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


widow HFH tab. bound Hp fhf uH. pr W
FuHh HTp tHha wiped .fHW hIT t.t#. I#| a.
athffi# DE fh|iHfHuHtf f4 hU ufUtiilI E. I".
ltfrtHtiHtH ffr, and through thH ufI. ..Hf
~ Their uifFmaff ~ rtHii ID need H# NJ
manifestations " masonic charity Hfp r.t.Hd..
a. ihfm WIthb devotion that never l.fbs, HU
with hithfulness that knows h1tbtuaU Ib.
principle ~ charity produces In thU ht0i H
pteft mason q sentiment uf rfHfHfHt, EH.r
which unitea Tie whole fraternity m HUf H.ir
baud u friends and brothers Bound lHtflhc
w The same mysterious tee united iu cue com
mon undertaking. and dr,slcd Iu promoting
each others welfare, bfuihpry love flows IRON
heart 30 heart producing those Kindly attention.
md asaduitios which soften iho aspHHlIea oI
life aud Bdufns ne rugged road" This alice
ton is not ohafn that lulls 60 sIrop' ur
cvancstcnt feeling rhuurrublc aa lhg varying
hucs Of morn, but is Of FIRM, dumhle ana las
ting nature, No adversely can change IL, ne
trial corrupt A. Like those eternal fires, The
obcctaol eastern idalutfy Il ia uuQucuchlh,o
n burns in the bosom of every mason ludImmct
through liu and expires ouly vita his expiring
breath. It's this love that leads the mason
ueyCrt TO desert his brother IN evil or IN EpOt
report he cIeavcs to him Tho finger Of scorn
may be pointed at him, oalumny may bluekcn
his name but he iorsakcs him not. When con
It withdrawn, moro in sorrow than In an.
ger" This heavenly virtue is cmhlcmatically
incu'catcd By various representations, but for
bear further illustration. Masonry not only
seeks 10 enforce the practcoof these duties and
virtues, inculcatod by the institution, BY its vo.
taros through love for virtue, but calls TO Us
aid It's JUDICIAL authority. In an Official capa-
city it takes cogni2ance Of the actions and con.
versatlons of its members in their intercourse
with the brethren and with the world, and when
necessary TO rcbukc, and reprove with all author
itv. Thus in case of the violation of any of the
precepts Of masonry the offender is brought be.
fore the Lodge, and rcProyed, rebuked, or cXpcl.
led as the occasion may require. Such is an i'm.
perfect outline of the principles, and objects of
masonry, the means by which they are taught,
and the method by which they are enforced. I'M
perfect it is, il is sufficient TO Justify in rank
ing masonry equal as a MORAL SCHOOL, and capa-
BILE of prom ting human happiness with any 9TH
er human institution. Attracted by the beauties
and wisdom of the order and the loveness of its
prnciples-thousands of the good and virtuous in
every land have delighted to tread IFS courts.
In our own country Warren, a Washington,
and Franklin dictated at its affairs and shar- ,
ed its trials and its trumphs.
Though such be the avowed principles and OBJ
ects ofmasonrv--it has not been without its OPP
ed with the history Of events in our own coun.
nv, that here in this happy land, the institution
as undergone persecution OF the most relent-
,ss andbittcr character Demagogucs and broken
own politicians first raised the warwhoop of pro-
,rptiOn, which was prolonged by the croakers of
nrty until from one extremity of our Union to
ne other, the Institution was decried, and
to be dangerous to the liberties of our
0untry, Strangethat this charge shouldhave been
rought against it-when it is remembered that
warren who fell a sacrifice to secure those lib
tiles on the heights of Bunker Hill, and ash
lgton who led the forlorn hope OF American lib.
-ty during the dark era of the revolution were
9TH members of the order That wave of pop.
lar excitement has died away. Masonry has
lrvived the conflict and is now in a more flour 90
hing condition than before this persecution
egan. The principal objection urged against A
ne order a present is, that it is &" secret soc
ty." This objection may be urged with equal &
rOprety against all associations. The church
as its secrets. Our legislative bodies have :
leir secrets and are bound by oath to preserve \
hem. The different professions Ill have their 1
screts, and the keeping OF them nvioate is eS- :
initial to success Every department of bust.
ess life has its secrets, Those then who oppose
asonry on account of its being secret soce 1
should for consistency sake oppose the L
lurch, our legislative bodies, the different pro- r
ssions, and this various departments of bust
ess life. Secrecy is not of itself criminal. 1t
trait of character calling for our admiration.
he man. whose breast is a faithful repository [
the secrets of his friends, is respected and
dmred. Scripture commands secresy as trait I
charact ter for we are informed that " A tale |
carer reyealeth secrets, but he that is of faith.
al spirit conceaeth the matter" Secrecy is not
sed by masonry as u cloak for evil but 20 an. {
wer laudabe and noble purposes The system
+ charity nculcated by the institution could
ot be practiced, unless its members had some i
cmmon language, by which they could in eve.
y land discover and recognize brother. But
he objection against the institution goes far
her than mere secrecy, 1t implies that some
hing is concealed which it is improper should
re made known. Ifthis was so, itwould certain.
y be exhibited in some shape in the fruits which
he society produces. If iniquty was hid be.
ind this cloak of secrecy,--it would be found
ut by corresponding action on the part OF IT'S
members. If on the other hand the fruits OF the
Institution be good, by what authority or WIN
What reason is il condemned on the ground 0,
eCrecy. 4" A bad tree cannot brllg torth gooo
ruIt, therefore if the Fl uits OF masonry De gooo
We are warranted in believing the tree 10 DC
ood also. Gould this veil of secrecy, winch ap,
,cars to be so very Objectionable to the opposers
# masonry. and which hides from the eyes OF
he uninitiatrd the secrets of the order; be with
Irawn. thew would be mad to hang their heads
n shame at the contcmptibloness OF the obJec-
ion While they behold the nnmDe ,I. acts
# masonic charity-the many destltUte wid |
,us nd fatherless children supported by the
,o,ntv Of the institution, and the many friend |
ess orphans educated through It's instrumental.
~, they would feel how unworthy are the suspi,
ions entertained by them. They would then
discover that the real secrets of masonry, are |
the binding OF broken hearts, and the healing
Of wounded spirits, hearts whose grief never
met the ear of the busy world, and spirits whose
meanings never passed the Threshold of the
house OF mourning All,
"Could the world one secret actions sec
All mankind one vast brotherhood would be-"
Another objection, is the exclusion of the
other sex from the sccrccics, and partcpa.
ton in the transactions of the order. This ari-
sos not from my want of confidence in their hon
,nin /