The North-Carolina standard., 1849-03-07
MASONIC SEMINARY.

We have before us the" Report of the Trustees
oftbe Grand Lodge of North Carolina, togethe with
the Speech of J. NJ Lovejoy, Esq, principal of the
Male Academy in this place) the subjeet Of the
Masonic Seminary, proposed be established. This
Report is signed by Messrs. J. F. Speight, William
Gott, C. w. D. Hutchings, w. III. Mead, j. +:
Rhodes, J. NJ. Lovejoy, w. F: Collins, and w: g.
Hill; and it gives cheering evidence that the con-
tempated work is in a fair way to be accomplished
We have read the Speech of Mr.. Lovejoy, sdeliv-
cred before the Grand Lodge, at the late Annual
Communication on the subject of Education, with
unalloyed pleasure. We quote the following, as
furnishing a specimen of the style of the speaker
81 have often been asked the question, sswhat will
the poor of order do, if educated, when they be-
come men,? What will they do, if uneducated,
when they become mena Butthe uneducated never
become men; the Ignorant are always childreH-chi-
dren they in respect to the works of God and the
creations of mind. But what do the educated poor
They do all that is DONE They become great-ia
yers great architects great paners great mechanics
great tesmen great poets, great philosophers aye
great in every thing. Poverty tells hef children,
when educated, they rich. She still stands be-
fore them in her rags, but her eye is full of energy
and fire. Her still gaunt, but has the strength
of Titan's to rend the barriers which impede the
course of her sons to fame and power. She is no
LONGER like an angel of death, cold and shivering
the North wind, but is rather good spirit, and teach
es her children thousand things. She points them
reach forth the hand and take it. Poverty, when her
children are educated, shows them many things. She
learns them how to cut mountains into beautiful col
unns and fashion the rude rocks into magnificent
temples that they tell the grandeur Of nations
To distant times. She has shown them how to pen
up fire and water in ribs of steel, which speed the
commerce of States over the GLOBE and how to take
hold of lightning, and chain thoughts to his car.
Poverty teaches her educated children MANY things
She points them back through preexistent time and
shows them the mighty men and, demigods of old
that they were poor yet nevertheless formed savage
hordes into civilized and gigantic States, became the
lords of song of eloquence and philosophy, and thus
won their way to immortality. She points them to
the great men of modern date-to Shakespear, Ma
poeon, Milton and Washington, the fourcgiants of
thought and action, who have written their IN
letters of fire upon the black wing of time; and says
that they were poor. She shows them Washington,
uaversing forests and wading through swamps,a sur
veyor of land in his earl manhood. But she shows
him In different picture, struggling with that mon
er and terrible thing, calleda tyrant. wrenehng his
hand from the throat of Liberty and placing his broad
brave bosom between her and her tormentor lifting
up State which had fallen, wasted and bleeding,
and placing her feet upona foundation strong and
deep that she has grownup the glory and wonder of
the world. But have not time to tell all the edu
Gated poor have done and do. They teach all
Schools fill all colleges with professors, and our
churches with the ministers of God. They build all
our towns and villages all vessels of commerce,
and navies of war. Bot what does Wealth !? Moth
ing nothing all; she stands with her folded
en- petticoats, and looks to see Poverty work.
But she pours into the lap of Poverty hergold sur
renders her possessions gives up her houses and her
lands and her petticoats also. How does Poverty
serve her uneducated children4 She stands before
them sern-and terribe-she will give them no aid,
no comfort, no cheer. She pushes them into every
hole and every ditch she plucks their rags, and tells
them that the North wind is stormy and fierce, and
cold, and that no body cares She talks to them all
day of want, of hunger and famine, and hauns their
pillow night she tells them of grog shops. of rum
and of crime. and makes them believe the very Devil
is their best friend. Thus talks Poverty in two
ways. Thus talks Poverty with her double face and
Janus mouths-and she tells you educate your child
ren and will lift them up to fame, and power, and
distinctions; but leave them uneducated, and will
crush them and crowd them down to ruin.''
Abiding to the importance of such Seminary to
the destitute children of the Masonic Order, Mr..
Lovejoy says: --.-.-#...
"It may be said that the destitute of our order
educated. But how, l ask ! Are they educated as
a Mason, who has the means, wishes to educate and
does educate his own children? They are, perhaps,
sent TO school one year, two months another year,
three another, two again. and thus ends their nstruc
ton. No child ever be thus educated.
consider education to be that discipline of the moral
and intellectual faculties which fits individual to
discharge any duty which society imposes upon its
members. Doubtless this fraternity has some chill
dren growing up in perfect ignorance, without even
acknowledge of the Bible May the Father of mercies
and protect the poor ignorant children In the
ueSeIL Wnlcn D6IOEe! CCilIe "
Shall it be said that the Masons of North Carolina
will suffer any child who has claims upon them to
grow up without knowledge of the Bible? The
Bible! What is the Bible! The voice of God, the
philosophy of creation, the fountain of all wisdom,
the source of all good; the pivot on which swings
the needle of hope, that points the earthborn heaven
ward the wing of the imagination which lifts 1t up
with great thoughts like the pnions Of strong eagle
the mine from which wrought the gems that
twinkle on the brow of immortal Poesy; the bold,
bright truth which the naked soul sezes and invests
itself, as with the garment of angel; diamond
out from the throne of God, and placed upon the
front of dark world to light its wayward steps to
eernity.'
We wish every Mason, and the family of every
Mason in the State could read this Speech. 1t would
enforce at once, with trumpet-tongue the neces
sy for action this subject; while at the same
time would bring home their hearts, by its COM
manding eloquence and its saving truths, the full
worth of its enthusiastic but unobtrusiVe author.
SUPREME COURT.