The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1870-04-05
From the Mystic Star.
INSPECTION.
BY C. c. POMEROY.

Inspection OF WORK stops not when the Master
drops the gavel, o: the King wi:hdraws from tile
council chamber; then each Mason should become
Jealous and sleepess overseer of the work; gilded
halls, rich tapestry, costly ornaments are all WE'LL
very well, bat they are not all of Masonry they are
none of IT, and the glittering HARNESS and trapping
OF some of the high degrees the lie asst of it. Ma
sonay repuses all shams; fidelity to pledges, Roman
hrmness in virtue. unsuled honor, and, over all,
Truth shines Respondent. These are ordinances
with which she essays to encourage to aspire to
a higher and erander plane of life.
very recently we were in an extensive dry goods
establishment ia Saint Louis looking about observ-
ing sales and purchasers. 1t was perhaps the most
fashionable resort in the CITY. Among the customers
came tall graceful lady, deliberately and expensive
ly attlred. mining articles on a long table
She inquired of the clerk the price in this manner:
w hat Is THIN things worth?' The proprietor in
formed me she was of wealthy and aristocratic
ia nliy, and the dress she upon this marked
casion valued at 5000 the usual price of pra
mars is perhaps 81 rs,
This is an instance where wealth failed to hide de-
iormtes OF mind; and likewise in. Masonry, you NAV
display Its profes sions, its halls and pile
rich robes and floating plumes on its members with
me prodigaity OF Eastern princes and Oriental mum
ncence, 1t matters not; if her teachings prac
ticed-if her sacred tenes left dead in the SYM
bols OF the Lodge, the Cha pter the Council Chamber
and Com nderies the keen eve of the worlds in
spection will detect the fraud aud rdicue the empty
pomp and displays. Some Lodges have wealth, re-
specfabli!ty and digniry, and too often there quail
ties ars intense to the visiting brother from the
horde- Lodge, as to make the atmosphere difficult to
breathe and the Masonic social surface is frozen over
but, like other CONCEALED surface, it only hides
does not destroy the deformes that live unmole sted
beneath. Take the gavel and knock off the crust
OF of these aristocratic Masonic bodies and we
ind most fearful ezhbitons'of human depravity.
AS there IS no circumocuon in Masonic philosophy v,
there should not be any effort made turn sym
Dol into zigzag, in dealing with delinauencies upon
the part of its professors.
In Masonic intercourse ssul should meet soul;
ttfs ought to touch life and bring forth lie, Civ
ing 70 craftsmen cheering inspiration to press
ward from good better works ia life to the end
in vvo1r cnIrif
that Preyades some Lodges have visited, should
extend around tie great circle; the heart warnings
OF those precious hours the journeyman Freemason
never forgets. wherever he may roam, whatever
chimes he may see,' still will the charming influence
OF such greetings cling to his memory. The Lodge
room, gavel and square urbalTty she ud be for
gotten in the business walks Of ife or, any of the
relations sustains with society; if il is the door
is open for the profane to charge Masonic circum-
shifting 1SsINCFRfTY.
The reader will admit the general features of mod
ern society are too much Ike efforts to how best
to conceal ones feelings and avoid doing right. To
act naturali is declared to be out of fashion; be
generous, honest and fraterna-as Missionary clearly
teaches-is too much like the prouder DAYS in the
history of the Republic for this fast leetug fashy
age There is better life than grovelng strife and
contention Nature asserst it, the Great Lights pro-
claims it. and Missionary exemplfes it, Then let
its professors be faithful to its pledges and attempt
not to thrust its future fame to whatever renown it
may fairly claim from distinguished patrons of an
tquity.
In America for desire not to 60 out to the Old
World, if Washington, Warren, Clinton and Jack
son, in their Masonic professions reflected truly
its tenenta taught then and now the influence of
.hcir names still live, and the good they may have
done will eappear amongMasons in rewarded fresh
ness, if all are faithful TO the sacred trust.
The future glory of the der is not in rapid and
iLdiscriminate Increase, much too prevalent most
everywhere, but in needing the rich admontions
and restraints I: 50 eoquenty imparts which frail,
faltering humanity much requires. Truly it can
not fail IN its mission, for it embraces the whole
brotherhood of man in the most extended be nevo-
aence to which rl liberal minds, OF whatever sect,
must subscribe most cheerfuly Its safety is alone
in the hands Of its guards. Let them be faithful.