Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1820-02-15


derstood and spoke alike in every coun-
try, and every cline, and is sure pass
port to the confidence of all worthy
brethren. No matter what country you
visit; in what society you mingle; wher-
ever civilization is known, you will find
traternal friends whose happiness is
identified with yours, ready to participate
IN your legitimate pleasures, administer
to your wants, relieve your necessities,
and pour the balm of sympathetic con-
ISOLATION into a lacerated bosom.
1t is the pride and glory of every good
mason to consult the ease and conven-
ience of his fellows, and to defend their
reputation against the assaults and ma
chinations of heartless detractors. If
there be any who bears the honorable
name of free mason, who goes about
speaking eyilly, and stabbing at the re-
putation of his brothers, or indeed, any
good man, note that man and have no
fellowship with him. He may be a ma
son In name, but is a stranger to its sub
lime principles. Such men, when they
lind their way among us, we strive to re-
claim by salutary advice and wholesome
admonition; if they prove incorrigible,
we expel them. There be others who
have been passed through the mystic
ceremonies, whose minds are too inert,
obtuse, or listless, to study and under
stand free masonry as science. These
are mere drones Qfthe hive, ever ready
to devour the honey, but never collect
any.
The good mason, like the good man,
is known by his open, magnanimous,
manly conduct, and his exertions to anne
liorate the condition of the human race.
The unfortunate and wretched claims his
sympathy, and shares his gratuity. His
charity knows no bound but bis ability
and the limits of the earth. His heart
teens with universal benevolence. He
is faithful to his friends and concilating
to his enemies. From the bottom of his
soul he contemns base and dishonorable
action. To his interiors he is courteous
and affable; to his superiors, dignihed
add respectful. None more strictly than
he discharges the important duties of
son, husband, parent, and citizen; none
more sincerely mourns over the frailties
of hum anity; none more firmly believes
in omniScience. The experienced ma
son possesses evidences too strong to
leave doubt on his mind of the realities
Of religion. Ihe cardinal principles of
christianity and virtue are inculcated with
assiduity and sincerity in every regular
lodge.
Free masonryis of early origin. We
claim it to be coeval with the world
and trace its maturity with great certain
ty to the reign of Solomon, king of Israel
Since that era all other institutions have
been found mutable. The commissions
of the natural and political world have
swept away old and venerated systems
and creeds; new Institutions have been
formed, changed, and are still changing
the principles Of free masonry alone have
proved invincible; against it the shafts
of human art and violence have been
hurled in vain. The same rites and &C.
remonies are yet observed, and the same
great duties eWomed, as were at Jerusa-
lem in the meridian glory of the favorite
nation. Free masonry is stately and
oak, deep rooted in the cen
tire of the earth, the lofty top kissing hea-
ven, and its mighty boughs overshadow-
ing the globe. Venerable parent-aged
thou art as the planet we inhabit, and live
thou will till it returns to chaos! Nav:
that awful event will not mark thyperiod.
Thy fruit will out-live the wreck of mat
ter. Through the ages of eternity, SO
long as virtue is held in esteem, thy
principles will be throned with the
righteous. Illustrious institution How
sublime thy views! How celestial thy
pretensions
Such being faint outline of the prin-
ciples of free masonry, it is natural that
we should honor and reverence the me.
mory of those great men and saints,
whose lives were devoted to placing our
foundation sure, and rearing that stupen-
dous temple which hss withstood the
howlings of the tempest, and the desola-
ting hand of arbarism-whose work on
earth being finished, are bowed before
the throne of mercy pleading the cause
of fallen man. Ingrates should we be
not to honor and love them. The bril-
liant light of their virtue and intellect,
yet beams on the gloomy path of man
it CLEANS along the vaulted arch ofhea-
uen, and points the way to eternal peace.
What fame is here! What model for
Let US emulate their virtue.-I
How flattering to our vanity and noble