The Arkansas banner., 1845-01-01

ly plactised. We only furnish ,bs
 scratinizing world, high standsas s's sgea ? to judge us, and pass upon opr r',o' ol sy \ greater condemnation. 'Oadsr
 The over-curious, and particnl.., mics of Masonry, have spent pnaai n,ally ihe speculatlons, as to the ORIGIN 4psa p lqI NATURE of the Institution. An ,plIse1 might have been spared, by an ana,' l,, oi N Il information, to the only true son,p. prlIe'i' q the proper medium, at least to 'Gs, a1l iaI have hay e. been worthy of the hisb @', eoss S,9 While in some instances, the e pDoa! poaat | demagogue, who knew not. ulpf1a| know, any thing of Masonry h. ,0f Ca up imaginary evils against it. and 1as >. Gs with the credulous, as engines spS Sol o'9d \ gnmerited promotion. We bideno,,.la 10, a' from the world, that a rational a ao' any signing to become a Mason, man ,,'ao n know. Things which we lo"l' @Jta Ca own bosoms, are beneficial 10 A on,,.l ap d| the institution, and can possibly p1,,'. 5a,n. or society of men. 4''llal
 The great MORAL PRlNclprrs ofu existed in the eternal fitness of of S V 4a' before the bright morning Stare I,.i9s Ra3 joyous songs the appearance of tbs aa',el aa Earth uPheaving from the dark ''Nf S'. / nSfI Chaos and wheeling into the line # gos \ worlds, that evolve in the vast ,I fal1 Ol ', sh And they were doubtless pracdes5 es 2 !. \ form or other, to greater or les. N from the time men began 10 nn1,;s, ,r9s q the little planet. 'Py
 But we claim no regular org,n;,... Masonry, as such, until the fsra fi'a'lo3 l Z Solomon; and we know that ii s oI ized at the building of the first Ier,;sl fg qI \ pie, as well as we know that sneb @,'l ' dous and magnificent Fabric was sI .a.' 'al ed, or that the wise Solomon wss e,S ;, pal architectl N' IN Fl
 Solomon lived in an aee of ooDo,.l ,l try but still there were a no6Ie fan bowed not the knew, save in ado,.,i. Great Builder of the Universe. I Tbaa| a sufficient number of them for tbe .al ny he called together, from his own .na rounding nations, and thoroughly o,r,, them into | MASONIC BoDY, for ibe 51,l of building the Temple, and. we ,rs for general MECHANICAL, SeIEN7,Em MORAL purposes. Hence, Masonry \ for ages, in its mechanical or operaivel ] but that feature was gradually and 6n,I,| continued, and 1t has since existed f. Hlatice, or scientific and moral purpose. ] And the various implements of is Al architectural feature, have been retaire| striking emhIems of the moral doctri1sl duties, which are constantly inculr,,s| the Order.
 So much for the origin and desigaof sorry. But the NATURE and BRyyw| our INSTITUTION, are more pleasing M to me, than curious speculations, as s| exact time, and specific design of is oi] organization.
 The great lIoRAL PRINCIPLES of M ", as before hinted, owe their exjgs] the same ETERNAL SOURCE. from vhr) light of Divine Revelation has hOgs bright streams upon benighted Earth
 MASONRY bars the door of her yenl and beautiful TEMPLE, against the adnl of any man who will not, before he ! the sacred threshold, acknowledge sl in, and an accountability to, the ALl.1 BEING, Maker of heaven and earth the very moment the Young Apprnit ters within the door, the BIBLE is paa| his hands, as the lamp which is togi| feet, and direct his conduct along the | way of life
 MASONRY loves not, nor encouragsI rance, but delights in all that IS noble, l ted and enlightened in man. In the s| degree, the Fellow Graft is deeply with the sentiment, that man is dstl9I from the inferior orders of animal els by the cultivation of his rational p5W| And he IS required, on this account
 vote much of his time to the study
 liberal .4rts and .Sciences.
 The philosophy of Uniyersa M from the inanimate pebble that gloTil sands of the Oceans beach, to the
 worlds that wheel their ample rOuns mark their unvarying cycles ont
 of infinite space-from the snaIef
 that reflects upon its busy wings ihs p
 the Sunbeam, through all the gadn animate beings, up to whatever r
 the nature, duties, and high destined is embraced in the wide range ol
 and Sciences, recommended to thea
 the Fellow Graft Masoni
 But Masonry still rises ill her bay
 temptation of man, and in the sublns'
 which she teaches him!
 She instructs the attentive lea1S man does not pass away, as a shadss exist no more, after briefly wasting a l lamp of physical life. She stands r the gloomy grave, weeping, and 'm III the language of deep despalr-~Un shall 1t be day in the tomb !" Wna] the fires of life be rekindled in the s
 dust! When shall the departed soul
 its mouldering tenement! Nol-no. while the third and sublime degree
 impresses the Master Mason with
 that reminds him of his mortality
 him to a bright ray of hope, that lllaa ll the dreamIess chamber of the dead 'l him rejoice in the animating assuiapI' x, resurrection, through the merllsal u' of inc tribe of Juda !
 Wherever the Master Mason lu'n
 over the face of decaying nature, nSp
 ded, by the silent, but not less elOq's
 pilaTe of that beatiful and exnresshe