The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1867-11-22
TsDINGS FROM THE CRAFT
a Few Words AbOnt the Bal
Fns

by commentators on Masonic law,
and found in some constitutions
simply mean such an inviolabllity
as will protect brother from being
questioned as to how he voted, On
the one hand, and to prevent any
means on the other by which his vote
can be ascertaincd We believe also
that the words which we have quo
ted, do, from the force Of circum-
stances, necessarily prohibit any
brother from disclosing the fact that
asst white ball; for If one be
permitted to disclose that fact, all
could be, and thus the person orpcr-
sons who cast one black bali, or
more, as the case might be, would
surely be discovered. Let Us Illus
trate: \ Lodge has an attendance
Of fifty members, and ballot is ia
ken on the admission Of 4
candidate, when forty-cight white
balls appear and two black ones.
This state Of facts is necessarily
known to those who inspect the bal
lot-box. One brother may rise and
say, voted white ball. and he
be followed by the remaining forty
seven who make the same dcclara-
ton. and thus the brethren who east
the two black balls become known
beyond question, anlcss they resort
to falsehood to screen themselves
from ar act which they have a per-
feet right to commit. Here a sim
gular anomaly presents itself: that .
Of a brother performing just and .
proper act, one done under the die
tates of duty, having either to be- .
come the object Of resentment to .
some of the members Of his Lodge, .
or to resort to \ lie as 4 shield .
against it. Tins it will be seen that .
as great harm can result from per-
mission to disclose the fact Of the !
casting of white ball as from the .
power to force a brother to disclose /
the manner in which he voted; a
power, it is almost needless to say,
that can never exist in Frcamason-
~ without a violation of the most
salutary and best settled laws Of
the Craft.
BRoTuERLY Low E OR FRIENDsHI- !
is recognized by good men and truo
as one of the leading virtues of tho
Order of Frecmasonry. In exercise
Of this virtue we are bound to red
ceivc the fact that the whole human
race form one great family, with
God as their head. Brothcrly love
compcls US to render aid and protcc-
ion to those who may need our help.
We may not desert friend in the
hour of danger or III the time Of tri-
al. We are required to defend tue
character of a brother hen assaled;
to visit him in sickness, and afford
him all the attention that true love
inspires 1t may be that the exercise
IF this virtue has been one of the
means by which Masonry has SO long
maintained its place among the
purcst institutions of the world
RELIEF is twin sister of broth
crly love; they 60 hand in hand for
the accomplishment of a noble, God |
like work: TO soothe the unhappy, |
to sympathize with their misfortuncs, !
to compassionate their miserics, and
to restore peace to the troubled
minds - Relief brings gladness
where sorrow dwelt--plenty where
want ruled How the bleeding
hearts of widows and orphans have |
been healed by this balm. it binds
the hearts of friends more firmly |
together.
'CKUrn, another of the virtues; in
decd, we are taught to regard this |.
as the foundation of every virtue
70 be good and true is one Of the
very first lessons taught us in Ma
sonry. Truth, mighty and all pow
crful, drives out from cur hearts and
minds all deceit and hypocrisy. Sin
ccrlty and plain dealing mark the
movements Of the man governed by
this principle. ''Thcre is charm
in truth, which draws and attracts
the mind continually towards it,
How noble the title belonging to
the Masons, "good men and true"
FoRrITUDE, another Of the beau
tiful circle of virtues wrcathcd upon
the brow of Masons. 70 be steady
in our movements, bold and fearless
in maintaining the right, even in
the midst fpcrils and dangers, is
noble trait. How we'll does this
virtue manifest itself in the strong
position taken and held by members
OF the Order during the anti-mason-
ic war IN this Commonwealth.
PRUDENCE should mark tn: steps
and control the tongue of every men,
Der of the Order. This virtue we
practice in the Lodg &c room, as well
as when mingled in the busy scenes
of life. Our words and actions must
be controlled by this principle, if we
would preserve unsullicd the fair
fame Of our noble institution.
TEMPERANCE, another Of the viz
tues that should be the constant
practice of every Mason. BY it's
exercise we arc required to avoid