Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-08-02

ance, no sectional, political, or religious
dogma. Masonry in its purity stands
upon pinnacle, high above all these,
and acts as handmade to the Protestant
and Jewish religions, and to every Yir-
tue and yet it ignores these when they
teach more than belief in God and the
Holy Writ, love to neighbOr and our
selves, and life everlasting. Masonry
teaches a purity of character that the
most religious could not more than at
tain, and frees itself from those petty
jealousies, chickering's, and dogmas that
so dishonor man, the church, and the
i synagogue. With truth and virtue as
its weapon, and He whose name is but
as breath for its guide, it plows through
the mists and the errors of ages, and
erects a standard that angels might wor-
ship at l stand here to-day, my
Brothers and friends, to claim that Ma
sonry pure and unalloyed is perfect !;
that it was established by God himself.
to improve, perfect, and elevate his crea-
lures that Masonry, in all Of its vital
parts, has remained unchanged and indie
struetible The wing of time has
tapped over it in vain the anathemas
Of the Pope have been hurled against
it envy, hatred, malice, ignorance, and
superstition have assaulted it religious
bigotry and political intolerance have
endeavored to destroy it; but how true
the words, amid the changes of cen
turtles it has stood changeless and Sc
rene"
How strange to me appears some of
the Masonry Of the present day. While
all admit its origin, its faith, It's land
marks, and its religion, yet an order
claiming to be Masonic and of higher
grade than the Cryptic Rite, prescribe
the very ones that gave them Masonic
birth. Do not think am fault -fnding,
my dear Brothers, for 1 came here to
give some home truths for home con
sumption, and 1 should feel very IN
happy should l not make some of you
feel very uncomfortable before get
through
Man Is so constituted as to love posi-
ton and power he is forever longing
for something higher-something not
within the reach of the common herd
of mankind If it pertains to intellect,
he tolls day and night over books and
manuscripts to aid him in reaching his
goal if it is a matter of riches, he fire.
quently forgets his God, his country,
his neighbor, and sees and knows moth
ing but self and money for the balance
Of his life if it is position and power,
he not unfrcquently forgets truth, honor,
aud religion, and plays the demagogue
and knave to gain his end Unfortu-
nately for Masonry, as a general thing,
the higher degrees are attained by most
any Master Mason.with the aid of money.
Once in a Masters Lodge, intellect and
character are in a manner ignored, and
the veriest novice and ignoramus in Ma
sorry not unfrequently ranks as high as
most any Mason now before me. Money
on his part and Indifference on yours
have caused Masonry to blush for shame
at the disgrace thus fOisted upon it.
There is an intellectual as well as a
moral standard for Masonry, that has
been so frequently laid aside that nearly
every Lodge is now hampered, and en-
barrassed or dishonored BY some mem
ber's ignorance or immortality. Charity
for the faults and follies of the profane
seeking initiation into our Order is not
a part of the Mason obligation Good
and true men are rarely found in the
purlieus Of society. Riches or liberality
in the abode of entertainment and dissi-
patton are sometimes balloted for under
the misnomer of intellect and moral
worth. 81 Guard well the door, appear
to be words Of greater import in Ma
sorry than ever before in our day and
generation. To the Blue Lodge in Ma
sorry do l particularly address these re-
marks, for the heart and soul of Masonry
are contained in the Blue Lodge degrees.
Place your standard high, read your old
constitution, and you viii gradually 20
back to those old landmarks and stand
points that made Washington, Frank
lin, Z Dewitt Clinton, and Jackson
proud of their connection with the Or
der Yes, back, back to those good old
days when to be a Master Mason was to
receive and be worthy of all the higher
degrees that are now conferred in Chap
ter and Council Masonry, as believe, |
is again nearing the verge of another
revolution. She is to pass through as
great trials and punishments as those |
connected with the Morgan period New
issues are now arising the spirit Of in
tolerance and bigotry has renewed its
hold anti Masonic meetings are being
called in various sections of the coun-
try. A few weeks ago this clerical, big |
Oted crew to the number of some two |
hundred, assembled in the smoky pre-
einets Of Pittsburg, snathematized our
Order, and prescribed their members
from belonging to cur Institution. The |
ball has commenced rolling, and in few
years may increase until you see the |
lukewarm, the ignorant, the bigoted and |
the timid deserving our LodgerOoms,
leaving only the stauneh, true and faith
full to hold up the standard Thus Ma
sorry purifes itself Politics, that bane
Of Masonry, is occasionally creeping into
our Lodges, disgraeing the man and the
Lodge that is influenced by it,
Ladies, let US change this subject, and
for a few moments dwell on one more
intimately connected with yourselves.
Should not attempt to say something
gratifying to you to-day, / fear even my
Brothers might forsake me, uRd nay eff
forts this day be east into oblivion.
Laughter. How mortifying to young
man after oratorical honorsl Better
that milestone was about his neck, and
fifteen Of his children depending upon a
preearious support than be under such
weight of OblOquy. To the good Mason
4 true woman is the most respected crea-
lure Of Gods creation. Most all of the
duties and obligations that pertain..to US
As MasOns, one to another, also pertain
70 US in our obligations toward YOU.
Shall We then call you Heroines Of Jeri-
tho, Good Samsritans, Morning Star
ties, Masons Daughters, and all the
lames-ef petty side degrees that are so
-idicuious and absurd when compared !
With Masonry? Side degrees, ladies,
we're manufactured to crafty woman