Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1870-01-06

oosooic occaSiOns NJ TINS KING. IueIe u
the intellectual. and moral phase, the social
phase, and the lily festival phase. Our
intellectual and moral natures have been
instructed and strengthened, while listen-
ing TO those sublime lessons Of wisdom.
and virtue contained in the different in
s.allation exercises. Our hearts win
be warmed, our sympsthies enlarged,
and more genial end kindly how
Of tpirits viii go out from each Of
US by reason OF this social. and frstsrnal
commingling. And, as fitting climax to
this pleasant occasion, we are shortly to
be invited to discuss bounteous supper,
prepared by those kind and loving hands
which have ever been ministers of good
ness, and gladness TO our race.
am not inclined tonight to homily
on the beautiful symbols, and exalted ten
cts OF masonry,-cach of them IL . gem
Of the rarest value-arouud which in al
time have g:issened. aud sparkled the
brightest szntillstions of genius.
But incline tonight to the jovial aide
Of this occasion.
Discussions on virtue, charity, and via
ON arc not TO be undervalued. They Arc
the groundwork Of masonry, ss Of every
9th er good institution among men, and
are inculcaied in every ceremony and lec-
turc of our order. But I have sometimes
thought that We have too much slime upon
line" and "preeept upon preceps" Of this
kind. We nesd something else to ill up
Q vacuum in our nature.
Let student pursue the study OF math-
ematics, or of language, or of history, OF
OF science alone, for any considerable
length Of time, and he grows dull and life
less, his mental faculties become weaken
ed, and he loses his powers of application.
but let him Interchange his bours Of
study with these several branches of
knowledge, and his mind continues fresh
and active. and progress becomes easy.
and rapiG.
Mans inner life is diversified, and he is
only fully developed when each Of his Pc
culiar faculties have full scope, and play.
Heaven will differ from earth in no oth>
ef respect more than in this. That there
every faculty of the soul will have Its just
and equal exercise, and development.
The True, the Good, and the Beautiful
are general terms denoting the highest
wants of mans nature. But they are after
all, only general terms their meaning IL
to be taken Ia no restricted sense. Under
the term Beautiful everything that plea
ses and delights the soul lie comprehended.
A piece of architecture, q piece of sculp-
ure, a painting, :. poem, or the witchins
strains OF music are not beautiful In any
truer sense, than well told story. rep
artee. an anecdotc, Wit, humor, social con-
versation, and that indescribable fiow Of
spirits, which charac;eriz, occasions like
this. Every thing that brings out . laugh
from the heart, or warns the inner re-
cesses of mans naturally melancholy na
:ure is beautiful. i speak then tonight
in defense of mirih, and gladness, and fun,
if you like that plain Anglo-Saxon term
better.
II the old adage laugh and grow fat
be a true one, and rever heard it ques-
toned, there is certainly no better place to
practice it than in Plymouth. for a more
cadaverous, lean, jaundice>eyed, and mel
ancholy looking set If people are scarcely
to be met with any vnere, and l am sorry
to say that our masonic brethren are no
exception to the general rule.
Now this is not as it should be. Melsn-
choly, ennui, and dullness are no part oil
masonry. They are sntagonistic to its
proper culture, and practice, as they are
to almost every other good impulse OF the
soul. The stated meetings of Lodges, and
Chapters should be made social reunions
where the song, and joke, and story and
flash of wit make the Lodge room vocai
with the melody of glad hearts. ss the for
ests with the music of the birds in sum-
mer.
Now this can all be accomplished. If ws
would cultivate the art Of gsiety with half
the zeal we cultivate many others less i'm
portant matters, we would soon fa9 our
selves masters of the situation, and our
Lodge hall, instead of being dreary, and
empty, at our regular meetings, with
scarcely enough brethren to do the work.
would Be filed with warm, and genial
spirits, alive to every interest Of their cher
ished brotherhood.
But he culture Of this art is not to be
confined to Masons or Mason's Halls. We
need it right here in Plymouth In every
sphere in which we move The family
circle, the friendly visit The social enter
tainment, the festal gathering. What We
want liz a taste for enjoyment, and habit
Of cultivating 1t. We should throw open
houses, and our hearts, and let in the sum-
light of Q truer and happier life. Our
homes, instead of being citadels OF gloom
and seclusion, and sel6shness, should be
made palaces of mirth, and gaiety. and
entertainments, and such they can become,
however humble and unprstsndlng they |
may be-
In thus promoting happiness, We realize
In its highest Significance. that IL 10 more |
blessed to give than to receive. We in
voluntarily love those who make Us happy |
- The bee loves the sunshine, and the |
flower.
In this way charity, that highest grace
Of the soul, il promoted, and practiced.
Such Il the mysterious connection be-
tween each OF rs and our fellow men,
that no matter what may light the 6res Of
love in our beasts, its radiance falls upon
all. Man is never cruel when he IL gay and
joyous; the needy never 90 away empty
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