Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1866-02-08


unanimous vote of the L1odS>f o solicit 70
publication a copy of yosrf yseent Addres
delivered before the fr,fk<thiiT and thei
guests, on ST. Johns dsy. 27ka llsimo
| Fraternally Yss -
rHaEBARD.
GALLiroLIs, OH. Z 4 1lst, 1866.
DEAR BRoTHrR HKBARs,
"a sfP,iAnee will
the request contained - " note O
yesterday. herewith place 81 al ress a
your disposal
Yours Frat rni1
R. d. FAfSoE URSEN.f
COMPANIONS. BREtf fffREN. La
DIES AND CENT? EdEN-
In accordance Wit NTo3 e custom W
nre this evening assemble fdr h. purpose o
installing INTO Office, the u 81 eieeted officer
OF our Masonic Lodge, ohsTtF and Council
The Companions and Brst1-f1s have desired
the ceremonies upon this cs<ss- on TO be con
Quoted publicly, so far ss = isoasistent witt
the usages ofthe Order, a. . ) got are Assem-
ble4 by their invitation ~ IS them, il
has been Thought fitting mt ssw words in
relation to the institut aa st Masonry, bt
presented toyou in the ~. u familiar ad
DR., IS, aud as have been rs5 aested thus to
address you, prop seto Sssrf, few state
ments in relation 20 the criein, The History
the Faith and Grand design a he Order; :nd
while there may be no rGveits Y these site
ments to some, perhaps 10 many they may
impart knowledge corcern our institu-
tion, which they might not y likely to OBJ
tain, except in some such rPaner. We are
assembled this evening to ceisl'frte the ami
versary OF st John the Esassslist. the Dis
ciple whom Jesus loved besAas he (as was
also St. j. hn the Bapt :, vs. an eminent
patron of Masonry.
After the building d t9s Iisst temple, it
was the custom of the 9rtu 1lsdieate their
Lodges to king Solomon, aud he was the first
most Excellent Grand Master; but since the
da;s of him who came crying in. the will
derness the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.
Prepare ye the way Of the Lord. :. Masons
possessinga belief in Christ the Savior, have
dedicated theirs to St John the Baptist, and
ST. John theEvangelst, and upon this anniyer-
sary which the ceremonies you bese beer inyis
ted to witness, are pssiern,sd not ia tsiis Han
alone. but wherever the knowledge Of the re-
vealed will of God extends, and MasOns are
found, there they are also assembled and en-
gagged in similar scenes and duties. In our own
land, from Maine to California, from the shores
of the Atlantic to the slope of the Pacific
and in other lands. and in other languages,
far across distant seas, Masons are gathered
to day to celebrate the occasion, and renew
their allegiance 10 the Order. In Europe
among the noblest and the most humble
the Emperor, King, Gentleman, Cavalier,
Merchant, Artisan and Peasant meet Ground u
common altar: Far away, amid the mournful
ruins of Asia, where the voice of the Evang,.-
list and his writings were once familiar;
Down beneath the burning Sun of Africa
Among the Islands OF the Sea, Masons are as
sembled to renew their vows, and testify
their attachment TO this, which may well b,
numbered among the best and noblest Of
human Institutions, and as they are thus as
sembled, all distinctions of rank are laId
aside. No differences can be permitte d
among Mnsons and brethren, except such as
may exist natur ,lly Republicans aud Demo.
Gratis Men of every religious creed, who be-
lieyc in the Col who gave the Law 10 Moses,
and sent the Prophets to reveal his will, who
believe in the immortality of the soul, anil
resurrection from the dead, are all met upon
a mm IN platform Of broth rhooi. And as we
celebrate this the day of one Of the eminent
Saints. who has honored the institution by
becoming a brother among Masonic brethren,
it is to he remarked that our Order did not
orig nate with either John the Evangeiis or
the Baptist, nor was il Solomon Who first de-
vised our ceremoni-s; and rs we naturally in
uuire when we See our fellow men in gre
numbers, devoting their time, and their
means, and their influence, to the observance
of any peculiar form, either of relig Ous wor-
ship, or secular institutions, Why are they
thus engagedH Where did they get their
laws7 Why do they thus differ from others
go in regard to our Order, we naturally in
auire, why do these Masons observe their
customs and their peculiar ceremonIals
Where did the institution arise, and how
Came these things .ngrafted upon 1t? How
did it originate, and why? What was the
worlds need of Masonry, which called for it,
and gave shape to its laws, and what is there
in it nop that it should be perpetuated7 and
son innumerable questions arise, concerning
US; and as l have already stated, shall en-
deavor briefly to answer some of those to
which have referred, and first, as 10 the OIL
gin of Masonry. We are forced to confess
that none of US can answer. AS we search
the records of the past, far back into the
earliest ages, we find it still the same, until
the dust gathers upon the tablet and our toll
is unrewarded. 'As we turn backward in
the course of time, and grope our way be-
meath the vail when we can lift but little
way, we find Masonry the only human star
shieh shines upon benighted EuroeeI IN the
"a ddie ages; Still further back ~ rftff
mir lle- en- blems on the imperial - s Ri
the esegnal City. We fEd lsSr <yr IS
amid the classic groves of and t'rt'1e,
and her Donu.nsnts we're darkens Il Ftss y e
Sun was se,ied si the csuei6xiopiot l'ss son
of God on eslvnrT.v We fad the Masan c
- -. -. ! - =. - l.