Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1854-01-12


ger. while in the hands Of that affection.
ate friend, on whom he could safely re.
| lyi aud finally. that crowning glory of
Mason's virtues, his fidelity, which
would lead him always to exclaiin Death,
but never betrayal,--sll these traits Of
character mark him as one peculiarly fi.-
led TO be the paron sain, of Masous, and
pre-emlncntly worthy Of their honor.
Thus we can show Masonry to be an
institution, which. in every age Of the
world, has numbered among It's vo,a
rles and supporters. men. exalted in sta.
iion. aud iminent in virtue, who have
considered j; as Of sufficient importance
In It's influence upon the Happiness and
improvement Of mankind To command
their time and tal-nts to perfect il, and
transmit il unimpaired 10 succeeding
generation. IL Is, at this day, no less
worthy OF our time and our abilities to
labor for the preservation of its ancient
purity, and TO hold il fast anchored TO
those time-honored landmarks, which
are. al once, It's stay and its strength =
We should feel that high responsibilities
res: upon US; and that our duty to the or.
Ger would lead US to keep continually in
our view its Objects and its requirements.
We should be ever ready TO relieve the
necessities Of The unfortunate. and TO
soo,he the sorrows of the afflicted
With gentle words OF kindness we should
endeavor to bring back The erring to the
paths Of peace; and we should, in all
things. SO live tha, our daily carriage
would be our bes, refuia,ion OF the pref
udices, which. unjust though they be,
yet are often honestly entertained agains,
US. l have said that high responsible
ties rest upon us, and feel that higher
duties awaits US than have ever yet de-
VOWED upon us. Ia our happy land il.
is an axiom lha, all men are created free
aud equal. tina, liberty and equality are
inseparable. The equality Of man ia
symoolised by one Of our chief Jewels,
and is Foundation stone in our edifice.
Ii We look at The nations of the old world,
we see every " here The despots forming
new leagues, and devising heavier chains
under which 10 crush the liberties of the
people. aided by the priesthood. who la.
bor 10 subject them under The still more
abject bondage of superstition and ".
norance. In The ears OF such oppress-
ors The equality Of man must be graf
ing sound, and Masonry, If tolerated a.
mong them at all, is a. bes. viewed with
jealousy. But, thank God, we see indi-
cations Of the dawn of brighter day
for the people, and are comf,rled with
The hope that even our own ewes may be-
hold the time, when so many thousands
of our fellow men, having ,rampled un
der foot the shackles OF iyrrany, may
secure those blessings Of liberty and
quality which we enjoy. Then will ma.
sonry be called upon to perform her part
IN teaching the lesson that liberty can be
preserved without degenera,ing into Ii.
consciousness, that equality is compatible
with order and government, and tina,
freedom Of conscience is but the hand
maid of religion and virtue. In view
then Of the important part. perhaps not
not far in the future, which our ins,itu
lion may be requieed to iuIfil, we should
strive. by every legitimate means, TO
promote its ability for usefulness, main
,aining unchanged its organization, ad
ding TO its numbers only such as are
worthy, and preserving inviolaLle lis sc
cre.s aud lis mysteries, if only for The
sake OF those faithful bre,hren. who, ev.
en- under the jealous eye of ty rants, keep
unquenched its vesial fame within their
temples: and. while constantly pre- pared
TO fulfil, in life, whatever duty the cause
Of humanity and universal love may de-
uand Of Us, still cen.ering our thoughts,
our hopes, our desires, and our efforts
upon that day when the trumpet Of the
Archangel shall sound, when the earth
and the sea shall give up their dead, when
the Master of Heaven shall appear, and
shall summon his Angels to collect the
ransomed dust OF The brethren from the
extreme West; by the North, and by the
South. even to the place of Of his own
Light; where the radiance Of his glory
shall eclipse all other lights. Oh! may
we there be found in safe possession OF
.ha, password which will admi, us with.
in the wells oi a temple; rot made with
hands, e,ernsl in the heavens.
The Masonic Review, Cincinnati o.,
is requested 10 copy the above.