Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1870-12-16

man of sense knows that there is no such thing
as absolute equality. Men differ in power Of in
tellect and heart men diasr in ability TO get
along and in ability 70 master difficulties. They
are unequal by reason Of original constitution ;
G1d has made them unequal; but this does mt
affect the fact that there are planes Of being on
which there is a recognized equality, not indeed
of powers, but an equality Of rank and standing
Masonry recognizes this fact. 1t has its differ
ent planes, so to speak, its different degrees OF
attainment to which the seeker has come, so
that all who reach any one Of these different
states is recognised as on a Ieret with all who
are within that degree. And not only so, but
it recognizes the fact, as fact, that there is
equality when members of various degrees meet
in a common degree, or on a common ground, all
meeting on level the exalted going to the lew
ell of tie lowest and the lowest rising TO level
with the highest.
This beautiful principle makes Of the lord
commoner, when in the assemblies Of the people,
and Of the c0mmoner a lord, when the commOuer
sits with lords and kings. This is the true equal
ity of man with man an equality which br.
Seward happily illustrated, when, as an Ameri-
can citizen. he demanded and obtained person
al audience with the Mikado Of Japan. Author
ity and power meeting. in the person Of the MI
kAdu, on a level with him who once had power
but was now merely citizen.
Akin to this fundamental leveling principle is
that of the idea Of a common brotherhood. This
idea is one which goes farther than the other.
The idea Of equality levels up and down. But
the idea OF brotherhood afliiiatos. connects and
ties together the whole fraternity in family re-
lation binds strangers to strangers by tie
which is the closest which can exist in life after
that of parent and child. We call ourselves a
Fraternity, j. e. a Brotherhood, or family oi
brothers. This is prominent as well as funda-
mental idea, one which lies at the basis Of church
relations and which, If carried out BY church
nd wouid raoPpauizp SOcietv nd de vel
op such cnndiiion Of things as is ascribed to a
mil enia state. That il is not carried out is nc
fault of TIE system any mpre than il is the fault
Of religion that all who professedIy follow Christ
are not what bis teachings require. No church
has vet brought all its members up to the stand
ard developed in the Bible. ProfcsSed christian
people prey upon christians make war upon
them and endeavOr, commercially and otherwise.
to get the advantage over each other. Having
the same Bible in their hands teaching then
the brotherhood Of man, they practically disal-
low the brotherhood, and make laws tn help one
part Of the race at the expense OF another. And
so it is iu the brotherhood Of masOns. The ma
son who can treat all of his own Lodge as broth
ers would be model IN lson. Am not right
in putting this recognition Of brotherhoodEs one
OF the elements Of true masonic lifeT And am
| not right in saying that this recognition OF
brotherhood is absolutely required Of every one
who would be considered worthy of the name Of
mason.
But let us go step further and consider the
matter of obligation. For in masonic life each
one is not left to do as he pleases and to work
evil or good as suits bis own incln atiot. In a
wild state men act thus. But in state of Law
men are always under bonds. The citizen is
under obligation 20 obey the law, and woe 10 him
who does not keep hIs obligation. The gIeal
name of Lee, name precious to the American
people for patriotic sacrifices in the Revolution
| a name distinguished for the elOquence and
statesmenship of the founder Of the family; a
name associated with that Of Washington this
was tarnished beyond recovery when he who
| bore the name and enjoyed the hOnOrs which a
grateful pso2le was pleased to give, carried this
name with its national prestige TO the side 0l
treason and rebellion against a government he
had sworn to defend and uphold. He. the greai
General Of the Confederate aEms, was under OBJ
legation, by favors received aud bV oath, to
stand by his country and doall within his power
to secure her safety. He violated his obligations
and fell, and manhood, honor, truth, these all
| fell in the treason OF Robert Il. lee.
Now the mason lives in a state OF law. He
has taken obligations upon himself; obligations
which bind him as tar as oaths are bindings moi
merely to keep close tongue in his head, buI
| 10 recognize this fact Of common brotherhood,
and 10 keep an open hand and an open hea ri
towards the members of the fraternity. The
idea Of help within limits, limits which are we'll
| defined, is as much a masonic idea is that oil
secrecy. ] say within li5,its, for our enemies
| have thought and said there are no limits, that
the masonic obligation has no regard for law
| aud is superior to law, human and divine. En-.
emies have urged this as against the institu-
tion; but every mason knows that the charge is
false, and that he is Just as much under the law
OF state and Of Col as any other man; and that
neither religious obligations, nor his obligations
aS a citizen are for a moment to be set aside
since his own obligations are held to be subordi'
I - Al. III 10 aa EuI anNa
probation which represents a mason as bound ia
help or do anything contrary to law or against
law, or contrary 10 religion or against religion
But within these limits and the limits Of his
ability, he is bound To help. So that our idea OF
true mason is not that OF man who fOrgets
his obligation to the state to keep and support its
laws is not that Of n man who violates law and
then uses the masonic signs To impose an obi-
cation on somebody 10 help him out OF his trouble;
is not that Of man who shall respond IN every
call for help, be il deserved or not but 10 that
OF one who will respond to every deserving case
OF trouble and misfortune, and who responds
within the limits set by the obligation itself.
Our idea is that true mason is one who feels
the E rec Of an oath, and who, when he swors to
help, meant help, and nit otherwise. How near
we all come in practice TO the true idea Is not
for me to say. But it would not be strange II
many could be found who have failed In carry
ing out the idea involved in The obligation.
Systems, as before Teiharkeu' are Ol'eh lhI lh
advance OF the practice VI those, who profess TO
adept to systems. II is s. in the church. Aud
have reason IN suppose that many masons are
not much closer followers of the IDEAS Of the in
slituton, than professsd christians are Of the
fundamental principles Of christianity.
But, be tho case as il may, II must be plain to
all the fraternity that true mason is one who,
in practice, keeps his obligation to help within
the limits. In this obligation to help are in'
yOlved two facts which mason must ever re-
cognize. LIST. That any brother may sometime
or other need helps that prosperity, power,
health are uncertain and may be lost. This
thought underlies masonic life. No one dare
set himselfup as one whoRi no calamity shall
reach. But the possibility Of calamity is pro-
Vded for in the very terms Of the obligation.
I'd. Thati,ach one ought 10 be helped who has not
brought his calamity upon himself by transgres-
sion. None but fools suppose that the fraternity
Is an organization Gu the basis Of company Of
hOrs, thieves aud cOun.oileitors who must at any