1 The masonic dinners were dull and dreary when he was not there.
2 Moreover, the words of the masonic statutes, "be kindly and courteous," recurred to him.
3 Military, administrative, political, and masonic interests continually absorbed his attention.
4 Willarski coughed, he was answered by the masonic knock with mallets, the doors opened before them.
5 Under the masonic aprons and insignia he saw the uniforms and decorations at which they aimed in ordinary life.
6 He was ashamed to express his new masonic views, which had been particularly revived and strengthened by his late tour.
7 Amid the turmoil of his activities and distractions, however, Pierre at the end of a year began to feel that the more firmly he tried to rest upon it, the more masonic ground on which he stood gave way under him.
8 Soon after his admission to the masonic Brotherhood, Pierre went to the Kiev province, where he had the greatest number of serfs, taking with him full directions which he had written down for his own guidance as to what he should do on his estates.
9 Our Freemasons knew from correspondence with those abroad that Bezukhov had obtained the confidence of many highly placed persons, had been initiated into many mysteries, had been raised to a higher grade, and was bringing back with him much that might conduce to the advantage of the masonic cause in Russia.
10 Often after collecting alms, and reckoning up twenty to thirty rubles received for the most part in promises from a dozen members, of whom half were as well able to pay as himself, Pierre remembered the masonic vow in which each Brother promised to devote all his belongings to his neighbor, and doubts on which he tried not to dwell arose in his soul.
11 Following this letter one of the masonic Brothers whom Pierre respected less than the others forced his way in to see him and, turning the conversation upon Pierre's matrimonial affairs, by way of fraternal advice expressed the opinion that his severity to his wife was wrong and that he was neglecting one of the first rules of Freemasonry by not forgiving the penitent.