The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1868-04-24
Who is the Bright Mason +?
BY REV. DIR. BAIRD.

! ~ REV. DIX. BAIRD,
WHO is the bright Mason? lie who
is deeply read in all its ancient lore, yet
is reckless Of his Masonic practice His
Masonry is but Il jewel Of gold in a
swine's snout. Is he bright who can
pronounce all its sacred lessons, and
| flippantly rehearse all its sublime teach
| ings, and then gricve sober dccency
with his profanity and dissipation? lie
is but sounding brass and tinklng
cynlbal. lie is the bright Mason whose
life reflects back again the pure light
that shines from the altar.
Allow me 70 close this part of my
address by an allusion to that signifi-
cant word in such common use in the
Lodge, Labor How, where, and for
what do you labor? You must study
to know the design of the Great Mas
ter. You must take the working tools
and go down into the great quarry of
your own heart-takc the light with
you, and there faithfully put to the
test each rising motive, thought, and
intention. Gird up your loins with
true courage, and make good proof of
vote workmanship. This is the way,
time and place, to learn to suDdue your
pa, sions and improve yourself in Ma
soi.ry, and mightier is he that ruleth
his spirit than he that taketh city.
The trials and triumphs Of the last
few years should admonish us to watch
and be sober Never before was it the
lot of this venerable Institution to wea-
ther storm Of such vast dcsolation
Many and great were the temptations
to cut loose from its moorings, and
drive upon the sea of universal cOnfu-
sion. Scarce an institution, civil, po-
litical. or ecclesiastical, that has survived
the storm, and full many a wreck of
past greatness is yet drifting upon the
| sullen and troubled pillows. The geni-
Us of destruction even now seems to de-
light in the vast variety of the general
catastrophe.
There is gallant ship, p,new and strong,
the name of its builder still bright up
on its keel, freighted with the hopes of
many millions, but dismantled by the
tempest, and still founderlng in a
trough OF the sea; and yonder are 9TH
ers, who sailed under the sacred ensign
some broken in twain, each hal
ailoat and claiming to be the original
Others shattered to fragments and be-
come the sport of the spirit OF change
Every American Mason, especially
ought to look up this day and be thank
full, as he sees this highly favored old
sca-beaten craft, still worthy from rud
der to mast, and proudly riding the
waves. Let Him who plants his foot
steps in the sea and rides upon thu
storm, be her tIelmsman evermore.
In all the fury and rage of evil pas
sion and'corruption, not single voic
: charged this institution of abbcrratin
from its true sphere. could entertain
you until another sun with living tro
phics of its worth. In the prison, Oh
the field, and along the desolate anC
cindered walks of destroyed homes
full many sufferer found rest, refresh
ment, shelter, and a friend beneath ii,
old ivy-grown arch. Who does not re
ioice to know that there is Il bow of sym
pathy and hope too high to be reached
by the evil thunders of human passion
or obscured by the gloom Of the sins o.
men: "We speak that we do know
and testify that we have seen."
In our ardor to accomplish the noble
ends of this institution, we must b,
fairly understood. We are not so daz
zled with tho splendors of its virtues
that we are blind TO its misfortunes
Like all other associations, frailty .anl
infirmity are part OF our earthly in
heritance. We have no infinite pres
cience to guard Us perfectly against i'm
position. We have much to encourage
and cause us to rejoice, but we have OGl
causes of grief and shame also. Eartl
produces no goodly tree that has not it,
dciormed and distorted branches, ant
we have ours too. Many hold member
-hipin our Fraternity whose live, max,
no part of an unsullicd reputatio on
These we must endure H. the Apostle
did the butietings, and use them aS diC
| he his thorn in the flesh. We have no
time, on this occasion, to specify thcs
aiilictions, but simply acknowledge tina
they are many and gricvous. Among
the most hurtful of all, there is the maj
that leaves not his private and persona
prcjudicos outside. He prevents man,
better man from entering, and j. t
bring in many like himself; and on
such Is much, too much for any on
lodge.
But with its irailties, Masonry is u
asylum for the true man. 1t IL tn
home and hearthstOne of fraternity
There are many ties that bind togethe
the hearts Of men; and It's well, fo
, without this there would be no society
Human selhshncss would reign supreln
7, and brevet itself beyond Satanic power
,, and out-deVil the heroes of pandcmonI
um. But ii is true that
, Some feelings ARE 10 moltsls given
, With less Of earth in them than heaven"
: Every human being wants II friend
some bosom listener of his trials an
woes-sOme welcome sharer Of hisjoy
Old soldiers in common cause mus
sit down in the cool evening Of old ag
and then with friendly, ALTERING a
, cents, fight their battles over agai
, Let them alone, for their ties we
forged and drawn whilst shoulder
o shoulder they faced the fiery storI
Those stewards of the cross of Chris
that toll and suffer on pagan shore
have brotherhood all their own. Tho
c humble heirs of God, and joint inner
II ors with His Son, whose tear-bedimm
d eye is fixed upon the same guiding sti
It have their holy and blood-bought ii,
n And we, too, have our common and