Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1852-11-25

great moral dailes incumbent upon us,
among which are justice, virtue, sobrie-
ty. hrolherly.iove and charity. These
missionaries have. been instructed 10 be
law abiding citizens. subject to the Au.
fhorllies in power; 10 act upon The square
with all mankind, esteeming all as brelh
rrn, all being the handy wn,k of The same
Great Architect. In word 10 assist al
an humble distance, the holy man Of
Gnd, in prnmulging those doctrines that
are 70 qualify Us To become living stones
IN that seriaal Temple, npt made with
hands, eternal in the heavens. These
have ever been The principles of mason
ry. proclaimed on every Suitable ucca-
sion. IL is charged, and frequently by
too. that our .practices do not
accord with our precepts. la reply. we
submitto you, whlher If there be grounds
for the charge, il should militae against
our principles; does not chari,y rather
dictate that il should be attributed to the
ffailty Of humanity; that it should be re.
9arded as an evidence that no EnsIta-
tim OF human Invention, however pure
us principles, can renovale mans fallen
nature. The charge coming from such
a source. is TO say the least, fraught
with danger TO the canse of the accuser.
In view Of the iamentable truth that our
glorious svslem of Christianity. which
we all grant to be of Divine origin. can
no, be so managed when committed TO
human hands, as that unworthy men
may, at all times. be excluded: let me
entreat you TO deal Justly, if not chari,a-
bly, with US, and make not the delin-
qrcncIes OF an errlng brother (whose tur.
peiude we unit e with you in deploring)
a criierian for testing the merits of an
lnsllaion, which you will all coacede.
has many claims 10 your KIDD regard
Again it rs objected that onr meetings
are secret. In reply we have only To
say. that the secrecy complained of. is
essential 10 that efficient organization.
upon which our success depends. We
claim to be well drilled army. our foes
are vice and iniustiee, strife and discord,
anarchy and confusion; our tactics and
mole of warfare arc peculiar. and we
have been too long in the service To a
bandon, a, this late period, the frst and
most important military precaution, of
hating sennnels duIy posted, that spies
from the enmies camp may NOT possess
themselves of The sure means Of circum-
venting aii~our plans. We may present,
you with the testimony of the most gifted
men of ihe earth; the learned. the pious,
and the patrioric, in favor of the exalted
character of our principles. We may
assure you, that we require of those
who join US, nothing that will eompro-
mil the duty they owe themselves, their
country, or their G ,d; aud il YOU would
know more, as in the church Of the liv.
iug God, there is bat one avenue 10 the
knowledge you desire: prove Yourselves
worthy, and then esk, aud vou shall re-
cieve; seek, aud you shall find; knock.
and The door ofmasunry shall be opened
unto you. We present 10 The wosld, all
that Is essential to cerrect understand
ing of the general character of ous asso-
cation; our history, tenets, and fruits.
are before the public. The enblems by
which we illustrate many important ma
sonic lessons, are conspicuous upon ev-
cry thing that pertains 10 the order: and
he must surely have observed but siight-
ly, who can discern m them nothing
or useful. The Holy Bible is
the great light of masonry. The caasli-
date for masonic advancement. has con
sranhy Impressed ubon his mind. thar he
is To regard il as the inestimable gift of
God To man, as rule foI his faith. and A
a guide for his practice. The lamb is
presented. an emblem of innocence, iha;
Us 10 remind us OF that purity of life and
conduct, that is well pleasing in the
sigh. OF God; as worthy example TO in
cite TO industry, lrugality, and order. we
are referred to the busy bee. The all
seing eye, is 10 remina us, that God is
that no situation, or circum-
stance can hide us from the Searcher of
all hearts. The anchor and ark. are EN-
blems of a well grounded hope. aud a
well spen, life, that will, when the trials
of mortality are over. enable US to east
anchor in the REALMS of eternal felicity.
The hour glass, is an emblem of human
life. Almost imperceptably do the
sands escape; yet, in ah hour they are
all gone. Thus, surely aud uncon-
sciously, do we glide down the current,
Of time, and in a brief space. old age is
upon us. The hour glass OF life is emp
iy-when the scythe of time cuts the
brittle thread of life, and we are gathered
unto the land where our fathers have
gone befnre us. The coffin and spade,
are To direct our thoughts to the last "a
bode OF man. which would be dark and
gloomy, were j, not that the sprig aud
evergreen, reminds us of tha, Immortal
that bids defiance 10 the raw
ages Of disease and death; and that is
destined to live and bloom in eternal
verdare, beyond the valley aud shadow
,d death. rs
To The Ladies | would say, Masonry
was origiainally operative as we'll as
speculative. La The days of King Solomon
an important object Of the Institution
aeems 70 hav e>been The erection of those
stupeailuous ed.iices at once the won.