St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1862-06-26

Of the human heart, by the uncrring rule
Of virtue, and to apply to all their actions
those three tests Of human conduct, Faith,
Hope and Charity. Viewed solely and
purely as literary production, and d.
vesting it, if possible, Of its Divine origin,
these Holy Writings, in the estimation Of
our craft, take the highest rank, among
all the books of all ages and times. No
more thrilling strains Of poetry, no loftier,
grander or purer specimens Of eloquence,
no more comprehensive and authentic COL
lection of historic facts, no more intensely
interesting delineations Of flial, fraternal,
or social life, duties and obligations, can
be found than sve find within the same
pages.
Masons, far more thoroughly and CON-
pletely than any other body. order, or or.
ganization of men whatever, delight in the
historic excellencies portrayed, and en-
Lodied, and the beautiful aud enobling ex-
amples of the great cardinal principles of
lite and conduct, which they discover by
the aid and assistance of this "Great
Light" To its exemplifcations, not only
Masons, but the world at large, owe infinite
obligations for the teachings discrnab]e in
the history Of Sarah, and Rebeca, and
Pharaoh's Daughter Miriam and the
Daughter Of Jeptha; Hannibal, and Ruth,
and Ethan Mary, and Martha, and Mary,
Magdalene and that whole bright galaxy
of names which have taught the world
the devotedness, the gentleness, the forth
tude, the virtue and enduring selfsaori6o-
ing nature Of the sex-traits features and
characteristics, which mako US proud
in the consciousness that our mothers
were women. Where can we find a pic
ture of truer devotedness, more entire for
getfulness Of self, than in tho brief men
ton, which though brief of it is, has at
tracted more attention than all other word
paintings Of the word, made of HER who
was last at the bier and first at the sepul-
chre? And then again centuries before of
her who said "Thy people shall be my
my people, thy God my God ?"
This Book coming from whatever source
to us, should be, and would be, most high
" priced. No rare and radiant jewel,
even were it a gem from the crown of
the mightiest Prince, Potentate, King or
Emperor, could ever possess for US sim
gle 1.-THE of Its inestimable value. But
coming to US here and now, accompanied
by these noble sentiments and kindly as
surances, from our wives, our sisters, our
daughters and grand-daug hters, ace regard
it as more precious than any, even the
richest and rarest gem, that ever adorned
the head, or flashed its brilliant light from
a monarch's crown. From them, this
precious gift comes to US ipseperably con-
nected with the happiest, highest and no.
Hest considerations.
1t teaches us that they, whose slightest
wish should command our most cheerful
and chivalric compliance, though exlcud-
ed by our ancient and immemorial laws,
rules and usages from direct and imme-
date participation in our mystic rites and
ceremonies, yet have unbounded and il
limitable faith in our efforts for the accom-
plishment OF common brotherhood of
men That they do not doubt, but on the
contrary do ,meplicaty belize in, our efforts
to benefit and enoble our race, and our firm
and unwavering adherance amid whatever
vicissitudes Of life, to the promises of our
ever living and unseen God, and a cheer
ing vital and eulivening hope, in immor.
tally and true and bene6cient charity
which, though our faith be lost in sight,
and though hope shall end in fruition, yet
our "charity extends beyond the grave,
even through the bouudless realms of
Eternity"
This gift then 50 precious, and emanat-
ing from such source, points us with un-
nistakable clearness and unerring certain
ty TO the estimate which you and those
loved ones whom you represent on this
anniversary occasion have put upon our
character and efforts. 1t tells US that you,
and those whom you represent, have Faith
in our acts, our principles, our n.otives,
even though aN are hidden behind impen-
etrable mysteries of our order-that your
Hope in the ultimate brotherhood of Man
centers in, and springs from, the thorough
dissemination of the great truths contain-
ed in these sacred pages, which from time
immemorial have constituted, and still re-
main, one Of the great associate Lights of
our ancient Fraternity, as being the only
revelation of the will of the Great Archi-
tect Of the Masons. And lastly, as being
your fullest endorsement of that Charity
which is best described in this great Light
itself, which restraints the passions of men,
consoles them in all hours Of trial suffering,
and even plucks them from the depths Of
the deepest CULTS Of despair, which incites
to deeds Of patriotism and noble daring in
defence ofright, aud in short, makes US al
ways remember that zoe are men, born to
high destiny, which We must reach in,
order to SHIRE 1t aoiN yow.
FAITH, HOPE and CHARITY! What a
moral triad! More beautiful than the wind