Holly Springs gazette., 1843-06-30
any good in it, it would not be kept secret,

Of it to you my brethren, need not say
anything on this point; but to these who are
not of us, perhaps ii would not be amiss to
make few remarks If you will look a.
round you my friends in-this world, and
tell nae what there is on earlh, that is not
a mystery to the unnformed, should like
to know what it s for The Holy Bible It
self the contents of which, is so important to
the future happiness of all the dwellers up
on earth, is deep and hidden mystery TO
those uninitiated in It's doctrines and pre-
cepts; the nation and religion ofthe Jews, OF
which, t is history, are full of mysteries;
they represented the people of Christ, and
the Christian religion, whatever happened
TO them, whatever they practiced, all that
was commanded or forbidden them, was fig
urative according to St. Paul their sacri-
fees, ,thei- priesthood, their publications, their
abstinence from certain sorts of food, inclu-
ded mysteries which have been explained
by Christ and his Apostles, the passage over
the Red sea symbolized baptism; the brazen
serpent prefgured the Cross and death OF
Christ; Sarah and Hagar, Isaac and Ish-
mael denoted the two covenants. The
Priesthood of Aaron has been ad mirably ex-
planned by Paul, ofthe Priesthood of Christ,
who himself discovered the mystery OF Jo-
nah being three days IN the whales belly !;
the reprobation Of the Jews, and the adoption
of the Gentiles, were intimated in hundred
passages Of Scriptures-by Hagar and Sarah
by Ishmael and Isaac. by Ephraim and Ma
nasseh, by Saul and David, by Absalom and
Solomon. and even by Moses and Aaron.
Daniel gives to God. tie name of reveaier
Of mysteries, and, cur Saviour says-to his dis
cipIes, that they are peculiarly happy be-
! cause God hasrevealed to them the myste
ries OF the Kingdom OF rIeuven ST. E'"~
often speaks ofthe mystery ofthe Gospel, o
the mystery of The Gross Of Christ, and the
mystery of the Resurrection. These ther
are called my sterieS the doctrines ofthe Cos
pei. the tenets Of hlstianity, and the chris
tian SacIaments; not only because they in
cluded secrets which had not been known
/ if the son of God and his holy Spirit hat
not revealed them, but also because they
were not opened indifferently to every body
according to the advice OF Christ to his A
postles give not that which is holy untt
the dogs, neither cast We your pearls before
swine. Preachers IN their Sermons, and &c
,.lesiaslical writers in :heir books did no
fuIv exnress themselves on all these mys
reries: they said enough to be understood
bv the faithful; while to the Pagans they
were secrets, mysteries this precautlor
continued long in the Church. Ia fact every
trade. every profession, indeed every avoca
ION of life has its mysteries. the art anC
mystery Of occurs in the indentures OF ap
prenticeships, used in most branches OF bu
siness. meaning that which may be difti
Guilty, or even an impossibility to stranger
or TO a novice, but which is perfectly easy
and ineligible TO a master ofthe business
whose practice and understanding has beer
long cultivated by habit and application. =
Mystery may defined a secret; and secre
will always remain such TO those who us'
no endeavoIs to discover 1t; we often hea
il said that such a person holds thu
mode Of accomplishing his business secret
NOW imagine one who wishes TO know thi'
secret he Iabors and strives. but unless hi
proceed in the right mode, the object stll
continues concealed but SUPPOSE the posses
sor ofthis secret shows him the process tea
ches him. gives him the necessary lniorma
lion then that secret is no longer mysterious
% him. but he enjoys the discovery and prot
its accordingly; while others, not SO favored
are as much in the dark respecting tins par
,icular mystery, as be was so 1t is with
Masonry. her doors are open 70 all whe
wortbilv seek, although she scorns the ma
k;np of proselytes; those who come must
A. 81 ol their own free will. unbiased by
..;onds or uninfuenced by mereenary mo
,;vss and with a character unspotted oy I'm
a,;,y and vice, she reserves TO hersef
l.