Arkansas true Democrat., 1857-10-13

U ""., oiudWenC the entrance into their lodges with these emblematical pillars.
 The present occasion will not admit of a par tcular description of King Solomon's Temple: sulhce It to say, that, it was supported by 1453 columns ard 29O6 pilasters, all hewn from inc finest Parian marble; that, it was completed in seven years, dedicated 400 years before Christ and was the most beautiful, splendid and costly edfce the world has ever known.
 Without such regulations as those which Solomon adopted for the governments of bis workmen, and superior wisdom over. .ruI;n, the whole, we should be at loss to acconni tor the finishing of that great work in the space ot seven years; when We have good authority to believe that the temple of Diana at Ephesus. structure not comparable to the temple at jerusalem, was two hundred and twenty years in building
 ! ne work being thus conducted by a set of religious persons, it is natural to conceive that. rom devotion, well as emulation. those em pioyed had unceasng motives to prompt their diligence and to preserve harmony; as their la- Dor was probationary, and led to higher points of Knowledge, and at last to that honorable pre- eminence of a Muster of the holy work
 Solomon himself was an extraordinary person. age, and his wisdom and magniicence had gain- ed him the admiration of the neioborino na- tons; but this splendid structure. the wonder oI the earth, thus raised by the hands of men iaoorlng Tn the worship and service of the God or Israel, extended his fame to the more distant parts of the world; his name and his artifcers were astonishing to mankind, and his works excited In their minds spirit of emulation- Consequently the masons of Solomon were dis. persed into different countries to superintend the edlflces of other princes, where they con. verted lnfldels, initiated the most worthy into thelr mysteries, and extended their order over the distant quarters of the known world.
 IT, from these facts in relation to Solomon,s Temple, and other historical facts it would seem that Free Masonry was an institution spe cla!ly approved and favored of God. as beipg well suited for the accomplishment of creat undertakings, and as being we'll calculated for the improvement and elevation of man. as au intellectual, moral and social being.
 May we not to exclaim? |" how wonderful and mysterous are thy ways, o Lord, God of Israell'
 It IS said thatln consequence of the inspired "isaonh or Ming Solomon above that of all other men, Hiram, King of Tyre, yielded to nm the pre-emlnence of Grand Master; and rom the building of the temple to the Christian era, It was the custom of the craft to dedicate their IodSes to him; but, since the advent of our Saviour, Masons, believing in Christianity have dedicated their lodges to the eminent Christian and Masonic brethren. St. John the Baptist, and St. John the Evangelist.
 nile 1t might not be uninteresting. time will not permit Us on the present occasion, to trace Tn detail the rise and progress of Free Ma sorry.
 We are told that it was not established in North America till the year A. L. 5733, or A. U. i'35; when, upon the petition of brethren residing in New England, dated the 3Oth of ApnI Of that year, the right honorable Lord Montague, grand master in England, was pleas ed 10 appoint the right worshipful Henry Price, grand master of New England
 Upon the receipt of this commission, the brethren assembled and constituted themselves into a grand lodge at Boston, to which they gave the appellation of "St Johns Grand Lodge" and the right worshipfu Andrew Bel cher was installed as deputy grand master.
 We are also told that the anniversary of St. John the Baptist was celebrated by this lodge June 24th, A. D. 1734; when petition being presented from Bepj tmin Franklin and several other brethren residing in Phllade phia, for constitution to hold a lodge there, the grand master, having in this year received orders from the grand lodge of England to establish Ma sorry in all parts of North America, granted the prayer of the petitioners, and appointed the wolshipful Beujlnin Franklin their first mas ter.
 At the same time, warrant was granted to number of brethren for holding lodge at Ports- month, New Hampshire. And in a few years lodges were established in most of the CO., lonies as well as in Canada, Nova Scotia, New Foundland, and the West Indies.
 After this brief notice of the rise and pro- gross ot Free Masonry, those who have not been admitted into the order must be desirous of hearing something in relation to its principles and benefits; and why it has received the pa tronase ot so many great and illastrious men.
 In ancient times the institution combined what IS known as operative and speculative Masonry. The Masons were a religious class ot persons, learned in the sciences, particularly that Of Geometry, and were skilled n the art and practice of building. They were also go- verned by certain moral principles. and rules of action.
 Masonry of the present day is purely specu- lative. We teach the same moral principles, and are in all respects similar to our ancient brethren, except that, as a society, we are not particularly engaged in mechanical architecture While we are also architects, our architecture is purely of a moral character
 From the necessary secrecy in which the system of Masonry has always been strictly and properly involved its internal working and peculiar benefits can only be known to mem- bers of the craft. Free Masonry abounds in hlerogl yphics, symbols and allegories, which are expressive of particular virtues, and instruc- tive of the most useful and valuable lessons of 1 lie. But the full interpretation of them, like l that ot the mysteries of old IS in select hands; 1t has been committed to those only of tried fidelity. The arcaua of the temple can never be fully explored, except by the dligent, the tried, the proven and accepted.
 Our philanthropy and benevoence are con- lined to no sect or party, to no climate, lan- guage or condition; but, like the circumam- bient air, they surround all of Gods children The widow and orphan, the infrm, the unfor- tunate, the decrepit have, in the Masonic inst- tuton, friend in need-an abiding and endur- ing friend. But, as self f-preservation is one of the first laws of nature, our charity, of course, should begin at home.
 As tending to the improvement and happi- ness of man, Masonry has specially befriended and encouraged the arts and sciences; among which, grammar, rhetoric, logic, arithmetic, geometry, music and astronomy have met with its particular favor. It has also ever been the especial friend and supporter of virtue and brotherly-love, truth, fortitude, prudence, jus tice, charity and temperance are greatly cher isned and highly esteemed by the order.
 While speaking of the virtues, may say that, temperance cannot be too closely studied and rigidly observed, not only by the brethren but by society in general.
 Temperance may be defined to be he restraint of our passions and capacities ,oithin due bounds It is not as contra distinguished to the intem- perate use of alcoholic drinks alone, that l would commend the practice of temperance; but, as affecting the health, usefulness and hap- piness of man, and the harmony and we'll being of society, it is of vital importance that it should be considered and practiced, ill a more compre- hensive sense-as we'll in labor as in recreation, in the pursuit of wealth and knowledge and the performance of religious duties, as in eating and drinking and the qualification of the pas sions That temperance Is essential to happi- ness, reason and observation bear ample testi- mony So highly, indeed has it always been esteemed that it ranks as virtue in every sys-