, 1864-01-09

Why are we here to-day, and who are We ? What
object or purpose calls us together2
n o mighty king upon his throne, surrounded by
the pomp and magnfcence of regal dignity; no tri-
umphant chieftain, around whose brows entwined
the aures of glorious victory is here to claim your
homage or your admiration. No gorgeous pageant of
military spendOr is here no measured tramp of vet
legiOns, proudly bearing the trophies of victory
which their invincble proves have wrested from
their conquered foes none Of the pride and eircnm
stance of glorious are here displayed. But we
little band Of quiet citizens arrayed IN the Pecu-
liar garb Of the mystic brotherhood, who IN confor
nifty with a time honored custom, are assembled to
commemorate the natal day of their Patron Saint, in
their own fraterna manner.
Who, then, and what they? What is their
creed their intentions and designs Why are they
banded together by solemn and mystic ties Why
do they meet in secret concave where none but their
own brotherhood are permitted to enter? What, in
short is the object of their organization their duties
to society and to each other! In attempting to
answer of these queries, shall probably show
not only what they are, but what they are not. Be
fore entering upon this portion OF my remarks, IL
may not be inappropriate to state briefly the reasons
for celebrating this day among the Masonic 1rater-
nifty
We are informed by both history and Masonic ira
don that after the death of Cesar the persecution
Of the Christians by the Romans, carried to an
extent that involved in its destructive vortex all asso
Citations and organizations not authorized by the IA
gan Emperor and his government Many men, emil
nent for their virtue, wisdom and learning were put
to death. Ignorance intolerance bigotry, super
sttion aud tanaticsm combined their vndlctlve pow
ers and influences against religion enlightenment,
learning and refinement; and in consequence, the
craft dispersed throughout the Roman and Gre
clan empires, without any recognized head or con-
trolling power Saint john the Evangelist, being
then at Ephesus, was prevailed upon to assume the
Grand -Mastership of the fraternity and though be
was well advanced in years, and to great extent,
physically disqualified from attending to the more
active duties of the management OF the craft yet, SO
wise and iudiciOus was his exercise of the Grand
Mastership, assiduOusly did he Judy the interests
Of the fraternity that public confidence, patronage
and protection again extended to them; perse-
cutions against them were revoked and prohibited
and in consequence Of the wisdom of his govern
ment of the craft his became so venerated that
he was adopted as one OF the patron SAINTS OF the
order; and his memory is still so revered by the fra
terny that his natal day is taken and accepted as the
first of the Masonic year, and is usually celebrated
by them, according to Masonic usage, in every part
| of the habtable globe.
But the question arises is there not another Saint
John, whose memory is equally revered and who also
occupies prominent position in the Masonic cal
endar
| answer. even so-the memories of Saint John
the Baptist and Saint John the Evangelist, are equal
! y revered among MasOns Their virtuous lives, eX-
alted regulations and answering adherence to the
principles Of the order in connection with the dates
of their respective births designated them as worthy
examples for limitation; and their double adop-
ton is Illustrative Of that principle Of duality which
! pervades tho entire universe.
we Fl ina ID nr n It Jnl9 p9s @n9 see Il
| wv
We are informed in the great Spiritual and Masonic
| Trestleboard that God first created Adam, and be-
| oo,nino CONVINCED that it not good for man to
| Ii,+o oIona He i'm His infinite wisdom created Eve,
onr conop4on mother-thus establishing the primary
or starting point Of the great principle of duality
This was recognized principle Of Deity, a con-
trollig principle Of the universe; and tracing it up
wodnd two trees in the garden Of Eden-the tree of
life and the tree of knowledge. Seth in recognition
( Of this principle erected two pillars. Two pillars
bo4o Of 70 md DOO
has the temerity to deny that they erected by
operative masOns. They still stand, mighty mon
uments Of their skill, before the ruins of edices
around which the hoary moss of ages has inscribed
in Natures unnstakable characters the history ef
their antiquty-clear and convincing, though un-
written, history of the venerable age of the nstitu
ton of Masonry.
Two leaders were sent by Deity to conduct the
children Of Israel from Egyptian bondage two pill
lars-one Of light and one Of cloud-guided them in
their weary pilgrimage The Mosaic law given
and craven on two tables of stone. Solomon repro
duced the dual principle in the two pillars of the
porch OF the Temple the design of which traced
by the hand of Omnipotence himself Two pillars
still stand in the Fellow Crafts Lodge, which
type or exemplifcatlon of the same. The fabulous
Pillars of Hercules (mOst probably the pillars of the
Temple of Gaza,) which Sampson threw down in his
expiring effort are still seen on old Spanish coins,
and imitation and corruption of the same idea.
What connection have all cheese things with Ma
sonry will tell you: Masonry corresponds with
the earth, the sideral heavens and the internal
spiritual SpnGle, as demonstrated ana developed DN
Z the unerring hand and law of Nature Hence, the
Fellow Crafts Lodge illustrates this principle as
empiied by and incorporated in the laws of astrOn-
omy: and thus we find in all regular and well gov
erned Lodges two pillars surmcunted with globes,
representing the terrestrial aud celestial spheres. In
further eXemphfcation of this idea, find two per-
pendicular parallel lines, between which is certain
circle, with point in its centre this circle, are
informed, represents the boundary-ne Of Mason's
duty beyond which he is never allow his passions
or preudices to betray HIM The two parallel lines
represent primarily, st. John, the Baptist and st.
John, the Evangelist, to whom all Christian Lodges
are now dedicated; while resting upon the top of
these parallel lines as the crowniug glory of the
whole andas the source to which every Mason should
look for spiritual guidance and moral instruction,
rests the Holy Bible,
Such is the ordinary explanation given to these hy-
erOglyphcs but let us look little farther and if
we cannot discover some reason for their adoption
some analogy by which they point to other secrets in
the sublime Arcana of nature, and see if cannot
thus trace them down to the great original principle
OF which have spoken, and show the consistency
and reason OF their adoption by Masons and the init
mae analogy or connection that exists throughout
their teachings and applications, connected with
Masonry
This circle, then, of which have spoken, repre-
sents the the center of the solar system CON
tnually passing between the tropic of Cancer and
rOpc of Capricorn which represented by the two
parallel lines Twice during the year the sun is said
to be at standstil as it reaches its extreme North
ern or Southern point of declnatiOn, or its nearest
and arthest approximation to earth, which events
near the oath of June and 9th of Decem-
berthe natal days of st John, the Baptist, and st.
John, the Evangelist. Hence, as the Mason cannot
be guided by the tropics in symbolizng great and
important truths the two parallel lines become to
him symbolic of and represent the two SIS. John
whose moral and Masonic characters, taken together
form beautiful and consistent parabe-suoh that
long a Mason initiates them in his life and conduct
he cannot materially And, to finish the illustra
ton the holy Scriptures resting upon the top of the
circle and parallel lines, is embematic of that
preme power and intelligence which pervades and
governs all natureOf that all-seeing Eye which be-
holds the nnermost recesses of our hearts and
the slightest deviation from the moral and useful
teachings of this symbol.
The Feast of Light, or Summer Solstice, as recog-
nized by us in the oath Of june was most esteemed
by the ancients. among whom either pure spurious
Masonry existed; and it is an undeniable fact based
ouBless, upon the recognition Of the principle which
endeavoring to illustrate, that, although varying
somewhat in their modes and manner OF teaching and
celebrating it, yet the same essential and material
points can be traced the basis foundation of all
The ancient Druids, religious, phosophic and
scholastic order among whom alone education existed
at the time Of the conquest of Britain by Casars in
vincble legiOns who taught their initiates in
ILL.