Mark Twain's Christmas Hope

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

Bro. Robert Johnson 32°

There are many things which have been invented and praised because of the relief they provide society; the television, the computer and the telephone are all examples. Despite the great things these inventions have given us, there are always those among us who carry a disdain for them. For instance, Groucho Marx hated the television. But this post isn't about Marx, its about a Brother, to be specific, Brother Sam Clemons or Mark Twain as he was better known to the world. Here is what he said regarding his hope for Christmas...

"It is my heart-warmed and world-embracing Christmas hope and aspiration that all of us, the high, the low, the rich, the poor, the admired, the despised, the loved, the hated, the civilized, the savage (every man and brother of us all throughout the whole earth), may eventually be gathered together in a heaven of everlasting rest and peace and bliss, except the inventor of the telephone."

Mark Twain always did have a sense of humor and a general mater-of-fact way of speaking. He did say that the telephone was an incredible invention but I do believe if he were alive today, he would have some interesting things to say, especially about cellular phones, telemarketing and everything else that comes with telecommunications in general. I am sure that Bro. Mark was a man who enjoyed the art of letter writing and face to face communications rather than the rather bothersome and then at the time, cumbersome use of the telephone. Remember to write out some cards this holiday season, it means much more than a phone call to a great many people.  Merry Christmas everyone!

~RHJ

Bro. Robert Johnson, 32° is the Managing Editor of the Midnight Freemasons blog. He is a Freemason out of the First North-East District of Illinois. He belongs to Waukegan Lodge No. 78. He is also a member of the York Rite bodies Royal Arch, Cryptic Council, Knights Templar, AMD, The Illinois Lodge of Research and a member of the Scottish Rite Valley of Chicago as well as a charter member of the Society of King Solomon, a charity organization run by the Grand Lodge of Illinois. Brother Johnson currently produces and hosts a weekly Podcast (internet radio program) Whence Came You? which focuses on topics relating to Freemasonry. In addition, he produces video shorts focusing on driving interest in the Fraternity and writes original Masonic papers from time to time. He is a husband and father of three. He works full time in the safety industry and is also a photographer on the side as well as an avid home brewer. He is currently working on a book of Masonic essays.