Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1866-02-08
Number 12.

earliest Masons were, / may speak Of some o.
the more palpable symboiisms while there il
ofeourse much that cannot be impaired. ex
eept 10 RremiSs Of the Order. The symbo
ism Of the let degree row called that o.
Entered Apprentlee'' was intended to teaeh
man the lesson that he entered the sorld I
ereafure from the hands Of God his Creator
and to Him his homage and worship IS due
Entering the Order, ignorant Of its grand
lessons, he is taught to look for mental and
spiritual illumination from Him who in the
beginning said: "let there be light and there
was light" Before the revealed will Of God
was given in its completeness, man was
Taught topray and trust Its Maker He was
taught that God'swosd,snd will. were to be
the rule Of his faith and practice. The square
was used to teach that no deviation fiora the
path of virtue could escape the detection II
1.-THE all seeing eye" Of the Omniscert The
Ccmpasses were used to define the circle
within which man should walk with care
before his fellows and his God. The proper
employment oftine, was taught by the Ma.
sons measuring rule Vices were to be eradi-
mans heart fitted like living stones for a
spiritual building, in which the love of God
and love to man. might dwell. The lamb
was a striking emblem of innocence and
purity. The stars. the Sun and Moon, the
eheekered Pavement, with its dark and light
alternating squares, were all employed to i'm
press important moral truths. and above all,
pointer to the Providence of God upon which
man is ever dependent, and in this first de-
gree, the three great tenets of Masonry are
| earnestly commended. '-Brotherly lo0s" Re
lief Tor the di, tressed and Truth" or reeii-
tude in every transaction. with our fellow
men, while ~fortitude. prudence, temperance
and justice" are explained and duly enforced
among US. Aud thus with this first degree.
you will perceive that there are principles
which readily explain Why Masonry has
survived the wreck of centuries, because of
the principles so closely interviewer with
those which God would ever impress upon
mans heart and which must endure so long
as man exists. And the second dvgree, ad-
ryaneing from fint principles toaPply moral
truth by means Of more elevated symbolism
enters the feld of science and architecture,
and conducts man up to the study of the
Divine plan of Him who laid the foundation
Of the world, and finished it in beauty. And
SO by means OF successive steps. Bau was led
up from nature to natures God. and there
" sonry teaches him not only TO look alone
to God for light and guidance, but to remem-
Der his brethren Of his race. to serve them in
love, to pray Tor them, to sy.npathize with
them, to shield their failIngs and If possible
sustain them from falling, to counsel them
for their good. lonkiug 10 God for his assis-
tance And now brethren, companions and
friends, it ia not necessary that | should add
to these things, in order TO convince you that
an Order which rests upon the word of God,
and which inculcates such principles is worthy
Of the support Of the best Of men. But We
sometimes hear the question asked. "vhy is
it if these things be true, that there are so
many who are members Of the Order who DO
not exhibit any appreciation Of such princi-
ples?" and / need only reply that we do not
claim for Masonry any power to regsnerate
the soul of man. That is the province of the
Holy Ghost alone. We seek no members.
Every Mason must apply of his own accord,
and solicit the privilege Of membership.
when an application is made, we act upon it
according to the best of our Judgment, which
we confess is fallible. We are not senrehers
OF hearts, and as you are all aware, that even
in the church Of God, some will gain admit
tshce where the scrutiny is necessarily or
ought to be far more rigid, we cannot pre-
vent always the unworthy from entering an
institution which only cl inns to be human
and moral, nnd sometimes our brethren do
fell from life Of uprightness into vice, intern
peranee and excess. for man needs something
m're than Masonry to keep him ever in the
Christian path. We do not profess to convert
him, but ifby means Of Masonry we can lead our
brethren up to that door where God has PROM
ised that if they KNOCK. it shall oe opened,'
our work is done That is the door hich opens
on the Christians path and leads up to the
throne of God Then new light will stream along
his path; angelic guides wSl lead him along
life's eheekered way; Gods werd will have
new beauties for his soul. and when at last
the seythe Of time cuts off the brittle thread
which binds him TO earth, his immortal soul
will ascend where faithful laborers shall IT,
ceive the welcome home in "the Joy OF their
Lord" Thtre are many other points, upon
which should like to speak. but desire to
be brief, as other ceremonies are yet TO be
performed this evening. which will occupy
your time. / will only add that the bond
which unites the Mssons OF the world in one
common brotherhood is one to which / look
for a mighty influence upon the future his
tory of our own land especially, and hum
bly, trust and sincerely pray that the time
may coon come when that influence may be
seen eementing again the diseordant elements
Of our sections. When North and South.
East and West, we shall be. not in name alone,
but in affection brethren, who work together in
love and devotion to our Common Country
God grant that our Country's star. may shine
more brightly above US as they look down
upon ''brefhJen" who "GtreH together in
unity" and while as Masons and as Citizens,
we prosper beneath our Country's flag of
freedom, letus remember the oppressed Of all
lands, rejoicing that we are free. Let it SYM
bolize to US a nobler freedom than that which '
the politician rolls upon his tongue. Let us
90 forth upon our worldwide mission of love,