Suite 926 18 Broadway New York March 22nd, 1915 Dear Jack Received yours of 9th inst last Saturday and as I like to clear up correspondence as it comes in am replying to it now. I note your explanation regarding the balance due me, which, though I cannot recall the circumstances without going through my files, is entirely satisfactory. Certainly I do not blame you or and one else for any "ommission" in the statement referred to; I don't for one moment think or believe that there is wittingly a ommission or commission in the statement. My reference to the fact to you was merely that I had forgotten your and my relationship in the matter referred to, and the shortest way to get the information was to write you on the subject. Yes Jack I know things have changed since I left home. have ample proof of the fact over here. I don't want to "understand" things other than as they exist legally and in black and white. The surprise to me is the complete lack of business intelligence and wisdom which seems to exist in and amongst all. A pretty example of this is the fact that on Dec 28th I mailed Sam the statements received from the other side and I have not heard from him since; he did write Bee on the subject, his letter was insinuative. What he should have done was to return the papers to me with his reports, and have me return same with my reports to Bee and Harry. This is but an instance of the whole. Thus Jack if you review the entire situation intelligently, I think you will not say "that had I come over the whole matter would have been settled long ago". My dear fellow it would have been as hard to treat with the bunch as it is with Germany; the circumstances are almost parallel, they seem to have forgotten every thing and took thought for or of nothing. It is but logic to assume that is people will pay no attention to you by correspondence, they will take no heed of you if present; besides I certainly knew that I could not handle, nor would I try, the three parties at interest over here. Besides I am really least interested in the whole matter, why should I waste time on people who will not sit down and just think the situation over sanely, and seek to undo the errors in the Will made by father in his dotage. Had there been a legal fight I certainly would have come over, and I have no doubt the entire matter would have ben would up in short order, but would it have been wound up pleasantly for all is the question. The whole situation in a nutshell is this; everyone should have co-porated (sic) with the other to straighten things out, worked in harmony for mutual interests; instead father was not cold in grave before the dogs, so to speak, began to fight over the bones. I got mad, rather disgusted, and simply wanted an excuse to reward all according to their acts, and I say now that I am glad the opportunity did not come, for I don't want or desire to do any one a hurt;, thus Jack you se my coming over would not have accomplished anything such as you imagine it would. It is not to late now for all to get together and put things on a solid footing, looking to every ones interest both now and for the future. One thing it is but fair to keep before you; you know how complicated father kept everything, it was not like taking hold of a situation where books were kept up to date and in perfect order; so I blame no one for the delay, but I do say, that if all had co-operated for mutual good, I firmly believe the whole situation would have been cleaned up a long time ago. So don't harbor in your mind that had I come over I could have settled things long ago, for such is far from the case - if you know the inside conditions. Glad to hear that your business is good; I have no doubt but when the war ends we will more than make up for lost time, I am quite satisfied for the present to keep on floating. Pleased to see that you are getting up in Masonry, and to hear good news of old "68". I demitted from my Milwaukee lodges in Jan 1900 and have not affiliated with any since; the cause is, there is too little "labor" and to much "refreshment" in the average lodge in this City. Perhaps my masonic ideals are to high, but they are those which were instilled into me where I first saw "light"; let me tell you right here, that in all my travels, and though I have seen perfect work, with the most perfect settings and stage work, none compared masonically to my mother Lodge - old 68. Often I have thought what a power of good that little lodge could be, how it could help its brethren along in the battle of life and to success if it would put into actual practice the teaching and spirit of masonry. Only this week I was out with a party of Surveyors surveying some land, one of them turned out to be a W.M and was in his third term of office. He invited me to visit his lodge and stay over night at his home, as his lodge is about fifty miles from town,; I told him I was so rusty that I could not enter a lodge without some working up as I had not visited a lodge in over 14 years. He said he knew I was a mason the moment I shook hands with him, "but to prove I am right" said he let me give you a simple test; here he broke off two twigs about 12" long, bent them into shape of square and compass and asked me to place them for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd, of course I had not forgotten this and I did it so easily that there was no mistaking my knowledge and so he said, you will have no trouble entering the lode over which I preside, I will vouch or you. He was so nice about it and his general bearing made me feel he was a real decent fellow, and as a result I have been since able to put a nice fee in his way. I believe in practical masonry, or applied masonry; I have no use, interest or consideration for mere word masonry. I might tell you lots more about the masons I have met and what I think of them, but it would need a book so will end at this chapter. I must now stop and get home. Glad to see that you are all well. Remember me to Mr. Devine, tell him I have not forgotten him. With heartiest regards to you and yours, Sincerely yours R W Long Gordon, his wife & little one called on us recently, they are all well.
