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

Wells SPIczR:-- ...
sis--By a resolution passed by Cedar
Lodge, No. Ii, We were authorized to
requst you 10 pa5lisa the following
IL. 4. piATT, W. HAanosp.
Grafton Delivered by Wells spicer, X
T., at the. Masonic Festival neId
In Upton, June GATH, 1866.
Brethren, Ladies and Gentlemen
II has been allotted 10 me to perform a
dsty on this occasion, which, bq custom.
forms part OF Masonic Installation
service. Th!. duty saa!! :. oacv enter
apoa without prelude or apology, as my
lucapacily 10 discharge the duty in be-
coming manner, the lack Of merit, and
unworthlness Of this address will all be
sufficiently apparent without my notice.
My subject on this occasion should of
course be Masonry, but that is too ex-
tensiye, indefinite and iaeflabl subject 10
follow TIE field would be too expan-
sive, and the address, of necessity, too
voluminous; hence we shall only confne
ourself TO few pertinent remarks as to
the origin and objects of Masonry.
To speak OF the origin Of Masonry is
to enter at once upon disputed ground.
Our leading writers and wisest men have
differed and differed widely and essen
TALLY as to the beginning Of Masonry !;
but this one point is conceded by all dis
putants, that it is of Divine origin--bo,h
ancien. and modern writer's concede to
this.
The date Of its first institution, 10 the
boon Of contention, over which many
lengthy essays have been written and
much time and labor spent in research.
Many contend that it was Instituted in
the days Of the Patriarchs. Tha, in those
primitive days it was under their espe-
cial guidance. care and Jurisdiction; that
these early Pa,riarchs taught it to their
children aad their childlen's children.
This IS claiming for it an antedituvlan
antiquity, As having existed in days pri-
or even to the birth OF Noah, Il is even
claimed that the Patriarch Tubal Cain,
whs was the S,h man from Adam. aud
who was the first great a.tifcer OF brass
and metals, aud to whom for his skill and
curious Workmanship, was attributed by
the ancients the invention ot all cuAniug-
ly wrought articles OF metal. that he, ia
that carly day was Jealous patron Of
Masonry. This theory contends that
from the Patrlarchs 1t was handed down
by tradition TO their descendants, who re-
tanned i, until the days OF Solomon, King
oil Israel, the builder oil the magnificent
Temple at Jerusalem, at which time it
was scattered abroad over the whole
earth and became universally diffused.
That by the descendants of the early
Patriarchs i, was carried into all the
neighboring tribes and countries, and
even among the hoathen, to Egypt, Chal.
dea, Assyrla and India, and that even in
those early days and among these pagan
and idolatrous people, it was retained
and KEEP, alive; and by 1t, its faithful
adherents were constantly reminded Of
the existence OF the one Great God the
Jehovah-the Maker Of the Universe
and Ruler of the World. LIN these pa
gan countries i, became, in many instau-
ces, in grea, degree subyerted, tortured
and remode!ed TO conform TO their ahom-
inable forms Of worship. Ii is from this
prete nslon that many oil the enemies of
our beioved order have attributed 10 it a
heathen parentage.
This portentious claim Of early paren.
age, the claim that it is eoeyal with the
world, is subject to many excavations;
as, in most oil such assertions they only
point to the foundation, the elements which
comprise il, and not to Masonry Itself: to