Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1867-07-13

From the Masonic Monthly.l
The relationship of Freemasonry to the
progressive spirit which has been so ac-
tive in this and the last century in par
ticular, is a closer one than many sup
pose. In all ages the wise and the good,
weary of the contentious and sutferings
to be witnessed in the outer world, sought
relief in private assoeiations-n the re-
sesof the Masonic LOdges-vhieh they
80 shaped upon foundations OF liberty,
equality and brotherly love, as to form
an ideal of a world as it would pc, were
all men to do unto others as they would
have others co unto them. Inpreserying
for mankind this ideal Of 8 regenerated
world, the Masonic Lodgs has conferred
an inestimable benefit upon she raGe.
Towards the Advancement Of civilization
and the elevation of the nations to their
present high standard Of comparative
comfort and culture, in contrast with the
brightest periods Of the past, there is no
calculating the extent of the influence
which FreemssOnry has exerted. lnti-
mately associated with our own revOlu-
tionary period, linking together in a glO-
riOus brotherhood those sublime cOmpa-
triots, Washington, Franklin and their
co-labOrs, to whom the Lodge had fire.
lence of fraternity and equality; inti-
mately associated with tile lives Of the
greatest and best of the heroes of the
French revolution; inspiring the acts,
originating the reformatory ideas
OF the leaders in all the move
ments which have benefited man
kind for generations, FreemasOnry
msy well be said to be moulding the
world into its own proper form. Unob-
trusively, but perseveringly, nOiselessly,
as at the building Of SolOmOn's Temple,
with no sound Of hammer or of ak, are
the Masous of the nineteeth century
seeking to realize in the world the ideal
they worship in the Lodge, and to build
their mystic Temple on earth.
The celebrated Charles Fourier wrote
as follows: "G0d is the enemy of uni
formity; it is His will that the social
movement should perpetuslly vary,
should always be either ascending or
descending. To this end, he causes to
spring up in our Societies, periodically,
the germs Of new institutions, sometimes
beneficent, som sssss5,...T spernicious. 1t is
for human rs1sI5. Jssse-<ege what use may
be mad Of these gefissss, how to stife the
bad, like the Jseobin clubs, and how to
develop the good, like Freemasoury."
FreemasOnry is the germ Of those better
institutions. But in what manner can
MasOns legitimstely work as such for the
realization Of that ideal Let them not
be accused Of misappFehendiag the ten
dency and destiny Of their own institution.
viewing the lodge as the representation
of the world, an ideal world where
harmony reigns, where Brothers meet
upon the level" and part upon the
square,; ~ where each seeks to benefit
all, and all to benefit each living up to
these principles in their daily lives; act
ing out this religion, (fOr Masonry is a
religion, acknowledging the FatherhOOd
of God, ard the Brotherhood Of man,
let each individual Mason, thus aetusted,
90 from the Lodge into the world, and
color all his dealings in it with the light
of Masonry shining through him, and he
will help on the work of organizing q
new and better world around him. This
is the mission of the Lodge in the world.