Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1868-02-15

MASONIC READING.
WOMAN AND MAsoNRY.-It 10 with . rev
srencs akin to awe that lapproaeh this cub
jsct, knowing that, for ages. there has hung
between the sex that I represent and the
subject Of which | would speak, . veil Of
deep, impsnetrabls mystery mystery
that is as sacrsdIy guarded to-day "a it Wal
thousands Of years ago, whom the mantle Of
science shrouded the germ Of the mystic
brotherhood, and will be for years to come,
so long ~ two hands are lett on earth to
meet in the clasp OF fraternal love. Though
this veil must hang before US through oil
tlme-shrouding from our unworthy eyes
the Holy Of Holies'-though no %onau's
foot may ever tread the sacred aisles-nc
woman's eye gaze on the glories Of the In.
ner Shrine-yci we are not entirely shul
out. The glory Of the Shechina shines
atar-cvcn on tho brow If W~omanhooJ,-
Though admitted 10 the outer courts-te
the vestibule Of the Temple. whose founda
TOMS Charity-whose pillars are Wisdom,
Strength, and beauty, and whose summit ID
tho approaching smile Of God himself, 10 is
meet that one should raise her voice to tell
what Masonry has donc for Woman. Aud
she who proudly boasts the title OF O
'Nason's Daughter now asks the privilege
10 be that one.
Masonry is. You, who hold oil its mys-
teriss in your bandits secrets in your
heart-snd with your eye can trace through
ali i.s labyrinth Of ways and means. Ma
.sonry-thAt 10 - incomprehsnsible to us As
the vital urinrtrln NJ tlA- hat ILL., IL &.
known to Us BY rcsults. by their .(ruits
70 shall knor them" and it is the frul.s OF
Masonry that Woman eats, while the labor
and toll il spared her. She basks safely in
the sunshine Of its blessing, guarded and
watched over by . band more faithful than
lover, brother, or husband.
There IL . strange fascination TO Us, who
naturally love the wonderful. the brave, the
strong-in the thought Of this vast League,
40 innumcrablc IN number. 50 united in pur-
pose-so silent in existence-so uncot ouer-
able in action. Like the religion Of Jesus,
on which the principles Of Masonry are
founded, il has marched with steady foot
steps down the long vista Of years, AID has
made every Obstac e . stepping-stoae to lis
pres 1t glory. Christianity wentalone and
~ipsu,ied from the hill of Calvary to the
tomb OF Joseph. and now waves her sceptrs
over the world, whom the to nd Of the Ca sars
has mouidered back into dust. Masonry.
her moro earthly sister, with hushed treatli
and noiseless footstep. walked scathlcss
through fires Of oppression. and sterms Of
prejudice and ~falsehood, and now divides
her the scsptre Of the world.
The Church has many false brsthrsn-in
Masonry this 10 impossible. The one. being
Tho nursery Of the spiritual, 10 necessarily
more intangible in its creeds, and often 70. |
within Ito folds the vilest impos,crs. |
whose only merit 10 their power to deceive. |
The other, though founded upon Divine |
avs, 10 . human institution, and deals With |
human attfibutss-things that can b seen |
nd heard. and knsrn BY msn-thae can Do
.rasped by the great overruling power. and
0 held up before the guilty one thai,
hough on the awful stiffness Of that dread
tribunal there fall no whisper Of reproach
10 life condemns him to his very face.
nd he yields u~nanswsring to the just de-
rec.
show me . tie "a earth mere biudine
nan the bond Of Masonry. There 10 none.
ne Chrlsuas may forget his sacramental
ows, and turn his back upon the Savior
rho has died for him-the husband NAV
urn from the wife Of his bosom. whom b.
- sworn by high Heaven to cherish. even
the portal Of the ~grave-ths father NAV
'reet bis child, whose blue eyes once held
Heaven for him the brother NAV for
the tender sister hat shared the cradle
his infancy, the mothers good night"
iss, and the ganbol around the father'a
nee-a son may even cold,y lock uron The
lother that bore him ; but the cor s,corn az
10 altar esq., eeer be serokedi Time or dis.
ince cannot annul II aud the wretch who
'ould seek to violate. would be branded
18th a ;sign more indclible thar that Of
No land would be remote eneuch
y his cscape-no jungle Md enough Tor
is retreat-nc cavern deep enough 10 hide
in from the eye Of vengeancs.
There Is something sublime in this that
Ills forth Woman's ardent admiration
az another view Of the sublec. awakens
ho.ier passions stil!-her love and
Christianity is our guide TO tho vague.
'sdowy portals of the unknown future
orld-Masoary our shield and suppor,
rough the dangerous realities OF this Let
oman be united by the slightest tie to the !
Feas heart Of Masonry. and she never more /
ny deem herself friendless and aione.-
80 want stand at her door, A hundred
49, Ne outstre'ched to relieve her. Does =
osstshadow her, A husdred hearts /,
sJ%pathy-whicb vomea only {
ro,ns 'nusn We need. Does tsmot.tion /.
lr'ound her' She has but 10 49, "os 4
hundred arms arc barred in her I"nA =
no, with only the talisnan Of hs. s'e"cs 3
purity, she can walk the earth ~;,a
'esdom ofs goddess and the .anc,i,. ne
hint. VI .
There is jealousy in the minds Of .om.
omen IS to Masonry, which otsn smour..
: outer pre]ud'ce-for they regard j, a.
sa'; and. in . woman's eyes, . rival il
nc iotclerant thing EVEN though j, 49,
. angel. Wishing. AZ il is their n.tn,. - .
reign supreme in q heart, they are dis F,
ppo'nted to find Masonry already enshr;n. \
] there-.and they cannot help but b,,. 7
er. BE lenient with this fault. pr.v a
no srre. not so much through ercs,s of .
lte 10 oil Aasous, as through ercs..s Il
70 for euss And l am not sure that a..
we'd ons may not be 10 blame, in a ms... 4
e. for this. he may have made this m... 5
word a cloak to hide rome waywsrd .t.sn Y
for, outside Of their invisible barrier. NJ. !,
are very much like other men. b
Woman is slow to be convicted against, +.
70 Natural impulses Of hss heart, but let :
= sncs aecspt ths tsuth late hse seul. aud