Idaho semi-weekly world. (Idaho City, Boise County, Idaho Territory) 1867-1868, 1867-06-29

TIC TIE
We have met to commemorate the Masonic Ami
versary ALI human institutions have their peculiar
traditions and among the order of Masons, the
oath of June has been, from time immemorial, day
specially observed and honored. AS the 25th day of
December is to the Christian world, and the 4th Of
July to the American Patriot, is the day we COM
memorate, to the Free and Accepted Masons On
the oath OF june and about six months prior 20 tne
birth of Christ st. John the Baptist born; ana
IN modern times among Christian nations the mem
bers of our Fraternity have held their annuaA Iest
val in honor of that event Masonic tradition informs
that he member and patron of the order' ano
the universal homage which is rendered TO ms mem
DRY among Masons, by the dedication OF nelr LOues
in his name and the observance OF ms Dirtn oay ~
far to confirm the authenticity OF the tradlnon ana
to Justify its claim But this selection OF patron
wholly arbitrary, and without support roIn Ine
fact which II assumes that he member OF the
order it is still significant OF the INSTITUTION whlcn
thus renders annually to the world Its tribute 20 MS
name
The life of St. John was devoted to the noble OBJ
iect of reforming and eleYating mankind. According
TO Revelation he was the Herald sent by Heaven to
announce the coming of the Prince of Peace the era
of good viii among men, when the law of love was to
supersede the harsher rule of past age, and the
millennium of charity and benevolence to assume
its rightful sway among In the performance of
his mission he labored through poverty, privation
and self-sacriice-was clothed in garments woven
from the hair of the camel and lived upon food fur
nished by the bounty of the woods and the climate
While thus devoting himself to the good of his fellow
men, with total forgetfuness of all selfish ends, he
was thrust into prison, and finally executed to rv
deem the pledge of lascivious King that he would
crafty the whim of guilty and malicious mistress
So lived labored, and suffered one of the great lights
OF Masonry and whether the honor show him
arises from the justice and truthfulness of our claim
that he noless distinguished in the quieter walks
of our institution, than in those more popular and
better known characters of preacher and retormer-
it matters but little-his title to veneraton is
justified and indicated. And that such man should
be selected the type of perfect Masonic charac
ter is significant to the enquiring mind, OF the OBJ
iects and purposes of the order. TO make wiser
and better to purify them from the groseness Of the
world around them and to 1nake the paths straight
to higher and ncble8 and purer hte-thls was the
mission this the task of John the Baptistand these
are the purposes and this is the mission OF the order
of Free-Masons.
we know 1t is not; do not claim that it should su
persede or take its pace-we know that it cannot;
but do claim that it makes men hetter-that it re-
fines and restraints and reforms evils elevates its
votaries, and that when its principles inculcated
and practsed higher and nobler type of humanity
must prevail Why, then, brethren, are we members
of this Fraternity !? This inquiry involves deini-
ton of Masonry.
If | allowed to define it from nay O5serva- /
ton of the principles and purposes of the order,
should say that it voluntary association of men
for mutual Improvement in social lfey and mutual |
assistance in time OF want and distress 1t is prac
teal morality and systematized benevolence.
May Masons lay great stress upon the antiquity of
e order, and the fact, that amid the crash of king
sOms, and the wreck of empires, which the world /
has Witnessed for centuries it has survived all
changes, and is now in prosperous and fourishing
condition.
1t is indeed source of just pride to the Mason, |
while he gazes with admiration upon the beautiful
edifce of modern Masonry, and it's influence ex
teAding to every quarter of the globe, to remember
that its foundations laid far back in the dim his
tory OF the past and that if the power to Withstand
the corruptions that have proved the folly and wick
edness Of mankind in all ages is any evidence of its
worth, then our institution, like pure metal boast
of having passed the most fiery test, and come o1t
purer and brighter for the trial.
Whether, however, the institution is now precisely I
what it was in the beginning it is perhaps impossi
10 IN L1ON o1a6f I1Af Na fFrY
Whether We assume that its origin was among the i
priests of Osiris in Egypt founded upon the earliest
mythology known to history, whether we fix its &
birth as coeyal with the Eeuslna1n mysteries OF the
paLny days of Greeceor ascribe its Institution to
the genius of Pythagoras, who taught science and L
morals to afectonate disciples in the sunny land OF
Italy, long before the days OF Cicero or CRsarI re-
peat, whether the other of these assumptions
be true, have to feel honest and noble h
pride in the order. Its origin would alike recon-
mend 1t to favor IN either CASE Historians all agree
that the learning the science, and amelioratng in
huences upon the vices of the primitive ages had
their origin in the mystic societies of Egypt. Rollin
tells us in his Ancient History, that the refinement
of manners and the advancement of science, archi
lecture and elegance attributable largely to the
influence of the Eleusinians upon Greek society. Ii
And Pythagoras has left fame behind him as phil
osopher and moraliSt saying nothing of the mystic
association of his fonowers-to which Masonry 81
claims an alliance-which will endure long the
records of the ilusrious and the great shall resist
the restless pillows of time So that whether we as
Masons identified with the other or all of
tnese sources IN our origin our ancestry is alike
royal and honorable Or if conceding that the skep
tic is right and that there is link OF actual descent
from these societies to modern Masonry, stl if TAX
ing their example for guide have organized an
association based on the model and governed :
by the same idea and exercising the ennobling
and refining influence then must not be ashamed
OF our work, our position, origin. IL
1t is Ilnaterial after all to the honest enquirer
who earnestly seeks for Light and desires to know
whether the order is one that has present merit 2
whether it has the sanction of centuries the re-
verse. In hspraccal age, when birth and ancestral
fame, and the theories OF worth founded on them I
lightly regarded it is of little moment to per-
investigation into the question of the ancient
modern character of the institution If Masonry Ii
be good though it but the work of yesterday 1t
it should our homage if it be evil it should
be discarded though it were haT1owed with history
that would lead g down the ringing groove Of "a
time " to the gateway of Eden itself Antiquity may X
hadoW truth, and make it attractive in our It
eyes, but years cannot sanctfy Institutions Ii
may flourish for ages, and yet crumbe at last by in
herent corruption and the true test Of what is good
and admirable is that it is full of years and loaded
with the honors of the past but is it yet clothed in
the innocence Of virtue and guided by the genius of
truth and justice. Let us, then put to the edice OF
Masonry the line and plummet, the level and the I
square, and if it is found bear these tests of the
skill Of the architect-if it's principles hGrmonize
with truth and virtue and it's practice yields the fruits
OF fraternal kindness and benevolence and love- then
let US worship at her affair." though the dust Of an
tique memories may have been rudely wiped from 9
her cAance by the keen and housing criticism OF
the mere historical inquirer II
Let Us then examine its merits: First it is volun
tary association We have no ministers OF prose a
ytelsn, whose mission it is to go upon the worlds
highways, and make converts for us by abusing the
rest of mankind strength to ourselves by
showing the faults and errors of others. Every ap
pcant Tor Lhe sterieS of Masonry must present Ii