The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1869-04-08
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The Symbol Of Immortality.

at Tallahassee, Fla, Col. .. M. " Gary,a
native South Carolinian, now residing in
Florida delivered the following beautiful
address on Masonry, to which we invite
the particular attention of the brethren
OF the "myslic tie" and cur readers gen,
orally:
BRETHREN OF THE GRAND LODGE AS
morn breaks from the East with rosy radi-
ance, the modest violet bends in humble
welcome to the mellow light and decks
her foliage with dewy spangles 70 reflect
the rays of the rising sun, and the lily, the
emblem of purity, expands with delicate
grace her snowy petals to scatter fragrance
on the bamy air. Nature, freshly clothed
in the garniture Of her choicest gems,
sends forth her sweetest perfumes and be-
gets sentiment OF the beautiful welcom-
ed in the melody of song, which art can
never rival In our admiration of these
beautiful flowers and under the inspiration
of their fragrance, truly may we say that,
Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed
like one of these.
This sentiment of the beautiful, like the
morning dew, dissolves before the busy
hours of day, and the grateful greetings
are soon forgotten in the active duties OF
life. But at parting day, when the set
ting sun in the distant West, gids the
mountain tops, and from the summit of q
lofty throne, the cedar lifts from its high
base a more exalted crest and stands in
relief the bold, silent, stately sentinel OF
night, it is then, the sentiment of tho beau
tifll yields to the stronger emotion ofthe
sublime. 1t is then, that reflection re-
views the past of to-day, and hope antici-
pates the future of tomorrow. IL is then
the soul feels the lingering hope of immor-
tality, and is inspired with faith through
revealed light. Would you thus contem:
plate the cedars of Lebanon, invested
with history and traditions of the past,
which carry your thoughts from the gran
deur and sublimity of the vision to the
small hill near Mount Moriah, there to
mark the sprig of Acacia, which present
as q theme for this occasion.
In this sprig you would perceive no
deicacy of colors to vie with the violet
and the lily, and nothing in the parent
tree to evoke sentiments of grandeur and
subimity.
But thls aprig Of Acacia speaks in the
metaphor of language, of the immortality
of the SOUL and its tradition awakens
sentiment which tarries not with the
beauties of natare, but follows truth from
ma ture, to natures God. In this rcRec.
tive mood, would we like Plato dream OF
that Immortality, or would we realize an
abiding faith and hope Of that immortality
as revealed to US through divine light !
With these associations this emblem OF
immortality carries an interest peculiar 10
the craft. 1t betokens life after death
that the soul iveth beyond the grave of
the body. This fgurative language should
touch deeply the heart of every Mason,
who seeks truth and who delights to fol-
low the footsteps of his Great Master.
1t is mt the grave of q deceased brother
that with the investiturc Of the sprlg OF
Acacia or it's representative we testify the
death Of the body and the life of the soal.
That from the darkness of the grave, there
will he an exaltation to lighti in that temple,
not made with hands, in the eterhaf heAv'
ems. Into this temple every good Mason
trusts a exaltation, through Faith, Hope,
and Charity. Nations and Societies early
employed embIems and symbols to ex-
press and to perpeLuate national or
social interest in the matters which they
tvpifed. In Masonry the sprig OF Acacia
reckons tar back in the annals OF time,
and continues to inspire historical and
traditional interest. Time has rather sd-
ded to, than impaired the force and vigor
of that interest.
France has her lily, Scotland her thistle
and ireland her Shamrock. The bloody
/ revolutions of England under the red and
white roses symbolised the bitter hate and
burning passion existing between the con-
tending factions. Jerusalem joyfully wei
coined the Saviour with hosannas ofpraise
as the Palm leaf was scattered before his
path. The stalwart arm Of the victor in
the Chariot race at Rome proudly bore
the Palm. Tho soldier Of Greece inspired
martial arIor in the crowning Laurel.
The din of battle hushed in the olive
branch of peace, and the memory OF the
cherished dead lived in the mourning cy-
press. In past ages the Great Unknown
was typi6ed and worshipped by the be-
nightcd heathen through symbolcal rep
rescntatives. 1t is in our day that we
are privileged to worship the ever living
God in spirit and truth, through revealed
light. 1t is in Him our trust and faith
are re we'll founded, and to Him we look for
The crown of glory and the bliss of the
immortal soul. Then, brethren, cherish
the sprig of Acacia as symbolizing the i'm
mortality of the soul and the bliss of that
immortality in the temple of the Great
Master.
This hope shesld urge us to strengthen
the bonds of our union, and with ateadfast
faith to adhere to the tenets and ameni-
ties of masonry. When you 20 forth in