Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1869-07-08

, are sought, inducements are held ou
! and arguments and entreaty are resort
ed to, but in Masonry no one can b
solicited. In this respect it is unlike al
things else. 1t seeks neither member
nor numbers, but the chosen few ar
selected on their own voluntary applica
ton TO transmit unchanged, and un
changeable down through the ages tn
tenets of our institution.
The Temple erected by our ancien
brethren on Mount Moriah represent
the temple of our present lives; an,
every part ofthat splendid and magnifi
cent edifice was emblematic. 1t wa
dedicated i'll the year of the world 800
to tie worship of Jehovah with mos
grand and imposing ceremonies, oc
cupying fourteen days.
Another speaking of these ceremonies
says, Nothing ever equalled the splen
dor Of its conservation. Israel sent fortI
her thousands. and the assembled peopl,
beheld in awful alteration the vast sac
rlfice of SOloman accepted" The f1amt
descended from heaven upon the alta
and consumed the burnt-Offerings anC
the sacrifices, and the glory OF the Lore
hhed the Lords house, and all the chill
dren of Israel bowed with their face.
to the ground upon the pavement. anC
worshiped and praised God saying, ''He
is good for His mercy endureth forever >
The shadow and the glory of the
Eternal proclaimed his presence between
the cherubim, and the voice of his thun.
ders told to the faithful of the Craft
that their labor was approved.
"Bright was the hour
| Mhen lsrael's princes, in their pride and power
knelt in the Temples Courts; the living flame
The accepted sacrifice to all proclaim.
Brightly the splendor of the God-head shone
In awful glory from His living throne;
! Now bowed was every brow-no human sight
| Could brave the splendor of that flood of light
That vailed his presenee-and his awful form
| whose path the whirlwind is-whose breath
| the Storm
AS Entered Apprentices youwere con-
Quoted around the outer courts of the
temple, looked upon its correct proper
| tlons, its massive pillars, its starry
deeked canopy, its lights, its jewels, its
ornaments, its furniture, and served
with freedom, fervency and zeal, and as
bearers OF burden brought up from the
quarries many rough dshLar for the
| building.
| AS Fellow Crafts you were brought
into the middle chamber, and instruct
ed to remember the Sabbath day to keep
it holy, to reverence Gods holy name,
and with the plumb. square and level
you made rough ashLaTs, perfect asbLars
stones fitted TO adorn and beaatify the
temple.
As Masters you have entered the un-
finished Sanctum Sanctorum, and wit
messed the pious devotions of the tVidoaUs
son, his -fortitude, his integrity, his
fidelity, even to the laying down of his
life sooner than violate his pledge; you
have looked upon and passed through
ceremonies proving the immortality of
the soul and the resurrection, a resur-
rection glorious beyond description, if
we rely upon the merits of "the lion of
the tribe of Judah"
The foundations of the Temple were
laid deep and strong. Its wondrous
beauties increased, its correct propor-
tions grew, till the last arch was bound
together by the rejected though priceless
keystone, which became 1.-The head of
the corner" 1t was dedicated to the
service of4the Supreme Being, and by
this we are reminded that we should
also dedicate the temple we have been
erecting in our hearts to the same glori-
Gus service. Let US have 4 care that we
so erect the temple of our inner life,
that its fabric shall never crumble norl
decay, nor its foundations ever fail, that
when we go to that undiscovered coun-
try from whose bourne no traveller re-
turns" We may there receive the wages
of faithful craftsmen, the reward of q |
well-spent life. And now, if all the
morals of these ceremonies, so august
and sublime, have not been applied TO
our hearts by the spirit of truth; if we
have seen in them a series only of un-
meaning rites, if we have not compre-
hended the meaning of these masonic |
symbols and emblems, then indeed have
We "labOred in vain, and spent our
strength for naught." hope we do all
fully understand the import of all these /
symbols, and have caught thetrue spirit /
of these solemn ceremonies, that the
great and fundamental principles of our
time hOnored institution have been
deeply impressed upon our minds, for
then and only then can we claim the
noble title eff mason; then and not till
then can we possess that zeal, that faith,
that hope. that charity, that purity of
mind which should actuate every work
man that needeth not to be ashamed
Brethren the eyes of the world are
upon us, they know the precepts Ma
sonry EN- joins upon her members, of our
professions, of our promises, of our du
ties. Let us not by our conduct tarni- b
the honor and reputation of this insti-
tuition while in our keeping. Let us
strive against temptation. Let us ever
keep in remembrance the golden rule,
and all the commandments of our God
By so doing the blessing of heaven will
'est upon us, and brotherly love will
prevail, and every moral and social vir-
,ue cement us.
Let US put our trust in God. He will ;
give US his blessing if we but ask him as
n times past. Let our prayers ascend
% the Grand Master of the Universe to
show US the Truth, and the pathway of duty; !
Til earth is restored to Order and Beauty
Lost in the shadowless morning of Time
Teach us to sow the seed ,
OF many q noble deed:
Ma ke us determined, unfiinching and strong
Armed with the sword of right
Dautless amid the fight, II
Help us to Level the bulwarks of wrong.
'rompt us to labor, as Thou hast directed, '
On the foundation laid sure in the past }
IND may the stone which the builders rejected :
Crown our endeavors with glory at last.
Then at the eventide, {
Laying the Square aside
Day we look calmly on life'S setting sun; &.
And at the Mercy seat,
Where ransomed spirits meet. I
Iere from the Master the plaudit "well done" y
n
The Public Debt Statement. [
For this month will not be delayed to L
lose up the accounts of the year, may
e expected to appear on Thursday, the I
Irst of next month, as usual. IC will !
show reduction of about six \
lillions, but the yearly statement,
'hich will be got out toward the end of II
ext month, al. er returns to Wednesday, v
light have been received from all sources Z
1ill improve on that by at least two !.
billions. The Secretary regards the II