Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1844-07-20

all happiness the oehtfe ~ every perfection. az
mention his holy name bat with that fevefen.
lia awe which IL due from the cfeatufs 10 the
creator The "ALt sFtiSa EVr" represents
this august Being and conveys 10 our minds the
important lesson that the secfcts pf all hearts
are known 10 Him, and that though man may
not sec our secret actions yet the " Lord seeth."
The duties we orc 10 our neighbour and which
arc strictly onioincd by masonry are oompfe.
hcndcd In that christian procept, procept well
understood but seldom practised--"do unto all
men M you would that they should do unto
YOU" ltroquirc~us 10 deal Justly with all men.
10 act upon the square with each other, and
whether Il respects the person, character or
property OF our fellow man to be governed in our
actions in regard thereto, by an "exaltod sense
of justice and bcncyolencc." The several du.
ties embraced under this branch, are represented
by various striking and beautiful cmblems
The plumb is used by operative masons to try
perpendculars, but we us free and accepted ma.
sons are admonshed by it TO walk uprightv in
our several stations before God and man. JUS
tce is rcpresented by the equally poised scales
indicating that we must Administered impartial.
ly and that in no event must the sword Of
9rennuS be allowed prevail over the gold of tho
Roman. The duties we owe to ourselves en-
brace the cardinal virtues of masonry. Among
these are Temperance, Prudence, Fortitude,
Chastity and Truth Temperance that our ia.
culties may not be impaired by irregularities or
excess, that our bodies may be rendered tame
andgovernable and subservient to the mind, and
that we may be free from the allurements of vice.
Prudence that we may regulate our lives and
actions by the dictates of reason, and that we
may wisely Judge and determine all matters re.
latng to our present OF future happiness For.
titude that we may bear the ills of life uncom.
plainingly and submit to the dspensations of
Providence without repining. Chastity both OF
body and mind that we may realize the duties of
friendship, enjoy the lofty emotions of love and
discharge the obligations of Truth" Truth that
we may secure the confidence Of the good and
virtuous, and established on firm basis the dig
nifty of oui characters. These virtues and du.
ties are represented automatically by the
W@ite apron which denotes innocence thereby
reminding us OF that purity OF life which is so es.
sentially necessary to our gaining admttance
INTO the celestial Lodge above, by the common
gdcdt which is used by operative masons to break
off the corners of rough stones thereby fitting
them for the builders use, but by US as free and
accepted masons for the more glorious purpose
OF dvesting our mind, and consciences of the
vices and superfuities of life, thereby fitting
our bodies for more spiritual building, "a house
not made with hands eternal in the heavens"
In addition to these duties, masonry teaches
US to perform the obligations arising from the
different relations of life with scrupulous fdeI-
ty. 1t would make us perfect in every virtue
that adorns those relations II would have us
to be faithful husbands, kind parents, and mer.
ciiul masters. AS subjects of state it enioins us
to yield obedience to the laws, TO be public
spirited as citizens, and faithful in the support of
government. Various are the other moral les.
sons and precepts inculcated by masonry which
1t is unnecessary to enumerate. Every moral
obligation of life is taught both by direct char
ges and in symbolical language. They are not
only impressed upon the mind by representa-.
TONS by implements used in physical masonry,
but the great book of nature is referred to, to illus.
trate and enforce them. To the mason all ma
ture speaks the language of morality and imparts
lessons of wisdom. From the dew drop that
gllstens ID the morning sun, to the great Sun
himself who is at once the glory and beauty of
the day, the mason derives instruction. The
earth, the air, the sea, the skies, and the works
Of art all convey to his mind lessons of serious
and solemn import. The stately and polished
column reflects to him the ma jesty of virtue,
the broken pillar the deformity of vice, He
walks in world of emblems all inculcatng and
mpartng instruction, inviting him to pursue
the path of virtue and to shun the temptations
Of vice. If he errs in the midst of SO many
it must be from that blindness of
heart which induces its possessor, who knows the
right, yet with needless thoughtfulness to pur.
sue the wrong.
But the most important and lovely virtue which
masonry enforces, is charity Charity is the brigh.
Lestewel in the coronal of masonic virtue, the
grace of masonic character. With
this attribute masonry is the peerless maiden
radiant with grace and loneliness, without il, tho
beautiful as the fabulous queen of the northern
vat Ill har 10 nolJ Nd
charity which masonry inculcates is not of Il
cold and speculative character, which says to tho
unfortunate, depart in peace and be We filled
yet doeth nothing for their relief" but it is of
that more heavenly character, which warns
the heart and prompts to every noble and be-
nevolent action. 1t is that lovely principle
which induced Howard to devote his life in al.
to the wants of the afflicted, it 10
that blessed spirit ;mbibed only from the heav.
emily teachings Of Jesus of Nazereth-" that
leads us out Of our immediate sphere TO seek
those who, though not of our name have hearts
to feel to pangs of grief, and bodies to suffer
the pains of afiliction," to minister to their
wants, and TO offer those consultations which
bring peace 10 the troubled spirit" The charity
of masonry is universal in its operations and in
fluences It's exercise is not restricted to any
particular section of country, or TO the imme-
date brotherhood. 1t embraces the whole hu.
man race. The nigh, the low, the rich, and tho
moor nre equally alike objects of masonic regard.
True it Is fhat in the distribution of relief ma
sorry has particular reierenceto its own MEM
bers Deriving from them the MEANS of affor.
ding reef-it is but Just and proper, when the
hand of adversely has fallen upon them and
when misfortune crowds their pathway, that the
evenue which they assisted in prosperous days
o accumulate, should be devoted in their own
lour of need to their own immediate relief.
And in utfording this relief is the delight of ma.
onry. We venture the assertion that no one
las ever known a worthy brother mason or his
amiy to suffer for the necessarieS of life fthere
e masons in reach of them capable of affordng
ssstance. When want assals the mason, his
RoTHER is ever by his side TO console and relieve
i'm. When stretched upon the bed of death,
c is surrounded by brothers who perform for him
no last sad duties Of life. And when ifes fitful
over is over, and the acting heart is cold they
Till surround his inanlmate form and consign