The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-07-09

w HAT DOES FREE MASONRY TEACH?-
90 ask that brother who has fallen in
the path of life, whose plans have mis-
carried, and who finds himself held down
by the burdens of care and distress. He
Will tell you that it teaches him that his
brothers will lift him up, remove the OBJ
structlons from his path and assist in
bearing the burdens unde- which he has
succummed. It teaches him that there
is something in it beside forms and cere-
monies, that there is an invisible tie
which links us all together in one great
family of friends and brothers, and that
the heart of each beats responsive to tile
wants and needs of his brother.
Ask the Mason's widow what it
teaches. She will tell you that it teaches
her of unobtrusive benevolencc, of SYM
pathy and kindness, brotherly affection
and esteem. 1t teaches her that life is
not all sorrowful, that the clouds that
lower about her will soon break awav.
dlspelled by the light and love of the
Alason's presence.
Ask the orphan what it teaches, and
he will tell you that it teaches him that
brotherly affection and regard which knit
the fathers heart into the fraternity. has
descended to the son priceless legacy.
which will be to him better than silver or
gold; for it will teach his feet in what
paths to roam. will open to him the ave-
nues which lead him to knowledge and
usefulness, and lead him to learn that cha
racter which il alike the test of admission
to the Lodge, and which is more to be
priced than wealth or honors.
Ask the wanderer in strange land
what it teaches, and he will tell YOU that
1t teaches the universally of that lam
guage which is Ineligible in all climes,
and which, when used, never fails of
elicltlng response. It teaches him of
brothers there ready to assist and serve
him, of difficulties removed, of courteous
treatment and of the usefulness of that
institution which has grown and spread
where civilized man has gone
Ask the brother who, perchance, in
some unguarded moment, has erred and
fallen, what it teaches. He will tell You
that 1t teaches of that charity which deals
gently with the erring, that keeps the
silent tongue, that unbraideth not, that
takes him gently by the hand and leads
hlm Dack to rectitude, and helps him
once more to stand erect like man and
brother. 1t points out the follies of
his ways, and urges him to avoid them
in the future.
Ask the wealthy brother what it
teaches, and he will tell yon that it
teaches him to remember the poor and
fatherless, the widow and the orphan, to
be benevolent with his riches, and by
his example teach the world that Mason
ry has made him worthier and better
Brother, what does it teach YOU and
me? 1t teaches us to be temperate, to
deal Justly, be charitable to all men, and
SO walk and act that the world may mover,
through us, have on opportunity of cast,
ing reproach on our ancient order.
at Chattanooga, on the 2Sth of Jnlv,
1865, Stokes, of Tennessee, spoke as fol-
lows: Fellow citizens: Just think of the
idea of big black niggah, with his toes
spraddled ont like gig prongs, with
cracks in his heels that you could put a
bolt of calico in, coming up and swear
in away the lives of the loyal white
people of East Tennessee. Fellow.citi.
zens. the thing is too awful to contem-
plate. 1 am opposed to the niggah's
swearing and voting. Hood is the daddy
of niggah equality in Tennessee. Look
at hir Don't you see the wool in his
teeth?"
Hub -bub-A Boston boy.