The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1865-03-21
Tho Norsl Obligation 81 Masonry
MS Bro unWE uF CaSN
Mn EulroR

the liberty oi requesting q place tor
ii Ia your columns
A CONSTANT READER.
There Is grsat mistake concerning
lie true character Of Masonry, even
among Masons, II = Brother speaks
no evil u another, either before BIS
face or behind his back, and is really
tu extend BIN a helping hand 10 eye-
~ time Of need, be is toe ready t.
ihink bis duty Is Mason is done
Everything beside beng friendly and
ready to assist one another every thing
else 10 Masonry is regarded too much
a. mere form. In opposition 10 this
error, lei me speak somewhat Of our
moral obligations. These are shad.
owed forth ID every emslem upon our
carpet; they are impressed by the
sight Of our working tools they are
spobes 10 the charges given us al the
various steps on our way TO the posi-
lion Of Master Mason they shine in
the three great lights; they are typi-
fed In cur masonic garments ); and
they are bound upon Us IN our sacred
Obligation. / need not remind you,
MY brothers, that our lamb skins teach
us purity that by the tiesuyJoar inch
gage, We are taught 10 divide our
time SO as to find a portion for the ser
vice Of God; that BY The common gau-
el, we arc taught "to diyest our hearts
and consciences, Of all vices and su-
perhuilies Of life, thereby fitting our
minds, as living stones, for that spitusl
building, that house not made with
hands, eternal in the heavens; that
by the square, ito square our actions
with virtue" !" and by the ieoel to re.
member that we are travelling upon
the level of Time, to that undiscover-
ed country from whose bourne notray-
eler ever returns
Reverence for God, Truth, Justice,
Fortiiude, Industry and Temperance,
are just as much parts Of our duties as
Masons as is tie relief Of worthy and
distressed brothers. Would that it
we're in my power TO impress upon
the mind Of every Mason who hears
me that this is moral, yea, in no mar
row sense, religious institution; for
such is the fsct
or course, ! have not time this ev-
ening to dweH upon all the virtues
enjoined upon Us as Masons. desire.
however, TO speak particularly Of two,
reterencc fo, God and temperance.
In the charge given us when we be-
came Entered Apprentices, We were
told, "Ihere are three great duties,
which, as q Mason, you are charged
TO inculcale-to God, your neigbbor and
yourself. 10 God, IN neUer mention
iag HIS name bit cih Hot repereatiGl
are yhich is due tron. a creature to
his Cre@or, &c When first, as Eel
low Crsts, We entered the inner
Chamber Of King Solomon's Temple,
tie first thing which attracted our at
tention was the letter q, the initials
OF Deity, before whom, as we are
taught, all, from the youngest Enter
ed Apprentice TO the w. NJ. in the
East do reyerently bow. He, then,
Who utters an oath, is as truly guilty
OF unmasonic eoncuct as he who cheats
a brother Mason.
Again, as Entered Apprentices we
we're charged ITO avoid all irrtguari-
ity and intemperance, which may i'm
pair your faculties, or debase the Dig
nifty of your profession. We come
here to learn to subdue our passions
a nd govern our appetites.' As
Masons, we receive The charge that
"to nreserve the reputation of the
fraternity unsullied, must be your con-
slant care z that, "your virtue, honor
and reputation are concerned in sup
porting with dignity the character you
now bear" as a Master Mason. He,
then, who gives himself over to in
temperance, as | said in reference to
profanity, is as guilty Of unmasonic
conduct as he who utters = SANDER
against his brother or deirauds him
OF his rights. have not the time,
nor is there need, 10 notice now the alb
horrence with which God looks upon
profanity and intemperance nor the
evil consequences Of these vices. ]
call your attention to the fact, that he
sho INDUCES IN these, does suffer
harm to come to brother Mason !;
yea, not only suffers it, but be himself
bat be himself indicis the harm, aid,
therefore violates bis sacred oblga-
lion.
In all societies Of men,each member
suffers on account ol the wrong-dolng
OF every other member. This is es-
pecially true OF secret societies. Now
one profaue, Icentious, Incorporate
Mason, brings a reproach upon tie
whole masonic Order and, 70 a certain
extent, destroys the influence and good
name of all brother Masons. Let me
dwell here little and illustrate the
point am making. Here is one who
Is Aabitually protane. Even in pub
lie, il may be, be win iili the air With
such oaihs as 70 make one sick OF hu-
man nature. "Ah, says an enemy,
there i. Masonry That is The
man you call brother" That thing
which you consider 50 moral aud no
bic. permits this,does il 4 Even your
friend wonders bow a good man, one
who revcrences his God, can associate
on brotherly terms with such. And
thus il happens, that Tie upright and
moral brother IS bruugh. under suspi-