Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1866-01-10

It of our fellow men. This idea is a mi
+, take. Our institution is founded on th
t principle that have been endeavoring t
/ unfold, that society wields great powe
e in the world, and acting on this princlpl
+ it seeks, in its own humble way, to assis
= in giving a proper direction toit. Its un
- derlying principle is, that all men, higl
= or low, rich or poor, meet on a common
= level, and so far from demanding any
: thing contrary to the precepts of tn
f gospel, it inculcates the three great du
: ties that we owe to God, to our neighbo
r and to ourselves. We do not place it OF
a level with the gospel; the gospel stand
by itself, with its foundations in the bo
som of God. Its obligations are impera
tive on the whole race of man, and N
, human society, however great and higl
and noble, can take its place, or in any
sense can be compared with il. But full
faith in the authority and power of the
gospel, does not conflict with the propri
ETY. of other organizations, haYing in view
individual improvement, and the benefit
of mankind; nor is the attachment tc
any such society, inconsistent with the
gospel. As social beings ne naturally de
sire to band together either for pleasure
or to carry out certain designs. We all
have afhnities leading us in different ways
in the selection of the particular organi-
cations to which we will attach ourselves
There are various religious societies form
ed for the purpose of carrying on more ef
tectually the work of the church, such
as Bible Societies, Tract Societies and
such ike. There are literary societies,
there are benevolent societies, there are
| temperance Societies, there have been
and God grant there may not be occasion
Tor them soon again-SOldier' Aid So
cieties, for the benefit of our noble sol
dleTs. All these societies recognize the
| principle that has been running through
this address, and act upon the idea that
the work of many hands and the thought
OF many brains, can accomplish more
good than the individual efforts of the
| same number of persons. And no one
lmagines these and kindred societies to
be hindrance to the gospel. And, nv
friends, neither is masonry in any sense
drawback to the gospel. On the con-
trary it is designed to deepen those very
feelings and principles which we chris
tlans maintain to be essential to true ri.
ETY.. And although lacking that mighty
power of the Holy Ghost" without whom
nothing is strong, nothing is holy, it has
no power to re-create the heart, its teach
lngs have always seemed to me to end
logically in the gospel, and it has been a
matter of astOnishment to me how GER
tain persons can understand masonry as
they do, correctly, and yet not see the
gross inconsistency they show by keep
ing aloof from the gospel.
l am aware the great objection in the
minds of some, is that it is q secret order
but after all that secret is comparativ-
ely small matter, and is only valuable
masmuch as it throws about our meetings
a certain charm perhaps that would 9th
erwlse be wanting, and serves to give in
terest to our order. All that is bad in
masonry, however, | assure you is pub.
lished to the world, while much that is
good we keep to ourselves. Do not i'm
agine the whole of masonry to consist in !
that wonderful creased pole that you
have heard about, and that remarkably |
wild goat that is sometimes spoken Oft
There Is something else in masonry-and /
because we do not care for the whole |
world to see us climbing that pole and |
riding that goat, you must not suppose
that this is all we do. There may be |
some rutfins too, belonging to our order, |
but there are also some true men. We |
are taught to climb that ladder which /
reaches from heaven to the earth the |
three principal rounds of which are Faith. |
Hope, and Charity-we are taught to |
view our fellow men as brethren-we are
reminded of the nakedness and poverty
to which we are liable, and are taught |
never to refuse charity to one in distress.
if we have it by us-we are pointed to
the Scriptures, as the inestimabIe gift of
God to man, given to us to be the rule of
our lves-we are taught to divide our
time so that it may be proftably and
wisely employed-we are reminded that
the sands of our life are fast running out.
and purity of life and rectitude of con-
duct are given prominent place on the
chart of life. Brother Masons.
would have you reflect often on the in
1uence our Order has in rightly direct
ing this great power that resides in so.
,iety. If we are pledged to help and as
sist worthy, distressed brother Masons.
you know we are not taught to consider
none other of our fellow men. From the
oarticulaigprinciples of the order we are
led to consider those ties which
bind US to the whole brotherhood of men.
In the word Charity, too is comprehended
shNAJ ob~CLCo VI EsOb-As 4l using the LlOI- 4
al power that IS in masonry, we can
prove a blessing to all who come within
,ur reach, and it is our duty to use this
Dower for the good of mankind. And Ii
hen when we enter that bourne whence
20 traveller returns, the memory of our
names will be fragrant with good, and if
n addition to our Masonic principles, we
re also imbued with the spirit and DOW
T Of the gospel, we shall be received as a
Dolished stone into that temple on high
lot made with hands-the temple not ,
'uilt by man, but by God. Thus have
brown together few thoughts as best 1
Ould in connection with my duties as a
'arish minister. l do not offer any ap- !
logy however, for l was not commpeled
o accept your invitation. ,
If what have said may have the ef-.I
ect Of raising in your minds a train of ,
thoughts which may prove of benefit to I
ou, am satisfied with my work, and 7
bhged to you for the privilege of being /
thus to address you. May you, |
Ulcers and brothers of Rural Lodge, q
-ork together in harmony-see to it that :
on always have designs ready drawn by I
7hich to work at the m oral edifce, and I
ear for yourselves a beautiful and stately G
Monument; and remabemring the death 7
hat is before you, a death that may meet c
on at any moment and at any place so i
We and so die that when he who Saint i
ohm describes as "the Lion of the tribe $
Judah, the root of David" shall come
, the earth, he shall raise you by that
.rOng grip whereby you shall be put in
Ossession of the secrets of the eternal
-orld. n
l thank you all for your attention and k
ccept what l have here offered as a il
Dntribution to the good work to which C
) Masons we are pledged. Il
Soils that need Lime. L
To ascertain the soils likely to be ben g