The Sierra citizen. [volume] (Downieville, Calif.) 1854-185?, 1854-07-01
Dovnieyie Sierra County, California Saturday July 1854

ye should be, that the structure may not
be allowed to go to ruin and decay! If,
as We all hope; it is destined to endure,
we must be we'll assured that it can only
do so while those who go within its thresh-
old approach its affairs with clean hands
and pure hearts," You. my brethren, and
l, and all wear the badge of Masonry,
must remember that it reflects credit on
us only so long as the fraternity to which
we belong practices the virtues which it
processes to teach. Let US Individually
reflect that the honor Of the craft is conf
ded to our keeping, and let US strive so to
walk before the world, that that honor
shall not be furnished at our hands. Let
US not be deceived: Masonry does not con-
sist in certain signs and tokens, nor in a
peculiar mark or badge, for unless man
be good and sincere in heart, he cannot be
a true Mason. If he wear the badge
without possessing the spirit, he is like a
dead body garlanded with living flowers,
whose brightness but shows in deeper con
trast the ghastliness of the livid corpse.
Those who are not affiliated with US,
do not Judge of our actions by the ordi-
nary rules of ethics. When one of our
number is guilty of fault, instead of set
ting it down as one of the incidents in the
erring nature of all human kind, the auorld
puts it to the debit of Masonry. One
erring brother Mason will call down more
animadversions upon the fraternity at
large, than can hundred backsliding
Christians upon the denomination to which
they belong. Without stopping to en-
quire whether this fact, which is notori-
ously true, lin exact accordance with JUS
tice towards US, let us make proper APP
plication of it, that may tend to our future
advantage. 1t is, also, too true that men
will sometimes forget their obligations as
protesting Christians, and it is not very
wonderful, therefore, that men occasionally
are found untrue to their obligations as
Masons. And for the reason that we are
a peculiar mark for comment, and that the
social errors of Masons are made the
theme for attaching odium to Masonry
itself, we should be doubly careful of our
conduct in the ordinary walks Of life. In
addition to the moral restraints which are
obligitary upon all men alike, we have
confded to our keeping the reputation of
fraternity which we love. We should
guard its honor with as jealous care as our
own. When we consider that whatever
moral faults we commit, injure not US alone
in the estimation of men, but reflect upon
the great brotherhood of which we are an
integral portion. we ought to feel double
obligation in performing our social duties.
The charges we have received, to walk
upris htly before all men, to dwell in broth
erly love, to repress the evil passions, to
discard deceit, and cschew i'll doing, are
certainly worth something; let them be
craven, in deep lines, upon our hearts,
never to be forgotten, never to be tam
pered with, never to be disregarded. II
men would but give heed to- the lessons of
Masonry, there would be much less bick-
ering, much less sorrow, more true sympa
thy and more love in the world. Let US,
in our lives, show that we have learned
those lessons, not by rote, as the school
boy gets his daily task, but BY heart, as
those who love and reverence the right.
We should not only be careful in our
own conversation and conduct, to pre-
serve unsullied the character and repute
of our order, but we should exert an I'M
ceasing watchfalness at the threshold oil
our lodges, and see that none are admitted
as brothers who would not be creditable
and worthy members. Much trouble and
vexation to the fraternity has at times
heretofore, arisen from an untoward zeal
in procuring members. 1t it much better
that our numbers be few, and imbued with
the right spirit, than to have our lodges
crowded at the expense Of peace and har.
mony. Recollect, that the FIRST Grand
Master and patron of our order has said,
better is dinner of herbs where love is,
than stalled OK and hatred herewith.
Let none, therefore, be hidden to the feast
save those who will add enjoyment to the
repast If all who are bound together in
the mystic tie remain true to themselves
and to their obligations, there is no fear
for the permanence and continued useful
ness Of Masonry; but if wrangliag and dis
cord, strife and contention; and a laxity Of
moral principle yever find fVothold, it can
not be long thereafter until the lodge fires
are extinguished, and the smouldering
ashes will have become cold upon the de
serted hearth stones. ss' easale ssa1s 2
But, brothers. God grant thatnone Of
US, in any remote degree, may ever be an.
swerabie for d calamity SO desolasing and
fearful; and God grantahatz thepen OF the
historian. will never. record. Sc gloomy and
dreary line upon his page Rather let
ne hone that the true end and aim of our
beloved order will be sustained, and that
its bonds will be strengthened and pre-
served BY a strict, adherence TO its benign
principles. Let US hope that no corrupt
inc tide will mingie with the pure stream
which wells forth from its springs of peace
and brotherly love; and that no cloud may
obscure its radiant star Of hope. And as
hereafter we behold it harmonising in ons
fraternal relation the inhabitants of dis
tant portions Of the world, gathering
among its peaceful hosts men Of all clime1
and tongues, continuing as Of old univer