The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1870-10-12

hsweath We enjsy, ,tk4 kRxp4gS 10
.pssk every aAia9s Han hisiee)f = lia.
.6ls % tAe sane o6jse.saps. Yea, sssu,
Christianity, the 6hila SC :HsAysS md
the Guidiag star of mani Tho tasN o.
kpoWledgsa = Ne rishsstj psfsas tsak
blssaisGs ef'a wise and ssahioss Aod,
wa teaee ths garb snder ;Whioh 'Vies
sloatad itself and ths 6la1kcst enefhi
,tiss were committed, thS.sanss of the
dsadliest feuds aud the hottsst parse.
Fsottsss which stain the pages Of hGtary,
To man, II seems left by Heavens d.
cree, TO improve or mar the gifts Of his
Maker. CHE il to himssif hlt own ORR
gin Of evil" Not, then, by their per.
version, but BY their legitimate tendon.
-cies must we judge Of The. institutions
OF men - we'll ~ Of the provideaess Of
God.
"sunshins turned aside aud brsken IN ths rim.
Though turned aside ID shanshins stif."
In this view, then, we may with mere
than confidence ask to be placed aside
the institutions Of men--Masonry
shrinks from comparison with none af
them. Judge u by our principles and
by our fruits.
Our principles We have laid bare be-
fore you. We claim not to have fulfilled
"all their acquisitions In their broad
scope" but We do claim to have ap-
preached nearer to the realisation OF
these "sublime longings aud high aspi-
rations'' than any other merS human
institution. And for proof we point to
our fruits they speak for themselves.
We ask first, where has tho Mason
ever been found who was an atheist or
who bowed not, in reverence and awe, to
the Majesty Of Heaven, acknowledging
His Divine Providence in the govern
ment of the world, aud His goodness in
its blessings Uuless he does this, he
is no Mason and he cannot become
one.
We ask next, where WAS Masonry
ever engaged In plots and conspitacies
against the government I Her children
in their individual capacity aud as men
have often showed themselves tho "Sous
of Graohi." but Masonry rs such can
never forget this grand fundamental
lesson, aud an unswerving fidelity to
this great principle has marked her On.
tire history.
Again we ask, when or where has the
Mason ever been found naked, that he
was not clothed by Masons hungry,
that he was not fed by them thirsty,
that his thirst was not queuchoa ; sick,
that he was not mipistcred to (; in pris.
on, that he was not visited ; or in want,
that his want was not supplied Never.
Through all the trials ana vioissitudes
Of life, where the stoughtest hearts
quailed and trembled at the rude touch
Of grim poverty and haggard want,
never once has the Mason, ais wife or
his little ones had to knock for aid at
the alms house, or chew tho hard crust
of public charity. And when disease
broods over the habitations of men, aud
death looks ghastly in each face, when
terror is in each oountenance and the
loud cry of stricken humanity comes
up from every household-when the
pestilence is abroad, never once know
ingly, has the Mason's sick couch been
unsoothed by the haud Of sympathy
never oncei has he beon left to die
alone and uuwept; and mover onoe has
his grave failed to be strewed with tho
flowers of affection.
When did Mason ever sorrow that
Masons soothed him not : when was he
ever in distress that we relieved him
not . deceived, that we told him not
the truth; In danger that we ran
not TO his assistance ? Never, with pride
We answer, nevor
Look At this picture: The demon OF
destruction is abroad. The watohman's g
cry Of alarm is heard. The bells ring
The city ID on fre. Men are running
to aud fro and gathering from every
quarter. Confusion reigns supreme.
The flames rage .on-burn on until tho
very elements seem on Ere. In the
progress Of tho Ere doomed house be.
comes wrapped in the devouring OLE
ment. Its foundation is in ruin, the
flames burst upwards, each and every
passage Of egross is out off, and then q
cry of distress is hoard from within. It
comes from fellow being, from seid-
o,os son. That cry reaches every ear
and pierces every heart. II comes al
most too late, the black volume is pour
ing from o9ery window, the roof is fall.
ing in, and almost certain destruction
follows tho attempt at rescue. Every
heart quails aud tromb1es at tho under
takingl But it is whispered che is a
Mason" aud noble, self sacrificing spir-
it's, true to. their duty aud their princi.
pies, leap.to tho effort. Aud see I The
ladder is on tho window. The danger
lie braved, is met, 10 passed, tho son is
rescued aud the brother saved. It is but
a picture, it is true, but tho history Of
Masonry contains many suoh in the
realities it records. And thus, whether
10 distress by land or by sea-amid the
raging storm that lashes in fury
old Oceans waves, or 10 the rage
and carnage of war, amid the
roar of cannon aLd the noiso aud danger
Of the battle field, novor yet has Mason
known unmoved o Mason's danger. Did
time but permit, We could tell Of the
rough sailor, who amid the fury Of the
storm, still found room upon his already
overstrained life boat for one more
wrecked voyagsr, and Of tho soldier, who
orn;d kha hotfosk ~ khA 60hk tnrnad hil