The Yazoo City Whig. [volume] (Yazoo, Miss.) 1844-1851, 1844-08-09

times use unguardtd expressions winch +,
seem 10 imply not only greater antiquity
but actual superiority to christianity herself
This Is. not only gross error, in point If fact
and tending o mislead the uuinstructed and
but brings Masonry into unfavol~
able comparison with christianity, and thus
ILaIcis deep injury upon Masonry herself.
The truth i, 1t is mere wild fancy which al
tempis 10 trace Masonry to "crcallon's ear.
liesl dawn"-make her Older than Eve her.
seIf-and scarce willing TO yield the palm
Of antiquity in song 10 tie sons Of God
whn shouted for JOY when God sid let
there be light and light was. Records will
not justify such ptetence, pur blind ira.
dItIon is ashamed of 1t, reason disdains il
and Masonry looks at il as the mere gossa.
mcr Of unsubStanlial ecIamation-hardly
To be endured as gaudy baubIe devised in
wreiched taste to each the vulgar eye and
excite the vain curiosity Of unr hectinn
ignorance. 10 sober>mindt d Masons such
tlnsel is offensive, and can only tend to bring
our noble Institution into contempt with
the intelligent and re fectug portion ofihose
who have not, in due form. been taught the
simple beauty and sublime proportions oflhc
noble arch beneath which Masonry, in the
calm serenity Of intelligent reason, loves to
recline and decypher the mysterious sym.
bols inscribed upon it by the hand of be~
nevo'cnce with the Learning Of the oriental
scholar, and a moral sense cultivated by the
study of the scriptures.
The intelligent Mason knows that our
rpOCt cfpriDuS hyrC,ivt,hic, and mast
prcsslve cmhIrms, all, all indicate scrip
tural origih-that the very medium by which
brethren communicate their most secret
Il oughts and feelings 10 each other, is but
the language of Moses and the Prophets.
Such Mason will discriminate between
the antiquity of the fountain and the stream
for which more modern han! Of bcneyo,
leuce and pIety has fouId a channel. IL
short, 10 the intelligent Mason the inscrip.
lions on the Masonic Arch itself ale but Sc
many recognitinns of the unqucstionabl,
superior antiquity Of the Scriptures. Be
meath that arch, my brethren, We rest, not t,
tell Of our years beyond The flood, nor O
records more ancient tran the Mosaic, no
of traditions which . sssf,f!aat &ise.zsvor
Of God-a revelation Of our own claimin
vainiy and iDpiousiy 10 beast of the rowe
of Masonry to open the gates Of the Heav
cnly City 10 her most ardent admirers. w
can find much more rational and truly Ma
sonic employment in numbering o., tn
wants and woes of man in this life, an
pouring INFO his bleeding wounds the oil q
a living and active henevolence.
And whio we use the solemn sanction
Of Gods WORD to bind each other TO the per
formance of those ac;s Of love and charity
and the practice Of those virtues which al
ought to regard, let us ever remember, no
permit others TO forget, that Masonry is nc
religion that it does not pretend to /,
chrisiiantv, nor substitute for it-tIlat
reveals no atoning blood shed for the remi,
sion of sin, no rcgeHeIaling spirit, no JUST
ficatiun by faith, no free pardon, TO eterna
,, life in the soul as the gift Of God to falle
. ruined rebel against his Maker. These
:. these are the revealed facts Of christianity
. the glorious inheritance and consolation
: those who, NTH masonic light, have recei'
:. ed that also which Cometh from above,
, ardhout 1t have been raised from tile gray
Of spiritual death by the strong grip of th
Lion Of the Tribe Of Judah. We know
my brethren, that the mysteries of MasonT
= are not the mysteries Of Salvation, and ca
! not alone give, salvation. 1t was never d.
r signed for any such purpose. 1t is wholly
:. human Institution, nor can IFS antiquity
: its mysterious nature ever give.it power
- redeem the soul of one lost sinner.
:, y He is certainly unskilful, and deserves
:, be an unsuccessful defender of our noh
- institution, who fn- one instant brings
= either in prir cipIe or practice or promise
= into comparison with the glorious gospel
= the blessed God, which brings life and j
- mortality to light. Nor can any one, no
y Mason, form any right conception Of
a nature, who does not dismiss entirely FRI
:, his mind. the idea thai Masonry prefer
-, ,"' to be either religion or the christian
:! hgion, or even a sect of it.
10 We have said, plainly, that Masonry
-, wholly human institution. As such,
go think it has high claims to the respect
-. every lover Of good order, Of every {
~ - who wishes peace and harmony and broth
al " love and charity TO prevailsnot only am'
~ christians but as far as possible through
i the world among those who are not Oh
/ to tians.
hly. In proof Of this, we remark, tina,
itch general principles Of Masonry are OPP
h 10 published to the world, and are acceslbl
one all, who will take the trouble TO read