Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1829-08-06

sof DtNioc fuei sod no Christian could 6es4 )
osiier one-moeed there Is no oihcr; ioF 5 her
foundation eau no man lay than that which =
laid which ls Christ Jesus. OF hin sptke The
prophet isaiah thus: Behold, I lay in Z,co, Coz
a foundation, $ stone. q Tried stone, q preei,us
Corner stone, = sure foundation.
We were next 10 sppiy the Divine megsurins
reed 10 the supers,ructure OF required dat.
resting GA the noble Christian bas.s n the 81.
senc ie male, and these are the resalis express
ca eneFally IN he very Language 81 aasons
The Hoiy biote entOrces a slfief herenc,
20 trnfhi a srrupul2us Observance Of iusiice ~
every felal oai = reilgio Gus attention 70 he Sab
oAih IS a GAY ot holy resi; and IL ~enioips sab
MISSION to the pewers that be. as ordai.ed OF
God. Masonry comes forWa i and profS So.
hat truth Is a distinguishing tenent 4 her s,s
ten, aud impressed Oh Tie mind BY sll The ~,
thoeity OF tne institution. Justice IS her esi,e
ron ot moral rectitude. the keeping halg me
sabbath ssy, she emphsiicsly e%ujolus aad con
mAnds, ard by constant admoni ion, her mem
pers are 1rsedto obey ps&ceab.y the powers
that be.
The scriptures teach in general terms all The
""'ies o. charly-t0 love our enemies, and
render good loo evil, and 10 live pesceably with
psn, and pursue our lawful avocatlons with di
igenee. M4ssnry PROCESSES % lay her members
iader tie most solemn oblgations, 10 feed the
hungry sud cl0the the naked; to visit The wild
ca asd The iaiherless, ana TO exercis. every
species OF Christian charity and henevolence.-
Masonry Directs ~ feed . brother though a per.
son4t enemy, even al the point OF the sword.
should hsnece>sities Absolutely require II. and
untiafm4y exhorts to overcome evil with geod:
70 Iva pescesbly with all. and to ne diligent IN
business. The word OF God farsids 20 indulge
IA anger and resentment, profanity, ~riotinps aud
intemPefance, SANDER, hatred, ma,ice ssd "a
veage sadssety vice which corr1ots Inc hear,
dissnrhs society, or in any respect is repncoan,
to . sober and s,rtuoas life. siasaory issues an
inlerdIct sgains' any vice; lays her restraints.
pfohi6tions, an1 commands on every member
70 OBEY ~thetahole moral Law, and declare her
design OF eh'oreing obedience 5y the authosity
OF her discipline. Thus all the practical duties
taught bY Revelation are contained in. and re
qHfeJ BY, me Mason C ms ituiion
We advance 10 your altar: as far as this. the
Strangers foot may tread The ait r OF Mason.
ry IS that on winch iIie Lamb OF God'was s,o,i.
noed: here she protessas to perform her deyo.
Vtohs, and woTships the one true God, only
through the Medstnr, Christ Jesus; and most
strongly does she affirm that She has no hone
ga aiutire state bus through The stonenleat
font aitsr, then, IS OF the sana construction,
OF The same form and dimensions, g. the Chris
slans j. IN fact, identicaly Tie same.
With THIS snes5n{enent Of he temple Of Free
Masonry in IS foundation of princiDles ami
doctrines; SID IN supers,ricture of obligations
aud dutiss, aad ~ tue model of IT'S altar. every
lrinitari'n Christian must be fully satisfied -
ihe wboie structure, as far as The stranger is
permitted 10 examine il. and spply the Divine
reed OF measurement, is, throughout, bona fde
Chftstian-the plan precisely that which the
( GrTfrtaFga have rauaalaI e.. L.tt.- ar
But there Is indeed a secret court where The
Geosile may not enter. A holy OF holes, and
rites and symbols, sacred things which the
stranger meddle'h not with; end where he can.
not Apply the Divine measure. Bat does it
therefore follow that be can have no -uf6eient
evidence that there IS nothing essen..al',
wrong IN What he is prohibited from examn
ingf Asa stranger, he has 40 right 10 expect
admission into all the little p~rivscies 80 II he
were a brother or a bosom friend. Bus yith
Mssonfy's honest COME ssion shat we're N {
, inmoss court of her temple thrown ogcr. ne,
secrets Communicated could be # no maesrs.. ser
oicet 70 Mankind: that the,r ab6robrias use "a 10
Distinguish brethren 81 ererg nufion, and kanayed,
and taHseage, aHG hat no morGi quality ca8 Dc
prsdseated on those secret fOkens 6g ,ohlch .8iasons
dsaRgH'sh each ostei; AID win Inc solemn de
eiefaIon that, OF snl} sue vice is toleaatSd, but
W " 10y f@~NI"t@CNy hCk Il fiftuF tEJAt 20 III
the totuuns OF inspirsl.ua sbich IS not found 10
aad taught sy Free Masonry: with this testimo.
~ on large BODY Of men OF nign, unimpeaeh-
ed and uspeschahle characters, eve ~ man .aay
reasonably be expected to be satisfied. No Can
Gao mlnG, IT would seem, could resist a Thorough
conviotIen and belief that there is nothing in
tae dark uaexamIaed csrnsr of the Masonic
temple inconsistent with what appears and IS
sub5scl 10 the inspection OF all msn, and bear.
80 good a measurement with Yirtus's and Re
ligien's rule.
RE who should assert the contrary. & main
tain Shat within the secret veil OF Masonr, there
IS concealed evil prime pies and designs, ought
indeed L" ind strong ground 10 plant his posi-
tons uEoni since he brings at once the heavy
charge OF ioui dishonesty and faisehood, aud
'hu oasest hypocrisy, against thousands of the
highest, the pusest, and brightest characters,
bath M thurth and state, OF the age and of past
ages
Lastly; the reed which John received was no,
only 10 be used TO measure the temple aud the
altar, but also he uy0rshbters themselves: their
lives aud conduct must be tried IS well rs their
protesssd principles and doctrines. Thar reed
you will remember John says was like unlo q
rod: 20 initiate perhaps, that the measurement
would be found 10 be severe; for every man
tired strictly thereby must be found wanting
Shall we apply 1t TO yoursslveSl no, we are not
in place OF your censcieaces or OF your Judge.
W. return the reed here into your own hsads
II Is not the part ct a stranger to apsly it 10
you, II IS not ths psr' Of any mortal who can
but discover the surface Of things,t to pretend 70
pass strist judgment ou bis fellows. We give
the measuring rod therefore, into your own
hands, withthe exhoFiaiion 70 Try yourselves
carefully, faithfully by it--yous hearts and
L Hvax Oostr marie xx,rga n~I 4L-..~ft 10.