The lynx. (Panola, Mi. [i.e. Miss.]) 1845-1845, 1845-07-19
NO27.

III our VIDE land, officers OF your go
vernment, members Of your Congresses.
and of almost every family in the land 2
He who can do so is filter for mad
house, than for the walks of ordinary
life. Our institution always has been
and is foe to tyranny. Il has never
meddIed with free government, al
hough it has existed ever since the
Flood; and it never can, until human
nature changes, and the anomaly is
presented of The soyereigns Of govern.
ment turning traitors TO their own in
terests, their own IamIIies oil d ali thes-
hold most dear. With Tyrants, howe
yer. it has medd.ed; and by turns op-
pressors have prosecuted, then dreaded
and trembled for the weight of its arm.
| know MOI if a Cesar should grasp the
reins of power but he might be brought
10 tremble on his throne by the aid Of
our Masonic associations. If the exist
ence Of such power in free govern
ment is to be condemned, if associations
may not be formed for the purposes of
charity, and the diffusion of good will
among mankind, to which is incidental
the possible delhronemen t of tvrant,
let Masonry in the U. States be con-
demned.
| have now taken such notice of the
three principal objections urged against
our institution, as seemed to suit the oc-
casion. doubt not however, the sim
pie assurance from the members Of this
fraternity that these, with all other ob,
jections are gtoundless, would have
proved amply sufficient TO those who
hear me. Ia my heart. laugh at the
puerility Of the objections gravely urg-
ed in the anti-masonic presses; yet i
may be imprudent to despise the inhu
ence Of ar enemy 10 such an extent as
to pass it by altogether UNDECIDED.
single pitched battle between champ
ons on either side of this subject woult
forever disarm the opposition of all dis
, interested persons.
| pass now to the more pleasing tasl
of considering what Masonry 20.
The grand and comprehensive obiec
of the institution, is the promotion c
the morality, virtue, benevolence an
happiness of the whole human family
enjoining brotherly love and universe
charity to all worthy objects. We ar
bound by the principles Of our insiitu
ton 10 be moral and correct in our Dc
! pertinent, and 10 violate no obliga,io
we owe to ourselves, on: families, on
; country or to God; ID induce by a
proper means, not only ourselves, bC
all mankind, TO live together in peac
| ana harmony, as one great family, il
= the performance of all the relative dr
ties of life, according 10 our sevsra
: stations, and the relations Ill which W
? may severally stand to our fellow mer
: and, as masons, we are bound, if we Sc
2 a brother going aside from rectitude {
5 conduct, to advise, admonish and endea
2 vor to reclaim him, in the spirit Of bro
t Their and friend. Imagine If you pleas
a family, bound together by the ties {
4 brotherly love, livingin peace and hal
? mony, governed in miIdness by ii
r rules OF infexible justice, and engage
: only in the business Of self protection
The promotion of peace and good wi
4 among men, and the diffusion Of IN
: versal charity; and you will imagine
= Lodge Of Mosons, such as lodges shout
: be, and such as lodges really are, unlet
e when, as sometimes be the case with a
e human institutions, they wander fro
J. the path Of Masonic duty and disregal
n the pure principles, Flaws and reguIi
h tons of the order.
The advantages which Masonry a
e iOEuS ~ lis lISliluClS uIC Oh
d sometimes almost invaluable. An
: though it may perhaps be unseen, Their
il is a great and lastin G benefit con(errc
l. upon every community in which lodt
If exists. True enough many Masons al
Of bad members Of society-but bad
/ they may be, they are still restrain
d bv their connexion with the order, ar
e would be worse were they not Mason
c. The objection that this family arrang
h, ment, in making masons friendly
sc each other, and serve each other on
ne occasions in their power, is injurious
ii the rest of the community IS unioun
H. ed ia reason. For while good IMaso
a will always serve a brother wnenev
:. - ~ ,ha;r ,,ower without doing N