Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1848-08-19
LANCASTER, WISCONSIN. sA?TRDAY, AUGUST 10, ISIS.


ling slaves in mind of the strong, aud inte-
prudence Of thought and action be swallow
ed NJ IL the accomplishments of the base
designs of the ambitious and wicked.
Il j. the peculiar province OF narToeO
minds TO cOndemn any act the motive that
prompted to which, they either cannot or
viii not understand. Alas for human weak
ness, the greatest aud hest are not wholly
exempt from this vice.
There are some men so egotisticl and
others so thoroughly selfish, ms 10 always
visit with condemnation those who have
dared to differ with them in opinion.
Is II not humiliating 70 reflect that man,
possessing capacities and powers so Cod
likesNs 10 be able 80 send The living never
dying principle OF thought through illimita-
bic space, and contemplate themes fit for
food Of angels-in himself capable of crea-
ting Thoughts that can never die-that must
live on even beyond the end of eternity
should spend much of his life in that grav-
cling bruiiStneSS which creates divisions
contentious and disagreements among his
own kindred and kind, and which is faith
fully and truly embodied in the term--ua-
chdriiG5ieReSSi
+ How contemplate does the cold hearted
wretch appear, whose whole thoughts are
employed To detect some little improperly
in the conduct Of others, that will enable
him to find fault, and CRAFTY his miserable
vanity by his own created assumptions OF
superiority. The Charity mind throws n
cell over an unfortunate act and attributes
to the actor the same purity OF motives that
he himself is conscious Of possessing.
Permit me to speak Of one other kind of
inactive virtue, an inattentlon To which fire.
quenlly leads to the prostration of all Others.
1t is virtue which should be continually
practlsed by every Mason, mean sobfiety.
This virtue is the guardian of all others =
Drunkenness when it becomes a habit, pal
sizes all of the fine and noble faculties OF the
soul which elevate man to the similitude oi
God. 1t obliterales all the sublime virtues
of hich Masons should be proud Ii sinks
man lower than the brute, for the latter pur-
sues the design of his creation, while man
by prostliuting his nature aud faculties by
.l4tenperance, wantonly destroys the reason
wherewith God has endowed him and makes
Of himself brutei Can there be more
gloomy picture presented to the human
mind, than a dark and gloomy veil drawn
over the obscured faculties of mind that
but few hours ago was admired for lis
strength and sparkling brIlliancy? But one
hour ago perchnne the centre of thousand
bright glowing thoughts that in their scintil-
lations lighted up and radated whole cir
Gle of Joyous feeling, and fred the torch oi
learning and sclenre IN a thousand adwring
minds, that wondering as they gaZed, caught
asplrit thnt might lead to Il world, rc-sound-
ing; anw his faculties steened in drunken
ness. Is a subject of compassion, of derisinh
perchance of cantempti How painful "a
behold an enlighted being suddenly reduced
to the darkness of insanity by the inevitable
act of Providence! How much more pain.
full to see him thus reduced by his uwn act
Industry, punctuality, contentment, strict
adherence to- our engagements, the education
ofthe young, patriotism and religion ate
all virtues the practice of which are specially
euioiued upon Musons ! shall not pause
to elucidnte the benefits flowing from prac-
tice of all these virtues. The reflecting
MUD must see and feel ut once that all OF
the objections and denuncIatians, made a
ganst an institution which teaches the ne
cessiiy of practicing those virtues, are but
the bnscleas imagining Of the Iglnrant aud
the narrow-nndcd. But permit me to call
y0nr attention to the consideration of one
Subject, that should be of great solicitide 10
the Mason, Edacaiion. In government
where all may justly aspire to the highest
hnnOrs under governments, where the proud
boast Of every citizen * than he Is ole of the
rulers of the land: ench citizen should know
his rights in order that he may know how
10 prize them. ignorance is the grave Of
liberty, and is incompatible with the exist
ence Of free government. Tyranny and
ia
ed, while The Educated of our own happy
land proclaim IN trumpet voice 10 the trem-
bling dynaSties of fhe old world the truism
that an enlightened people can govern them
selves. Upon Education depends much of
public welfare aud happiness.
Mankind has been justly divided into
three classes,--the wise-the knayes and the
fnol3.
We are daily taught this lesson in onr
own public Affairs, that ~ the scramhles
and contests for office, which are continually
gning on, the knaves get poskes.jon of the
fools and then are an Over-matcb for the
wise. Ma~ons should feel the Importance
Of contributing to the education Of the young
aud rising generation. Eye,y citizen rn any
station, ought 10 know enough 10 be able 10
JUDGE for hinselfin ail the great transactions
OF life, and to he fortified against the prac-
iire of the ambitious and designing. An
ignorant man in the hands Of knave il
like a dangerous weapon in the hands Of Il
inadman; but well informed citizen j. not
only the guardian Of his own right, bat the
safeguard Of the honor add right Of his fell
low citiZens and one Of the strongest bul-
warks Of his c0uniry's liberty. / have thus
TO give the snperstructuts Of
T1ind-its benefts.--It makes men broth
er--it brings men together and cDntiilates
true friendship, among those who other
wise might remained NJ perpetual dis
lance" IL shields from the BITTERNESS Of ad-
versiiy, from the gnaying pangs of want, and
from the humiliation Of dependence. IL for
the frirndless makes friends. IT. well timed