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

man penetration--known alone unto God
are the times and the seasons appointed t
unto the sons of men. Then let us en-
deavor to live as those who are conscious
of an impending mortality; and that when /
these bodies are consigned to their mother
dust, our immortal spirits must wing their
upward flight to that Omnipotent Power
who gave them, there TO be Judged accord
ing TO the deeds done in the body. Let
US endeavor to live the life of the chris
tain, that we may die the death of the
righteous.
In the few remarks which contemplate
offering for your consideration on this oc-
casion, it IS my purpose briefly to notice
the rise and progress of free and accept
ed masonry, SO far as my limited sources
of information will enable me, together
with some of its leading characteristics,
and prominent duties which it requires at
the hands of its votaries.
We regard it to be no Dissertation to at
tribute masonry to the supreme Architect
Of the Uniyerse,w who presides in the grand
lodge of eternity, and the sound of whose
gavel called dark and disordered chaos
into q prevailing harmony, and at whose
mandate there came forth, from the most
profound darkness, that bright and efful-
gent light which displayed to an astonish-
ed and admiring world, the grand and
beautiful fabrics of His construction
Behold that royal arch which spans crea-
lion, bespangled with millions of twink
ling luminaries, and determine who was its
archetect. Yes, Jehovah is a builder,
and the vast universe showeth forth. His
handy work. But speculative masonry,
as practiced by US, although perhaps ex-
listing in an imperfect form anterior, was
perfected in the building of King Solo,
mons Temple, the grandest and the rich
est, the most stupendous and magnificent
ediice, of which the ancient or modern
world can boast. In the building of this
Temple, besides ten thousand men en-
ployed In Lebanon TO prepare timbers for
the craftmen's use, there were engaged
three grand oyerseers: Solomon, King of
Isreal, the principal patron; Hiram, King
of Tyre, Solomon's coadiulor; and Hiram
Abif, the rrsad Junior Warden. and prin-
cipal arlificer, and who was, as is known to
all master. masons, aCidolU's son; togeth-
er with $500 Master Masons, so 900
Fellow Crafts, and 10000 Entered APP
prentices. And this immence number OF
workmen were engaged for seven years
in the completion of the temple. To ar
range this immence throng of arti6cers,
coming from different parts of the world, and
speaking different languages, into pro-
per organization, so that concord add har-
mony might prevail over discord and con-
fusion, King Solomon, in his wisdom, es-
tablished certain secret signs Of recogni-
ton. whereby the grand overseers might
recognise who were workmen belonging
TO the temple, and at the same time
be able to distinguish the particular
sphere or grade in which they were en-
lployed. And as the workmen were paid
according to the grade in which they we're
employed, whether as Master Mason, Fell
low Crafts, or Entered Apprentices, these
i secret signs of recognition (whereby one
mason knows another in the dark as well
as the light,) served most valuable pur-
pose in enabling the workmen at even
: tide to manifest themselve to the grand
senior warden, who was stationed at the
west gate of the temple, and who paid the
) craft their wages, if anywhere due. And
] these are the same secret signs of recog-
j nition now used by all regularly made
i nasons. But at length the keystone is
! laid, the earthly temple of the living God
r is finished, and this vast concourse of ar.
f tifcers are about to separate and dispense
throughout the earth: but before thus sep.
: arating, they were assembled upon Noun
: Moriah, by the summons of King Solo
8 mon, all coming duly and truly prepared
e worthy and every way we'll qualified tt
B receive, at his lips, the grand masonic
; word. The solemn word vas thus impair
], ted, aud this vast assembIage, then upor
q the five points of fellowship, breathed int
: the ear each of the other, the sacfes
: pledge of brotherly love, relief, and truth
i whereby, although meeting in distan
a countries and foreign climes, each nigh
: distinguish the other as having been mi
9 tiated into the secrets of the orders an
1 then separated zach maso bosom d lodgl
S within itself retaining safely and secure
i. ~ the inyiolable mysteries of masonry
6 And from that period down to the pre-
IS sent day, free and accepted masonry ha
IS remained one and the same. No humal
: institution can boast Of such immutabiIity
i More than three thousand years have a
II ready rolled down The eyentful tide {
10 tiFne.since it commenced lis bright career
8 The destructive whirlwinds Of war hav
II wIirled in furious blasts over the EARL
~ leaving devastation. ruin and death