, 1861-03-21
Yours, faternally,
b. {. LIPPrScorr.

Moa WorshiIfh Grand Master, Brethren Of The
d. w. Grdnd Lodge Of the Territory Of Wash
ington and Brethren Of The Masonic Fraternity,
and Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have net together on this festive occasion
to perform q most important and pleasing duty.
The completion and dedication Of every Masonic
Hall adds new beauty and strength to our be.
loved Order. Il reminds us Of that inward work
which Is to be wrought before we are prepared
for the Temple Beautiful in the Heavens.
Since Il becomes my duty in this public ca
pacity to represent the Order TO which I am
devotedly attached, desire to present some
plain truths for your consideration. ] presume
Il will be admitted by every intelligent anti-Ma
son, II there be any present, that our Order. Is
one Of great antiquity that 1t has come down to
us with its truths as pure and pervading as the
| light Of Heaven. That our Order has been as
sailed by ungodly and designing men, we will
not deny. In fact for nearly six thousand years
the bitter shafts Of sarcasm have been hurled at
the most sublime truths that have governed US.
Reproach would have poisoned our brothers cup
until confusion and disgrace should come down,
and ruin sealed our eternal doom.
ask, to-day, why has Free Masonry lived and
fiourished amid the throes and tossings Of hos
tile at0ms-amid the rise and fall Of empires and
kingd0msf Why has she ilourislled while the
hellish malice OF her foes grew rampant and per-
secution run rife She has had prosperity amid
the desolating effects Of war and carnage. She
has withstood the combined force Of the most
deadly opposition to all our rites and sacred
ceremonies. She has withstood the cruel tor
ture Of the Inquisition and its horrid orgies
No power Of darkness was ever able to over
throw our glorious Institution. She exists to-
day In all the world in her beauty and living
strength. Her sons may be found penetrating
the regions Of polar cold, and there, amid tum-
bling mountains Of ice, they raise our br threD
Of the North 70 the sublime degree Of Master
Mason. In the tropics, under the burning SER
pent Of the South, the cry Of Jubala Jubala !
and Jubalumi is heard, and this cry is re-echoed
around the world. Free Masonry Is found in all
parts Of the habitAble globe and the most learned
Of the sons Of men bow at her altars, and there
the traveller finds home and friend
Now, my kind hearers, why Is all thisf Is
Free Masonry, what some suppose Il to be, made
up Of bad men and founded upon bad principlesi
II 80, how can you account for its existing for
nearly sixty celtuFiesi and how win you ac-
count for lis influence over an entire world
There Is no honorable aVocation in life where
Free Masons are not found.
Ipropose to explain the above Ia the discus
sion Of the following theme: The True Mason.
The True Maso6is q man devoted to his country,
bis eountrymen, and his God. In short, True
may seem somewhat extTavagant TO those who
are accustomed 10 think that we are bad set Of
fellows, associated together for selfish purposes
and ends But hear me again, you who are
4 constantly complaining Of our Order. A True
Mason Is true Christian man; one who loves
God supremely and loves his neighbor as him
self In the discussion Of my theme, I stand
here not as an apologist for Free Masonry, but
am here for q higher and . nOblcr purpose.
II is to enforce the well-known truths Of our
common brotherhood Rpcn the fraternity, 50
that we as Masons may grow better in mind,
better In heart, and, Of consequence, better in
action to the children Of men.
There j. one fact desire to call your attention
to before Iproceed, and that is this: A man, to
become Mason, must do it Of his own free will,
and without solicitation or persuasion from any
one. Hence we establish before the world the
doct inc Of Mans free agency. When an indi-
vidual becomes candidate for the rites and
benefits Of our ancient and honored institution,
what IS the first thing desired by hime Ianswer,
light What does the candidate for such dis.
tinction most needp answer, he needs light.
We learn from the sacred historian that ain
the beginning God created the heavens and the
earth, and the earth was without form and void,
and darkness was upon the face Of the deep,
and the spirit Of God moved upon the face Of
the waters; and God said let there be light a. d
there was light. and God saw the light that IL
was good" From the time that hight first shOne
upon creations page, man was invited forth 70
study The book Of nature and solve the mystic
Ties Of time. Hence we are taught that We are
in darkness and need light God impresses
every Intelligent mind with this fact IL not,
Why did he not understand the hidden myste-
Tiesf lIe could not comprehend the laws of na.
ture and the mysterious workings Of mind aud
matter. He could not trace = flaming comet
thIyugh the Heavens. nor could be map out the
stellar universe and mark their silent waad,r.
inss and give lhe true System Of celestial mo-
ton. DID be- know even 50 much q 10 be AIDE
% demonslruie that The sun was the centre Of
the solsr sysiemi OrOiogy, that sublims srirncc
and book a The Heavens. uas full Of hieraglyIh-
ics md unueaning eharaeicrS Could be trace
mono lltlligenlly The lootIsnuts of natuFes Could
be nd tho aigns and symbols Of earths surfhce