Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1866-01-27
FreeniaSOnPy.

]
sound of the gsvel, nor the song of the
! Craftsmen going to their lahors. On
lhe dark rind of LebanoB's cedar no work.
man rings his axe. 80
"The stones iha, were fitted for the
builders use. have crumbled into dust.
1.-The lmbers fashioned by cunning
hand, lave moudered years ago.
|
Gone are the bflted Knights who
Tough, so,nobIy for The city of their faith.
"Gone ere the cleaning falchion and
the waving crest, and the tried lance IN
resi-.
mo longer is the gavel used to break
off the corners OF rough stones.
mo longer is The lrowel used 10 spread
The cement.
"Gone are all the operative implements
Of our Order; but in place of all this and
upon a broader and frmer basis has
sprung spiritual Masonry. which will
Hive forever, for lis essence is eternal. II
Iir shsdowing forth of the ancient nsll
,ulion, and " hen the escu'cheons OF her.
aldic pride shall have been long forgotten
from among the things that were; when
all the vain devices of earthly grandeur
shall have mouhiered; yea, and the clus-
lering ivy shall have ceased 10 cling a.
Ionnd the last silent memento OF heraidlc
pride, or to the hanI-work of our ancient
Brothers, even the true Masonic spirit
will be found like the knigh ghl Of the old
en- mme, with vizOr down and lance III
rest. prepared 10 meet The assaults of the
EVIL that is IN the world.
mot from the hand Of beauty looks~il
or reward. Under no lady's lallced bow
er sings lis knighlly lay. Not with earth
Iy flowers is it's coronaI victory enlwined.
and with no worldly jewels decked. for
il looks forward far beyond The tented
fields OF time to an unfading chapel from
The groves of Paradise, to lha, better land
where the wicked cease from troubling
and the weary shall find rest.
..The institution which is reared upon
this structure spreads over al the earth.
Travellers tell us of lichen or moss
" hich grows far up the mountain side. IN
the region OF perpetual snow. No change
OF season affects il. Summer and winter,
spring,ime and autumn. seedline and bar
vest, il knows not Of. Ii is above the
reach of influences that affect plants Of Or
dinsry growth. lis plain but beautiful
flower greeis the eye OF the traveller, and
glsddens him With thoughts OF other lands.
: Like lhe flower Of The mountain is the Or
der we revere. 1t changes not with the
climale, but in season and Out OF season,
! in every land il is The same. The He
} brew brother, bOrDe back by sacred and
Masonic history, can stand wilh King
Solomon in the newly finished temple,
and as the fire comes down from Heaven
and the glory of the Lord upon The house,
he may bow himself in worship and praise
TO God, and say-'For he is good, for his
mercy endureth forever The follower
OF the prophet, his face devoulIy turned
toward Meccs's holy shrine. asked. in
y Allah's name, admission and received it..
The Indian of the continent, with his
simple faith in The Great Spirit, and The
happy hunting grounds beyond The grave,
"Beyond the purple clouds of sunset,
In the islands Of the blessed,
In the Kingdom Of the Fonema,
In the land Of the hereafter"
knocks al our portals for admission, aud
is moi deceived. The follower of Christ.
bis soul glowing with love Tor Him who
died on CalvaTy-truslipg for redemption
in The merits Of risen and ascended
Lords welcome at our slars. Who
shall say, then, that the faith of Masonry
is moi universal Hebrew and Assvrlan,
Jew and Gentle, Christian and Mahom-
medan, can kneel at the altar Of Freema-
sonry, and in perfect equality Of truth and
virtue, vow allegiance TO It's trusts"
EIoquence Of Andre W johnson. '1s
The following is one Of The most truly
eloquen. passages ever spoken. Ii is
from a speech addressed by Andre ~
Johnson in April, 1864. to mass meet
ing Of the people of Knoxville and vicini'
Iy: sfa'f % .''-''.as'a 'a .a'. ...s 2
"My countrymen my heart yearns to-
wards you; and am ore of you. have
climbed yonder mountains, rock-ribbed
81 A.