Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1867-08-23
For the Vin'dicator.
WAYNEsBoRo', August 18th, 1867.

: Isl !.
Mr.. Editor " on who have been one Of
us in q Little Tammany," cant ,yat feel an
interest in its doings, although you aze con
sidered without the pale Of 9hor influence. -
We, poor as we are since tie war, have done
much to alleviate the sutfsriag5cf those who
have proved themselves Hor.hy You are
no doubt asFare that tae fraternity OF An
cient York Masons have organized Lodge
in this place, No 200, named after the Hero
OF the war Lee. III ,.4ta sz.sa.ssf W.
Last Thursday, Aug 9th. was a gay day
with Che few members herr it had been an.
nounceo that p Ct.3.M. L. l.. Stevenson, ana
D. D. G. NJ, W. j.. D;:iisii..is, aoeoapanied
by Col. G. Z. VFerraH G. your city would
visit u.s. nd that Col. U fGrra.., would Jeiiy-
er an address after tie Installation Of the Of
fcers cleo ed for the ensuing year. The
Lodge met in their Hall and formed pro-
cession ant, ma ched to the Methodist Church,
where they round a goodly number Of the
beauty ANA elegance # our females with
small sprlnkling Of the favorable belonging
to the Steiner sex. After the officers were
installed, Col. OFerral took the stand and,
in an eloquent style, gave US an historical
account OF the rise and progress Of Free Ma
sonry and stated that much had been written,
spoken and sung, yet the real worth Of the
order was not generally known and acknowl-
edged. But he showed to demonstration
that in its charitable deeds it was no less adj
mired tlan i'll it's religious teachings. The
moral influence it las exerted aud still exerts
is perhaps best known to the brotherhood, as
it enjoins the observance Of excellent rules
and the practice Of good principles It in
structs brothers to watch over and admonish
one another fos good, and to raise up the
worthy who are bowed down, and encourage
them to deeds of active benevolence. It's
precepts, if properly observed and acted upon,
will have tendency to exalt the character
of any man, and give to his conscience Sc
curity resulting from correct motives and up
right conduct Around the altar of Free
Masonry men of all religious sects may meet
as brethren. Here the rich, the poor, the
great and the good can meet upon common
level.
Bulwer says, cit is an old cherished pro-
verb, that no two hearts are nearer each 9TH
er, than those who have no deceit between
them.' am tempted to apply this saying
to our order, which has no artificial distinc-
tons between them. The great use of the
principle Of equality il chr syten is to re-
move all the artificial barriers from between
hearts which by the force OF natural synp:.-
thy might otherwise have been attracted to-
wards each other. ,Nhe design is to level all
distinctions Of character save chat Of virtue
and purity, and place the President upon the
same footing with the Peasant, the Jew with
the Gentle, the foreigner with the citizen,
regarding all as belonging to the same great
family Of Masons whose common head is God
over all.
The Col stated the object Of our order and
the qualification to constitute . Tree and Ac-
cepted Mason, and appealed to the voice of
public sentiment in our behalf-our deeds Of
charity, evidencing the harmony Of our union
as brethren, the sincerity OF our mutual OBJ
legations, and the purity of our designs,
which If carried out viii be entire success to
our cause of charity to all mankind.
Courtesy to the ladies, was extended in a
mastery style BY explaining why it is that
they dear, dear creatures, that they are, have
not been invited to undertake the obligations
and perform the duties Of Free Masonry. -
Woman needs no combination to strengthen
her ardent resolves and incentives to benev-
client and honorable conduct that man re-
quires. Not mingling in the busy cares and
strifes of life, she is not subject to many Of
its ills, nor liable to the influence of many
Of its temptations Nor is it proper that she
should be drawn from the peculiar station
she occupies to participate in affairs Of public
notoriety. But let us assure her that our
mighty lessons and our constant duties i'm
press upon our minds and enjoin each and
all to the cultivation of those pure and ex-
allied emotions of kindly affection, of virtue
and sincerity, which constitute the graces of
woman, and qualify her prominently as the
lchamnion and best friend of our order -