The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1865-01-27

with the remote past. 1t is pleasant,
and on many accounts useful, to hold
frequent converse with the past and
with the mighty men of the olden
time; for though all wisdom did not
die with them, neither can it be
doubted that in some things we are
less wise than. they, and for the good
reason that we have forgotten many
of their teachings.
'Let not the din of the noisy pres
emit says an eloquent writer, drown
the music of the past BE assured
there isno tone COMES TO thee from
the far off ocean Of the olden time
which is not a chord in the eternal an
them of the Universe, else had it been
drowned in tho roaring waves long,
long, before it came to thee Reform
rs thou wilt; the Present and the
Future have need of this; but LEI no
rude scorn breathe on the Past 10y
thy head lovingly III her lap, and let
the glance Of her eye pass into thine;
for she has been to thee Moth
en-"
This conservative, pacific influence
is needed in our day as check and
corrective Of the lawless, revolutionary
Tendencies OF the age. There is a
restless, yandal spirit Of innovation
abroad in our times, that needs curb
ing: Il spirit Of irreverence insubor-
dination toward lawful authority that
needs chasteuing The selfish pas
sions of men are too strong, the
causes of division, alienation and
strife too numerous and active and
the occasions Of sorrow too common
in human experience, to allow rs to
dispense with amy agency which can
mitigate the ills of life, neutralize the
asrerities Of national, political and
sectarian warfare, or teach men for
bearance, moderation, charity and
brotherly love.
ORIGIN AID HISTORY.
Without ATTEMPTING now TO trace up
the history Of Freemasonry to the
beginning, this. at lease is evident
from Masonic tradition and from au-
thentic history, that tho prominent
features of The Order have been de-
rived from two sources first, from
tho foudal ages, when the Roman
Caiholic.C Church was in the height Of its
power when Kings and Knights, ming
ling religious enthusiasm with a love
Of military glory, rushed in untold
nultitUdes, in csn.des to Palestine
TO carry forward the cause OF the Gross
and TO rescue the Holy City from
tho grasp Of the Saracen To this
source is to be attributed an influence
that has stamped n strong religious
impress upon the ritual Of the Order,
and done much to mold its internal
character Secondly, some charac-
teristic traits OF our institution were
derived from the societies Of architects
in the middle Ages, who were banded
together for the promotion of their
art and for their mutual assistance
and protection in unsettled and tur-
bulent times The working tools
Of the operative mason the hammer
trowel, square, level and plumb--are
all retained by us in orr ceremonies
and lectures, and are so essential that
n Lodge cannot be worked nor opened
without them. The terms employed
in architecture, and the principles OF
geometry on which the strength, pro-
portion and beauty OF MI buildings
depend, being constantly used in our
ritual, it cannot be questioned that
, speculative or symbolic Masonry
sprang from operative 1t was natu-
raj that in times of civil commotion
J and misrule, men of similar pursuits
and tastes, having common interests
should associate together for THEN
mutual protection. Thus masons and
architects, as well as others, formed
} guilds and companies, which, in pro
cess of time, came to include in THEN
! plan of organization other objects be
side those of their special craft, sucl
Z as mutual aid against want, sickness
aud old age; and SO various beney
client objects were engrafted on theil
original plan, adding to operative
7 masonry the culture of the mini, th'
. diffusion of general knowledge, The
exercise of charity the relief of the
INDECENT, and social recreation and en-
e joyment,
The tools and implements of the
= ancient craftsmen we still retain
+; But the trowel, no longer used among
b the brick and mortar, symbolicall.
Il teaches MS to sDread the cement o