Arkansas democratic banner., 1851-07-01


 cant word. To wort is the highest duty and noblest chiefly the formal labor of the Lodge room, but sabsGantial real. genuine, earnest work for the benefit of mankind. lf Masonry does not so work it is but sheer waste of time, and misapplca- ton of mems energies. That charity, kindliness, toleration,-tha, justice, sincerity and truth, of which we have spoken. are sCSrt, in the tFuest and highest sense of the word.
 But no where can 1t work so nobly as in the cause of education and no where within the lim- it's of our wide country. ifindeed any where in any Christian land lies there a broader field, asking for iaborers. As our great republic pushes it's frontiers ever more westward and southward, pop ulation out t-travels education. In that consists the greatest danger to our institutions. Ignorance and liberty have from the beginning of the world been engaged Tn bitter and relentless conflict for the mastery; and if we do not to 1t in time, the evil demon will at last strangle the good angel; as the sea snakes strangled Laocoon and his children
 The State has done nothing, will do noth- iR for education. What the general government gTes her for that purpose, she will condescend to ttke, and zealousIy proceed to squander and waste ii as soon as possible. Private enterprise will do lttle more: for unfortunately the most fatal mala db that affects our country is that almost every nan bounds and limits his views and efforts by inc horizon of hs own day and time. Few work sxcept for pressnt return; and that as nearly in dollars and cents possible. Men will risk their lives daily, on boats more dangerous than maga- zines of powder, to reach remote point few hours earlier, and so make some small specula- ton; will swim dangerous rivers, travel hazardous roads, front all shapes of pestiiential sickness, grow prernaturely grey; and die at fegty years of age from exertion and exposure, to secure office or fortune. In some piace4s-Q will not be so unjust to Arkansas to say that it is the here, they will even club and unite together to build aA iron or cotton factory, or plank road. But to expose themselves to danger, to iniure their health or de- minsh their means, not for any present return, or any return at all, to themselves, but solely for remote benefit to future generation, is folly of which, with here and there an exception, they are never guilty. They plant no acorns, unless the tree can grow soon enough to shade themselves. They do less for posterity than the four m-legged creature that hides walnutS in the gronnd, and for getingwhere he placed them, leaves them to grow into trees.
 Think only of a State where, while three -fourths of the children never see the inside of school room. what is expended for whiskey and tobacco, would educate every child in the State; and where what it's four thousand Masons expend in the same way, would build, endow, and keep up in perpet- uity respectable college
 My Brothers it is for our Order and her young er sister to do what the State and individuals will not do. We have proectef a Masonic college; and very valorouSly we have talked about lt. propose now that we begin to to something in regard to it
 In this matter 1 wish to speak not only to you, but to all our Brethren throughout | hc State. l recommend, l beseech, mplore yeu, my Brothers, one and all, in every county and corner of Arkan- saS, to together in your Lodges and Chapters, and immediately resolve, that in each county where there is Lodge or Chapter, the Brethren will forthwith make such donations, each accord
 ing to his means, for he erection and maintainance of the College, will amount, in the aggregate, to the sum of ten dollars for every Mason m the county; then to impose tax, payable semi -annu- ally, on each Brother and Companion within the jurisdiction, of two dollars per annum; and finally appropriate al least tea per cent, II not fifteen CT twenty, of the gross revenue of each Lodge and Chapter, to the same purpose; and that the Grand Lodge levy tax of five dollars per annum on all non affiliated members in the jurisdiction.
 These steps will give us an immediate fund. from donations of forty thousand dollars, and an annual revenue from all sources, of nine or ten thousand and these means will be ample to erect, endow and maintain a respectable College; while not single Mason in the State will ever feel straightened by it, and hardly one in twenty wilt feel t at sll il
 Man is not placed upon this earth to lead a fiieF of ndolent ease, to look idly and sneerIngiy on, and let the world and the times take care of them selves If that the case, he would not be of half as much real use, half high the scale of creation as the minute animaeule that die in an hour and are hardened into flint, or into great beds of limestone and marble.
 He $ not made for any so ignoble purpose. IL
 is his destiny to work manfally, developing all the noble energies Of ms nature,--not churliShly by himself; but in association with others; not for himself alone. but fur the benefit of his race
 If we continue to lie idle, folding our hands and doing nothisg which is 10 be oi substantial benefit to our fellows, and those who to after us, we shall deserve to De cut down like weeds that are mere eambrance to the earth; our mem ones wll deserve to be the seom of all mankind and our Order in this State must inevitably sink
 into disrepute and contempt, insensibly sliding downward, with ever accelerated motion, to be 6uried at last m the dark and noisome grave of ooloquy. oblivion, and utter annhllaslon.
 But if we brake the Order what t should be-
 f we lop of with just and firm hand all the rot ten and diseased branches, practice sil those virtues which alone make men truly Masons,-If We devote the energles of ourselves and Of the OrdeT To the cause of education, and are foremost ln every good work for the an,eiioration of man kind and mans physical ard moral condition, no