The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-06-15

consisted OF eleven officers ana one private, After
working regularly for sixteen years it adjourned 20
meet at the call OF its commander, under provi-
sion Of its constitution that the elected
officers should continue in office until their
successors should be duly elected. The COM
mandery bent, but did not break, before the
storm OF anti,Masonc prejudice and fury which
swept over the land = Continued in state of sus-
pended animation for thirteen years, when it was
aroused from Its syncope, and again bucked on It's
armor. And now, after twenty-One years OF pros
Perity and progress, its muser-roll numbers three
hundred and fOrty.one.
During its long suspensonsthe ofilcers had become
ineXpert in the work, and a Royal Arch Mason,
Comp. X. Stirling Wilson, whose name can never be
city, went to New York. and was admitted to the
orders in 1s4s. Having been well instructed in the
work and mysteries he was elected the first Com
mander after the revival Of the COmmandery and to
his zeal and energy is due in no small degree the inn
pulse given to Temparsm in Philadelphia, whose
three communicates now number as many members
as all the communicates in the commonwealth could
muster ten years since.
on the 10th of May, 1854, the Grand Encampment
OF Pennsylvania was organized under the authority
OF the Grand Lodge of the State, and in June OF the
same year. Sir Knight X. Stirling Wilson was duly
affection for its principles, which he had done so
much to disseminate, continued unabated until he
was removed to the asylum OF his everlasting rest.
The Grand Commandery OF PENNSYLVANIA had
been organized under the authority OF the Grand
Encampment Of the United States about one month
previous to the organization Of the Grand EnCamp
ment in Philadelphia. These two rival bodies which
claimed Templar jurisdiction in this state waged
boodless war with each other during the three sue
Ceedng years. As both composed Of true and
courteous knights as both had the same work and
mysteries, and adhered with equal fidelity to the
landmarks and usages Of the order, there was no
but difference of allegiance to prevent their
union. In the year 1857, the Grand Lodge Of Penn
sylvania renounced all control over the Orders OF
KnighthoOd within its jurisdiction, and the conflict
was happily adjusted like that of the roses Of York
and Lancaster, by marriage of peace. This union
has been cemented by reciprocal benefits and courte
sizes during the last twelve years, and Sir Knight
would now dare or desire to throw an apple of dis
cord into our peaceful asylums.
I will detain you no longer with details of our his
tory. Whoever may desire to know more OF Penn
sylVanta Knghthood will find ample information in
the volumes which our learned historographer has
published under the authority Of the Grand Com
mandery of the State.
The assembling of so many distinguished members
Of order from all sections Of the country has, to
my mind, deeper meaning than display OF num-
bers, the glitter of regalia the pomp of procession,
or the pleasures Of social festvity. We have higher
and hOlier vocation While double band OF iron
has spanncd the continent, and bound together the
shores of the Atlantic and the Pacific with chain
strong as the interests of commerce and industry,
there IS golden wire OF electric communication qn-
seen by the ,pTofane, but felt everywhere which
unes all parts Of our land by bond of brotherhood
The Masonic Orders, true to their principles
even amid the whirlwnd Of passion and the
clash of arms, whispered in the ears of the
combatants on both Sides aye are brethren;
love another" And now that the storm
has spent its fury, the same brothery love which
erewhile staunched the blood OF the wounded, and
gave cup of water to the dying and fed the starv
ing prisoner, whether he wore the blue or the grey,
still animates the breasts OF MasOns, and with its
powerful attraction has drawn together this vast
VI representative HeI Ol UUe
that we may know one an other better and love one
another more.
Masonry is not political society Partisan disputes
cannot be lawfully admitted to its lodges, chapters
or asylums and yet indirectly and unconsciously
its influence on the poty Of the countries where it
exists is undeniaby potent 1t has always been the
friend of political liberty, and the enemy of arbitrary
power. 1t has always hOurshed most under free
governments, and, in return, has been one of the
frmest pillars of free institutions. Thus by lecip-
roca action and reaction freedom supports Masonry
and Masonry defends freedom. Under despotic
governments IL has suffered relentless
cution. Driven from the habtatons of men by
tyrannical power its votaries congregated on noun
tain submits in sequestered gens, and under the
open canopy OF heaven, or in the gloomy shade OF
forests taught their sublime lessons to neOphytes in
search OF light. But in free England, mobiles and
princes have been its patrons, and have deemed it
an honor to walk on the level where caste and rank
are merged in an all-embraCing humanity. The third
name on the English Bill OF Rights, 10y which the
great charter Of English liberty was wrested from
King John was the name OF the Grand Master of
Tempars. But America, more free than England !;
America, whose Constitution is an enlargement and
improvement of the Bill of Rights and Magma Charta
has proved to be the most fertile soil for the growth
of Freemasonry. In America it has kept time and
pace with the march of political liberty. In America
it has disseminated its principles unrebuked and
unchallenged, except during those dark years when
popular prejudice, reused by pretended crime,
and stimulated by political clamor sought
to exclude its members from all civil ot1lces, and
even to deny them social recognition. But the sober
second thought Of the people succeeded to an I'M
reasoning and fanatca excitement, and the insttu-
tion which had survived the prosecutions OF kings
and pOpes, and stood firm when dynasties were
OVerthrOWn and empires wrecked, demonstrated its
power to brave the madness of the people, which is
more to be dreaded than the wrath OF kings Puri-
fed from its dross in the furnace Of persecution it
shone forth with brighter lustre than ever before,
and now, counting its members by hundreds of thou
sands it stands a mighty host against the preten-
sons of caste, the prejudices of race, and the en-
croachments of power.
Ancient speculative and symbolic Masonry is a
social moral, beneficial, and charitable institution.
While it teaches the purest principles OF morality,
and is thus far the handmad of religion, it claims
not to be a religious society," 1t Is universal order,
which encircles the globe and is limited 10y no creed,
language, or race. Every man who can utter with
sincerity the invocation of Pope
Father of all ! in every age
In every cline adored,h
if otherwise worthy and qualified, may be admitted
its benefits, and taught the lessons of broad phi
lanthropy. But no atheist can pass its portals A
firm belief in the existence of Supreme Being, and
of mans moral accountability to Him, are indispen-
sable to the first and TO every subsequent step.
Masonry is founded the Bible; and as in the first
verse of the Bible we read ln the beginning, God,
so at the very threshold of Masonry recognize the
great primal truth Sin the beginning, God;" God
the trust of the candidate for apprentceship-GOd
the adorable name of the Royal Arch-GOd, invoked
in every intermediate degree
But while ancient symbolic Masonry Is Worldwide
Tempar KnighthOOd is a limited order. To the four
objects OF the former-social, moral, beneficial, and
Charitabe-it superadds the military and religious
clements. 1t processes TO be not only religious
but Christian Order not only Christian order, but
the defender of Christianity. In prophetic vision it
looks forward to time when IL will become
worldwide, when the stone that was cut out of the
mountain without hands, shall become a great
mountain and hll the whole earth" 1t will extend
with the extension OF pure, lfe-gVlng, sOusaVing
religion; Will grow with its growth and strengthen
with its strength Mailed champion OF Christianity
it is ready az any moment TO contend Yaliantly for
the faith once delivered to the saints" IKE
During the heroic age OF Chiyary the stout
Knights OF the Temple and of Malta, with their
Beauseant unfurled to the breeze, white and peace
u to the friends OF Christianity dark and terrible TO
its enemies stood firm against the armies of lnldes
ana hurled them back as t9e rock beats t BACK te IN
quircd how many their enemies were, but where