Holly Springs gazette., 1845-07-26

I-mln has f1rSakeH utS SaIoiuLohcA1 saNS'"7
for the unprelending lodge. La his hu-
man sacrifices, the fierce Buddhie has
head and obeved that voice which for
bids him TO shed brothers blood The
dread Mithras has lot his foiowers. aud
| his devotees join with as IN our spiritual
prisons to the true God. The temple of
Eleuses is idolless. AM upon lis altars are
| opened the oraces oil - viaity, Whhin
the grove oe the Druid are taught the les
| sons Of brstherly Iore reltef and charity =
All. al have fallen. and like some lone Py.
! ramid on the moonlit plain, Masonry stands
| alone amidst the ruins. the last hoary oni
! immortal r.lict OF Earta's primsval myste>
ries. The Supreme Architect OF the Uni-
verse has preserved ir for wise and glori'
Gus proposes IL is mol Christianity. but II
has ever proven itself to be Chris, ianity's
most efficient pioneer II is not religion.
but it is that sacred principle which hu
manizes man and changes his bitter prejn
dices and passions into holier impulses
| 1t speaks an universal language, and that
| anguag ge is lore Ii is abroad upon its er.
rand of mercy. in every nation. tongue aud
people under Heaven wherever charity
can be exercised, wherever misery csn be
alleviated. wherever good can be effected.
| 1t rebukes the barbarity of the savage
enli ghtens his mind and allays his passions.
It elevates and ennoblcs the civilized, EN-
| larges his charity and confirms his faith.
| [, dissi pates the superstition and idolatry
of the heather. and prepares the way fol
the great truths Of Christianity. Its bright
and joyons career will continue. until that
DIV shall arrive. "when the wolf eatso shall
dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie
down with The kid. and the calf and the
young lion and the failing together. and
lii le child shall leai them" Then. and not
till then, will its rites be frgotten aud lis
a ia RS deserted. Then will the evil pas
sinns of man be forever hushed, and our
n oble institution will then sink into the
more perfect order of the Prince of Peace.
Let me- hope Brethren AMI Fellow Citi-
zens, that this hasty survey of the past may
not be entirely proftiess. Il tells of myste-
ries so general and ubiquitous. that, TO the
stern laws of necessity can alone be as
crbed their origin and prolonged existence
AS the past has been, SO will the future be.
Wisdom should therefore teach US to sup
port and sustain that which is most useful
and practical. AS Masons, we have made
our election, asmen. make yours A still
further and more satisfactory apology can
be found for these institutions, in the de-
prarity of the human heart. The natural
tie watch binds man to his fellow is but
rope of sand. M lrder and rapine, aud
pIunder are acts familiar to the sons Of men,
Christianity indeed prohibits crime and inn
morality under the penalty of eternal pun.
isament. Some will wholly disregard its
threatenings. to others the delay of iudg. !
ment renders that judgment terrorless TO
many they are wholly unknown, whilst /,
frequently the professed Christian. clcak- |
ing his vices under the garb of sanctity, |
will act towards bis fellow Christian as the |
Brahmin, the Buddhae, or the Mason
would not dare to act towards his brother |
There must exist. then. Institutions whose
signs and tokens can stay the upIif:ed dag.
ger, can prevent The meditated fraud, and |
can change the bitter animosi,y of hate to |
the kindIier impulse of affection. There |
mus: be those, into whose ear the excited
soul can safely pour its most secret and |
hidden joys or hopes or sorrows. There
must be those into whose hands can be safe. I
ly trusteed the honor of ourselves and our
families. In a word. there must be those
amongst whom the generalized nhilanthro-
py of the pre- efesscd christian. becomes the
individualzed love of the true brother.-i
There must exist, also. some mystic tie be.
tween man and man, by which in the trou-
blous time of distress and danger, he NAV
command the services of brother in a
s. range land and amidst Strangers. There
must exist that secret sign. by which the
honorable yet destitute man. may call for
relief and aid from those with whom the
application will ever remain a profound
and lnviolable secret. There must exist
that perfect confidence, which enables the
dying brother to bequeath his hearts rich.
est Legacy. the companion of his youth a.,G
the children of his love, to men. with whom
their protection and support is a solemn
and imperative duty. There must he
messengers of JOY to The destitute widow
and helpless orphan, who will whisnar
peace to the troubled bosom and wipe the
tear from the swollen eye Human de-
pravlty would Danish these virtues. bn,
enjoins. and the Mason .a.
crediy observes them in his transact;ons
with his brethren. The discharge of thee
sacred duties forms but part of his creed
no q noiety OF his practice. Love !. the
. ,oundation. rellefthe superstructure of his |
Masonic edihce. Its establishment is
charity which thinketb no
wi: which beareth all things, believe,b =
III things. hopeth all things, and endu. I
etn all things" Sch is true Masonry .
charity. relief and love, form our shield
nd ouckler against the bitter assauI,. IF u
'atred, malice and persecution. They en-
lose US In panoply of mail against the
pen enemy or secret foe, but alas thev
sNtx- - r..