Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1845-01-15

choly drama of destruction, since the grand
edilice Of masonry pointed its golden spire
towards the coluds, aud shed forth its glo-
rious brightness upon the dark and be-
nighted bosom of the earth. That sacred
temple, in the building Of which, il re-
ceiyed its finishing touches, and where it
was first consecuted by the presence of
the Omniscient God, is now mingled into
IFS native elements; the magnificent struc'
lures which displayed the glory and genius
of Egypt, have sunk into the dust; a irac-
tured arch, fallen column, q moss-grown
wall, or an abandoned grotto, is all which
remains TO speak TO US of the enlightened
and inventive Greek, or the noble and in
genious Roman, Yet, free and accepted
masonry is still one and the same. It's il
lustrious march has been onward. The
hand. OF science, ii has continued its
course amid the droury ruin of ages, and
has signally triumphcd over opposition
and persecution, in every age and IN eve
ry cline. The decp-founded preiudices
of bigotry, and the cruel tyranny Of igno-
rance, have fled before it, like the shades
of night before the orient orb of day. While
the pride, the glory and the grandeur Of
lcenturies have been submerged beneath
the dark waves Of oblivion, masonry has
sill survived, with increasing strength,
and will no doubt continue to live and
flourish until Time, ludened and lettering
under the weight of years, shall take his
last solemn leap over the frightful preci-
pice Of dissoIyng empires, into the vast
ocean Of Eternity.
Masonry has never made any noise in
the world. 1t has left its own innocence,
and trusted to the purity of its own tenets,
to plead its own cause, and like the pure
riplng rill, it has wound its way through
those dreadful foundations of human pas
sion, which have so often threatened the
world with universal inundalian, without
minglng with their poisonous, dark and
murky waters. At no time has it arroga-
ted to itself any supremacy over the re-
ligious opinions 'of men, farther than to re.
Quire its votary 10 believe in Supreme
Being. At no time has it sought political
domination for ITSELF and at no time has it
asked exclusive immunities for itself at the
hands of government, Equality is the
great republican basis upon which it rests
Around its sacred altar, the king and the
subject, the rich and the poor, the learned
and the unleurned, the civilized man aud
the untuiored Indian, al meet upon a le-
vel; and the only emulation that exists is,
who shall best work and best agree. 1t
leaves faction 10 the artful demagogue,
ambition to subtle tyrants, and all the ba-
ser passions, which have filled the world
with woe and misery, 10 their blinded fol-
lowers, and seeks alone the universal anne.
Iteration of mankind
But, it may be asked, what are the OBJ
ects of masonry? We answer, the good
of mankind. The principles which it in
culcates, and the duties which it requires
at the hands Of its yotarioa, arc we'll cal
culated to enlarge the sphere Of usefulness
in life. What religion is to the christian
world, masonry is to the moral, and in its
character we behold some of the most re.
deeming attributes of our fallen nature.
Not more solemn, grand and sublime is the
blue payiIioned arch which encircles the
universe; not more beautiful, fair, and
lovely is the rainbow Of the east, than the
glorious galaxy Of benevoence, charity,
and brolherIy love. Founded upon these
noble and impershable principles, the CT.
tadcl Of masonry can never be moved. -
The storms Of passion may beat againstit It,
the thunders Of tyrannical denunclatIon
may strive to subyert it. bat it will stand,
firmly fixed in its own native originality,
unhurt by the demons Of ignorance and
darkness.
Masonry requires al the hands of its yo-
tary the practice Of all the cardinal yir-
tues. it requires him to practice beneyo.
ence not that visionary sensibIity which
passes off in means and signs not that
diseased grief which wecps but never acts
not that stupid sympathy which feels for
nisiortunes which il never endeavors to al.
eviaie not that misguided generosity
which would rather hazard life TO ayengo
the conjeciured insult of friend, than 10
step aside to slve from hunger and distress
the poor and the unfortunate hut that &C
tive beneyolence which feels alone 10 act, |
and acts alone loreIieve real suffering; that
benevoIence which is never weary in well
doing, and is only manifested BY rs good
effects. There is kind Of bsnevoence |
displayed m the world which seems ambi- |
tons Of nothing hn, noiorieiy There is |
another kind which seems 10 be wholly I
blind in the choice Of lis objects always |
pr0dical in tho use Of It's means, il gene
rally results in The infection Of more evil /
than D. occomplishes good. But the bene-
Violence which the mason is required to
cherish and 10 exercise, reiires from obsor-
walton, anl Is manifested only in the blos.
sings which Il Communicates The mason
is required 10 provide The means Tor the
exercise OF Ibis benevolcuoe; hence hs