New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-12-28

earnest desire 10 benefit his fellow, which belong
! 70 true Friendship. W al know and feel she IL
Huence OF daily associations, how productive they
are, either of good or evil, Thus the habit ID a.
CURED in Lodges OF thinking well OF our neigh
bors, and this Is the first step towards seeking 70
+ do him good. We learn 70 loos upon our fellow
man, not as one who can be used 70 advantage,
but az one who has claims up1n our sympathy sud
regard. We are Taught 20 shan mor0seaessi zeal
ousy and suspiciOn-a and % cultivate courtesy,
atasbllIty and frananess. Now the heart. thus
alive to the gensIe teeiugs-thus full OF love and
nlercy-nlust be possessed also OF Charity, the
distinguishing characteristic of Master Mason
that vide world CHARITY which looks abroad upon
the whole human famiiy-and recognizes all as
brethreH-that Charity which looks 10 the neral
as well rs the physical Improvement Of MAJ
which seeks 70 Clothe him with the arnor of right
eousneSs 10 present him with the shield Of VIZ
tue. That Charity which desises man intellect
ual Advancement. aud strives TO raise am from
the degraded condition to which SIN has reduced
him. and to elevate him nearer to that state Of
perfection in which he wsa originally created. How
beautiful the description OF Charity by ST, Paul;
Though | speak with the tongues OF men and
angels, and have not Charity, | am become as
sounding brass on tlnkllng cymbol and though
have the gift of Prophecy and understand all
mysteries and all knowledge, and though have
all faith, so that | could remove mountains, and
have nos Charity, am nothing and though be-
STOW all my gOOUS 70 iSetl the poor, tLJu9u
give my body TO be burned, and have no Charity,
it proiiteth me nothing. Charity suferesh long
and is kind; Charity envieth not; Charity yannt.
eth not ITSELF is notpufed up doth not beheye itself
wise only, seeketh not her own, Is not easily pro-
voked, thinketl no evil, reioceth not IN iniquity
but .ejoicesh in the truth, beheveth all things,
/ hopeth all things, endureth all things, and now
| abdeth Faith Hope and Charity, but the greatest
! Of all these is Charity. How graphic this de
scripton-how strictly IN consonance with the
teachings of Masonry.
The young Masonis taught patience-patIencc
under trials and affection, patience under oboquy
and reproach. If the world taunt him as one
| whose profession is better than his practice let
I him diligently examine and see whether, IN some
particulars he is not wanting in that strict con-
sstency which should mark his course through
/ Life. He must not return taunt tor taunt, but ra-
ther good for evil. There 49, indeed point be-
yond which forbearance ceases to DC virtue but
/ much may be borne before that point is reached.
/ Charity sutfcreth long and is kind. He IS taught
humlity-to be owly in his own eyes, seeing the
/ Lord If God has endowed him with superior
gifts he is to use them for the benefit of his breth
rem but not, by unnecessary display, TO endeavor
to excite jealousy and envy. True merit is never
obtrusiye. nor does it ever go without It's reward.
The lowliest flower often eXhales the sweetest
perfume, and is the especial object OF the Natural
lists care.
1t is said of an ancient phlosopher-one at
wisdon-that, to a tattering disciple, he replied,
@ My daily experience is that know nothing :
He was not unconscious OF MS own powers he
knew the value Of his own requirements yet his
thirst for knowledge still unsatistied. lie
had often grasped at the shadow rather than the
substance. He had not been able to sound the
depths of the well of Truth. The Mason Is taught
that such is the experience OF all. Charity yaunt-
eth not itself-is not pulled up-doth not behave
itself unseemly. He is taught to control his pas
sions Mildness OF demeauor should ever mark
his conduct-purity oil heart his daily life He is
directed to "sct guard at the entrance OF his
thoughts to place watch at the door Of his lips
to put sentinel at the avenue OF his actions
there by excluding every unqualified and unWor'
thy thought, word and deed, "-and, while thus
guarding the outposts to examine, at set seasons,
the chambers within and to see that they are
swept and furnished. He reiolceth IN the
truth. He is taught to desptse no means OF IN
structon--to follow any path, however unlnyltlng,
if it but lead to wisdom The listening ear and
attentive eye his TO catch every ray OF light,
if it be but Of twilight brightness; to drink IN ey-
cry sound, though it be but a whisper. de 10
to love wisdom for wisdom's sake-to follow her
paths because they paths Of peasantness. In
that Book, which he ls taught TO cherish, as
great light of Masonry, wisdom and happiness
are ever inseparabe. :" God gveth to man, that
s goo9,, II Esd ms sEh 8sd9m and knowledge and
who is conscious of his own weakness, IS eager
to cling to it as to al tried friend " w lsdom IS a
defense and Money is a defense, but the excel
lspcv of knowledge is, that wisdom give!h Life
10 them that have it. 1t glyeth Lite IN this
world for it iInparts fresh vigor to the SOUL and
supports it amid difficulties. tgyetl lie IN the III.
ture world; for true Wisdom,-that knowledge OF
God which bringeth forth the fruits OF ar1ghteous
and holy life-will gain for US an entrance INTO
that Temple where the work and the workmen
are alike pure and perfect.
But while thus seeking his own moral aud IN
teectual improvement, and that OF his brethren,
the duty OF relieving the afflicted and needy, Is
imperative upon him The command OF GOD, as
laid down in His Law, is the Masonic hule
lfthers be among you poor man. orthy b!elhr a.
thou shalt harden thy heart nor shut ny hand ron aY
poor brother; bat thou shalt open thy hand aHd saIt se
~ rim sufficient his need in that which ne Waetn
grieyed when thou yest unto him. because that or hs
lining The Lord thy God shall bIess thee 10 AL thy works
and in thou puest thy hand unto When tnou cut
thy harvest, tn thy field, and hast forgot smear
the field thou shalt not go again to fetch Ii shall be or
tie stranger TIE aberess and The widow, That tne Itoru
thy God may bless lice IN all the works OF Thy hands
the boush= again shall be for the stranger the fatheress
the widow When thou guheresI the grapes OF ny
vineyard thou shalt not giean aerN ards sha De Tor
the stranger the latherless and the "do" commend
hee 10 DO this thing
How blessed ia Charty-as THUG exercised
doubly blessed For it blesses him that gives and
him that takes To the man whose mind IS IN.
deed Alright there is pleasure so great as the
consciousness Of having done good action The
incense of prayer and praise is doubly fragrant
when perumed by deeds OF benevolence and
kindness Oh how much we all need brothers
helping hand We start on LIES voyage down
the stream of tme-the banks are strewed with
howers-we do not see the hidden thorns-we do
not inhale the lurking poison-we glide on gently,
the distant mountains bright with hope and all
beyond an expected Paradise. But vii! the
stream be always smooth Shall we not feel the
thorns Shall we not inhale the poison How
cross the mountains The pilgrim staff may
break in ascending these rugged nights DO"
welcome, then, brothers hand, TO ease US
little of our burden.
| cannot permit an occasion like the present TO
pass without abiding to charge which has been
advanced against Free Masonry. She has been