Baton Rouge tri-weekly gazette & comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1865-18??, 1865-09-14


LUMINOSITY emitting from every point the
warm and cheering rays OF brothsrly love;
vet it has never failed TO embrace all hu-
mainly in the outstretched arms of uni
versal benevolence. We have thought our
country and the world was one great
neighborhood, and that we should 'love
our neighbor as ouTselves'-not with %
feeling that wastes its life in signing,
sickly sentimentality, but which exhibits
itself, as occasion may present, in useful
and ameliorating activity. In the depart
ment we prescribed for ourselves much.
may be accomplished in exemplifying our
doctrines of morality and the exercise Of
heaven born charity which is ever going
about doing good. know of nothing in
life more consoling to the feelings, more
delightful to the conscience, or more noble
in man than doing good to others in the
various forms of relief which may be sug-
gested to our sympathies. 1t is not only
noble, but godlike, to lift up the lowly, the
weary, and the forlorn in life's great high
way. When John the Baptist sent mes
senger to Jesus, to know If he were the
Christ, Jesus replied, go tell John that
the sick are healed, the leper is eleansed,
brought to life, and the poor have the
Gospel preached to them.' This power,
exercised, in benevolent acts, was his argu-
ment to prove his divinity. Let us then
contribute in an increased degree our as
sistance in all earnest undertakings in be-
half of those who may need our kind
offices, and manifest that we possess not
merely the show of philanthropy, but that
with us it is an active, living sentiment.
In ali things that may tend to the anne
Iteration of our own race, let it be to our
order crown Of rejoicing that, whilst
others are bringing their contributions,
we have not been whit behind the chief
est of all. By thus doing good to others,
and being good ourselves, we bear about
us the sweet reflection that, like the sun in
the physical world, our institution, VEN
Grated for its hoary antiquity and esteemed
for its exceilencies, is distributing, every
where in the social and moral world, light
and warmth and peace and joy and bliss.
''If our great doctrine of fraternity, JUS
tice in magnanimity and mercy, universal
beneyolence and pure charity, were only
generally c0mprehended in all their bear
ings, and felt as sentiments benefcent and
active, and realized in actions, what 3
change Would come over this world. If
this could occur in an instant it would be
like that effuIgence which burst upon the |
darkness of chaos when God said, LET
there be light" The trumpet would no
longer be heard summoning hostile and |
EXPERIMENTATION to the field of carnage |
and death, but the songs of the affections, |
IN soft and dulcet strains, would regale the |
ear of smiling and contented peace with |
their sweet and liquid melody. Ths mad |
and restless spirit of selfish am bition would |
no longer struggle for preferment and ag-
grandlsement at the sacrifice of probity |
and honor, but noble emulation would |
incite all to make most valuable contribu- |
tons to the general welfare. Envy, malice, |
hatred, anger and revenge would go howl |
ing down TO their native hell, and friend |
and love would SO harmon |
ize mankind as to lift them up to as high |
an elevation as human power could effect
and would proclaim in songs Of rejoicing
a perennial and universal Jubilee"
You, brethren, are body of representa-
tive men of an order, which is and should |
be dedicated to these high callings, and, as
such, propose to You to assemble at some
central locality at an early day, for the pur-
pose OF consultation upon our duties and
responsibilities in the present state Of AZ
fairs Of . common country and society.
would suggest the second Monday in Oc-
tober, at Louisville, as the time and place.
You will, Of course, convene not ~ poll
tlcians, ambitious Of place and power, and
but 40 patriots and humsnitarians
anxious only to restore harmony, pacifca-
ton, unity, order and amelioration, upon
principles consistent with the magnanim-
Ity, moderation, honor and dignity of the
highest civilization and Christianity.
If you should thus assemble with hearts
and minds intent upon the high objects in
Heated, you may achieve much. Separ-
ated, you can accomplish little; but, a.
ISOLATED, you may perhaps agree upon some
node of action which will rebound in i'm
nense benefit. Upon calm, dispassionate
md kindly conference and discussion, the
chances greatly favor the presumption that
you may advise and proclaim some just,
liberal and elevated propositions upon
which all may unite in adjustment and
moderation. If so, the grand desired OBJ
ects may be TRANQUILITY and honorably and
nagnanimously achieved, and you may
have the consolation Of being great contri-
1ntors to great and general good. 1t
would be to you permanent happiness,
md the rulers of the land and the people
md posterity will rise up and with one
leart call you blessed.
trust shall hear from all quarters the
,ratifying news that the proposition |
make meets your hearty concurrence.
Yours, fraternslly,
CHAs. c. WINTERsM1TH.
2, G. M. and p. G. FL. P, Ky.
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