Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1858-08-05

lAahr, Hiiii ~ ii' oilSec u PCA eAt SAf a.
When we have just conception of
order, we can apply 1t to our self
government. thus learning to control
our wayward passions by the sacrifice
of every private feeling, which inter
rupts the union between brethren; and
extending the great principle still
further. by our devoted submission to
the laws of our country we recognize
in the magistrate the power that holds
the social state in control, while it
indicates the Justice of God.
No upright Mason can ever be a
disorganizer. nor yet an ultra partisan,
in the many efforts to produce what is
too often falsely called reform; we
should rather give it the name oi
disintegration. He can not aid in the
upheaving of the ancient foundation,
to discover only the depth at which
they were laid, or the materials OF
which they are composed. Whatever
is needed to repair their beauty OF
increase their strength, it is his mis-
sion to share in the common effort.
but he never perils their stability. by
the desire to innovate, where he can
not improve; he is not anxious TO
initiate the strong man of old IN his
physical power, nor yet in his blind
ness, lest in the fall of the cdifce,
whose pillars he has shaken. he should
be lost himself among its ruins.
Nor does he feel the legal or moral
codes are bands Of restraint. but rather
the silken ties Of honest obedience to
Just enactments. To his apprehension,
there is no tyranny where the virtues
have free play, and the vices only are
chained: where honest merit is encour-
aged. and impudent knavery only
placed under the ban. What the
moral sense of mankind denominates
crime. he alike reprobates, whether
committed by the fraudulent banker OF
railroad director, or the humber and
grosscr exhibitions of sin by the de-
graded felon. He visits upon all the
just retribution their delinquencies de-
mand, shielding no offender from pun
ishment. but yet rebuking in mercy
while lie iniiicts the penalty.
He is ever true to himself. Having
vowed to cherish the cardinal virtues
with q new zeal. when he becomes a
craftsman, he must illustrate their
claims to his daily life, or he has mis-
understood his mission. An irregular
Mason, is but another name for Ma
son whose graces are fast wearing out
who has forgotten the square and the
plumb line; who is in the desolate re.
gion between the Euphrates and the
Jordan, journeying without guide
now lost in the valley, again stumbling
upon the mountain, needless Of the
covenant he has made TO enter the
Holy City and rebuild the temple o,
his Master.
Temperance is added to Justice. and
the sister virtues cluster together il
Charity. All are required to preserve
the symmetrical proportions OF Mason
ic character. Like the hucs of The
rainbow, they form, when blended, tht
pure white light which is symbol o.
the glory around the throne.
The brazen laver before the alter
filled with pure water, and presenting
on It's surface a sea Of glass, was O
typo Of spiritual cleansing to thos,
who touched the consecrated element
1t was the preparation to enter tn,
holy place; as the publication als'
from corporate defilement. So do ou
ceremonies impose the solemn obliga
ton to live purely and sobcrly. The,
prepare the initiated at every step o
his journey. from degree to degree, 70
the just appreciation Of the great fac
that he really lives; thus developing
every hour his moral nature for goot
or for i'll, until he is called at last fron
labor to refreshment in the Crane
Lodge above.
Hence it is, Masonry holds no com
munion with the infidel or the atheist
Under the keystone of her gloriou
arch is suspended the initial letter Q
His name, who laid the foundation c
the Universe and spread out the Heav
ems as curtain. Around and abov
us, every object displaying His pei
lection. and speaking to the SINGER
worshippcr in tones as solemn as tn
grave, OF man disobedience and God
love; of that all-seeing Eye who's
scrutiny penetrates the inmost soul
while it notes the fall Of the sparrow
and numbers the hairs OF our heads.
Unbelief has no place In our mys
teries-voltaire nor Bolingbroke. no
Paine nor Strauss. could have en;ere
our order; they could have no true PEI
ception OF its IDEAL; they might rroba
bly havo committed 20 memory som