Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-07-05

sonic Baptism are Objectionable or not,
is TO read them and for that reason we
propose to publish extracts from them.
First, however, let us see whence the
ceremony of Baptism or Addition comes
to as. BaptiSe means simply to wash
and the ceremony might just as we'll
have been called Masonic Addition.
This is what Bro. Oliver says
Additions were profusely used dur
ing the limitations NotioHes cctraneo,
sacris quibusdam initiantuT Isidis atica-
jHs ant Mithros per iaracrUm.
In every cavern " in India was a
carved basin, to contain the consecrated
water of ablution, on the surface OF
which hoated the flowers of the lotus,
this element being considered the exter-
nal medium by which purity was con-
veyed.
q In the centre of the cave in Per-
STA I, {" was marble fountain of water,
transparent as crystal, to supply the nu-
merous basins with which the grotto was
furnished, for the purpose of ablutions
and ceremonial publications.
The candidates, - in Greece "were
carefully purified in the pellucid waters
of a running stream.
g The first actual ceremony among the
Greeks was to purify the aspirant with
water.
{" In every nation of the world, water
was profusely used during the initia.
tons and hence the propriety of the
British custom Of performing their cele.
brations in the centre of a lake.
The Jewish religion, and all The
systems of Plagiarism, however diversi
fed in other respects, held equally the
necessity of repeated additions tocleanst
the soul from moral defilement. From
the plains of India to the utmost re
gions of the West, this doctrine was i'm.
plicitly received.
FROM THE CEREMONY.
In our ceremony of Baptism we nei
Their initiate nor have it in view to sup.
ply the place of any religious rite OF
any church. For baptism is not the ex-
elusive property Of religion. As the
natural symbol of publication of the
soul, it was used in the ancient mystic.
ries and solemnities of India, Egypt and
Greece. When the aspirant to a knOwl-
edge of these old mysteries cleansed his
body with water, he did so as pledge
that he would in like manner cleanse
his soul and spirit from vice and immOr-
atty. 1t was not imagined that the Ger,
emony itself. had any healing virtue, OF
conferred holiness upon the recipient
From these mysteries, from Eleusis and
Samothrace, and from the Essences, this
rite has come to us by legitimate trans
mission, and we use it in no spirit of IT.
reverence, but in the simple sense il
which it was used in the land watered by
the Nile, before the buildingOf the pyra-
mids. The candidate at Eleusis, puri.
fying himself, before entering into the
mysterious temple, by washing his hand,
in holy water, was admonished to pre-
sent himself with a mind pure and unde-
filed, without which the external clean
illness of the body would by no means be
accepted. Such only is the sense of ouI
Baptism.
For Masonry is no religion, nor does
it assume to take the place Of any reli-
gion, but only to inculeate those princi-
Piles of pure morality which Reason
reads on the pages of the Book of Ma
ture, and to teach those great primary
truths on which all religions re.
pose. What edifce of faith and creed
each Brother builds upon that founda-
ton, we have no right to inquire, and
therefore do not seek to inquire. 1t /:
enough for us to know that each be.
lieves in the existence of a Supreme In.
tellect, Creator and Preserver of all
things, a Deity Of Infinite Tenderness
Pity, and Love and that we are not
mere successive phenomena proceeding
from combination and organization, but
living souls, distinct from matter and
destined to survive after our bodies are
dissolved. To one who did not thus be-
lieve, our symbols would have no mean
ing. . :
Nv. M.-Brethren and sisters, you
have brought these young children to
receive at cur hands Masonic Baptism.
We are prepared to accept the duties
which the administration of that rite will
impose upon us. This Lodge is always
proud and happy thus to receive under
its protection the children of the Breth-
rem. Each of US with JOY accepts the
new obligations created by such recep-
ton, for in the performance of duty the
true Mason finds the only real happiness.
We are ready to promise to aid you,
both by precept and example, in devel-
oping these infant intellects in cult
waiting their moral sensibilities in
watching and protecting from worm and
blight, from the whitening heats of pleas
ure and indulgence, and the biting frosts
OF hardships and privatiOns, these buds,
while they open into blossoms and in
leading them by gentle persuasions to
know, to love, and to practice our law /;
that sweet and holy law of Brotherhood,
that binds us all together in one and the
same love; that noble and sublime law
of equality, which, denying all effect to
the chance of fortune, allows no other
distinction or superiority than those
created by superior intellect, superior
worth and more illustrious virtue. Are
you, on your part, prepared to renew,
those of you who are Brethren, your OBJ
legation to the Order, to the Lodge, and
to the children of your Brethren of the
Mystic Tie and those Of you whom we
hail with new and exquisite pleasure
as our sisters, to promise to spare no ex-
ertiOn in making these children such as
every true hearted mother desires her
children to be? And do you accept us
individually, and this Lodge, as your
seconds and assistants in this holy
work
Father,-W orshipful Master, the
fathers and mothers of these children
ask me to say in their names, that it is
because they so profoundly feel the i'm
mense responsibility which God has i'm
posed upon them in intrusting to them
the education of these young immOrtals,
and because of their intense desire well
and faithfully to perform that duty, that
they have been willing to place them
selves under the protection of this
Lodge, in the hope of insuring to them
that purity of heart and stainlessness of
soul which are symbolized by Ma
sonic Baptism. Well, indeed. do