Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1867-07-10
WHY Masonry hus lived SD Long.

| Masonry contends for tie absoluteness u!
Truth. The tendency Of the times is greatly
averse to this .inuaamental principle Of all
knowledge all morality, as we'll as ak relig-
ion. And so'cur>Taternity arelike tie build:
ers on the temples wal; whilst they WELD
the trowel they must also bear the spear.
We are compelled TO wlthstand all those lines
ofthought WHICH would depreci4te the. sim
plicity aud fxedncss Of truth. The mary
new discoveries OF science have discrcdltel
old and long accepted theories. !; y :
| The result Of all such thought is the annhAa
tion Of that which is the corner Stone of our
temple. Somewhere there is that which is
nyariable, inAexiblc, and most stable; to be-
lieye it is to be flai,hlul-to deny it is TO be
iufdel; to act upon it is to be virtuous-to
depart from it is to become vicious. There
is no uncertainty in the teachings Of our Or.
der, where this much despised yet sovereign
truth is enshriped. But tie fact Of It's cxis'
,cnce is all that Just now affirm. eWhat Is
iae testimony of cur antiauity?' We are not
! banded together simply for'the purpose of So
cial recognition and mutual. support We
have rot.iiheritcd merely unmeaning forms
of riiualistic display, which have nothing but
their mysterious secrecy TO commend them.
Think YOU tEegs is enthusiasm enough IN hu'
,uanity to continue Tor SC many centuries,
amidst all sorts of perils and prosecutions,
such an organization as this, designed only
OF even chiefly, for selfish ends? You make
masonry a far greater mystery than we claim
by so surprising. And you have a problem
! to solve iir the existence of this. contessedly
ancient. Order, which will battle all expert
cnce and negative all knowledge Of tickle hu-
man nature Nay, it is tue love ofthe truth,
the adherence to the truth, which has consi'
tutcd Masonry the miracle it is among all the
debris Of mans social structures. Here it
( stands, Just as glorious as when, in tho first
temples time, the widows son gave the bind
lug word. But what's the meaning of all
symbolism This is not continued for tho
purpose of qualification or amusement. These
tools of our Craft and. jewels Of our Order,
have very solemn meaning The officers of
the lodge, from tbe91ilcr at the door to the
Worshiplul Master in the East, are engaged
in yerv earnest work. This is no nursery for
child's play or leviiy. We wear our aprons,
and display our three great and three lesser
| llGnts WIFI very seriots euus III sie". tno:0
are al!eeEorts' to preach the truth. Each is
a crystal face. OF the purestgem. And alFare
occupiedin the manifestation of thatof VI hich
each symbol tells part. How comes it, |
ask again, that after such long j9urneyinss,
and amidst 50 many adverse influences, this
traditional ritual remains SO pure, SO unal-
tered /? Other schemes of mans device have
had their day, aud have risen to rise no more.
4 What is the talismsn which explains their
destruction anG the preservation of this an
cientY Everything in the Lodge answers
Truth divine attribute, and the toun.
dation Of every virtue" For, "to be good
and true" to buy the truth and sell it not,
sis the first lesson we are taught in Masonry.
IS. n. Tying, Jr. ;.