Butte record., 1856-01-05
Address,

Masonry acc,riIn 10 the common acceptation of the
word signifies snecuiative science it was, however,
originated among the professors and PRACTICAL workers
in the artistic science of the same name.
1t is the speculative which demands our attention
this evening
This science-specuIaiive masonry, usually called
Free Masonry-being TO the mind, what the artistic
science is to the Physics teaches man to subdue
his passions by execting the rough uncouh aspertes
of his nature to upon the square by doing rs
commanded by the s.Colden Rule that his conduct
toward his neighbor and his ueighbor's toward him,
will show and prove that they work by, and up TO- the
.sGoden Rule and therefore produce no disjoinure
in the wel>proporlioned and symmetrical supersrnct-
ure which a society of neighbors should be.
1t further teaches esteem, and that he should
keep tongue of good report not that delights in des
canting upon the foibes faults and oles of his neigh
bor but in speaking of good qualities with that degree
praise which they merit in warming him OF error and
of DANGER and teaching him TO discern between error
and truth, between the light OF reason, and The cod'
black darkness Of superstition and ignorance-gnorance
which degrades aid hides the beauties OF The mind and
soul.
1t .tiI, further teaches him to maintain secresy and
practice charity Not that it puts the lock ana KEY 10
his tongue as against the reasonable demands Of ihe
world large, the laws of his government; not HAT
binds him TO give OF his worldly wealth one hound
him by the mystic ties OF the order which 'ihe world
anows not of, aud pass by the unfortunate who fall
among thieves on the Other side But to maintain Sc
cresy ia all things and upon all OCCASIONS when secrey
will be most conducive of general good end to prac-
lice Charity ali mankind. but especially 10 them
who of the household of faith.
1t claims not be religion. Did so. it would be
4, .fffri. f.ttra and
uraluitere,i no, that OF the Fharsee of the self
righteous Of any nation, but that which comes
to its poss,ssor the God Of Heaven, and when it
returns 10 Him frJm whence it came carries with II.
as The grand bect and oonsummaton Of its mission its
heaven-favored po<sessor
Bu it is so iAtrtgJcen NTH Religion. as TO compel
nil kneel its shrine, t. acknowidse thc existence
f Supreme Being, OF God, Of Dety: yea. and 10
acknowledge him AS the Auhor and Governor supreme
of all things And permit us here say thai il he be
worthy of his profession and prfernei.ts ii viii be said
Of hi, in regard that supreme Grand First Cause lie
WARNS in The srn. refr,,shes in the tre'
cows in the Stars. and biusSou> ID the trees,
Liv, through ali life. euds through MI eNien
Spreads undivided, operates uii-poiI''
Thus acknowledging lis life in all things. His Being
in all things, his Omnipo;ence and Omnlrcseuce, and
that of Him aud His Divine perfection and attributes
there be no cad.
With these views, and under these considerations
how eau he do less han admire and adore Him, as his
chief good
With these brief outlines what Masonry is, we
come next to the notice of its origin.
And upon this point must say that that particular
period or year. when speculative masonry first fell into
the rcnk and file of Sciences and took place among
then is now lost and viii perhaps unto The end of time
remain matter of wondor and frutes search. not only
for the wolrd large but also for Masons themselves
Certain it is however that it is of very ancient origin
probably anterior the food if not, worry soon there
after
That its distinctive features have been cumulative we
doubt not but that existed and uIuch revercd
and patronzed the early generations of men, We
doubt net.
is but resonabie suppose that down to the build
ing of the Tower of Babel there no signs peculiar
the order, and that at Il III period, the language of
man, which down TO that time, universally the
same, being confounded and variety of languages
forced upon doubtless for good and sautars pur
poses it became necessary for the order to adopt such
signs of recognition would be universal and unfa
ing that when brother met brother. although words
were unmeanrg, yet the true relationship might be
readily and easily communicated, and as easily under
stood.
But would be understood believing that it
originated among, and was paironzed at first only by
those who devoted their time, talents and industry,
the spread and prosecution of operative masonry, and
useful architecture. From the order necessarily OBJ
served in the prosecution of their physical plans and
designs they readily deduccd the order in
the efficient prosecution ofthose mental and speculative
designs which arc at the aim and the end of the
mystic circle. From the wisdom, strength and beauty
displayed in their architecture they learned, and needed
well the lesson, thai every scheme or undertaking,
which is intended for lhe promotion of mans happi-
ness and well-being should be founded in WISDOM
carried forth with strength and perfected with shat
beauty which gratifes not only he undertaken but the
Supreme architect, and reward, in part at least
draws down his smiles.
With these views and conclusions then, we must be
led to the reasonable suppostion that originated not
among base and ignorant men, but among the learned
| and the good-among men disposed 10 make correct
deductions from the laws of nature and the rules of art
and learn and apply useful lessons only from the
God of Nature but from herself in every outline
lineameD and particular.
Hence from the Bee they could learn industry, and
by their honest industry provide for their
with their own hands while at the same time they
learned the all important lesson of mortality from be-
holding that word written in egibe figures all things
earthly We therefore conclude that in all ages of the
world, and among all nations and people where the fine
and sciences have been encouraged and have flour
ished, there has Free Masonry shed her benign n1u
ence planted her standard and oaed her banners upon
the approaching breezes of the love and welcome of
enlightened men.
From East 10 West she saes forth,
With blessings richly laded,
Imparts to man mental worth
Ere mental strength has faded
We come to the notice of those, and the charac-
ter of those by whom has been paironized and pro-
NOTED
Masonry has been paronised by good man of all
classes and distinctions by the King the throne and
the peasant his hovel; by the statesman and humble
of life BY the court and the mechanic, by him blessed
and iavshed upon by all the necessariesyea ami all
the grandeur that morality has possessed. and by
him who could scarcely, by honest industry and I'M
ceasing toll command the cothe himself, and
keep soul and body together In word-in all ages.
since its origin among all ons far civilized to
have any knowledge Of God and his word and any Just
Among the high and the low; among the rich and the
poor the noble and the gnobe. Kings have delighted
co-mngle in brotherhood and fellowship with their
uljecis thus acknowledging the common obligation of
man 10 and the fact that all men eq ial
garis the moral duties deyolvng upon them, that is.
far as endowed with capability and opportunitv