The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1868-01-03

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Aage' o.. co lntry; they will find this
evidence IN the fact lhat the bad
ing. statesnen, patrioss.and, philan-
thropists Of every people adyanced
in civilization and cbristiau prihei-
pies are votarics; theys~ill fin,l
it in the fact that tue governmrnts
that have done the most dusilS j ,tbe
;past century 70 extend sof'
pcacc,lilvirtue, beneyslencc,' I and
truth, .am9ng mspkintl hab thsipf
,thaN period beenssassntroAed. an | eui-.
dcalby its votarks; tksy VIII fhdit'
tipitho fact that the emine ntiy wise
and good men whose wisdom,. put4'i-
otisal and virtue, devised the free.
and tolerent governmontjthat made
our own system the pride. Of it'd peo-1
.ple; and the hope ofthe world, were
its ,vota ries; they willftsd it in the
fact that in no country where Ia VS.
have. been moulded ando.shaped by
members Of this fraternity have
freedom Of thought, oand.> religious
worship, with their sacred privile-
ges, come under tho ban Of either
church or state. They will find in
our own country that those who tave
best administered it's laws from
Washington, down through the long
line Of heroes, patriots, statesmen
and sagcs to the present time, were
Masons. z. .rGpg ,E"s'h"i :"
} The mission of Masonry is,''pcace
emeafth, good 'willto man.''"i" Its
i Peace -makers .arc not those who
draw the sword to vindicate 4 cause
,tha ttmediatiou can better adjust. =.
.nedIatlon is d Masonic principle,
and twin sentiment with brother
lly love-, The peacc-maker may be
rcpulsed, but his mission is sacred
and has the approval Of the, Great
Author of Light. Hecarries the flag
oftruce that panoplies it possessor
from envy. hatred, malice and m
charitableness. rMediation';is is the
last resort Of mercy, pleading the
cause of common enemies, allies and
friends. - ..,..~s, Il. s, g,.t ,
To do unto others as you would
they should do unto you is a proccpt
|iof Masonic charity. ~ The, pride of
opinion, or the desire to lproselyte,
is not found in ancient Masonry.
or the contrary Masonry teaches us
to. subdue and modify onro feelings
and sentiments by that compass
which describes a circle, embracing
within its lines the actions, motives.
and views of the entire fraternity.
Cultivate charity, then, for it is the
bond Of true religion, and the corner
stone Of the, Masonic edifce. = No
true Mason then should wait for
suffering humanity to call, but
should seek it out, not with osten-
tation, in almsgiving, but ''in secret
not letting your. left hand know wha t
your right hand doeth; that your
Heavenly Father, who sccthin secret
may reward you openly. ~ ."Purc
and undefilcd reli eion.beforc God and
the Father, is defined by an inspir-
cd writer to, be .'to visit tic widow
and the fatherless in their affiictiouo,
and to keep ourselves unspottcd be-
fore. the world.' The widows tear
and the orphans wall, are the tocsin
that will call the true Mason is deaf
to tho cry of distress, that is sent
up from any quarter inhabited by
suffering humanity. To "do good
unto all, but moro especially to the
household of the faithful" is q tenet
no Mason will forget.
Connected together by certain
laws as unohangahlc as tho cdicts
of Omuipdtence, and Of universal
application.pthe object Of our order
is the improvement aud happiness
of the whole human race, without
respect to form Of government, rank
or creed. Indeed, men Of all relig-
ions and all,acreeds in politics. on
terms,of amity meet onjthe Leyei
and acting by the Plumb find a ref
uge from all the = dissentions that
too often mar the harmony of so-
.ial life; aud froa, tho monarch that
sways the sceptor of an empire. to-
tho humblest artizan that tolls for his
daily bread, part upon the Square
of,true worth and merit. " 4. :--l
But the benefits Of Masonry arc
not alone confined to her immediate
followers. Rising higher in the
] aaala nf moral axnallnnan II hnnA.