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

editlce Of masonry pointed rs golden spire
towards the clouds, aud shed forth is glo-
rIous brightness upon the dark and BE-
nighted bosom ofthe earth. That sacred
temple, in the building OF which. il re-
ceived its finishing touches, and where i
was first cousecratad BY the preseaee Of
the Omniscient God, i now mingled into
its native elements; the magnificent slrrc-
lures which displayed The glory and genius
Of Egypt, have sunk into he aass; ! FAC
tured arch, fallen column, = moss-ero&n
wall, or an abandoned grotlo, : all which
remains TO speak to US Of the enlightened
and inventive Greek, or the nohle and IN
genIous Roman. Yet, free and accepted
masonry is still one and the same. lis IL
lustrious march has been onward. The
handmade OF science, 1t has continued its
course amid the dreary ruin Of ages. and
has signally triumPhed over opposition
and persecution, IN every age and N eve
ry cline. The deep-founded preiadices
of bigotry, and the cruel tyranny OF igno-
rance, have fled before it, ike the shades
of night before the orient orb Of day While
the pride, the glory and the grand - q
centuries have been submerged beneaih
the dark waves OF oblivion, lnasonrv has
still survived, with increasing strength.
and viii no doubt continue 10 live and
flourish until Time, ladened and toilering
under the weight of years. shall take ms
last solemn leap over the frightlul preei-
pice Of dissolving empires into the vast
ocean Of Eternity.
Masonry has never made any noise Ia
the world. Ii has left its own innocence.
and trusted TO the purity Of is own tenets.
to plead its own cause, and Ike the pure
ripling ril, il has wound its way through
those dreadful inundations Of human pas
sion. which have so often threatened the
world with universal innndaslon, without
mingling with their poisonous, dark and
murky waters. AT no tine has i arroga-
ted to itself any supremacy over IAe re-
ligious opinions of men, farther than to re-
quire. its votary 10 believe in Supreme
Being. At no time has il sought political
domination for itself, and AZ 10 time has il
asked xSlnSiye immnnities ne ssS.As = - :
hands OF government. Equality > me
great republican basis upon which 1 rests
Around It's sacred altar, the king and The
subject, the rich and the poor, the learned
and the unIearned, the civilized man and
the untutored Indian, al inset upon a le-
vel; and the only emulation thai exists l.,
who shall best work and best agree. Il
leaves faction to the artfd. demagogue.
ambition to subtle tyraEfs, and al the ba-
ser passions, which have filled The world
with woe and misery, % their blinded fol-
lowers, and seeks alone the universal ame-
Iteration Of mankind.
But, il may be asked, what are the OBJ
iects of masonry We answer, the good
of mankind. The principles which Il IN
culcates, and the duties which II requires
at the hands of Its votaries, are well cal
culated 10 enlarge the sphere Of usefulness
In life. What religion IS 10 the christian
world, masonry IS to the moral, and IN Il:
character we behold some Of the most re-
! deeming attributes Of our fallen nature
Not more solemn, grand and sublime - the
| blue payillioned arch which encircles The
universe; not more beautiful, fair, anC
lovely is the rainbow Of the east, than The
glorious galaxy Of benevOlencc, charity
and brotherly love- Founded upon thess
noble and imperishable principles, the ca
tadel Of masonry can never be moved
The storms of passion may beat against !,
|, the thunders Of tyrannical denunciaiioE
II may strive TO subyert L, but II will stand
firmly fixed in lis own native originality
unhurt by the demons Of ignorance ans
, darkness.
Masonry requires at the hands Of us 70
tnry the practice of all the cardinal VIZ
tues. It requires him 10 practice heneTo
; lenee: not that visionary sensibIliFy whicl
! passes of in means and sighs; nes aha
j, diseased grief which weeps bur never acts
not that stupid sympathy which feels 70
i misfortunes which Il never endeavoFs % 4
d leviate; not thzt misguided generOsir
] which would rather hazard life 10 aveng
! The coniectured insult Of friend, than
I step aside TO save from hunger and distres
& the poor and the unfortunate but that &c
Z tive benevolence which feels aloae 70 &C
and acts alone to relieve real sudsungs a,
2 beneyolence which IS never weary N We
: doing, and Is only manifested b. It's geo
effects. There is kind Of benevolenc
Il displayed IN the world which seems ambi
) tious Of nothing but notcrieiy. There
n another kind which seems . be Who'll
!. blind 10 the choice Of its objects; Away
& prodigal in the use Of IT. means, 1 gene
# rally results in the infection Of more ev
/. than it accomplishes good. But the ben.
e Violence which the mason IS required
j, cherish and 10 exercise. relrea from obse
D walton, and i manifested only II The bic
Is sings which Il cofnmunicases. The mas1
d IS required . provide the mems lor 4
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