, 1864-01-09

widows and fatherless orphans. Black de-
spair hOvers like ghastly funeral pail over
our beloved land. Every passion within the
human heart is aroused and brought into ac-
tive exercise according to the circumstances
and convictions of the contending parties,
and God alone knows when, where or how
it may terminate. Among the contending
hosts there are tens Of thousands who have
knelt at our common affairs, assumed our sol
emn and fraternal obligations, and whom we
have ever been proud to hail as brothers
without regard to jurisdiction, geographical
lines or political distinctions or differences.
And, brethren, l feel proud in saying that
where the passions have transformed men
inia demi- demons, where brother has i'm
paled the bleeding body of his own brother
upon the remorseless 55ayonet, where father
has been arrayed against son in deadly con-
fict, the mute sign of the Master Mason has
often turned the soldier from his deadly pur-
pose; the rifle has been lowered, the crossed
swords dropped, and other foes sought out
by those who could not spill brothers
blood. But it only begins here. The
wounded have been relieved, the prisoner
protected and assisted, the dead brother
buried, and all those kindly Offices performed
which the obligations of our order impose
Actuated by whatever impulse they may be-
whether voluntarily and conscientiOusly Of
fering up their lives in defense of what they
believe to be the maintenance of consttu-
tional rights and the enjoyment of what they
deem liberty, whether arrayed under the
dear old flag of the Brave and Free, or bat
tling to strike out its starry splendors,-
however abhorrent to our feelings, may be
the political principles which actuate either
party.-we must still feel, still admit that
MANY of them are our brothers, still linked
to us by the chain of sincere fraternal affec-
ton. and that God who alone Judges the
hearts of men must be their judge and ar
bitter. Yet, the broad mantle of Mason's
charity should so far as possible and consist
ent with public duty, be thrown around
them, and especially among those whom the
fortunes of war have consigned to the stern
rigors of the prisoners fate, should this feel
ing be manifested. That this has been
done and is done; that the hand of fraternal
sympathy is often extended, and the foeman
becomes the warm hearted brother is well
attested even by other than masonic sour
ces. may be pardoned for briefly alluding
to two or three instances which have fallen
under my notice in the public prints.
Awhile after the first battle of Bull Run,
large number of Union prisoners captured
at that place were removed to New Orleans,
where they were closely imprisoned NJ
w. Bro. j. O. A. Fellows, Grand Master of
Masons of Louisiana, visited the different
prisons and hospitals, selecting from among
them all who were masons, took them to
comfortable quarters, clothed and fed them
at his own expense and showed them all
those attentions which he possibly could,
consistent with their relative positions. On
their exchange and return home the atten-
ton of the Grand Lodge of New York was
called to the matter and an appropriate Res
olution and testimonial concerning the con-
duct of Bro Fellows, was voted by that
Grand body. The Grand Lodge of Ireland
reviewer GnC maUCer, anu some beautiful
resolutions were passed by that Grand body,
and copy ordered transmitted to every
Grand Lodge in the world Such is the
spirit of Masonic charity-touch but a
chord of its magnetic heart and it is tele-
graphed to the entire masonic world, and
every heart vibrates in harmonious and sym
pathetic concert.
At the battle of Chancellorville. Union
soldier hurrying out of place of great dan
ger was hailed by a wounded Confederate
officer, who presented him with small
scrap of paper, on which with his blood he
had traced some cabalistic signs. The sol
dier carried it to his captain, who was a mas
ter mason, and though satisfied that the
characters were masonic, could not read OF
decipher them, and took them to the colonel,
whom he knew had received the higher de-
erees. On beholding them, the colonel in
stantly said there is brother in imminent
danger, and soon he, with half dozen breth-
rem we're stealthily making their way to the
spot where the wounded confederate lay
Though death shots fell thick around them
they succeeded in reaching him, and were
informed by him that another brother lay Sc
verely wounded within short distance,
whom they also found and bore safely off the
field and who must soon have perished but
for their timely succor.
These incidents serve to prove that though
the human PASSIONS may D6 dTOuSeu W iItu-
zied madness, though death, destruction and
carnage may rule the hour and animate the
human heart, there is still latent restrain
ing principle in the obligations of masonry
that asserts its benefcent supremacy, and
compels its votaries to yield to the gentle in
fuence Of brotherly love, relief and charity.
In conclusion, brothers, we have just
cause to thank Almighty God for the protec
tion and blessings which he has vouchsafed
us during the past masonic year. Since we
last assembled here the scythe of death has
not been idle. Many of our friends and
relatives have been called to that undiscov-
cred country from whose bourne no traveller
returns yet the craft in this locality have
been blessed and spared to an almost mirac-
ulous, and certainly merciful extent. Du-
ring the past year not one Of our number
has been called from labor below to refresh
ment above The solemn funeral dirge has
awakened no melancholy echoesin our hearts;
the sable insignia of mourning has not draped
our standards or shrouded our affairs, nor the
tear of fraternal sorrow and bereavement
dimmed our eyes or moistened our cheeks
But, my brothers, that we shall all meet
aoain on this side of the dark river to cele-