The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1851-07-19

on the trestle board,D but be embue
with the spirit of generous emulatio
to surpass all that has been accom-
{ plished before. We should live not fo
ourselves only, but for other times. w
are not the creatures of day, but link
IN the great chain, whose completes
circle will span the entire isthmue O
time. Posteritv have an interest int,
labors of the craft, and this though
should awaken new zeal among US
When the young general of republican
| France--her future emperor, the terror
and the pride of nations-amid the
burning sands of Egypt marshalled hi:
forces to meet the impetuous charge Of
the fiery Mamelukes, he sought not by
studied harangue and wordy promises
to infnse courage into his troops, but
with that hand which had never trem.
bled in the conflict, pointing to the
eternal pyramids, which loomed up
giant-like in the waste, he exclaimed,
From yonder pyramids twenty centu-
rles behold your actions on this day p
and the God-like courage, which knows
no faltering but in death, impelled his
soldiers on to victory. So, companions
and brethren, in the lifelong struggle
which we are forced to wage with our
varied passions and conflicting interests,
should we remember that from the pyr-
amids ofour temples-from the wardens
OF the west. and the south, and from the
east, from that council chamber whose
light knows no extinguishment, more
than twenty centuries look out upon our
actions.
1t has been said, and tauntingly
asked" If Masonry be a meritorious
institution, why not make it free for
all |" Permit me to assure you, ladies
and gentlemen, that it is almost upon
the same terms that you grant access
to your social reunions-those little
circles where friendship meets to make
her votive offerings around the holy
sanctuary of home. 1t isl every man
that you are willing TO admit 10 these;
1t is not every acquaintance nay, as
the world goes, it-is not to every friend
that you give the password to that home
masonry Of the heart, which admits him
as welcome guest 10 the hospitable
board and smiling hearthstone. 1t is
only to such as after "due trial and
strict examination you have found to be
worthy congenial in temper and in
conduct, and unto such only are YOU
willing to give "sign and TOKEN"
thai will exact recognition as readily
in the night of their Affections as in
he day of their fortunes. Indeed
Masonry is not SO exclusive, and yet
7e would complain.
But the ladies are not admitted IL
Most certainly not. Within the Lodge
many arduous labors have to be per-
ormed and much important business
and what body of gentle
nen, especially Masons, whose ruling
characteristic is a chivalrous devotion
0 and boundless admiration for that
ubllmated section of our race, could
hink OF transacting business while
here was an opportunity of soaring in
ne heaven of woman's smiles, and ;
lstenlng to the melody of her voice, to
hem sweater than the tunes from the
arps that angels touch They know :
themselves better than to attempt the +;
npossibility; and hence the exclusion
the fair. | am aware that other
sasons have been assigned, such as
woman cannot keep ret,n-but
elleVe me, ladies, this is slander
hitch had its origin with some enemy {
the Ofder-a SANDER which Masonic
addition especially negatives, and Ma I
mic practice continues to disproye, for $
ldies are admitted to some of the I
egrees, although not permitted to be t
resent at the meetings of the Lodge,
II some such reason as that which |
ave given. The exclusion results from
. lack OF respect for your virtues, con-
dence in your faith, or JOY in your pre-
nee; because, from the grey-haired :
Ugh Priest whose lips drop wisdom in n
. sanctuary, down to the youngest Il
,ophyte that loses himself in the mys- n
rieso the temple, allare prepared to ?
ldorse the sentiment of the bard T
Woman, bright woman, whose form and whose Il
soul, "
Are the spell and the light of each path we "
pursue,
summed in the tropics or chilled at the q q
pole, II
Il woman be there, there is happiness toon n
Will Masonry continue 10 flourish Il
re-! so long as time itself, or until the II
institution of our being is radically b
anged. Her columns may be broken n
wn, and her altars trampled in the e. =,