Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-07-09
Moral and Religious.
The Bible.
THE GREAT LIGHT IN MASONRY.

Amid the roll ofages, the rush of generations,
the rise and fall of Empires, this wonderful
Book pours the tide of its glory, the light ofits
own orbed splendor, over the destinies of man
and the fate of nations. Its jurisprudence
tempers the genius of justice with the gentle
spirit of mercy, and sanctifes the hottest en-
dearments of social life with the power of
truth and love. 1t consecrates the marriage
VOW with the sanctities of trust and devotion,
and gives to parental tenderness, flial love and
fraternal regard, deeper sentiment ofkindliuess
and tenderness. 1t takes woman by the hand.
and leads her from the servitude suffering inn
posed by superstition and idolatry up to the
shining circle of social and religious duty, as
mans ''help meet not his covering slave It
penetrates the conscience, softens the heart,
and convinces the reason, by arguments and
lessons, as solemn as the judgment, as true as
death. and as vast as eternity. It leads the
doubling to the shrine of truth and calls the the
erring to the throne of mercy. 1t promises
arch the life that now is, and stretch away amid
the endless verities of eternity. 1t unfolds the
only system of theology worthy of human faith,
and gives the only system of ethics worthy Of
human respect. Its historic rolls commence
with the dawn of creation, and the songs of its
triumph echo amid the thrones and hierarchies
of heaven. The evangelium of its glory is the
prologue of earth, the epilogue of heaven. God
recipient of its favor and mercy. Its testimony
is unfolded by precept, and impressed by ex-
ample. 1t reveals to every wanderer upon earth
the path of Duty, and shows to every tempted
soul a crown of life, an Immortality of bliss,
when the sun of earthly being shall set to rise
and shine on other worlds. Before its Diuine
Truth the rejoicing heather casts his idols to
the moles and bats, and adds his homage to the
worshippers of earth and of heaven. A single
precept from its Divine teachings would restore
to earth lost Eden faded bloom and fling hopes
halcyon halo Ger the waste of life; ''Do unto
others as ye would have others do unto you."
The laws of Solon and Lycurgus, the philosophy
of Polybius and Pliny, the ethics of Seneca the
homiies of men, the poetry and eloquence .of
earth offer no such rule of action-at once
simple, merciful and just. The moral landscape
which this wonderful Book unrolls before the
entranced and delighted gaze of men surpasses
the dreams of poesy, the genius of art, the i'm
agination of men or the conception of angels.
''God only knoUs the lone Of God" Charity
and forgiveness are the great lessons of Its
Divine teachings-Love to God and man the
power of it's testimony. Never was this wonder
full Book forged in the teeming brain of man.
Alone it has swept through fields of blood, and
oceans of flame. Its martyred worshippers have
sent their victorious shouts sounding down
throughout the worlds ages to cheer the doubt
ing and strengthen the weak. Its songs of
peaceful Immortality have been hymned over
the graves of the dead of life-and the jubilee
of its glory is heard in heaven to-day.