Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1837-07-06

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accordingly but it is thus with those who seek to
oe wise above what written. Prejudice like jealousy
IS lru IN the creation ofits own food, giving i'm
mortality like the tabled liver and an appetite surprising
'hat OF the vunre that preyed uponit
'For still the immortal liver grows.
"A.d yield, uimmo fast"
AS soon might you seek to "unoose the bands NJ
''-auemr TO bind
1" chan Of damant TIA. iami.s, nd,
10 reason with persons under the influence of feelings
IKE nese All subjects are viewed through false med
UNI friendship Is but name, and the ennoblinp assoc
atoms OF e idle dreams They retire into the Silence of
'he own gloomy SOULS and boodng over the ills of life
and leachey of men, encourage dispositions at war with
ieec'uu enjoyment, and destructive those lofty emo
uohs which How from the fellowship of kindred minds
sanctifed by virtue and by virtues God
we snail not, therefore, consume one moments time in
S pace ny attempting to meet and refute the incongu-
Gus notons that have been advanced on this subject ours
snail be nober task and however weak the instrument
selected as the organ of the Masonic fraternity on this oc
cason hope our labour may be altogether in vain
10 wander amid the ruins of earth's cities and TEMPLES
Coiiae The records OF the past and hold communion
WIN Tue spirits OF the mighty dead pleasing melan-
choy task the mind frequently pauses under the inu-
ence Oh the sunne feelings excited the rayages
or that deSoatng tide which has borne to the silence of
oblivion the fleeing gores their existence and left only
e cIumbng arch Wondering column tell their former
grandeur The world OF ancient mind ike the cites h
,nhated has also felt the cold and chilling influence f
lie obvlos tide but few fragments survive to tell that
sages lived, philosophy maintained her coudless re;o
ny inc Silent eloquence of these evidences of
VIC uSparlng war OF time, pleasing to behold still
standing IN our midst, institution (1earing about il
conclusive marks OF antquity,) that has witsood the
shock OF successive revolutions resisted the flood that
swept over and enguPhed empires, and still exists con-
hectng link between the past and the present To the
mind that delights in viewing the records of the mast
fnaSohry presents object that cannot fail TO
ho please The very obscurity which surrounds its ORR
only tends to increase the deep interest it is cacuat
ed to excite.
opinions have been various in relation to its origin.
Some have supposed that it instituted during the
Crusades and was designed as mlder and more neace
ful form OF chivaly Smoothing the wnkled front of
war, and binding together brothers, foes of country
and religion diverse Others have placed its oroin far
,hef oack'-and Others, still with feelings dark as Ma
hoe' angel OF DEATH have denounced as an anti social
conspiracy dangerous government morals and reioop
instituted to harbor in its chambers the foe to both
State and Church
That Masonry has existed from remote antiquity there
can be no doubt. Yet do think that it can in IFS
speculative character be traced farther back than the bull
Ding OF the Temple. Long previous to that time it is
stated that there were Lodges In Egypt which the ex
act sciences were taught and the of Architecture
preserved Numbers OF the workmen members of these
Lodges, were doubtless employ by King Solomon who
seIzng every occasion to magnify the God Israel and
diftuse his abroad, gave to the degrees then exist
ing their speculative form, reseying still higher honor
tor those who should prove worthy of its reception on the
completion and dedication of the house. In this howev-
err he was In some degree Disappointed but the sequel
shows that honor of this was conferred and not
outstanding 1T is highly probable that the traditions of
mat degree have been in measure vated by in
Temptations, yet stands convincing proof of its origin
at the period referred to- induced form these O.
plnons from the character and design of the Two st de-
grees and the data furnished by the third every Master
Mason will understand.
a writer of considerable research, in GA History of
Freemasonry, compiled for the 'tAmaranh and Masonic
Garland traces the order from the earliest ages of anti
guilty, through the Elusanan and Donysan mysteries to
the building of the Temple, and from thence through the
Essences and Kadeans the fraternity of builders during
the middle ages, and until the establishment of the Grand
Lodge of York, England Thereasoning Of this writer is
strong especially in relation to the indemnity the Essences
and Masonry We disposed to think that this histo-
ny is calculated to throw great the origin and pro-
gresS of the institution. Ofone thing however, we are
certain that Masonry is not of modern origin but that
has existed from period very remote and from its very
character that Of secrecy and being confined to favour
ed few, 1t IS difficult to follow its history.
But little more than century has passed away since
this germ Of benevoence and good feeling was waited
over the blue waters of the Atlantic and found genial
soil IN this western world. The first Grand Lodge was
established in Boston in 1873 In 1884 this body grant
ed charter for Lodge in Philadelphia, appointing
benjamin Franklin Master. In 1872 by virtue Of war
rant from the Earl Of Dumfies Joseph Warner was APP
pointed Grand Master of Masons in America Different
Lodges at this period existed several of the Colonies
but the Revolutionary struggle Intervening interrupted the