The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1868-01-03
- is{ExayO 3ls6s WH0EFNe

,.7,r5 WI WHieJllEEN HeJllEEN 422
votariss in tkefS Tempt t,
[sxsaplify the sr,skso S'ibs. remark
that, = there>bc vicious .,aen in the
ffraternity,n its influence. restraints
them and makes them, better THAN
iE tGey we're not Masons. : When
you scea,Laso and unworthy mon
smong the Freemasons, aspand up.
on she fault is-otin ti1f ihstitu-
Etion. but in them selvei. \Tley have
|Aeyiated from the Landmark of the
Graft. They have diJgrace eh their
profession, and are not only bad
masons but bad men; There may
DC in masonry as in christianity a
Ffalling away, in the goodness ofsome
|tf it's members. Yet we do not hes
itate to appeal to the, world in JUS
tifcation Of the moral purity Of our
fraternity. Our constitutions arc
well know. They have been freely
submitted for Investigation. They
are declared as cmbodying the rules
unl principles by which we are gov
erned, as the foundation on which
we build. ,'" ."' .-'@-'" .' i ;" i
But, brethren, it will be in vain
that we attem t the vindication Of
our most exc client institution, it's
purposes and requirements if our
profession is not sustained By our
conduct. LET Us then cautiously
avoid every. vice and impropricty
that might tarnish the brilliapcy Of
our jewels, Or injurc the credit Of
the Craft. Masonry will rise to the
zenith of its glory when the lives of
its votarits do justice to its princi-
pies, and we demonstrate to the
worlIthat our conduct fully cores
ponds with the incomparabls tenets
we profess. Thus Shall we ssobtain
a good report from them that are.
without sand those who speak
Eepil of us will be ashamed, seeing
they falsely accuse our good CONVEX
sation,' and misrepresent our gen
erous purpose. Such is an imper.
feet outline Of cur duties, and the
principles of Masonry 1t does not
consist in the forms and ceremonies
of the Order; but in its living. act
ing, neral principles. 1t labors
without pay, and the results Of its
labors are only seen in its fruits.
What are its fruits? It has never
in auy age subverteaT governments
-.nor interfertd with the rights of
conscience or religious worship. --
But thisiis a recital of what it has
not done What has it done? 1t
has ditfused' Lisht throughout the
length and breadth Of civiliza tion;
itdhas feed thohungry; clothed the
naked; given aid and sliccor to the
poor; bound up the wounds of the
disconsolate; cl'ecred the pilgrim on
his journey; inculeated that We be
true men and faithful to our friends;
that we fulfil all the promises we
make; and for the sake Of society,
it's tvotaries have erected super
structure Of governmental ccon,my,
cmbra cing as it's feature ALI own
tcnets, as a model of perfection be-
fore the world. 1851 t - &'''
5ol Brethren, that its future may be
as bright and unsullied as its past
let us post sentinel at the door Of
our lips, to see that no profanc or
unworthy word escapes them, and
that no Incorporate towl pollute
them. Let our actions be worthy O.
the high vocation of our calling,
needing we'll the moral teachings Of
our Order; let us brighten the links
Of the endless chain THAT cncirles the
earth, let itremain bright and ur-
tarnished forever. so that the ma CT
spirits Of Masonry instead Of having
cause to she'd a tear upon its zorro
dcd links, or heavea sigh over its
shattered fragments, may hand it
down untarnished aud unbroken,
till Time and Masonry shall perish
togcther. aa8 al III s1'i
The TRIBUNE is afraid the South
Won't enjoy paying its share of the
war debt. hTlt ought, certainly, to
be too inexpressibly happy to pay a
debt illegally contractcd in plum
dering and numbering her citizens,
A southern man who advises =. a
| faithful complyinr with the fern !