The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1859-05-18

xutf 70 aut
yes no neglect OF the laws Of natural and isi 4
lection; Is rather insists upon their faithful obser
vance but 1t regards every sson asa brotker 70 b
honorsd and aided and served and loved. ~ oppor
fass ii other good pri ,eip!es these may be neg
lected. disregArded, but am speskiiss not Of ex
nsptional fac s. but Of what Masonry. 10 its essen
n @sn,nlar Lays require Of Knights submission
yofG i authority lit recognises n0ae of shvse will
doctriaes IN abuse OF nosry wnen r. ~,
aDds and 90 far its influence extendss cner1sne
obo1iece TO established laws cheerful yielding 4
ed by ksDublicsn ussges adopted before political .
pubiicalism was known. IL gives its disciple! Q
voice In the house OF their own rule yet when cho
and unmurmurinR obedlence: No man too wise OF
heads rong to submit CHI erfuliy TO the decisioni
and decrees of constituted aushorities 70 manifest
q tractabs prit and 10 render unhestfating ooedf
enoe TO official mandates. within prescribed laws
need seek for Masonic association. He must learn
to yield implicitly to she Will II the IN all
and st stutes of the order. and even in regard to
these he must submit unmurmuringly to the deci.
sion of those who authorised to decide The "or
der that is Heavens first law" fni some of its
most beautiful illustrations in the intercour OF
Masons
dination when en often refrs, torecogn Disc any
other law than their own wild passions. when tur-
bulent 'ishntss s, often ovsrrides Law, how use
csly learns. no matter where. that he belongs not
to himself but TO God and Socety-that his own
that own perverse will Is to bepd before aothori-
ty ana law-will have learned q lesson that will
make him better and more useful citizen. q more
where elsa, Masonry will teach him thess less ms
in such form that he will not be likely 70 FORGET
And # the Rfnepttss ts thus gsnsd ~, Whn
can scarcely fail obecome wiser, better and more
useful nan Masonry. though it introduced the
ism and thus insu gurated radical protest again
ifres sensible authority is still eminenty
tive IN all it: principles with no leanings toward
or black. 1t holds oneck rein and curb bit upon
fanatic 5 n and demagogueism in ali shapes.
III still again: IempIdT Ldlcs require IF KNIGHTS
The exercise Of beners ent cha, ity Ihis the aud
external characteristic OF the order. 1t Is that out
wsfd manifestation By which more than by any
worthy or COL sistent Mason or Templar. without
the exercise of practical bsnevole ce. There are
certain charitable OBJECTS TO which he pust give
require q second and third scrutinv Of his purse
or pockets. when he might have thought they were
fully, or some keener eye than his own will detect
the concealed coin which he withholds. Wh.n in
OF depression and want, uncaused
by crime or vice. the Mason has claim upon his
brethren for encouragement and aid. which he
knows will be met. so far as may consistently De
mis- necessities will be supplied, and his e1orts 10
retire, re nis embarrassed fortunes be encour ,ged
and assisted And even II the undue luduigeDcs
Of evil passions and appetites have procured tnfr
to warn aud tenonstrate to seek 70 reclaim, to re
inspire him with u consciousness OF ms MANHOOD
ana to smile upon every step taken in the path o.
reformation and writ =. The application OF the WI
dow OF orphan children of deceased brother Oh
aid csnnOs be repuised or frowned away q gene
rous response must he mace often hss Inc steward
of Masonic charities had happy reason TO magnify
aad exuit in his blessed of after the manner ot
tue PaeriarchaJob Nv hen the heard me- then II
ness to me. bscause delivered the poor that cried
and the fstherees and him that had Ions to bsir
him, the blessing CT him that WAS ready 70 perish
came usou me- and caused the widows heart tc
ing for 10y" BY the fu undamental laws Of the cr
dr each one of us 10 required 10 afford succoc "a
she distressed. to divide our bread with the indus
trioua Door and to put the mis2u I'D traveller ntl
the Right way. These are duties Of the craft suta
ole to its dignity and usefulness And tn. ugh 9
Mason 10 never to shut his ear unkindiy against the
complaints of any of the human race yet when
orosher is oppressed or suffers. he is in more pc
clliar manner called upon TO open his whole sou
IN love and compassion to him. and TO relieye hin hin
without prejudice, according TO his capacity" The
dason'S bsGevolence aud fraternal compassion arr
required 20 have QUICK ear aso Keen eye, 70 ap
oreneHd the cry OF the sufferer, though his form
alay bs irvisbs. to detect mute appeal, though
The native language Of the Sd oicant may be un
snosn Mssnnry has LANGUAGE 81 oene De- deIi .olense
and relieving distress with which the stranger III
ter nedleth not.
Nv. The fundamental laws Of the Temple also re
Quire Of knights firm beiisf in The eristence, sorer
e,0atv and providence Of God A Mason cannot be al
slneist rne couuectioa of one With the masonic
fraternity who denio the existence OF supreme
~veri uiing God would be q mockery and an aD
dity, eqnaile1 only by such an one applying 'oI
admission into Christian Church or Hobre~ v
fr.ternty involves, necessarily. the assent Of hi,
faith TO ihis Fundamental principle. Ii hedeny
his belief and trust in God, he cannot Walk one siei
raft. Ali Masonic rites and duties, as an entir,
,ystem and in all their details involve and demand
this belief ss furdsmental and essential. without
1T, Masonry has no meaning, no beauty. no power
ttis foundation corner stone and key stone OF ths
eii1ce. remove H., aad the structure has neish-l
tou adatnn stone nor Key wnas soF
ing bat mass of chaotic fragments! rms fal q u
the cement, too. which binds the stones OF th'
nasUnically, no warrant for a Mason's faith toware
his brother, no reason for believing him tru" OF
honest. no hold upoa his affections. no guarante o.
for his faithfalnsss in any Masonic relation, unes
ae have faith In God 1t is the essential warp
the Masonic garment, without which the woof il
Only a 1nass Of separated. tangled threads.
b! Every Mason knows that hunan language,
he employment Of les most vigorous terms csnno
Do too strong 70 CONVEX the fuil force OF tns
Fr tn the very moment when he sets his foot with
In the guarded precincts. through every stage an,
step of his progress he Il required to assent to II
20 profess it, 10 defend it. There can scarcely b.
conceived a grosser incongruity, . more ridicuiou
nockery than tEat of man who doubts the exist
nee or sovereignty of God, being sociated will
.erving its osremonies or perforn ing It's duties.
Now, is there anything in the belief OF an over
ruling. ever-pr sent God. an allseeisg Eye. scrut
niziDg every emotion OF the heart and every step
the life. fitted to restrain men from wrong ana Y
prompt to what is right and puref Is not sucn
belief, firmly and frequently repeated, aaaptea
admit, and we admit 1t sadly, thaf Ia the numiia
ting deprsvity Of mans nature. even SUCH Q peile
the life and heart which theoretical philosoph!
might suppose; but still, that it has mighty 10
d1eDce. none can doubt. So far then, IN All 60
.onscieuce We can speak in praise of Masonry. !
demands the Of the soul to the doctrine ina
\ God, ever present. ever Watchfui. ever IuAns
over reigns this world
But still further: Templar Laws REQUIRE Q
Knights an acknowledgment. # the dtcinity aud aa
Htority Of the Holy Scriptures. Vne hoiy biDie ne
opsn In every Masonic odge. 1t is It's brightea
hshs The square and compass are n9s ~ mose a aecss
man Can give Masonica!ly An honest pied % OF nde
ity. integrity and devotion. without belief 10 tn
this belief there is no binding force in his promise
and obligations. Ambitious Heresisrchs may wv
against the Of the Bible elsewhere but from tn
1t Take this from u.s. and eur g, eatest light wonl
oe axtiaguished. Darkness and confusion woui
disband the order. We cannot take one step viii
Out it. We can scarcely utter q Masonic sentenc
without the employ ment of its sublime language
Take away the Bible and the lessons 1t teaches. an
che principles it inculcates. and 7 would l De nA
digging out the cementing mortar from the walls
stately edfce. The Y hole building would tumbl
into ruins before the frst blast There may be COZ
ceptions of impossibiiiies 10 conceive OF day
withoat q sun. however, 10 perceived to Be clearl
an impossibirty. Life without air Is "a impcss
oiity. 1t is equally impossible to conceive OF Ms
sonry without the Bible. 1t could not exist u
landmarks would ss al gone, it, principies u
cerem onial lis entire meaning won: be ob'iteratet
II wuVid be 'the play of Hamlet without the PAL
of Hamlet" with vengeance.
The use of the Bible in Masonry Is not contiI
gency, not an aecidsnt-nOt an incidental exp
dent. tackled to gain reverence, or TO inspire
'emuty, to fill ous its ritual; t il 80 interwove
with it, so ingrainsd iu IT, that 10 remove II. woul
be like taking the fsx ont Of linen. the wool ~
Of cloth, or the ca bD, out Of ccai, the residu
would be van ty and chaos Ihe Maecn who does ~
believe the Bibie-if we can conceive OF sucn an OF
-caa find no beauty nor meaning IN Masonry !
such an one 10 would seem The --LATEST, most al
meaning and al surd OF organizations.
Do you Imagine that present this view x
str 'ngly say TO You again, that lanersge Y
forcefnl cannot be employed 10 conveying this
sential trnth
Now is there anything good in this prisciple!
4 OF any va'us - have divins aud psrfect rule
lifs! TO recognize supreme and berfsct Law uf b
man condnctf lsit Of any practical importance
adopt beliefin this admitted truth. and to ha
II Impressed up5n the soul 90 controlling. Ruidip
truth All that 10 Of practical worth In the ado
Masonry.
vi. Bsyond all this. which IL coum7n to all
grses o. Masonry. the essential principles Of q