The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1861-12-28


Claiborne, s. W.; A. j. Lowry, j. W. ;
Geo. W. Maylove, Treasurer j. G. Hum
Phreys, Secretary; J. W. Reppy, S. ID. ;
Seth LOveless, j. D.; George Clark and
I. j. HOlstOne, Stewards, and c. II. Cool.
idge, Tyler.
After the installation, Past Master
Frasicr delivered the following address,
which, at the request of the Lodge, wat
submitted for publication
WOrshiWuL Master, Brethren ana
Friends The ceremonies Of installation
according to the time.h OnOred uSagcs O
our ancient aud honorable Institution, are
over.
am aware that you have already beer
long detained, upon an occasion fitting foI
ADLER hands than mine; and it may b.
that the ceremonies Of installation have
not been iraught with that high degree o
interest that many have anticipated.
shall, therefore, detain you but u briel
period with the remarks have to make.
The Institution Of Masonry is founded
upon the purest principles Of virtue and
morality. Its organization dates back tO
a period in the worlds history, unknown
and scarcely guessed at for the archives
Of the world contain no recorded proof Oi
its origin. Its pure principles and my stIC
ceremonies have eng'Ossed the attention
Of many Of the greatest, wisrst and best
men the world in any age has produced
And in every age and country, Inen. pre-.
eminent for their moral aud intellectual
attainmentS, have encouraged and promo
ted its interests Nor has it been thought
derOgatOry to their dignity, that monarchs
have, for season, exchanged the sccpter
for the tTOTeL. to patrOnize our mysteries
aud join in our assemblies"
Masonry Is not Sectarian but founded
on the purrst and broadcast religious
principles acknowledging in all it is aud
all it does, the existence and supreme con.
troll " the all-w Use, Omniscicnt Artiticcr Oi
the Universe, in the existence Of Whom,
all must express n belief, before being adj.
United to u participation m the rites,
privileges aud blessings If this time. hon.
Ored Institution. II knows no creed nor
sect-ncithcr Jew nor Christian, Pagan
nor Mahon,v,ian, but only Freedmen and
Brethren, conScI Us 81 occupying place
in the presence Of the Supreme Grand
Master. All are disrObed Uf their relig.
ious and political creeds when they wear
the Lamb. skin aud enter the sacred pOr
tails Of the Lodge, and know each Other
only ~ MasOns aud Brethren.
BY the practice Of the pure principle.
il teaches. man is elevated 10 communion
with hi, Maker aud inspired with due
SENSE IL paying that rational humngc u
the Deity which is due from the creature
To his Creator. While it inspires marl
with ave aud reverence tor Him Whu
holds the winds Is in the hollow Of Iii,
hands, it improves his mind and fits him
for at enlarged sphere OF usefulness. We
revere 1t for its antiquity; We revere il
f"r its liberal bcnevOIsncc aud ditfusiyG
charity; We revere il for the memory OI
the great and good men whose names
aIorn the pages Of its history; VIZ revere
i: for the pure and sublime principles
which it teaches; We revere il for all 1t is
for its influences are good, and only
good
Like other human institutions, it has
had ills enemies. ITS bitter, unrrlcnting
foes. Individuals have a>>aIled it, rcli5-
iu,iS ~rrt. aud DETERMINATIONS have H%tI!.d
il, at many periods ui lis history, aud for
IA time. have paraIyzcd aud partially dc
str"ycl its Usefulness Nor is it strange
that il should have been thus affected. -
For lal>choud may flourish for while.
but Truth, crushed To earth, will rise
again." So. like the immutable and i'm
pcIi>hnble Truth, it hassurccS>tully aud
triumphahtly suImounted all difficulties,
and stands, to-day, as pure and unall"y,d
with anything that will c"ntaminatc, a>
gOld that has be, u seven Tins tried, and
the ProudcSt monument Of its own in-
prri>hable glory.
II stands, to-day, on the purc>t and
>urcSt huudatIOn that II has ever fallen to
the lot IL human ingenuity to establish.
Notwithstanding vile and base men have.
At various times and in various ways, at
tempted To expose to the world It's secrets,
rites aud rcr"m"nic$, they still remain, 4"
the unlnitiatcd, as much n mystery as
before any attempt Was made to expose
them.
II is the same to-day that il was at the
building If the Temple. Nor is il in the
power Of any man or set Of men to make
innovations upon its established usagcs
aud customs. Its peculiar secrets, rites
and ceremonies have been transmitted I'M
impaired, from time immeInOrial. unwrit-
ten aud unrrcOrdcd, nv remarkable line
Of tradition; and thus they will be trans.
mittcd, unimpared, from generation to
generation, till time shall be no more
Thus are the mysteries Of Masonry safely
lodged in the repository Of faithful breasts.
Its symbols and emblemS are the same,
and understood alike, among every nation
throughout the earth'S broah surface.
Every Lodge is symbolic Of that great
Lodge in which our first Most Excellent
Grand Master ruled and governed, in har.
mOny and good feeling, so many of our
ancient Brethren.
Every pillar bears the same name and
has the same au>iOn aS that il j. intended
to represent, and every column and pilaS-
ter occupies its appropriate place.
May We not, then, safely rely upon the
perpetuity Of an Institution that has thus
long stood, firm and mistaken. against
all assaults from without and internccinc
strife from within! p ------------------
Let US, then, who are members Of the
Fraternity, word jealousy and as>iduOuS-
" to maintain intact the constitutions and
laws of the Institution, and thereby pre-
serve that beautiful harmony which is the
strength and support Of oil institutions.
And, by fidelity in our friendships, unOb'
trusiye charities and enlarged benevolence,
discover to the world the beneficial and
happy effects Of our glorious Institution.
May its benign influence be exerted to
the utmost in restoring peace and frater-
nal good. feeling to our once prosperous
and happy, but now distracted and hellig-
erent country, upon which the future
prosperity Of the Institution and the wei
fare and happiness Of the people Of a
great nation so much depend.
| congratulate you upon the happy
close of the Masonic year, whose last mo.
Al II