The Arkansas banner., 1845-01-01
R. T. BEDMAN, VIM. TRIMBLE, THOS. AtII M. COLLINS, D. J. BALDWIN, H. r. PENDLETON,
 Committee, Sc.
LITTLE Rock. Dec. 2sth ls44.

LITTLE Rock, Dec 2sth l844.
 BRETHREN-In compliance with your re- quest, herewith furnish you copy of the address referred to in your polite note. l beg of you, however, to send it out with ] this apology-that it was gotten up, and de- hvered, on but about taco days' notice.
 Fraternally yours,
 E. II. ENGLISH. To Brothers REDMAN, TRIMBLE, COLLINS, BALD WIN, PENpLEroN, Committee, Sc.
 ADDRESS.
 i MASONIC BRETHREN:
 In accordance with long established eus- tom, we celebrate the nativity of ST. JoHN THE EVANGELIST, one of the founders and pioneers of Christianity and an illusrious patron of our ancientand time-honored Order.
 Sr JOIN was selected, by the Saviour of our fallen race, as one of the Twelve, who were to constitute the first great pillars of the Christian Fabric, and he was lavorite of his Divine Master. Such was his devotion, such his constancy to the Saviour, that he not only clung to him through the perilous days of his pilgrimage, but stood by him in the tragieal scene of his death, lindaunted by the mad sea of human commoton that ragged
 
 against the submissive sufferer And he was among the first at the grave, to catch the bright morning rays of the Resurrection, and herald the stupendous fact, radiant with hope, to an astonished world lie stood up amidst the prosecuting fires that were kindled against the carly Christians, by the hands of blind- ness and superstition, and even proclaimed the mission of his risen master, beneath the very shadow of the throne of the opposing C@sars
 And the sentence of Roman Emperor, banishlng him to q dreary and desolate island in the blue Hgean--to all abode with the miserable malelactors and eXiles of Rome, on barren Patmos-shook not his faith. nor caused him to abandon his religion
 That ST. .JoHN was a Mason, or at least d great friend and patron of the Order, is con Gdently asserted, from several considerations.
 And first Prior to the Christian age, Ma sonic Lodges were dedicated to Solomon. the wise King of Israel, and one of the pfin- cipal founders of the Order But the early Christian 4iasons dedicated their Lodges To ST. JOHN TIE BAPTIST and ST. JoHN THE EVANGELIST, and the Masoas of all Christian countries have followed their example, from that period down to tie present time.
 Now, the early Christian Masons must have had some good and sensible reason for abolishing an old and venerable usage. and instituting new one in it's stead.
 It has never been the custom of men to dedicate their temples, books, or institutions, to theIr enemies, nor even to those indifler- ent to them, but always to their friends and patrons This latter course IS dictated by interest," common sense, and even pride of character And it would be doing the early Christian Masons great injustice, to conclude that they acted contrary to the ordinary and more rational customs of men, in the dedica- ton of their Lodges Follows 1t not, there fore, that they dedicated them to the St Johns, because they were friends, patrons, and, ill all likelihood, fellows of the Order2 Again The voice of Masonic Tradition, IS raised in testimony of this position She points her finger back to the days of the good man himself along the lucid stream of uner- ring memories, that have garnered up the fact , that ST JoHN THE EVANGELIST was Ma } son, or friend of Masonry, and aided in it's transmission, through the long lapse of ages, : down to the youngest entered apprentice of our time
 : But, says one, can you rely upon Tradi- , ton, that has been fruitful of, and deceived the world with, so many wonderful tales Where the testimony of Tradition is reason able ln itself, and supported by concurrent , evidence, is certainly to be relied upon.
 Thus, that memorable and fatal error in the history of our first parents, which caused thelr ejectment from the blooming and bliss . ful bowers of Eden, and let loose all the evils of Pandora upon their suffering posterity, was faithfully handed down, by Tradition, from Adam to Moses.
 Again: The surprisingly sublime poetry of the sweetly singing Ossian, which has charmed the souls of admiring millions, was transmitted, orally, in all it's inimitable and unaitered beauty, from generation to genera ton, for more than three hundred years.
 Again: The sweet lays of the ancient minstrels, that for ages bound in magic spells the people o Europe, and kept alive, and so often rekindled the flame of freedom in Wales and finally called down the exterminating , vengeance of q dreadng monarch, were hand ed down for long, long years in the same manner The son caughtthe sublime strains from the qaivering lips of the dying father, aud poured them with undimnishcd enthusi- asm upon the ears of listening thousands Indeed, before the invention of the great art ol printing, most of the knowledge of the world Was registered in the memories of men, and transmitted, by Tradition, from age 10 ege. Think il not strange, therefore, that the single fact, that ST. JonN THE EyANeE- LIST was Mason, or great friend of 1lason- ry' has been faithfully handed down, by a body ot men, who are careful in tho presefea- ton oI important uudiiauary knowledge
 The early Christian Masons. dedicated their Lodges tn ar. laHN, not alone because he Was sfeat patron of the Order, but because ne wos aisa man of tha Pufe5i liic, unusual ehatiiy- and 2, unbeudiug fidelity to thepFia- eiples ot Religion and Masonry which lraisz oi ehuueEef' ate strongly inculcatcd by Ill truc Nasaas