The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1856-07-05

building; SO speculative Masonry, hay-
ing in view more noble and glorious pur-
poses, prepares aud fits our Immortal na-
lures 'lOr tina, spiritual building, that
house not made with hands, eternal i'll
the skies
The often asked question What is
FreemasonryF was answered early in
the 18th century by Henry VI Of Eng
land, who recorded with his own hand
that Masonry was the skill OF nature, the
understanding OF the Mighty tha, is here
in, and It's sundry workings. the truc
manner Of fashioning all things .or inaG' S
use and all other things that make good
to man.
Man, il has been we'll said,is bundle
Of habits, this applies equally well to his
moral, intellectual and even religious ma
ture, and it Is to teach habits of good for
his own Advancement, both intellectually
and spiritually, we labor. and above all,
to teach him lessons of charity. The
theological ladder which jacob saw in his
vision, contained many rounds. the three
principle Of which, were Faith,
Hope and Charily-,he creates, Of these
was Charity, because Faith may be los,
N sight, Hops end 10 fruinon, but Chair.
ty extends beyond the grave to the
bonndless realms OF eternity.
Sir Walter Scott fas said that the
whole race OF man would perish did they
cease TO aid each other. From the mo-
ment the mother binds the chld's head
till the moment some kind assis'an, wipes
the death damp from the brew Of the dy-
ing, we cannot exist without mutual help
This principle is the corner stone OF ouI
Order. 1t is the main par, Of the foun-
dation upon which the superstructufe is
built Love thy God with all thy heart
and all thy soul and all thy strength; aud
thy neighbor as thyself, comprehcnds the
whole.
Again Ffeemasonry seeks to make all
mankind band of brothers, and to teach
all men TO act upon the square, to do un-
to others rs they would that others would
do unto them. To walk uprightIy before
God and man-to square our actions by
the square OF truth and virtue. Ever to
remember we are travelling on the level
of time to that undiscovered country
from whose bourne no traveller returns.
1t seeks to conciliate and harmonize all
hardness OF feeling, all uniindness, and
all dissensions among men, disputing aad
contention, "except that noble contention,
or rather emulation, Of who can best
work and who can bes, agree.n Then,
through the influence Of Freemasonry, al
those disputes which emhilter life and
sours the temper OF men, are avoided;
and its true followers live in peace and
harmony as q baud Of faithful brothers:
each seeking the others good, and each
ready to dispense his temporal means to
the relief o! worthy brother, his widow
or orp an. Such IS The plan of our Or
der, hence IN all our lodges union is ee-
mented by sincere attachment, and pleas.
ures experienced by cheerful recipro-
cation of every obliging office. Virtue
the grand object IN view, luminous as the
meridian sun, shines refulgent OH the
mind, enlivens the mind and converts
cool appreciation into warm sympathy and
cordial attention.
Freemasonry is an institution which
allows no proselyling; no solicitation can
ever be employed by its votaries TO in.
duce others to join.-not even counsel
can be given in reply TO the often heard
query DO you think had better become
a Mason2 The answer mus, invariably
be Judge the tree by its fruits Were
il legal TO employ solicitations our num-
bera would be zoos where they are now
but los. This explains why Masonry is
and ough. to be slow of growth. Nor
does il recognize sudden conversions. -
The applicant must have long retained
a favorable opinion OF u o Order. Nor
does II value any man for his worldly
wealth or honors. No favor can be shown
no matter how rich, or eminent or exal,-
ed man may be---we meet upon the
level. Our ceremonies throughout the
globe are the same-lho same 10 every
class OF men, without distinction we
meet upon tho same great plane Of
NIuoity anu "Oih iol Tue Sutile great
object teaching all men, whether high
or low, the same great truths.
All who seek our doors must come OF
their own free will and accord; and mus,
come with the avowed design of being
serviceable TO their fellow men--of seek,
ing useful knowledge for themselves and
without any mercenary or sinister motives
bu. IN truth and sincerity, from lavora.
bic opinion conceived Of the Order.
Our Ancient brethren wroueh, both
operatively and speculativeIy, but we
work speculativeiy, taking the immor-
tai nature Of men, the rough ashler, or
stone, fresh from the quarries in its natu.
raj state; which 1t is our own work TO
square, dress and make ready for thai
spiritual building, that house not made
with hands, eternal in the skies.
And as the operative mason not un-
frequently meets with wosthieas stone,
a rough ashler, on which he cxpeads his
labors and cxerts his shlll, but finds after
al It is worthless, il cannot be squared il
cannot be dressed, it is by nature no. i
suitable stone Tor the building; 50 with US
We may meet w!th the rough asaivf
which viii mol bear the polish OF Mason
ry-wll not work TO the squarc-ui /.