Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1870-02-08
Officer. ard Brothers. L,die, and Gentlemen

Of "Fsrrir Lodge" No. los OF A. u. and A. NJ Mont
fort Giant county, Wis, the occasion Of a Public
Installation, on the evening Of December 2oth 1862
Officers ard Brothers, Ladies and Gentlemen:
When Solomon had completed his
templs, and in the presence of the
assembled hosts Of Israel, had in
voked upon it the blessings of the
Most High, and in answer to his
prayers the fire had descended upon
the altar and consumed the burnt
offerings and sacrifices, and the glory
ofthei Lord filled the house OF God, he
doubtless thought that he had erected
a monument Of his magnifcence
which would last throughout all time.
But that temple, for the erection OF
which so great preparation had been
made, upon which so much treasure
had been expended, the building and
dedication of which were marked by
so many evidences of Divine appro-
baton, stood but about 400 years
from is foundation. Silently, under
the shadow of that gorgeous edifice,
like the processes of nature, unob-
served by men, was maturod an in
stitution bnilt of blocks purer than
Parian marble, stayed with timbers
more durable than the cedars of
Lebanon and supported by pillars
more majestic than those that upheld
and adorned the temple. That spir-
itual teplple was destined to be q
permanent monument Of its founder
greatness and glory. The flames
which consumed and crumbled the
material building, did not seattle it.
The tide OF conquest did not effect
its s1ro foundations Captivity did
not destroy it. Time has not dimin-
ished JUS strength. Age haze not inn
paired its beauty.
Frenmasonry mas survived the vi
oissitUaes, the wars and revolutions
Of nearly 80 centuries 1t has stood
ny the cradle aud waiSsd by the
bier Of socities which promised to
iast as long az the earth should re-
volve on It's axis. 1t has ioated
down the stream Of Time on the
fragments Of States whose power
knew no limits. 1t Witnessed the
miraculous destruction of the host of
the Assyriau king when
rnsmote by the sword
Itmelted like snow 10 the glance ofthO Lord"
1t saw the Babylonian, when he
applied the torch to tho temple and
made "Salem's high place his prey"
1t saw the rise of the Grecian and
Roman Empires, and stood upon
their ashes. Ii was in existence when
the northern hordes came forth to
destroy tho civilization of the OLD
World saw the sacked and burning
cities which they left in their march,
and the death and desolation which
marked the course that they had
travelled. When the wind had dis
persed the dust of those countless ar
mics, and the smoke of burning cit
les had assembled to the sky, the fra
ternity were 10 be seen Industrious
ly employed in repairing the ravages
which had been wrought. Amidst
the darkness of the middle ages,
which succeeded, its lights were not
extinguished nor its labors suspend
ed. Magnificent works Of Gothic
architecture were erected by the
fraternity in Europe during this pc
riod OF the worlds history, and still
stand az monuments of it's artistic
skill, patient industry and devout
piety. Freemasonry has witnessed
the rise and growth Of all the civil
lied nations now on the face of the
globe. And to-day it looks without
the indulgence of a single fear for its
own safety, at the gradual decline or
more rapid overthrow of tbc social
organizations and political institu-
tions from time to time laid pros
trate around it. Yes, my friends,
this ancient and honorable insttu-
ton Of Free and Accepted Masons
has outlived the mutations of earth
and the rage Of it's enemies. The
temple thst stood &c thing Of beau
ty and the JOY of the whole earth"
no more blSzes with the glory Of the
past nor challenges the radiance of
an Oriental sun. The voice Of
prophet and priest is hushed amid 81
lence deep, as where the grave worm
preys upon the faded cheek of beau
ty. The Crescent shines whore once
the tribes gathered from afar, and
tho Koran is now read by the stoid
Mossulnan hard by where once the
book Of the Law was expounded by
learned Rabbi.
Empires have decayed and nations
have died-their hopes TO the wind
wore giveu thrones have crombled
and crowns have fallen from rOya
brows and scepters dropped from the
nerveiess grasp of dying greatness
the tomb OF the past has engorged
the whole, while their epitaph is
written IN giaring characters, and
"decliue and fall" tell their history
But over the graves of nations and
buried centuries, over the urned ash
es Of unreckoned millions and the
pulseless dust of human greatness,
Freemasonry has stretched the line
of her history along the track Of time
for 5000 years. And to-day she
lives enshrined in the hearts Of her
votaries and belts the globe with her
chain of fraternity. And firm she
stands
like somo tall cliff whose majestic form
Rises fTDm the vale and midway clsaVcs the storm;
Though round her base some transient clouds o'eI
spread
Etsrnst sunshine settles round her head"
But, ny friends, its origin and its an.
tiquity are not its only distinctions.
1t has enrolled under its banners and
doing battle in its cause the great
and good of all nations and all times
In every age and country, history
records the names of men, distin-
guishod in all the avocations and
pursuits OF life, who evinced sedu.
lous attention to all the duties arts.
ing ort of their relation to the craft
Let IA strive TO initiate their exam
pies snd reproduce their virtues.