Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1870-02-04

]
| together 10 ipcitc strikes amongst workmcn do
not resolve to get drunk do not engage 10 gam
! bling, do not pr0fano the name NJ God d. not
! practice immortality r itrcligion do not advise
men to viJlnte their oaths, or the obligations
/ which they owe to society do not countcn ance
vice or irnmorality; do not secrcto the guilty,
I ~ shield them from The Just penalty of the law.
Hut on the other hnnd, laithful Obedience 70
the moral law " most strcnuously inculcatcd.
Aud nov here Is the man taught more rcvetent-
ly 10 respect the sacred name of mother than
when on his knees before the altar Of Masonry
nor IL he elsewhere In the world reminded 80
strongly of the love he owes a wife aud u sister.
While elsewhere women have been cnslavud or
their fights ignored, the loved nanos of mother
WIFE sister and daughter, lave always been
cherished aud onshrinUd in the memory of Ma
sons, and oft iu pcts these have walked as II
sustained bv n charmed lite when tho guardian
influences Of Masonry have ovcrshaduwcd them
scattering smiles in their pathway, aud pres
cnting IN mpcnetablq lrOntnS aiust nlhprroach-
ing danger.
"Thc grand corner stone VI Frcc Masonry /.
firm AMI nnitltering belief In God, who will
be the judge Of our actions and to whom we
should pay that worship, which Is due tO him
AZ the great Architect Of the universe. And a
man must bc an ubscrycr Ot the moral law, and
+ IL he properly understands the fuudn mental
rules uf the Order, will never be an atheist or an
irreligous libcrtiue, but will ever act in e'ord-
aipe With that great inward monitor, his own
. con science. liz should likewise shun the gross
crrurs Of bisotry and superstition, making due
use Uf his own reason according H. the liberty
wherewitlI q Mason is made free, requiring all
tn adhere to tlc essentials Of teligiun IN which
all mcn agree, but leaving each brother u his
own Judgment rs to the particular form, OF as his
own conscience muy dictate"
Hence II follows that all Misons nrc or
ought to be good men and true, men 1f honor
aud honesty, always following the golden rule
oI doing unto all men Gas upon change of con.
ditiunl that others should do unto thcm, aud
whenever this IA the case, the Order cannut,hil
tO become the center Of union, and the means or
cuncliating true friendship, aud thereby strength
cniuV the divine obligations Of Religion aud
Love. Furthermore, whoever would bc true
Mason Is also to know, that his obligations as
subject and citizen are not to be relaKed, but
enforced. III tnustbe a lover of quiet, pcaceablc
and ubcdicnt to the civil authority, and never
to bG concerned IN plots against the government
or state to which he owes allegiance, bccIusc
the welfare Of his country ought 10 be, next 10
God, hs highest ohicc..
. But II any brother torgcts Tor time the rules
Of the Order, ana listens to evil cOunScls aud I'M
happily falls into contrary conduct he is not 10
be countcnaucCl IN his crincs, but by such con.
duct lorfui,s all claims aui benefits OF the So.
ciciy.
From this lri.t and m>ckn 81 Of true Ma
sous, anl their desire tn advhacp the countries
where they reside with all useful arts, sciences
aud improvements, they have been from tho
earliest ages, encouraged aud protected IN all
states bv the wiscst ut rulers, who thought 1t m
honor To have their names enrolled among the
fraternity.
Masonry has ever apurishcd most in times OF
peace, aud sutfHc in peculiar manner IN war,
devastation and blooashrd JUDGED, peace IS the
peculiar power of Masonry, and the star Of
destiny. in its onward progress, is now pointing
u this institution as one of the great aids in cras-
ing war from the code Of honor, aud in iuscribing
peace aud guol will tu man on rntablatutes not
less broad than the earth ITSELF
In regard tn ourselves, Mason should know
how tu practice all the private virtues he should
nyoid all manner Of intcmpcraucc aud excess,
whic, might UbStruct his performances Of lhc
laudahlr duties Of the Order, or lead him iAtn
crimes which would reflect dishonor upon the
fraternity. lie shruld bn industrious in his
profession, aud kbor justly, and not eat any
mans bread tor naught. What leisure his la
Dor allows he should rmplny IN stud wing the arts
aud scichcrs, that she may tho better perform all
his dnics ~ his Creator, his ncighbnr and him
self In a word tn walk humbly IN the sight Of
Cod, Ia 10 justly and love many are the true
and indispen aIlo characteristics otn real Mason.
lie should alsu seek and acquire as far as possi-
blc, the virtues 0t patience, mcekueSs, solf-de-
NAL, torbcarance and the like, which will give
him the command over himself, and enable him
10 govern his family with affection and prudence
checking every disposition injurious to the world,
aud promoting that harmony and love which
brethren OF tho same household bear one to each
other. To afford relief IN the unfortunate, to di-
vide our bread with the poor, and to put the mi
guided traveller in the right way are qualities
inherent in the Graft aud suited h its dignity"
The origin Of Masonry is unknown. History
the faithful chroucler of events has labored iu
vain u hX II, AMI tradition the Mason's history,
hhas no notice of the event The most ancient
records of all nations have been searched in vain
for It.
Butt stands to-day ns II has stood for ages,
like the watchman on the tow Or to guard the in
tcrrsts Of humanity.
In its universally il has no comparison.
In its btuevoencc il knows no difference in
the condition VI men. And that which the var. :.
Gus Christian denominations with all their hray-
rn-bOrn privileges have tailed tO accomplish is
one of the Fundamental principles of Masonry.
That one brother shall never deal IN the nesh
or tralhc in the liberty of a brother. ltis his
duty to bring him from bnndagc, or hazard his
life for brother, but under no circumstances to
take from him one boon given him by the God
Of his existence, Much of the strength and in
disolubnity Of Masonry is doubtless owing to it's
simplicity aud the Singleness of its aims. OF
all its vOtHrieS 1t asks but one question DO you
believe in Gudr God is its guide and man the
object Of its hhors. To adore the one aud to
elevate and clothe the other in the radiant gar
mcnts OF moral virtue, Is the end Of Masonry
ls II strange then that an institution guided by
these noble aims should survive tho fall Of EN-
pircs and the wreck OF nations or is il won
dcrful that it should have escaped the ruthless
hand Of the barbarian, while with hilrous insa-
tiety it scattered the fragments rr architectural
beauty over an uncuiuvated wilderness, aud
gave painting aud sculpture and literature to tho
namrs of one vast funeral pile. In the whirl-
wind of revolution, amidst religious bgotry and
political persecution, Masonry has been an ad-
vocate for the freed hNm of conscience and intel
lertual and m,rul freedom. In the lodge each
brother could lrccly express his npinions On all
subjects within tho proper sphere nt action,
without being in fear of being betrayed. And
the practice oultiN ated thore, has been of vast
Importance to mankind, in shaping the affairs of
the world, Like the still small vnicc its work.
iigS have been indeed unhcard, but not unfelt,
iur like the dcwS Ot heaven, II has fallen IN
thousands of barren and stony hcartS, and
snncucd them so they have yielded to HUmu-
tvs call.
We are apt to think that other institutions be.
come blinded by prosperity, and seek notnrIW
aud love attention, aud are diScontented aud
complain unless they can have their full share
Of the public appreciation, Hut Masonry, under
all circumstances an IN all viciSsitudcS, thnugh
its charity Is as broad as the mantle OF heaven,
loves retirement.
In the dark times Of prmcvM history. when
mad ambition raShly ruled and oNrrrnn the
bounds of property, trId uncontrolled the barren
wildS or savage lite, II was then that Masonry
framed the glnriouS SupcrStructure of the mlral
world aud has ever since been labnriug TOR the
elevation aud perfection of our name.
Such is both the origin and object ofthe order,
that We pause before u in contemplation, We
behold il arising from ont the ruins or birbar.
ism, like beautiful child issuing Satu aud nm
harmed from dcu Otlions, aud again NO see il
like ehild toying with lions. and then Suixing
aud struggling with the hercest of human pas
! sons, until chh lliike it leads thcm captive hy
/ the silken cord of love.
/ Where IN all the various human institutions
/ eau the weary dnve OF the ark rest in greater ss-
( curily than here
/ Masonry is a sure promoter of peace amongst
men aud no banner does It display with greater
satisfaction (cSccpung the cross, than the olive
branch ia hoe stJsa riHc's,
/ Aud though il his often been drawn to tho
battle 6cld IN the wars of ooutenling parties
and In the struggles ofnations for Freedom, hu
mAnity hIS ntrScl lts M ,rch aai the innocent
and unoflcnling have always been prat ec,ed