Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1848-08-19

raising up The down trodden, supporting the
weak, healing the bruised in spirit, and pour
ng the oil of wine and gladness, into the
wounded heart. by tho strong sympathy al
I6rotheCty loce. Ruthless lespots, aware that
Masonic principles opposed strong barrier
60 their fierce ambition, and eager to estah-
lish their tyranny upon the ruins -of virtue
and philanthropy, have many times atteuapt-
ed la destroy Free Masonry; but they have
ever found il too deeply imhedded in the at
ltectionsgof the people, 10 be reached by all
81 the energes and mighty powers ofdespnt-
Iism. Ton many had tasted ies benefits, and
listened to It's pure precepts to resign il ato
the hands of the lawless, aud uRdeServing.
I Ia holding out in its precepis the most
captivating pictures ofviriue and goodness,
litotlers TO It's professors, dignity aud respect,
/ IL expands the idea, enlarges the benevolent
/ feelings of the heart, and renders man the
friend of his species. 1t instructs IN the duty
that we owe Ia our neighbors not To injure
him IN any of his connexions, and ia all Of our
dealing to act with justice and inpartialty.
II discourages defamation, bids us not To
circulate any whisper OF intamy, Improve
any hut of suspicion or publish any failure
of conduct. IL requires us TO be faithful to
our trust, not TO deceive, to he above the
hneanness of assimilation, to let tho words
of our mouth express the thoughts of our
heart, and whatever we promise religiously
| 10 perform. Do not these practices confer
benefits upon the whole human family p
When the rude blast OF war assailS our un-
happy country with all its direful rayages
aud emlmttlcd legions Of kindred men are
opposed in deadly conflict. When all a.
round perish by the infurate sword, aud hui
\ stand, III 4
sweats great drops of weeping blood,
the Free Mason'S extended arm checks the
upliltcd messenger OF death aud il saved
fro.n the destruction that was impend-
ing over him. From his enemy he meets
with friendship and protection and instead
of receiving the fatal weapon in his bosom,
he Is taken To the bosom oi' a brother, tho "A
moment before his mortal enemy, and finds
opened unto him a brothers. heart and n
brothers. home.
Such being the principles and advantages
of Free Masonry, it ceases to he Il matter
of surprise that in every coupry the nSti-
tuition has been nOuri~hed and encouraged hy
the most vrtuous and enlightend of lis IN
hahitants. The rulers of mighty empires
aud the chletiains of great nations have Of
ten ioiued our traternul society and lhmor
talZed their names by pructicing the virtU-
Gus principles of our order.
LASTLY shall not attempt To answer the
foul ISLANDERS against the institution, which
has sometimes been propegated 10y ignorance
and narowminded prejudice,
The man whose smalIncss Of mind lends
him 10 condemn what he dies not understand
merely because he does not understand il,
would be incapable pfnppreciating any JUS
tiratiop, however fairly or ably made, aud
to attempt u reason with such, were bur
useless waste oftlne. There is one matter
however which to many has appeared sin-
gudar. Accprling.lo thete OF onr order,
the fair sex. are excluded from associating
with "a in our mystic professions. This
we assure them Is not because they are
deemed unworthy, or because the working
tools of the craft IN speculative Masonry,
are ton ponderous for them 10 WELD But
from n consciousness 0 T our 0tca tceQkncss,
should they be permitted % enter the iudgp,
love would often times enter with them;
Jealousy would probably ranklc in the
hearts Of the breathreu aud pnternnl allec-
zion be perverted into riyalship Although
The most amatle and lovely part of natures
works are excluded from our meetings, set
our order Ike q sentinel upon watch tow
or, projects them from the attacks Of The Vi
scinns aud unpfincipIrd men. We are for
biddrn TO sacrifice the peace of whole fnnh-
lies, for a. m0nentary qualification, aud we
are precluded from undermining and taking
from others the happiness, growing out Of
the union, recognized 10y riyi society, as the
strongest bond Of union that can exist.
My Brethren may We all live in a manner
worthy of our high professions