Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1865-12-29
rHE CmAnACrER OF rnEEmAsoSRx


Azealous Mason has furnished the fol-
lowing article, as embodying, in a few
paragraphs, the mature and design" Of
the Masonic institution. 1t Is the pro-
duction Of Mr. c. l.. Wiggin, editor Of the
Masonic column of the California Sunday
Mercury:
Many persons suppose that the institu-
ton of Freemasonry is altogether benev-
olent in its character; that its c0nstitu-
tons and general regulations require that
certain provision shall be made weekly
for the sick, the disabled or the distressed.
This is a mistake. No Masonic Lodge Is
bound by constitutional law TO contrib
ute 10 the support Of any sick or disabled
member any stipulated sum per week.
Neither are they called upon to incur ex-
penses in behalf of deceased brethren, in
liquidating funeral expenses, etc. Nor are
they called upon by any recognized law,
70 support the widow and orphan OF a
deceased brother, or to foster and edu-
cate his children. FreemasOnry is not
an insurance company. 1t does not re-
quire Of those who knock at her door for
admittance hat they all pay so much
per week, and have IL returned TO them
again in the form Of benefits when they
are really sick or would feign the reality
VI AAANFNAlANhDAl . LNONAAAAA inv NAAo -
Masonry. And il has never deceived
any Of its initiates by telling them that
the constitutional rules and regulations
of the order required that a few dollars
should be doled out TO them per week,
ana that the order was bound TO furnish
funds for their decent interment.
Freemasonry Is a brotherhood. The
Order recognizes and maintains the sub
lime principle, that as one God has Gre
ated " all, we have u common parent
age; and as God is the 'father of the
spirits Of all lesh,n those who were
created in Ellis own imagen are
brethren. The tenets of ~Freemasonry,
in intoxicating and enforcing these senti-
ments, establish g principle that does not
require stringent avs to show the breth-
rem their duty; nor are promises Of pecu-
mary advantage necessary to excite the
selfish propensities Of our nature. The
whole system OF Breemasonry is designed
to purify the heart TO make a nan de-
serve the station of that race who were
created but a little lower than the angels,
and, while the ~fraternsl FIRE warns his
breast, and makes him feel that a man is
his brother, that no law, saw that OF
love IS necessary to force him 20 the
path Of duty. The one who understands
M4llA a. q EAIAAAlLC ~ III EClCAAlCF W ~
here perceive that the duties which he Is
called upon to perform in the fnlhlment
Of his Masonic obligations, rise from a
dignifsd sense of his relations with his
fellow men. The suffering man is his
brother, and he should assist him. 1t
requires 20 law of lodge or council TO en-
force the Injunction, "If thy neighbor
hunger, give him meat; if he thirst,
give him drink and if he lack raiment,
ciothe him." Masonry demands the OBJ
serVan5e IF these virtues as a matter OF
right, and as something that must come
spontaneously from the soul, ere it can
be acceptable to the Grand Master Of the
Universe,
Masonry promises nothing but loving
kindness to her children, and while thu
beautiful lessons which she teaches fall
upon the soul like incense from the skies,
the capacities OF the mind are enlarged,
and the warmer affections of u nature
are brought into active being. This is
manifested in the fact that Masonic char
ity is doing a great work in all quarters
of the globe. The poor are relieved the
widow without the claim of a written
law, IS visited and soothed in her atflic-
ton and her wants supplied, and the
orphan child finds generous protectors
and comfortable homes =; and this is al
done without one line TO say that it must
be done because it is the law of the
Lodge.