The weekly echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1868-1876, 1868-12-26

like to miss. / thankfully accepted his
kind offer and at next morning dawn
we were on our way home and com
menced anew our conversation through
my inquiries and his replies. How
many churches, I asked, are at the
Lake He said Two, one Catholic
and the ether Baptist The Catholics
have long since built tolerably pretty
church but at present no Priest resides
among them they are only from time
to time visited by one and the Baptists
occupy as church the lower story Of the
Masonic Hall, which is at the same
time the school room of their Parson,
who, I heard, owns the same, and is in
hopes Of gradually presiding over "a
College, in which all the higher branches
shall be taught. His name is M. Scarbo-
rough, and he came to the Lake With
the best recommendations as a gentle-
man and very able teacher. Another
school, kept by Captain Bryan, existed
already, before Mr.. S. had arrived. Mr..
Bryan is very popular man, and pa
rents who send their children to him,
seem to be well pleased with their pro-
crosses, andas, so far, our population
is rather small for the support of two
schools, many people are of opinion
that both probably would be benefited
by melting into one. Do you belong to
any of the churches, I asked ''No:
[ have been raised in the Lutheran
church, and while Z believe with all my
heart iii Christ, [ would not like to join
another denopination, the great number
of them seeming to be the best evidence
that probably all are far from being per-
feet, while In the essentials of Christian
faith they may not differ much, and
while [ think, it is to be deplored, that
they cannot be brought under one head
lin proper simplicity and by entire
cessation of the many, ugly contentious,
it not animOsities, often saw In mem
bers of the different churches, and fre-
quently as a mere product of PARTY
fiooIisl5aesS, that Christians should al
ways avoid, do though sincerely be-
heve that every one of the different
denominations and particularly the
Methodist and Baptist, are doing a great
deal of good in this wild country, and
should be duly regarded or respected by
every sensible, moral man, especially,
when the Parson is sincere in his faith
and earnest endeavors to promote true
religious sentiments, and thus to secure
and see the fruits of his labors and fer
vent prayers in the benedictions of our
merciful God and should there be
any one, who can permit himself mis-
lead by his individual views and incor-
rect or false ideas of mankind S JTail con
diti0n ba holy destination to do any
thing in word or action, that shows dis-
interference with Christian
churches, or well meant preaching
viii do SO, fear, ut the peril of getting
egcl,sCled from that mercifUl guidance of
his Creator, which is by faithful Chris
tians constantly invoked, to expe-
rience, sooner or later, solely Gods Jas
tee and all who have eyes to see and
aoiH see, ought to know, that this stern
Justice -auam6tigdteC{ lis dtTttlly severe ]!
After this I remarked You men
toned the Masonic Hall. What do you
think Of of Alas AHsIIsassseREYF, snd are yon a Ma
son I aIn not, in the ordinary sense
of the word but Masonic addresses,
I have listened to, and the many excel
lent books about Masonry I did read
and which are open to all, who choose
to procure them, inspired me with the
highest esteem for an institution that
can but be blessing to mankind, as its
chief object evidently is the promo
ton Of true worshipful religion, and
consequently, also, of morality, brother
III love and general benevolence. A true
Mason. that is, one who strictly strives
to elevate himself to that perfection, as
I see, Masonic principles require it, par
ticularly when he attained the higher
degrees to be an example OF virtue
and above all, Of worshipful humility
his minds eye should INCREASINGLY, with
due reverence, behold the holiness OF
Tniyerse's Almighty Creator, in whose
he should constantly
walk. most scrupulously guarding HIM
self never To offend the same by any sin
81 low profanity ;-he should not lie
down 10 sleep nor arise and follow COM
L ...5,,-g.sAst f,aPrvsa isn vssauA