The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1841-09-15


1t is a moral amaranth and blooms
perennial on the earth, and that shall be
as crowning ornament amidst the CIR
cling glories ofthe upper world. Yea,
when the bright sun shall be extlngulshed
and the stars shall wander darkling in the
eternal space rayless and painless, and the
icy earth shall swing blind and blacken-
ing in the moonless air; Masonry shall still
exist Its Corinthian columns stand un-
shaken, and the triple lights shall burn un-
dimmed upon the alter Of Heaven. Time
whose touch destroys all things else, has
made no impression upon our institution.
1t has stood unmoved and immovabe amid
the mighty revolutions and changes which
for centuries have convulsed the world
Thebes, with its hundred gates have crum-
bled. Troy exists only in song, and the
owl makes her nest in the place of the
Caesars Greece is living Greece no more;
the land of battle and of song is the abode
ofignorance. Athens lives only in the re-.
licts of her mind, the traditions of her
love and the records of her renown. The,
Academy has disappeared, the walk ofthe
peripatetic can no longer be traced. The
porch has fallen, the arch is broken, and
desolation broods over the city of letters.
Even Rome, imperial Rome, whose archi-
lecture was unsurpassed, whose sculpture
was unequalled, whose legions were tri-
umphant over half the world, has fallen
the scep,re has departed from her hand,
and the brightness other gloryis dlmmed
forever. Demosthcnes no longer enveihgs
against Philip of Macedon. nor are the
melihuous strains of Cicero heard in the
Roman Forum. Homer's harp is still;
Virgips Tyre is unstrung, and the song Of
Horace lives onlyin echo. Jupiter no lon
ger thunders on Olympus. Neptune has
ceased to rule the seas, Mars to head con-
tending armies. Their temples have
crumbled, their worship is forgotten.
Thus has it ever been with mana
point their space, their time span"-not
so with Masonry. 1t has been as Pyra-
mid in the desert ofages. From its sum-
mt we may now look down upon all
generations of men. 1t has witnessed the
destruction of thrones. the disemberment
of kingdoms and to the end of time like
"the Moon Of the Morea, in love and dis
tant glory beaming. it shall preside in
cIoudess chastened majesty, over the
wreck offallen empires"
Do not however, suppose that Masonry
has met with no opposition during its
career. Indeed no institu-
ton has been the object of so many at
tacks or such bitter vituperatiou of those
who feared its power, Or were ignorant
of the designs Of our order.
Religious bigotry has prosecuted her,
the inquisition has assaulted her !.o the the Popes
in The pleuafitude Of tncir power, in the pal
mlest days of the Roman hierarchy often
made it the object of their especial venge-
ance; Anathemas were hurled against it
from the Vatican; the society of Jesuits,
who held a rod of terror over all Europe,
wasarrayed against it. Membership was
made ground of accommodation from
the self:styled Holy Church. But all has
beenin vain; Masonry has pursued the
even tenor of her way unappaled by dan
ger, and unchecked by the great impedi-
ments she has had to overcome, and she
still lives triumphant, whilst kings, her ene-
mics, are in the dust, and the Pope who
proudly claimed to be Heavens vicege-
rent on e rth, is now an object of scorn
and contempt.
Thus have we hastily and slightly touch.
ed the history of our institution, and along
the whole line of her progress through
many ages have we beheld the trophies
ofils power, scattered in the richest pro-
fusion-trophies that are found in the
of art in the triumphs of SCI
ence, the work genius and the achieve
ments of industry, but above all, trophies
that consist in the Influence Masonry has
exerted upon the hearts other sons, and
in those good deeds. which, though unseen
by all, save the initiated, have received
the approving smile of God.
The cardinal principles of Masonry,
are Faith, Hope, and Charity. We have
faith in our brethern; we cannot doubt
their fidelity to each other and to the or!