Washington telegraph., 1849-07-25
MASO ONIC TION.
CONCLUDED.

star a1ter star may 20 OUT III every CoIl-
stellation in the political heavens, but
qo7aere he qUent the brightnes shall be
eternal, sand the upturned faces of admir-
ing mortals, shall catch the reflection OF
that lustre, from the very power of ap-
preciating its purity The recorded SEN
timent of this great and illustriOus man,
| 1el0t5ve to orr order, and of which he
spoke from long and entimate acquaint-
| ance, is confirmative of its generally ac-
knowledged high and ennobling charac-
ter, '.that its principles are founded upon
the immutable laws of truth and
justice, and that it is the friend Of liberty
and the haaadmasd Of piety." Were it
| lawful to draw aside the veil which con-
ceals its more deep and sublime mysteries
from the gaze of the wmanitaated its more
openly revealed excellence, would extort
similar confession from all who have a
mind and heart to appreciate the beauty
Of its form, the utility Of its design, and
the greatness Of its destiny. But yelled
as are its brighter glories, much may be
seen and felt even by those who have
not passed its secret portals. 1t is seen
by all who care to see, that Free Masonry
teaches its votarles to practice Charity,
respect the ties of blood and friendship,
adopt the principles, and reverence the
sacraments of religion, fearlessly face the
proud in the defence of the humble, as
sist the feeble, guide the blind, clothe the
naked, raise up the trodden down, and
extend helping hand to the widow and
the orphan. That it inspires its votaries
with love of liberty ard science. and
it inculcates the highest sentiments Of
patriotism and philanthrophy.
The grandeur and beauty of this noble
system of practical ethics is fully charac-
terized-1st BY its comprebemsive'aess- :
embracing every virtue-every refined
and excellent art and every useful and
enlightening science-as indicated IN It's
external garb, furniture, jewels, insignia
and officers. 2nd BY its laberallty-com-
nending and maintaining the doctrines
of perfect equality and freedom. All
Masons meet upon a leuel. Masonic SKILL
can alone confer distinction-no wealth
can buy it--no power can bestow it.
Yet the dooe is ever opened wide for
emulation. 3rd By its umlUersalaty.-
Let the Free Mason 60 where he may;
among every tribe and name and cline
of man, he will find brother whose
foot will be swift to run to his relief,
whose ear will be open to his sorrows
and his wants, and who will be found
faithful to every duty that becomes him
as a man and as brother. This univer-
salty of its adoption and extent, exhibits
most clearly. 4th Its mtility. Were it
possible to awaken the ent0m6ed nations
of the earth, and give to the Egyptian,
the Syrian, and Chaldean, a tongue; and
also could the Icing nations of the
earth declare the vast benefits that have
accrued to mankind from this noblest of
human Institutions, whether as 1t re-
spects moral and Intellectual Light and
influence, or positive acts of untold be-
nevolence to the hearts and bodies OF the
should be astonished.
Do YOU ask sswhy do we not see those
exhibitions of benevolence" We ans
wer-Masonry sounds no trumpet IN the
bestowment of her generous favors. The
thoughtless and unsuspecting wanderer,
not knowing that any human arm was
stretched forth for his defence, has, in the
hour of peril, been protected by the
vigilence of this mystic guard, his purse
rescued from the robber, his character
from undeserved infamy, and his life from
the descending dagger of the midnight
assassin. The captive in distant barba-
rous lands, has been set at liberty, when
naught else earthly could redeem or
save. Masonry pretends not to still the
whirlwind and the tempest. Masonry
SAYS not to the ocean, embrolled with
the winds of Heaven, "peace be still.
It has no strength by which 1t may hush
the voice of the thunder, as it speaks
it's terrors to man, or darken the light
ming as it scathes the vision OF Its victim.
These are the attributes OF a higher
power. But ssMasonry takes the victim
of the storm, and wraps him about with
comforts. She lifts the shipwrecked
mariner from the wave that was becom-
inc his shrond and warns him INTO LIE.
She stands not at the door Of the sepul-
chre to roll away the ponderous stone'
and bid the deatIlSsmitten tenant "come
forth''-but she takes the bruised and
crushed bv the wayside, Fours OIL INTO
his wounds, and supplies the means OF
extending life. These, and thousand
more she has done. and continues to do'
She goes not abroad to declare the re-
suits of her benevolent spirit; but when
she looks back upon them she exclalms
II was eyes to the blind and feet was
to the lame" Like Sampson OF DID, she
performs her wonders of this kind, but
never once tells father or mother OF theln.
Will it after this be asked. "what gooo
has Masonry done?" Without caring tar
ther than we have already done. to an
swer this question, we wonid ASK ali.
other-What evil can possibly gro" on.