Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1867-11-16
MASONIC READING.
The nsrOSlf.al SON.

FROM the National Freemason.
Brother, hast thou wandered far
From tby fathers happy home'
With thyself ard God a, war
Turn thee, brother, homewsrd come
Hast thoo wasted all tho powers
God for noble uses gavef
Sarandcred life's most golden hours
Turn thee, brother, God can save
Is mighty famine now
In thy heart and in thy souls
Discomfort upon thy brow,
Tarn thee, God will! make thee whole.
He can heal thy bitterest wound,
lie thy gsntiest praye- can hear
Seek Him. Tor lie NAV be found
Call upon Him, He is near.
A new Masonic Hall VAS dedicated in
Me-, last Tuesday with appro-
pirate ceremonies in presence Of some six |
hundred brethren from all parts Of the
State.
The churches at Oberlin, Ohio, are having |
an excited discussion on the subject Of Sc
cret societies. Professor Finney. . seeded
Mason, takes strong grounds against them.
We cannot imagine Of anything which |
could tend more to injuriously affect the |
Masonic SUCtety SuoU tuc peIhl8teDk euVtO |
that are made by some indiscrset and over !
sealous brethren 10 popularizs II, on every |
occasion.
Three things to love - Courage, gentle. |
ness. and affection.
Three things to Observation-Disclosures pow.
er, dignity and gracefulness.
Three things TO hate-Cruelty, arrogance
and ingratitudc.
Three things to delight in = Beauty.
frankncss and freedom.
Three things to wish for-Heslth, friends
and cheerful spirit.
Three things TO pray for = Faith. peace
and purity Of heart.
Three things to like-Cordiality, coed
humor, and mirthfulnsss.
Three things TO ayoid-Idlcness, loquac-
ity aud Aippspt jssting.
Three things to cultivatc-Good books,
good friends and good humor.
Three things to contend for - Honor,
country aud friends.
Three things to govsrn-Tempsr, tongue
and conduct.
Three things to think about-Lifs, death
and eternity.
The AxsuAL FesrlvALs John, the
Patron Saint" The oath of June is the
Festival Of st. John the Baptist, and the
9th Of December, the Festival Of st. John,
the Evangelist the first the longtst day
che second the shortest, or the first sensi-
bic return Of the sun northward. The great
Deity Of the Phenicians Was the Sun,
known under many epithets, IS Baal, Tina,
Hercules. Henelc, etc., etc. His great
fsasts we've at the summer aud winter sol
stices, when the days were longest and
shortest.
The christian Masons, finding the Festi-
walls Of John the Baptist, and John the
Evangelist, arriving on those periods, adopt
ed ST. John Is their patron, aud IL is thus
that these facts have been continued among
us; not for any connection With either the
one or the other, but because these periods
were the festivals OF the sVlstccs among the
Cabin E.ruscan Antiquities
masonic DsAcoEs.-Our accomplished
Brother Hyde Clarke, in q recent note on
the subject Of "peacons,' remarks The
authority for the title Of Deacon is not yet
ascerta,ned. Ii may have been got from
Scotland, but doubt il. think it was
obtained from some country guild, perhaps
from York Tho title OF Deacon, as
applied to tho chief official an Scottish
Craft l. dyes and interpretations, is OF All
Gent date, and is stll retained by the latter.
Mother kilwinning continued TO be ruled
by n Deacon til 1896. when falling in with
the style then adopted by the purely spec
ulative branch Of the Fraternity, its prlnci-
pal Office bearer began 10 be called Mas
ter But as regards these mystic messen-
gers Of the east ami west, now known A.
Deacons, their Judgement in kilwinning
has been effected within the last twenty
years. Turning 10 the national records.
we find that in lS24-and there may be
earlier notice Of the official in question
the appointment Of . "Deakon' Of each
Craft was for the public interest rend cred
compulsory
Masonic IDEAL or LABoR-Few Of
us have considered how much our institu
ton has donc to elevate the craftsman,
mechanic and oil lsborers, and give them
their r,gh,ful place in society The time
is rapidly approachirg when the Masonic
ideal Of justice and equality will be realized.
The slgns Of thctmes all poin, to this result
NOkLu WoIIltfu WIN nave SPIC1u 0OIIOW
and dcsolation through the earth, nor those
who owe their social rank - accident of
birth or wealth, but those who have toied
ussfully and endured patiently are rccog
nized to-day as the soveregns Of the moral
world They stimulate the thoughts con
troll the desires, and direct the ambitions
and affections of mankind. AZ the sweep
ns ages brush of the deceitfnl glitter of
the conQueior's crown, it no longer fascin-
stcs the enslaved multitude. Already they
begin to see who are true heroes and real
benefactOvs OF the race.
The armies OF craftsmen, and all laborers,
exploring usefuiy in their various callings
covered with the sweat and dust Of produc-
tive labor, are beginning to receive that
reverence and respect that they are enti
tied to
Even in the earliest times this ideal Of
society, this system Of social progress. was
revealed ia the mystic ceremonies Of the
Greer. The initiate, passing through his
various ordeals, Was considered . type or
representative Of the human race marching
onward through its various conditions to .
hi.h degree Of social refinement, perfection
aud enlightenment. All the ancient rites
Swallowed forth . more perfect social state,
where virtue triumphsd over vice, and truth
victorious over error. would be installed on
the Throne Of the World. and direct oil hu-
man activities and relations San Fran
cisco Mercury.
THE Gsxius AND SPiasr OF MAsoNRy.-
In An address delivered before the Frater-
nifty Of Frankfort, Ky, last st. Johns Day,
the speaker. Rev. Bro. H. A. N. Henderson.
spoke Of the genius and spirit Of Freema-
sonry in this following strain -
"Ihs genius Of Masonry brsathes over
ito conseerated circle the amiable psalmody
Behold how good and how pleasant 20
dwell together 10 unity ="
We lay down the Masonic carpet, like
nature does her vernal tapestry, end there
10 no habitabls CLINE where il 10 not spread.
We claim for our Order universally, har-
mony. and antiquity. Amid the pagodas
Of the Celestial Empire, the minarots Of
the Crescent, aud the towers aud stseplss Of
Christendom Masonry has residence. =.
Wherever there 10 the hum Of industry and
the abode of man, the stroke Of the mas
tet's gavel resounds and 10 obeyed.
Where spoken language is incomprehen-