Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1848-07-07

sis, that will reach, and mace, and oFLN his
heart. f
If YOU ask me, why il is that WasOHs are so
prompt in responding to the calls Of charity,
thrown, handed. or sent to them-why they are
so susceptible Of sympalhy-why so regardless
Of dollars and cents, when distress Is proclaimed
in their ranks; my answer will be, that u is ow-
ing 10 the influence Of their principles upon
them. But, as this answer does not appear sul-
fciently radical 10 the inquiring mind, | may
observe, that the principles Of Masonry influence
its members, owing, 10 great extent, 10 the pc.
cusr impresiveness with which they are incuI.
Gated.
am well aware that now touch upon Iea-
ture of our Order. which is looked upon with an
almost unconquerable increduiry; for he man
nsr Of carrying oui the benevolent objects con-
Itempated in our organization, is so widely DIFF
fcrenl from thai which is adopted by societies
generally, and so perfectly analogous 10 that
which is enjoiued in the glorious gospel Of the
Son Of God, that men uujUslIy aud iIlogicOliy
reason from our 81 eHce 10 our inaciirity.
To sound a trumpet before it, is not dislin-
gushing feature in the practical beueyoence Of
Masonry: il would not if possible, let its left
hand know v hat lis right hand doelh. If the
deeds Of mercy pracrised by our Order, were
published TO the world; if every breeze were
brought under tribute, and employed as a vehicle
Of conveying our deeds of mercy TO the utter.
most limits ofthS Continent, as is the case with
some others; we would, doubtless, if unyielding
prejudice would not smother the praise due u.s.
be ranked with the benevolent societies of the
day, But we are not as anxious that our benev.
oence should be known by the hearing Of the
ear, as that il should be felt by the wretched
children Of misfortune.
Imagine that a man high up in the honors Of
Masonry, leaving that green, but oppressed spot
of Europe, with wife, and four small children,
to seek his fortune amidst the sparse population
of this vast republic. lie lands at Philadelphia,
with means adequate TO his purpose. But, ow.
ing to bodily accident, he falls a prey to the
exorbilance of physicians, and the avarce Of an
inn.keepcr-nigh ill his means become well
exhausted He dies, but, thank Heaven, not
"wiihout 4 sign" He is buried. His weeping
widow and latherless children are in land Of
strangers. They sigh for their place Of desl-
nation. in the "back woods" Of Wesmoreland,
! Pennsylvania, where some Of their kindred are.
Who finds them a means Of conveyance-fRdS
| it, in the mystic sense-pays for it! The Ma
sons find it! Why did one of the daughters Of
that departed Mason, preserve the blue, red, and
'Iblack regalia of her father, and keep sacred his
tme-worn medall Whyl In memory of her
fatherl For this purpose, doubtless, but for
something more. 1t was that her sous, seeing
them, might be inspired with longing, never
to be satisfied ill they should revel in the mys'
teres Of Ancient York Masonry. Let, then
, the kind winds of heaven carry her the news
that two of her sons have obtained a key to the
whole secret, and that the less Of them stands
before the fraternity Of CarroIton!
But here, for the sake of the sincere inquirer,
| must pause to hear an objection. 1t comes up
thus Is not the gospel, in its holy principles
and in true effects upon the heart, altogether
sufficient to inspire with that expansion Cf bene.
VIOLENT feeling, which have just spoken of!
f answer without any hesancy-It is. Why
then, Masonry! might amply respond to thi,
question, by asking. Why any other benevolen
or social inslitutonl But TO be more respectful
. towards this inquiry, as it is often propoundeC
+. by persons actuated by honesty of purpose,
$ would say, that Masonry does not attempt 10 su
. persede the blessed gospel, but humbly professe
f 10 be subservent TO it; for it is built on its i'm
mulable truths, and SedulousIy incuIcales its sub
lime virtues.
Revealed religion, as well as natural, enioin
V great and important duties. 1t does not legls
late concerning The means or the mode Of carry
- ing lis principles into practical operation.
V The Bible is 10 be published to the nations @
: the earth; the everlasting gospel isto be preach
:. ed throughout the diversified abodes of humu
O beings; the hungry are 10 be fed; the naked ar
Il 10 be clothed but all this does not forbid the eA
}, stence of the Bible and the Missionary Society
" together with all other associations of beneyC
" lence. Masonry Claims 10 be one of the man
le means of doing good.
A. But very characteristic and peculiar teatul
u. Of Masonry is that ii furnishes to the nations
e. the earth, universal language. 1t is languag
n of signs, tokens, and grips. Masonry is in pra
is tcal and formal operation the world over. Ar
b. it is the same the world over. ltis one and II
d, samo thing in Europe, Asia, Africa, and Amer
C. ca. To all these, it furnishes perfectly INTEL
gible language.
- Let all the dialects of the earth meet in OF
n unbroken Babel, so that they neither know eac
others names from brick, mortar or stone; the
VI is one stone, the use of which all would knoN
nj and there are certain implements Of building
ed that would be familiar to the whole.
of And although they might not be successful
IN building a material tower, whose top shou
ce reach heaven, yet, they could erect supersru
,k ture of broherly love and active benevolenc
at whose heaven-towering height the waves of
e, deluge of adversely would not wash, and who
st inner chambers would be impervious to the chi
I'D ling blasts of misanhropy and mutual distru:
b. If can learn language that will enable m
in the hour of distress, to open the breasts ofm
Mt fellow citizens, of every political sentiment, al
nd of every religious persuation;-that will unlot
Iv the sym2athies Of the preiudiced Jew;-th
he by will conc uer the undying spirit of retaliado
o ,ro sumbering away inthe American lndians;-th
~, ,ot will subdue the perfdy of the Turk;-that W
in move the Hindoo, and rally around me all Il
nd dialects Of continental Europe:-.who will blan
me for itl