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

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learned that the center around which
Masonry revolves is the power which
created tina, orb and kindled its heav-
enly fires.
With these Impressions we are pre-
pared to understand the true meaning
of Brotheriy Love, Relief, and Truth;
we place them in the same caskct of
jewels, for they are the distinctive
badges of the craft, not for display,
but the evidence of one common bro
therhood, the everything vet silent
tokens of our faith in man. The will
ing hand. the ready ear, the faithful
breast, arc thus conSecrated to the mis-
sion of Love and Truth; they bind us
together in solemn covenant, however
we may differ in language CT race
There is no region so barbarous, no
vicissitude of climate, alike at the
equator or in the arctic seas, but their
power is felt. not 70 accomplish per-
sonal ends, or to advance any selfish
purpose, but to smooth the path of
sorrow, brighten the eye of the desc
late one, and lift up from moral deg
ration the fallen. Where want presses
the heaviest, in the cottage of the wild
ow, our messenger of mercy quietly
ministers, illustrating in all their beau
ty the graccs of Faith, Hope, and
Charity.
How often the anchor cast within
the veil, the budding of the mysterious
rod. the ever green acacia, have SYM
bolized TO the wounded on the battle
field, or the ship-wrccked mariner,
rest, and peace, and safety, when life's
brief struggle shall terminate.
How often the traveller in quest Of
the worlds wonders, perhaps devotce
of science. or admirer Of the arts, has
found himself in foreign land.
without the sympathies or the joys of
home. He may hold daily commune
with the Past, as he turns over the
leaves Of some venerable volume, or
eazes with admiration on the paint
ing, the statue, or the magnificent
achievements of architecture; he may
scale the mountain or explore the
cavern, muse with awe among the
ruins of a Nineveh or Thc5es, but he
has felt amid all these there was a void
no physical object could fill. And
how often. in the JOY of his heart, has
he remembered the ground floor"
"the middle chamber" or the Holy
of Holes
If such traveller visits Palestine,
"whose blessed acres" were so often
trod by patriarchs, apostles and mar
tyrs, he sees in every ruin some trace
Of the purposes Of Jehovah, for the
elevation Of man; even the Mosaic
pavement, however apparently mis-
shapen its many stones, yet composing
when fitted together, the true idea of
our order, diversity in unity, and unity
in diversity, seeming paradox to the
uninitiated. bat full of meaning to
those "who have met upon the level, !"
and parted on the square"
This recognition Of man by his fol
low, as an equal and friend, has its
origin in the Word of God: but its
practical admission is never more
happily exhibited than by the up
right" and intelligent Mason. We
arc aware that exceptions even to this
golden rule have always been, and still
will be found to exist; if they did not,
we should doubt the value Of our in
stitution; the very fact indicates how
imperfect is our common humanity,
and the necessity for its elevation to a
purcr and holier state.
From this view Of our moral con-
dition, and the necessities it imposes,
we learn to be law abiding and virtu-
Gus. Indeed, without a direct rccogni-
ton Of the legal as we'll as the moral
code, by our cheerful obedience to both,
we can not defend the rights Of others,
nor Justly maintain our own. Order
is Heavens first law alike in the ply
steal as in the spiritual world. 1t is
sublimely manifested in all the works
of Jehovah. whose benign purposes arc
proclaimed las full and perfect in vile
man who mourn" s"-"as the wrap'
seraph that adores and burns
{ 1t is therefore the analogy of 6
, never varying rule. by which the Graf
are willingly controlled, not slavisl
submission to mere power but loyalty
to principle, whose foundation stone ii
eternal Justice.
Thus it is the Lodge Room becomes
: holy ground. We are taught befor
s we enter it to snbdue our rebellioui
will. and become part OF the ";esse
c lated pavement" upon which al
I worthy brethren must stand; nay
further. that there is a. point within
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