The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1867-01-23

walls of poverty and want.
+, This system Of brotherhood, emhod yiny
thesesgrest principles, have been handed
down to US as the otspriag OF the good and
the great from the remotest period OF anti
qniiy down % the present day. For auti-
fQoity has been the boast Of every human
institution Of grandeur and sublimity,; an,
when ua,ted by the strong ties OF brother
@hosd and the mystic corda OF membership
has been and ever must be regarded as-evi
/ dence OF inherent excellence, as the basi.
on which our institution was established
! This is true u moral AS Of religious insti,
stations. Governments that have long with,
stood the r4sages 1t time and the roar,ns
elements Of man'seve mutable passion, are
regarded win reverence and studied with
attention. We discover in their organiza
ton ,ne peculiar merit. some mystic tie,
some social cold which binds their subject
together, aud enables them 10 withstand the
tshocks and contentious OF revolutions and
the dlsmenbermeuts Of Kingdoms and EN-.
lpres. rn,s 0rings Us 10 the uit-repeated
declaration, that Masonry was not organic
Ell Tor political purpose. oreyer used a.
the means Tor overturains governments by
waging war. or shedding the blood OF its op.
ponents. or history would have marked in
graphic eolors its rise and progress. But
instead OF Surrounding itself with the hur-
rors aud cruelties Of religious fanaticism,
or perching upon her banner the bloody
gems of marital achievements, a. other insti,
Etutions have done who claimed more en-.
finite origin. we NAV search IN vain the
bloodsiained p.ges OF ancient or modern
history Tor any evidence VI secret comb.
Ration or conspiracy asaias, the govern
lnent ui the country 10 which she owed al,
legiance.
The breath Of the destroyer has saepl
from the theatre Of earth's action genera
ton alter generation klasdoms AM EN-.
Ipires have hourished. fallen md oren Tor
COTTON the monuments Ut human wisdom
industry aud enterprise, have crumDltd
into du.s under the witherns touch 81 tine
while Masonry. with all her living principle,
| OF truth aud virtue, untarHishrl Oy the
mildew ol time or The wasting el-M ats OF
a mortal race. still upens her ioor, >. INA.
lrity 10 the caresorn aud destitute "hu
claim tue protection aud meet The require.
ment Of TINS fraternity.
The history Of our institu lion - fraughi
with many deep a.d instructive lessons. EN-.
bod ing The recorded Wisdom Of all past
time. For all that We possess tealy val
usbIe in our social aud mystic order, have
been handed down TO us through lIneal de.
scent, iosIered by care aud sustained BY
truth and wisdom. A deep, q weight, debt
Of reverence and gratitude is due By the
living to the illu.lrious dead, BY the pres
ent To the time past. Tor all The priceless
blessings Of civilization. our social, mo.
raj and religious organizations, olr arts,
science aud literature, are rich and ines
tim .ble inheriisuces. transmitted 10 Us
through the combined wisdom oi tue i'm.
mortal names not born 10 die And we
will not be true 10 the landmarks Of Mason.
nv, and the wise and benehseat doctrines
these lnculcsted, IL We fzii to SUSTAIN by ous
acts the high character awarded her. % past
ages by the wise. the good aud the great.
For il ever the wandering tribes Of earth
shall be induced 10 return; Il ever the svn.
beam ofhope shall pierce the dark pre-, ine,s
Of ruin and degradation il ever the plan.
tive voice Of warning shall be heeded Oy the
reckless profligate; Il ever the sisny hrsri
Of man shall be made to feel the desiniiy 81
thought; il ever the aIluremsnts Of vice
shall yield its sway over the hearts and Goa
SCIENCES Of men; IL ever the foultains and
sinks of poIIution shall be dried IN, IL N
lie when The divine precrpts 81 our in,tiiv
ton, combined with the ho!ler nne. ol
Christianity, is scattered broadcast over the
lesolale waste of sin aud ruin.
This brings Us to consider Masonry as .
human Institution. claiming its org,n On
the eonsecratej upon which the temple vas
built, aud a.si.nilatlng the teachings IT the
!" Immortal Uae" Ny Signs. tokeas and eere-
monies; d stem &c government instituted
by King solomon uader the devIns ,nspi.
ration uf God himself. to promote peace
- ....I l.ll...ah,r .n.f a.. 49, .