The mountain Democrat., 1865-12-23
Massn1e Appeal.

To the Freemasons Of the United States
The depIorable contest in our country,
which for the past four years has sepAFa-
ted States and people. inaugurated and
carried on to destroy the Federal Union
of the United States, is now ended. His
tory enthroned in the majesty Of COM
ing judgment, with the cainI1sss Of re-
Prospect, and the impartiSlity Of tTuthS
wiIl determine en- whom the responsibility
rests of this crime against representative
government.
1t will award 10 sections and individu-
ais their merited condemnation. The
Orscles Of Truth and Justice, unimpaired
by the passions ard prejudices Of men,
will proclaim 4 inEl aud unalterable de-
cree.
Let US then leave to these attributes Of
Omniscience their divine duties. The
civil war is closed. Efforts Of patriots
and statesmen must now be directed TO
the restoration of unity and concord
among the people who so lately we're in
hostile array against each other. The
things that are behind must no longer &C.
cupy our thoughts, since they excit EiS.
cord and imbittered association. The fu.
ture must engage all our energies. The
mighty task OF constituting reconciliation
is the duty now imposed upon us. The
renewal Of the covenant Of peace and
love, must be by rebAptism with the Gpir.
it Of charity in waters Of Lcthe.
Brethren Of the Order Of FreemGsons,
We have our duties to perform. MAsOns
who worship 10 the temple dedicated to
common fraternity, our masonic minds
and hearts have been taught those sub.
lime lessons there only impaired.
As our ANCIENT and honorable Order
has never taken part "in cOnspiracies
against covering snt," since this is forbid
den, its members must be true to the
teachings of the craft. We, everywhere
throughout this land, must be the ,6Tst TO
show by our conduct and conversation,
by our example and our precepts among
men, that thele is vital viSor in Freema.
sonry.
We are united band, free and accept.
ed by and between ourselves. DiscOrd
and enrnity-the evil passions, revenge,
distrust, hatred and malice, never yet
have entered the Masonic temple. II our
faith is strong in the landmarks; il We
have known of the doctrine that it iiyeth
and abideth among US at all times, in all
perilS, in every commotion, in strife and
war, let us now demonstrate that We hold
it as delivered to us by our fathers. Our
Order is consccrated TO unity, brotherly
love, and charity. To enlighten mankind
has been our mission since the earliest ol
| ages.
Before Christianity the temple Of the
craft was open. Its teachers were calling
before the days of the patriarchs, to come
and receive the light. That light has
never yet gone out. The Jew, before the
altar on the sacred mount-the Parsee, In
his alteration of the sun- the Musselman
bOwing to the east in prayer-the Greek,
before the shrine Of his divinity the
Christian in devout faith at the foot OF the
cross, alike, in the days Of their genera
tion, knew and understood the mystic
language, "God said let there 6e. light,
and there was light"
Brethren, we also are gathered in our
temple, you assembled in yours; Masons
in every cline or country, are by adop
ton and acceptance in a common fruter-
nifty, one united and insepaFsble. There
can be neither schism, separation nor re-
bellion within or among us. The white
apron Of repentance and innocence is an
emblem We all comprehend. 1t teaches
Us that the entrance into tue holy Of no.
lies, can be had but in subordination to
the fundamental principles Of the Order.
1t admonishes Us at all times, under all
circumstances, to renOunce every act or
deed, and the motives for either, which
can destroy unity, harmony and charity.
Each member Of our fraternity in the
several Grand Lodge Jurisdictions Of the
United States, is directly appealed to in
his individual masonic character, to main
tain, in all their integrity, the principles
Of the order
1t is his solemn duty. Obligations
once assumed, must ever be binding in oil
their force, on the conscience Of every Ma
son. We cannot, if We would, surrender
or silence them. We unite the soul to
the Throne Of Jehovah, and are as eternal
as His laws.
We invoke the serious consideration of
the craft to the most weighty responsible
itv to which reference is made.
These obligations impose on Masons
and Jurisdictions the recognition of those
rights which are thus common to each
and all, and constitute the life, power and
virtue of the Masonic relations.
We believe it to be the duty of Free
masons 10 regard the craft in the jurisdic-
ton Of the States Of the South, as bFeth.
rem. 1t is theirs to recognize the power
of this universal Masonic landmark.-s
Thus the reunion Of fraternal association
can be established, and this example be-
fore the people " i'll be demonstration Of
the living power Of our venerable institu'
ton.
Brethren of the Sunny South, we be.
lieve your faith and sincerity in the land
marks are equal to ours. We claim no
right to sit in judgment over your fidelity
or your obedience to the landmarks-or
your perpetuity. We recall from the past |
four years neither witness nor testimony. |
The Light in the Masonic Temple casts
no shadow. |
II is ever at the meridian when we look
at each others hearts, and take each 9TH
cr'S hand in brotherly love. But while |
we are all MaSons we are also fellow-coun-
trymen. We arc citizens Of States whose
prosperity is indissolubly connected with
This Union. We are citizens Of States
where individual and collective happiness
and welfare can be best maintained, en-.
coursgcd and secured by the union OF
these States, as our fathers and your faith
ers made it. by that great compact, the
Let us invoke your cordial and unre-
served acknowledgment Of this trpth.-
Let US invoke your aid to cement together
the people of the States, without any
or self evasion of mind what