(The following letter was received by Brother Sylvester, of Crescent Lodge, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, from a young man who was made a Mason in that Lodge, but is now in the Austrian army. Shortly before the war broke out he went home to assist his father in business, and was pressed into military service. Naturally, he takes the pro-Teutonic attitude out of loyalty to his home and native land for which he fights. Though an educated young man, he never quite mastered our English idiom, as his letter shows; but we give it as he wrote it, believing that his quaint way of saying things adds to its charm. The letter, of course, had to pass the censor, and due allowance must be made for that fact. - The Editor.)
Budapest, July 19th.
My dear Brother Sylvester:- About four months ago I have written you a long letter, and have still not received an answer. I believe it must get lost somehow, because I know that otherwise you would not keep me waiting so long. I might go out now in a few weeks on the battlefield with a machine-gun detachment. So now I say, my brother, good bye to you and all my brothers of whom I think always with love. And how often do I think back now of dear old Cedar Rapids and of our meetings. Only God Almighty can tell whether I get back there some day, and still I am willing to go to the battlefield, just like all my countrymen, because we know why we do fight. We have good crops, plenty food here, and positively no epidemics. The spirit among the people of Austria and Germany, and among us soldiers, is the finest and best! The number of the enemy's soldiers is nearly twice times as much as ours, and still not only that they can't best us, but we have occupied nearly twice times as much land from their country as they from ours, not mentioning the large number of prisoners. We have still no pleasure in the war, nor in the victory. We are entitled to hollow the same way our enemies do that Justice is ours, or that we fight for the peace of this world, or that we fight in the name of God, etc., etc. Every country has its motto and believes it is in the right, so it is with us. We hated to have a war, we never wanted to have any, and though the victory is in our hands still, we all (Germans, Austrians, Hungarians) like one wish to see the end of this bloody war. Why is this war? Only because England is jealous of Germany's industry. You see it now - this is the only reason why so many lives are being lost, homes broken up, and a vast army of widows and orphans. And think how it is to bring to the European battlefield the colored men of Africa and the Hindus, is this Justice !
Let us hope that this for us so glorious war will come soon to an end, and that after that God Almighty will grant us to have power to uplift the poor and help aid the widows and orphans. After the war will come the time for us Freemasons and let us hope that time is not far. After the war, when the good gray years come, we will see whose sin is this terrible war and then we'll see not only the Masonic but the whole world how the German and Hungarian Masons were trying to keep back the powers from this war. I leave the judgment of the French English and Italian Masons to you, because you must know more about their agitation for the war than we here. I guess you must read some terrible news about the war and the situation in Germany and Austria. I hope that you don't believe the same. Life everywhere in the cities is just like it is in peacetime. Theaters are all open, and the food prices are regulated by the Government. The Freemason's Lodges hold their meetings every two weeks, and do very much charity. One hospital for wounded soldiers kept up at the expense of Freemasons takes care of one thousand men. Besides, the Freemasons distribute free bread for the poor, and everywhere I go I hear the people speak only good about the Masons.
I can't send my Lodge dues on account of the war. It is impossible, but will send them just as soon that conditions change. I have not received the last edition of the Iowa Masonic Bulletin, please let me have one, because this and the lecture book of the three degrees are my only pleasure when I have a little free time. Before I enlisted in the army I gave my Apron to the Grand Lodge of Hungary to keep it until the end of the war. Well, my dear brother, I must bring to an end my letter. Let us hope that by the time you receive this letter everlasting peace has returned to this world.
With best regards and brotherly love to all the brothers.
Paul Schlinger.
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