Weekly Trinity journal., 1857-07-04

from the tolls of war and the anxious cares of
craftsmanship? And Lafayette was q Mason, and
Warren, and Clinton, Clay, Webster, Calhoun,
Cass, and host of worthless whom it were tedi-
Gus to mention. All of that long line of hero
warriors and statesmen of which our country can
SO proudly boast were Masons. Almost all of
our Presidents were Masons Even now in the
circle of brethren before me, do l see one who
has sat in Lodge presided over by the present
illustrious and venerable Chief Magistrate of
these United States. and heard fall from his lips,
as he graced the oriental chair sweet lessons OF
virtue and morality. The greatest and best men
of all ages have been encouragers aud promoters
of the "Mystc Art have never deemed it
derogatory to their dignity to level themselves
with the Fratcrnity-eXtend their privileges aud
paronse their assemblies. What prouder vindi-
cation of our Order do we want? Tell us then
no more that Masonry is politcal-that our
Lodges are the haunts of sacraIigious or politi.
cal schemets, who have no motive but their own
personal ACKNOWLEDGEMENT | see them frequcnted
by men of unaffected plety and undoubted patri-
oism. | see our brethren in the army, tho
church, and in the halls of legislature, excmpll-
flying by their conduct the virtuous precepts our
Order enjoins kind to their friends giving
to their enemies, and benevolent to all. In the
hour Of danger | see them rallying around their
country's flag, sealing their devotion with their
blood, aud with their last expiring gasp breath
ing prayer to high Heaven for the prosperity
and happiness of our beloved Order And should
religious or political zeal or ambition become so
/ far perverted into fanatcism and bgotry, as to
threaten the destruction of this great and glori-
Gus confedcracy, fashioned and fitted together by
the immortal Washington and his compatrots,
and consccratcd by the blood of the heroes Of
the revolution, the Genius Of Masonry will be
found lowering above the angry storm like an
angel of mercy, pouring oil on the troubled wa
tors and whispering in still small voice "
(" peace be stW." Should such an emergency
ever arise, which God forbid, and the craft re-
main true to themselves, and true to the princ-
pies they profess, Masonry can and will do much
to bind together and preserve intact the rich and
glorious heritage bcqueathcd us by heroic au
ccstry.
Masonry teaches its children moral creed
and then bids them go and practice what is
taught, and to Illustrate before the world and in
the sight of heaven its purity and excellence. The
constant rehearsal in our Degrees of lessons Of
virtue and strict morality must have tendency
to make the brethren better men, Integrity of
heart uprightness Of life the duty of circum-
scribing our happiness, aud OF keeping forever
bright the icrvent flame of charity, are among
the charges never omitted by our Masters at our
meetings. A ruling trait OF our loved Order
and one that we are charged never to forget, is
that of unostentatious bene violence. And well do
the brethercn live up to the Injunction 1t would
be idle in me to speak particularly Of the very
numerous Institutions throughout the civilized
world devoted to charity, which live only through
fustenance derived from Masonic sources. Al
most every State Of our Union has its Masonic
schools and colleges, where the children of poor
Masons and the orphan children of deceased
Masons are educated gratuitousy and sent forth
into the world prepared TO A" act we'll their part
in the great drama of human life. 1t would be
idle and seem like boasting for me to tell the un
initiated that when famine stalkcd through the
land-when tOrtuous death by starvation stared
the helpless Irish Ia the face, that from Lodges
sends Of dollars, while the brethren of the " mystic
tic" from Maine to California and from the re-
motest portions Of Europe, Asia, and even Africa
under Masonic sign and seal, sent their unasked
relief TO the starving stranger. Or to tell you
that later, in the year 1850 and 81, when the
emigration to adopted State Of California
from every portion of the habltablc globe was nm
preccdeutcd in the history Of any country, when
thousands of our brethren were aocking to these
shores from every part Of chrlstendom arriving
here broken down with disease contracted on the
unhealthy Isthmus. or by long and tedious
Journey across the plains destitute, and famsh-
ing they found hospitals and asylums established
at the cost Of thousands of dollars with doors
thrown open inviting them to enter and dwell
with their brethren without money, and without
price, until returning health and strength should
permit them to resume the busy avocations OF
life. The State Government was then young,
and weak, and unable to support institutions of
charity-but there was wheel within wheel
there was an organization within that govern
ment, young as it was, (which can always fnd
ways and means silently but surely to foster and
support institutions and objects of charity. Nor
was its charity confined alone to members OF the
craft. All the destitute and suffering poor and
needy, were invited TO enter and partake OF lts
blessings. And so great was the tax upon tho
Order, that many Of our Lodges in the central
portion of this State are even now aborlns under
the heavy burden of immense debts contracted az
that time. If the walls Of Captain Sulter ola
fort, near Sacramento, could speak, many taie
would they tell OF benevolence, relief ana charl'y,
during the years of 80 aud '5l. But these good
deeds are known only to the recipients and to
him who knows all things. The invidious and
carping world may not see and acknowledge the
goodness of the silent workings OF our organiza-
ton. Our action, mainly in secret, is not to win
The applause or commendation of the world
Heaven approves the secret girt and silent prayer
The meek Publican has more favor In PARADISE
than the Wanting Pharisee. heartess and I'M
appreciatiye world may even say OF us as wan
aid ol the phorisees, that ostentalion sometimes