The Mississippi Creole. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1841-1851, 1847-01-09
In this temple Of moral and s,cal virtue all is

In this temple of moral and sncial virtue all
| harmony, all is peace.
RI IF it required the sanction Of the names
good and great men to give character and n
, commend it TO the favor of the world. no asst
citation could bring so illustrious catalogu
So long as man remains finite being-so Ion
as society exists, and virtue is revered, an
genius and science are respected, the names {
Frederic the Great, OF Prussia, Charles Wesle,
\ Washington, Lafayette and franklin, withos
fany auxiliary aid, would give character TO OF
order. While President of the United States
address from the Master, Wardens and Breth
rem of King David's Lodge, in Rhode Island
had no hesitation in saying, 'sbeing persuaded
that 9 Just application Of the principles q
which the Masonic Fraternity 10 founded, mus
be promotive Of private virtue and public pros
perity, shall always be happy to advance
the interest of the Society, and to be consider
ed by them as deserving brother" And ir
reply to the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, he
says, "that the great object of Masonry is te
promote the happiness Of the human ruce.'
Benjamin franklin cultivated Masonry with
great zeal, ana his Partially suffered no dminu.
ton during his long evenful and illustrouf
life. The good Lafayette, the Patriot Of both
hemispheres, was always devoted friend Of
Masonry. He saw in it constellation of vir-
tues, and wherever he went he took every OPP
portunity of demonstrating his attachment, and
expressing his veneration.
After these illustrious witnesses in favor of
our institution, certainly the most censorious
sceptic could require nothing further; if he
should would give him another volume of ties
timony in the significant fact that every general
officer in the Revolutionary Army, save the
traitor arnold, was Master Mason. If this
satisfy him not, then che is joined to his idols"
Let not the dissentons then, which sometimes
prevail. the vicious conduct of some of its
members, and the occasional perversion of the
institution, be adduced as proofs of its intrinsic
vices Although it has received the counte-
nance of the good and wise Of all ages, let it
be understood that the character Of an institu-
ton does not necessarily form the conduct Of
its members. Good Societies may contain UNI
worthy members, and bad Societies may enroll
good men among their members. Christianity
is often degraded by proAgate professors, and
the heather religion had Socrates, an
Arstidcs, and Cato. Wolves will sometimes
ntrude into the flock, and bad men under the
cloak of goodness will frequently insinuate
themselves into the most excellent institutions,
For, neither man nor angels can discern
Hypocricy, the only evil that walks,
Invisible, except to God alone,
By his permissive will through Heaven and
Earth;
And oft, though wisdom wake, suspicion
sleeps
AT wisdom's gate, and to simplicity
Resigns her charge, while goodness thinks
no ill
Where no i'll seems.
In all associations Of men there are perturb-
ed and uneasy spirits who scatter discord, and
sswhom no command can control nor cou nsel
teach,n and who like the tabled Enceladus,
create disturbance and dissentions wherever
they move. 1t is no easy task to Withstand and
counteract the arts of hypocrites and the acts
of incendiaries.
WorshipfM Master, Wardens and Brethren:
We have elevated for ourselves high
standard of action, and it is but just that the
world should expect that our lives and charac-
tero should conform to its requirements. The
world is ever censolious, and scrupuous atten-
ton to, and observance of, principle can alone
avoid its censure, and its clamorous animadver-
sion. We profess, that our institution, fosters
object lie, to soothe the rough features of mans
character, and soften the asperities of his ma
ture. But what will our precepts avail, if ex-
amples of conduct are not in conformity? 1t
is then a sacred and imperious duty you owe,
to yourselves, to your order, and to the observ-
ing world, that your lives should illustrate the
principles you profess. We boast the greatest
of any Society in the world; and this
because our principles are just, proper, and
rMMUTABLE. Yet this cannot secure for US homo
rable perpetuity, if insincerity and fsithlessness
characterse our members. Ii is the conduct
that stamp impressions ON the public mind
With the privileges and power of the order
"Grasped in the holy hand of mystery"
there is no earthly good which you cannot ac-
compish.
If we are but true to ourselves and the prin-
ciples we profess, our institution, clothed as it
IS with celestial virtue, and armed with the
panopy of truth, may defy all the storms of
,pen violence, and resist all the attacks of insi-
Iious imposture. 1t will never know the de-
,ays of age or the decrepitude of years, but
will continue to flourish till time shall be no
more,
"A nd when the creation shall fall into ruin,
It's beauty shall rise thro' the mid,t Of the fire."
BRIGADIER GENERAL.-C Col. James Gadsdep,
President of the South Carolina Railroad Com
,any, has been appointed Brigadier General
,y the President OF the United States. Gen
Ssdsden is 10 take command Of the Regi-
,epts Of volunteers from the States OF Virginia