The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1867-08-16

PrePaI alton.
In every transaction of life there
is need of preparation. p Before tn,
lawyer enters upon the active du-
ties of his profession years of perse,
vering energy are requisite to III
sure him any degree of eminenc e
among his compeers. The phySic,
ian is not qualified to take in hand
the brittle thread of human life, I'M
til toll and years of instruction pre-
pare him to gain the confidence of
men. Who ever enters upon 4 long
journey, without preparation, or
who refuses to submit to the GUS
toms of tho country through which
he is to travel will constantly meet
with annoyanoes and Instructions
in his way, if he does not find it ut
terly impossible to proceed.
Masonry confers not her myster-
les upon a man unprepared to re-
ceive them. Here, as elsewhere,
he must prepare himself. Masonry
demands HIM to, come Of his own
free will-she does not compel the
preparation-he must do it himself,
must so trusting, trustingly, will
lingly, humbly, prayerfully. He is
not to receive matters Of minor i'm
portance. The various types and
figures to be unfolded are beautiful
and sublime. Human life, its du-
ties, and mans destiny are to be
opened up before the truly prepared,
as he never conceived before; they
are to be impressed npon his heart
as he never felt them before con-
vincing him Of their suitableness
and utility.
Great was the preparation re-
quired to construct the temple on
the brew of Mount Moriah-that
great temple and thesaurus of Ma
sonry, to which the brethren de-
light to return at this distant period
of time and catch the refulgent
beams or Wisdom, that yet illumine
the Lodge room. He sees these
beams are the reflected glory of
that eternal Light, whose "All-see-
ing eye pervades the Utmost recess
scs Of the human heart, and will re-
ward us according to our merits. -
The first stepin masonry is as i'm
portant as any that follows-it is
necessary link in the. great chain,
without which there would be
strange anomaly, as confused as
inappropriate.
But even more that this is essen
tial. The manner is not arbitrary.
The landmarks must be observed,
otherwise every one choosing a sys-
tenn of his own, anarchy would be
the result.
The Great Light informs us that
a prepare ton is necessary before we
can be admitted into THAT spiritu-
al building, that house not made
with hands eternal in the heavens. -
Man must repent, be born again,
put on Immortality, etc.
Masonry teaches Us to ''divest
our hearts and consciences ofall the
allurements of vice purity of life
and conduct is essentially necessary
to our gaining admission into the
Celestial Lodge above, where the
Supreme Architect Of the universe
presides,
We love to tell the world, and
our hearts rejoice in the truth, that
we teach nothing a good man can
condemn, nothing conflicting with
the spirit of the Bible. Who can
point out a>mason who is an atheist?
There never was one. Yet more is
required He should be upright and
of good repute. Were we all duly
and truly prepared? Have we all
felt the Importance of our Masonic
preparation? l fear too many of us
have not. Let US turn oftener to
the altar, and ask the Great Master
of all to impress the spirit more than
the external forms of our blessed
Order upon our every heart, ever
waiting humbly and patiently His
will and pleasure. Esro sEMpER
PARATUs. HENRY G. BLoUNr.
Warsaw. KY, 1867.