Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1851-07-03

s which haye-been passed by ecclesiasti
7 cal bodies, condemning all secret socie
] ties, and requiring all members O
5 churches 10 abandon them on pain of ex
} communication, may quadrate we'll wit
: the bull OF Pope Eugenius in I7Sa
} when the whole fraternity was excom
: municated, not because of any charg
: against it of its interference with poll
] tics, religion and morals, but simply be
J cause il had spread far and wide, anC
was daily increasing, and men Of every
} religion were admitted and the member:
} were bound 10 preserve with inviolable
! secrecy the mysteries of the ORDER
This was too dangerous a power to be
tolerated. Rome was too jealous Of heI
} rights to the secrets of all men to allow
any other secret society TO exist. She
had monopolized the secrets of indivi-
duals, and families, and kings, and
courts, and cabinets, and princes, and
through the confessionals was omnis-
cient in regard to all transactions, and
when she could no longer, serpent.like.
invade the sanctuary Of a Mason's
breast. she lighted her fires and started
her wheels and racks. Who does not
know that Jesuitism has been expelled
from one country after another until it
has finally taken up its abode here on
the ground that il was secretly at war
with the institutions of the country from
whence it was drivenl While Mason
ry has as steadily bent her energies TO
the security and defence Of the country,
she interieres not with eny of the de-
partments of government, or any of the
partizan interests that exist. A whig is
a whig, a democrat is democrat, a free
soiler a free soiler as truly and thor
oughly in the lodge room as elsewhere.
tbs the same in regard TO religion. Sup
pose any member should rise in the lodge
room and propose a measure in relation
TO politics; n measure too, which, else
where would find sympathy in every
breast, would the proposition be enter
tanned? No, not for moment, signif-
icant rap and sharp reproof would re.
mind him OF a violation of one Of the
vital principles of the order. II would
be the same in regard to religion or
anything else not Immediately connec-
ted with the Institution. But are not
Masons bound to keep one another
Only in acts OF charity. In all the
business transactions OF life Nasons are
like other men, and sometimes moro so.
as we have been constrained to believe.
But will not the ends of justice be de-
feated? Were I criminal should be
more fearful of Justice from a jury Of
brother Masons than any other that
might be impanneled, from the fact that
| had grossly violated the principles
which the order inculcates and which
would promptly expel me from the fra
ternity.
But Masons are no better than other
men? Well this is lamentably true.
and some we wot Of like many profess
sors of religion, are a disgrace to their
profession. Their conduct, howev-
er, is not to be charged TO the princi-
Piles Of the order any more than is the
inconsistent conduct Of many professors
Of religion 10 be charged TO Christianity. |
The true secret Of Masonry consists
in The erection of an upright moral char
acter, and those who belong 10 the order
and do not exhibit this, are apprentices
and bunglers and not master builders.
All our principles, object and design are
no secret. These may be seen and
read ofall men. Our monitors, charts,
constitutions and charges, are open to
all, and all we ask is candid, patient,
unprejudiced examination. The vOrk
only is secret and as you cannot see
the processes of the mind in the forma-
ton of moral and intellectual char
acier on the processes Of nature, by
which in her multiplied analysis and
combinations she produces her plants
and trees and flowers and gems and
fountains, and all the vast varieties
in her three great kingdoms, without
entering the grand 0rcanum, so you
must not think it strange it you can-
not see the processes OF Masonry un-
Ill YOU enter the laboratory and in
spect her labors. To this you are
invited, though as Mnsons we are in
structed not TO eulogize the order, or
seek by any undue zeal or attach
ment which we may have for it, 10
persuade any to enter the threshold
OF the temple, or pursue the journey
Of its mystic way. We much pre-
fer that those who are t1ithout should
be attracted by the silent and unos-
tentaiious examples Of virtue, which
they behold 10 the members OF the
fraternity, than that they should en-
ter by the mere force Of persuasion.
The gates Of our temple are always
open, and though strictly guarded
they oppose no barrier TO any who
come duly recommended. possessing
the requisite qualifications and asking
admission. There is but one road
leading 10 its portals. The King and
his most humble subject must travel
the same way. The same duties
and obligations and secrets and la
bors are enjoined upon both, while
the same honors are conferred and
the same rewards promised. To
IL