Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1857-08-26


the heart, and want and sorrow plead in every
cline for love and sympathy; a language IN
which at all times, brethren we may hold elo-
quent and profitable communion, tor there
is no subject within the range and grasp OF the
human mind, be it the most subtle and various,
be it high as the heavens above or deep as the
earth beueath-no secret of creation, into which
the science of Freemasonry does not enter in
the pursuit of wisdom, knowledge and virtue y
And the practical advantages of such system
of symbolic intercoInmunion are selt-eVident.
We learn from the travels OF AnarcharSis, that
one of the fraternity in ancient times travelling
on foot lost his way, and arriving exhausted
with fatigue at an inn. fell seriously indisposed.
When at the point of death, unable to recon-
pense the care and kindness of his host, he
traced some symbolical marks, with trembling
hand, upon tablet, which he directed to be
exposed to view on the public road. A long
time after, chance brought to these remote pla-
ces disciple of PythagoroS, who reading the
eniglnatical characters, learned the mlstortunes
Of his brother, stopped. paid the nn-keeper his
expenses with interest, and continued his Jour-
ney So potent the language in which Mason
ry writes her laws of love and justice upon the
Iearts of her votaries. Potent indeed! lam
guage that may be heard above all the conflicts
of human passion yea the tempest OF battle
itself! The noble Russian heard it, asamid the
fearful storming of the Redan, he stretched
orth his hand to rescue his imperied British
b. other generously bearing him into an easy
captivity, to rescue him from impending destruc-
tion. Oh! did mankind hear universally its
utterances of peace and love, nation no more
would lift up sword against nation; and anarchy
be impossible. During the revolutionary com
motions in Greece, distinguished French OH
cial expressed the deliberate opinion, that
twenty Masonic Lodges in that distracted
country, would do mt re to restore peace and
harmony than fifty thousand soldiers Thus,
nv friends, while other associations indicate by
their very existence divided sentiments and
warning opinions national prejudice and
sectional jealousy have separated the families
of mankind irreconcileably from each other
while even the seamless robe of Christ's blessed
religion has been torn by the blind and unholy
passions Of men; Masonry, intoxicating benevo-
ience as expansive rs the blue vault OF heaven
itself and furnishing beautiful language Tor
its expression, employs these varying shades OF
human passion and human opinion only to
weave across the angry elements OF contention
her sublime Arch of Peace. Thus furnished,
she executes her mission. "The refuge oil
threatened fidelity, the mediator OF offended
innocence the recompenser.o unrewarded love:
she regulates the mingled rites OF llte, punlsnes
the preiudiced judgments of passion, cools the
hot fires OF anger, and covers misrepresentation
with her shield of mercy. She throws down
the barriers which the prejudice OF mankind
has erected between man and man. She tears
away the cilded garment which covers the body
of nature, and arraignS heart against heart, anu
irit against spirit, and gives to the WorthieSt
the prize."* -
III such be the mission of Frcemasonry, IS
it a Just matter of astoniShment, that IT has
survived tue ravages of so many ages-that
time, who walks with remorseless ;read through
the ruins of Empires; who trampleS IN Ills
,ath, the proudcst monuments OF human WIS
.lom and power, has only multiplied the honors
upon her brow, and deepened the spring OF
charity in her heart, and heightened that golden
chain of love, which binds us to-day upon tins
ancient festival in mystic unity"
:. =
But now, brethren of the Mystic Tie, we
mnst turn aside, to defend our noble order from
some popular misconceptions, and repcl the I'M
lust aspersons of its enemies. For like the
artificers of the second temple, when haraSsed
by the fanatical Samaritans, we must bear the
sword for defence, Us well as the implements OF
our sacred and peaceful art. But we are sure
brethren, our most formidable enemy Ii lgno-
rance, not so much in those without, who blind
w defamc our character and misreprcsent our
intentions, as among ourselves, OF the true spirit
and genius of our ancient system. Take away
this obstacle of or own inappreclatlon OF Ma
sonrv. and all others will speedily vanish. Inc
archives of our order are rich, rs the mines OF
Golconda, in the most precious stores OF know
lcdrc. Search them, read, mark, learn, digest
those memorials Of Masonic wisdom. Let eve
ry Mason and every Lodge before Inc, adopt
The mouo of old Clinton Lo,lge--" lie. there be
IioAtnt and prejudice will shrink from its
manifestation.
aBut it is seriously objected to Freemasonry,
that it usurps the preogatives OF religion, ana
aims to supplant it. This a grave accusation
indeed. Did believe it; did | even suspect
its truth; as a Minister of Christ, should tear
off these sacred symbols Of our order, and tram
pie them under my feet. But, my trends, IL
surely argues weak faith in our glorious
Christianity, to suppose that anything can oe 4
substitute Tor 1t.
"Is it urged, that individual Masons rely, up
on Masonry to SAFE th'ir $outs Inen ak
what upon earth, do men not rely upon Tor the
same purpose? The temperance man, lmagiIes
all npedlul reformation at an end In ms case,
when he ceases to DC 4 drunkard. Ihe rlch
man preSuines that his opufence may be pass
mort TO heaven! The morali,t dreams that ma
lure's virtue may pass the Judgment OF uod,
and disputes the. very necessity rl renewing
grace Men stop to trust i'll TIC Church ltscil,
though like the Baptist in the wilderness, 1t Is
pcrpe;mlly pointing away from itself, TO Christ
But shall We prescribe the good course ot tenn
pcra,lce, preach crusade against all worldly
possessions, denounce morality, and close the
Church of God, because so many pervcrt these
from their legitimate uses?
"Nlasonry, we submit, cannot reasonably be
held to account for such 4 gross mlsconceptlon OF
its aims and intentions. 1t everywhere repmt-
ates ue idea, and need not surely remind the
intrlligem craftsman, low utterly nmaSOnlc is
such moral position. The very lam1sh'n which
clothes the humblcst Entered Apprentice, more
ancient than the golden fleece, more honorable
indeed than star OF garter, iorn .lrom ne 6'eca-
ing boly Of an innocent rictim, 10 cotef ths gHt1
and ia,p.rjcction Of ma'ure; how strklnsiy does
it teach the necessity oil the sacriticl;l merit
ard substituted righteousness Of the Lam6 q,
Gvd, for human salvation. And beginning from
.sIasonry's first lesson, when rOnchcd for 10y
a mother, the candidate knocks for admission, is
n,t natures blindness and impcrfection taught
ard confessed, at every step? while this great
Landmarks of Frccmasonry, 105th page.
+ Nehemiah, iy. CHI, 18th 'ersc
/ Each Lodge should subscribe for tho " univer-