proposition, and off they
went. While they were playing ball in the
front yard, the postman drove up to
deliver the mail. He, too, was a Mason,
and after he and Hiram shook hands, he
also played a brief ball game with Wolfie.

Among the letters the postman deliv-
ered was one from no less a person than
the Grand Master of Masons himself,
inviting Hiram to join with the other
Masons the next Saturday to march with
him in the big parade to raise money for
some very important Masonic Charities.
One of these was a hospital which takes
care of crippled children, enabling them
to lead happy lives and become produc-
tive citizens. Another is a home out in
the country for those elderly Masons,
their wives and widows who could no
longer take care of themselves.

Wolfie immediately got the idea that
something was afoot, and he did not like
it one bit! After all, Saturday was a day
that Hiram was supposed to stay home
with him and romp around. Hiram star-
ted to explain to Wolfie why he had to
join with the Grand Master in marching
in the big parade. Wolfie was very un-
happy and let Hiram know it.

When Hiram and Wolfie returned to
the house, Marian saw Wolfie and asked
Hiram what the problem was. Hiram
told her, and she immediately agreed
with Wolfie...but for another reason.
Hiram had promised her that next Satur-
day he would drive her to a couple o~
"classy" stores so that she could buy a
dress for the big dinner dance that was
being held the week after the parade to
raise money for the Grand Master's fav-
orite charity, a research laboratory where
top scientists and doctors seek cures for
many dread diseases from which human
beings suffer.

Well, Hiram was now really in the "dog
house! "

Just then, the phone rang and Hiram
answered. It was his Lodge Brother,
Dick, who told Hiram that he planned to
march with the Grand Master and that
his wife, Sarah, would like to speak to
Marian. Sarah invited Marian to join
with her and other wives to help out at
the Masonic Temple to cook up sausages
and make potato salad for a big collation
after the parade. She also invited Marian
to go shopping with her on Sunday after-
noon because she, too, needed to buy a
dress. Marian, who, like Sarah, was a
very good cook, agreed. But Wolfie sat
there and looked forlorn. He let Hiram
and Marian both know that he knew they
were going to the big parade and then the
big collation, but where did that leave
him?

The week passed. The day of the pa-
rade drew nigh. Wolfie wasn't even keen
on romping around with Hiram. Hiram
tried to explain to Wolfie how important
this parade was, since it was being held
to raise money for charity. He also ex-
plained that the Masons should show the
community who they were and what they
stood for. And he also explained that this
particular parade would serve to bring
many men of different countries, sects
and opinions together who, if it weren't
for Freemasonry, would have remained
perpetually at a distance.

Hiram went on to explain that many of
the Masons marching in this parade
came from a far-off land which, in a very
dark period of history, was ruled by a
very evil man who was full of hatred.
Among the people this evil man hated
were the Masons, because they believed
in and practiced friendship, charity and
brotherly love. The Masons in that land
could not wear their Square & Compas-
ses insignia, because this evil man with
his cowardly bullies did many vicious
things to Masons when he found them.
So those Masons identified themselves by
wearing a flower called a "Forget-Me-
Not! "

He also explained that another group
of Masons came from another far dlstant
land where Masonry flourishes. That
land was ruled by a good and gracious
King, who was a Mason himself, who
indeed sat in his Lodge and met his
Brethren from all walks of life upon the
same Level. And when he parted com-
pany with them, it was upon the Square
of morality and virtue. When the good
King died, his daughter ascended the
throne, and as she reigns as a gracious
Queen, her consort, too, is a Free &
Accepted Mason.

As the sun rose in the east, Hiram told
Marian that he thought he might bring
Wolfie to the big parade and have him
join the line of march. Marian answered
sharply, "You'll make a fool of yourself
and Wolfie in front of the Grand
Master. "

But Wolfie had heard what he wanted
to hear. Hiram would take him to the
"It's your Lodge and your dog, and
you're such a big-shot, so do what you
want." Hiram said, loudly and clearly
"All right, let's go for it." Marian
shrugged her shoulders in resignation
and Wolfie thought that was the best
thing he'd heard in over a month since
he had attended the Lodge meeting.

Hiram got his Apron and regalia to-
gether. Marian drove him and Wolfie to
the assembly place and then continued to
the Masonic Temple. As soon as Hiram
and Wolfie alighted from the car, Hiram
could see that there were mixed feelings
about Wolfie's joining the parade. Solo-
mon the Master was glad to see Wolfie
and bent down to pet him. He said that
he thought it would be all right for Wolfie
to march, but he was afraid the Grand
Master might not approve. Most of the
Brethren were very glad to see
Wolfie. After all, he had attended the last
meeting and they had made him a mem-
ber of the Lodge.

Just then, a big open-top car pulled up,
driven by the Grand Marshal and bear-
ing the Senior Grand Deacon and the
Grand Master himself, splendidly clad
in his top hat, gauntlets and jewels. The
Grand Master got out of the car and
shook hands with all the Brethren. He
then saw Wolfie and asked, "Who is that
dog?" Hiram answered, "He's my dog,

Everyone fell silent, for they didn't re-
alize that the Grand Master was indeed
a kind and charitable man who chose to
lead the Masons by precept and ex-
ample. The Grand Master paused for a
moment and everyone gasped. He then
turned to Paul, the Lodge Secretary, and
said, "I read your Lodge's minutes this
week, and it seems I remember some-
thing about a Wolfie who visited the
hospital with you and behaved very well
while you conferred the Degree at the
last meeting. "

Hiram proudly answered that he was
indeed Wolfie and asked the Grand Mas-
ter's permission to allow Wolfie to march
in the parade. "March!" the Grand
Master roared. " He's not marching! "

Hiram and Wolfie's hearts both sank.

The Grand Master then proclaimed,
" He's riding with me in my car while you
march with the Brethren!"

And so, Wolfie rode in triumph with the
Grand Master for the whole parade, with
the Grand Master waving at all the
people, Wolfie barking at them, and
everyone cheering the Masons.

When they arrived at the Temple, Mar-
ian was standing out front with Sarah
and the Grand Master's wife
Margie. When she saw Hiram marching
with his Brethren without Wolfie, she
became very upset. Then Margie saw
the Grand Master' s car approaching and
asked Marian who that dog was. Marian
shook her head and said, "I don't believe
it! "

Well, they all went downstairs for the
big collation, and Marian made sure to
bring some "nuggies" for Wolfie, while
everyone else ate the sausages and potato
salad. She gave Wolfie his "nuggies" but
he didn't eat. He looked like he wanted
something else. Margie saw this and
asked Marian if she could mix a few
tidbits of sausage into the "nuggies."
Marian nodded. That was just what
Wolfie wanted. He chowed down his
"nuggies" with the sausages, just like the
rest of the Masons, and dined in good
fellowship with his Brethren and their
ladies .

The Philalethes, February, 1991
