The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1861-07-11

10 the work. But what one built up, another tore down.
No man could tell whether he should enjoy the benefits
Of his labor, or whether il should prove the cause OF his
own death at the hand Of a jealous ~neighbOr. Ii was
probably ia a rude and barbarOus age, when individual
rights were not respected as now, that Masonry took its
rise There are evidences that other orders of artLIus
took their rise under similar circumstances. The iudg-
ment Of mankind has decided that that Of the Mlsous
wa alone worthy Of perpetuatiOn. The rest have been
buried beneath the steps Of time. The Leluty AMI ex-
cellence OF the organization do credit 10 the good sense
Of our ancestors. who. for the sake Of fixing it pernan-
emily IN the earth. robbed it Of lis artzin character. and
opened its mysteries TO all who could snow themselves,
morally and socially, worthy to receive them. There
may be less occasion for the order now upon the ground
Ct mutual confidence. The world has indeed made rapid
strides toward perfection. But who does not know that
s~elfshness and fraud and oppression get demand the
existence Of every instrument which shall in any way
promote the unity and confidence Of mankind.
Socially, We need a harmOnIzing agent. Masonry NAV.
and ought 70 be made, to minister extensively 10 thar
want. The great concerns OF this life, and individual
views Of the life to come, leadus into endless dversities
Of opinion. Passion often gets the bet-er Of virtue and
Judgment, and brother becomes arrayei in deadly strife
with brother. If blood i not spilled, set are feelings
aroused that break the charm Of the soci1l circle. The
evil perhaps cannot he cured, but il may be initiated
And how? Surely not by suppressinc those inqui-
ris AMI discussions which lead to these differences.
Truth l. too valuable 10 be thus h.zarded. Who
knows but that .he opinion placed under ensure by the
political law may not be the true one; Indeed it often
happens that the attempt to silence men makes them
more obstinate and bod in their opposition. Thus the
breach Is widehed rather than closed. Let Us leave
every man to his conscience and his God, and let u
agree upon a basis ola purely moral and sOcial-charac-
ter, where we can meet ia harmony, love a. brethren
OF the same great family, and yet differ if need be, As
men AMI moral agents. Masonry i adapted 10 meet
this end. 1t does not propose % lessen our interest, in
the least, with questions Of religion and politics. IL
allows me 70 meet my Masonic brother on the field Of
controversy. aud argue him down it I can. But We
must meet as friends IN the lOdge-rOOm. aud around
the bedside OF the suffering, and in every work Of
human benevo!ence. | am not required to believe with
my brother, but | am required to treat him kindly
when IN want. charitlbly wheh in error, and respect
fully at all times. | must see that he suffers for
nothing which | can furnish, while he lives, and that
he is honorably buried when he dies I can then leave
him in the hands of that Col. to whom | also shall SION
give an account for the deels done in the body. Does
Masonry require any more Will humanity take any
less Now we have = bond of union which en- unite
the greatest differences. which can indeed render great
aid in destroying those differences, by leading us TO see
eye to ey-. Surely the man for whom 1 perform the
kindest offices Of friendship will be much more willing
to hear me when we differ than he would were we to
hold him at a distance. But it may be said that,
Masonry cannot do this work, because it cannot take
all who differ into its ranks. Ii i true. Masonry must
discriminate ia regard TO the character of those who IRE
admitted 70 its mysteries, but its benefits may, and
ought to, extend beyond its own limits. By uniting the
leading men who differ, we establish an intercourse
between the opp sing bodies. When we open c0mmu-
picItiOn between lakes or seas, We leave them still with
ell their natural characteristics. But their commerce is
united, however narrow the channel we have digged
between them.
But IL Masonry neutral on the subjects Of religion
and politics. In an important sense it is not. Ii does
Not ignore either, and for a potent reason. Sincerity
and honesty are both consistent with error, but who
can trust an atheist Can he be sincere in saying there
is no God, when lac has no means of knowing whether
there Is one or not. even IN the absence OF any proof
to the contrary Rather, can he be sincere in such an
assertion, when the very stocks and stones around him
prove his words false Can he be honest with himself
or others, when he denies the very nature with which
he has teen endowed We could rs safely trust AN in
sane man, or AN IDIOT as him. Moreover, Masonry
teaches us to be religious. 1t does not tell us the mode
Of our faith or worship. but points US TO the Deity 1t
every where recognizes, and requires Us 70 worship Him
according TO the light given, and he no more than
meets the demands of Masonry, who uses all his powers
and all the means in his reach, TO inform himself about
the service, that IS most acceptable To God. Nor does
Masonry ignore politics. Order and government are
among its prominent lessons. Ii does not tell you by
what policy you shall rule or be ruled. but requires
obedience to constitutional authority. \ traitor has no
right TO the confidence OF n Mason.
In matters Of morality Masonry Is more positive. In
the more minute duties Of human life, our religious
views, our education, and circumstances, lead US into
differences OF opinions, which will always exist more or
less, while man ~ imperfect. But there are certain
great principles Of virtue, written upon the very face
Of things. He who runs may read. He must be stu
pidly blind. or wickly perverse. VINO does not see what
Is necessary TO success in business, to the peace of socie-
ty. and TO the more general good Of mankind. Such
are the cardinal virtues Of Masonry. They have found
admires and adherents everywhere. among the best of
every class Of people under the sun. Masonry cannot
consistently throw its shield over any who do not recog-
nize AMI strive TO meet this righteous principles, or
the other moral teachings prominent i'll the order. We
will not stop To inquire whether they are available by
personal effort, by education in childhood, or by the in
fuence of religion. Masonry does not tell US Ii re-
quires Us to gain them. and IL We have them, 1t will
never find fault with US about the manner Of their at
tainment.
1 think I have pointed out the general principles
upon which Masonry is based. | shall not say, how
far these principles have worked out their legitimate
results. Ii the means are not employed. OF employed
amiss, let US not lay 10 the charge of an institution,
what belongs TO imperfect erring men. Ii Is a more
practical question for Us TO consider, how, as MasOns,
We may accomplish the good for which Masonry is so
well adapted. | shall take the liberty Of suggesting a
few thoughts upon this subject.
We should be careful not TO make Masonry what II
never was designed TO be. There are subjects touching
our relation to God. our ~neighbor, and ourselves, which
Masonry does not undertake to settle, and yet, they are
important as eternity. Masonry can never take cogni-
zance Of theology, and special reforms. This rs We
have seen is its peculiar excellence. not indeed because
these subjects are not important, but because they are
better determined else@here- There are other organ
izations established on purpose TO secure these ends.
We are not to say that because we are Misons, there
fore. these organizations have no claim upon us.
Whether they have or not, IS a question that can only
be answered upon other grounds. The moment you
make Masonry Il religious organization, You have de-
stroyei its power as n peacemaker, and have added n
new note to the discord with which the world Is already
too nearly distracted. Upon this ground | am opposed
to the introduction OF any religious test beyond those
named. | should discourage the Bible test, 50 much
contended for by many Masons. If any man Of good
report, will meet me on the moral and social principles
Of Masonry, | will meet him. whether he be Christian,
Jew. or Mahomedan. Mark you, l do not meet him as
n Christian, not rs 4 Methodist, but as a -IdSOn. L
shall sacrifice not one whit of my religious scruples in
so doing. On the other hand, have a right TO demand
that no man shall turn Masonry aZainst me. l have a
right 10 demand Of him. that however he may act, he
shall not make Masonry in any respect, an opposer Of
my religious views, or say that he has no need to attend
10 the claims of any religious organization, because he
is a Mason. Nor has he any right to pervert the in
iuence Of Masonry TO anything that a conscientious
man could object To. Nothing should ever be intro
duced into n Masonic Lodge, which wound the conscience
of any brother. This Is a simple act Of justice. Look
at il. | give my influence 10 Masonry, and Masonry
gives its influence TO that which l think is wrong. Now
you have made me, indirectly, but none the less GER
tsinly, give countenance and support 10 what l think
is wrong. or You drive me from you.