Des Arc weekly citizen., 1868-07-14

to dwindle down into an idle dream, then in thathour of trial he recollects the emblem of the evergreen, and the lone star of hope bursts through the darkness of doubt, casts it's rays even to the "Valley of the Shadow of Death," and lights up the cheerless prospect of the tombl Oft when struggling in the slough of despond and his faith begins to wavcr and the black waves threaten to sink him for ever to the yielding bottom then that beautiful star gleams out, gilds the dark horror and he makes another ef- fort, recovers his foothold and springs to the shore! s5ss g -
 When misfortunes gather. calamities come and the chilling blasts of adver- sity howl about him, then as guardian angel
 "Hope, like the glimmering taper's light, Adorns and cheers the way;
 And still, as darker grows the night,
 Emits n brighter ray" .
 Who then would strike that brilliant star from the blue vault of masonry? No, let it shine to cheer us along the pathway of human life and whatever else may happen to our Order, let these three go hand in hand, Faith, Hope, Charity.
 Faith, Hope--and then comes Chari- ty-the crowning virtue of all. Faith may be lost in sight, Hope ends in fruition but Charity reaches beyond the grave and extends through the boundless realms of eternity. This is emphatically the great fundamental principle that distinguishes our Order from all other institutions. Though we may excel in other virtues and graces, yet, if we have not Charity, in the language of St. Paul, "we are as sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal." Amid the ills of mortality some of which have already been mentioned, it is absolutely indispensable. "NoN IG- NARA MALI, MIsERIs sUCCuRRERE DISCO" exclaimed Dido to the shipwrecked Trojans when fugitivcs from their na- tive land they were cast upon the shores of Tyre. The sentiment is beautiful for a heather upon whose mind bcamed only the light of natural conscience. But masonry recognizes a higher motive of action than Virgil's principle of what might be called re- fined sclfishncss, which the bitterness of misfortuncs will impress upon any one's mind. Men are sometimes be- ncvolcnt from motives that originate in sclfishncss, and relieve distress merely because they fear that calaRi- ties may ovcrtakc themselves and then they wish to have claims upon their fellow creatures, or because they have But the true Christian mason is chari- table because God such and he wishes to initiate Deity. He pities the weak ness ofnaturc. ovcrlooks transgressions and pardons follies. "Go thou, broth CT mason and do likewise" When thou sccst one, especially brother mason, attacked by foul calumny, when rcproaches arc hcaped upon him by a whole community and vile islanders arc in circulation derogatory to his character or that of his family, be not satisfied with the exercise of negative charity which consists merely in main taining profound silence. When dark whispers arc afloat concerning an inno- cent brother, keep not thy lip sealed aud thus give countenance to islander, but speak out and frown down any attempt to tarnish the fair fame of member of the Order. Such is the spirit of masonry. We arc sinful crea- lures and strange beings; be it spoken to our shame that we are envious of another's prosperity and We are glad to see man of brilliant qualities hurled down from the sphere he has occupied and placed in lower posi- ton. We cannot bear to hear virtues of which we are destitute praised in our presence. We are so depraved that if a falsehood is bruited through the community, we keep silent wilfully and thus say by our actions, that we believe it. Such course is highly genius of free masonry. It is our duty to conquer prejudice and make our benevolence active by speaking out in defense of an innocent brother, even though he possess some qualities which we do not approve. But ma sorry is not so selfish in it's nature as to confine the exercises of charity to the fraternity. Its sublime prccepts enjoin upon us to cultivate this princi- pie till it shall become eo-extensive with the boundaries of the earth. Universal, whole souled charity! "lt suffereth long and is kind-it envicth not-thinketh no evil--rejoiceth not in iniquity-beareth all things--believeth all things--hopeth all things-endu- reth all things" This is the kind that "never faileth." This is the kind that should glow in every mason's heart and permeate his whole nature. This is the kind that comes gushing up from the heart and flows on and on like the pure waters of gentle stream, diffus- ing joy and gladness wherever it goes and bringing life to the flower of hope that is whitening in some poor beings breast. This is the kind that makes green and bright the oases in the parched Sahara of life--
 "Truc charity. plant diviaely nursed