The Van Buren press., 1871-01-10

building of wood and stone, they kept
alive the knowledge sf the unity ofdiod
and faith in immortality, by. the peculiar
ceremonies OF Speculative Masonry.
Closely upon these dogmas follow the
doctrines OF final accountability, and re-
wards, and punshments. Thus the or
der has lived to see hundreds OF others
90 down. The brethren have been pres
ent to relieve the suffering Of thousands,
who follow in the wake OF vanquishing
armies. They have seen nations arise
and flourish and fall, and no requiem was
heard save the rumbling OF the chariot
wheels of their destroyers. The secrecy
surrounding the vital parts Of our cere-
mony certainly adds charm, but by no
means accounts for its wonderful i'm
portance as an element Of civilization.
Masonry of this day is entirely spccu-
ative. We use many OF the implements
made use OF by our ancient brethren, but
only as emblems and "for more noble
and glorious purposes" While they
wrought with them upon wood, stone
and other material substances, we labor
in spiritual templc--the living temple
Of the mind and heart. Our mission Is
more glorious. our work more lasting
and useful. 1tow does MI the magniA.
cencc and grandeur of Solomon's Tenn
pie dwindle into comparative insignia-
cance, when compared with brother
turned from evil, led into paths Of virtue
and rectitnde, by the unostentatious ef-
forts of the Speculative Mason That
splendid ediicc, that lifted its proud head
high above Moriah, surrounded in fancied
security by its stupendous walls, in few
short years, was swept from its place ny
the devourirg torch of the Chaldcan
horde, and though often rebuilt, the
place il stood upon is marked only by
the broken columns, that were its former
support. And the city, the favored Of
God, that by evil deeds became the thea.
tre ofso many bloody conflicts, has fallen
into ruin In the words Of the unrivaled
jeremiah ...tFaw -.e.Iinl
" How solitary doth she ST. the many pcopled city
She is become widow the great among nations; y"
The queen among the provinces. how has she beoome
Weeping, weeps she all tho night the tears are on
her cheeks, t.i W"
From among all hcr, loyers, she hath no eowforter
become her foes. y De n..r. -.,a.4F g
Four thousand millions Of dollars are
said to have been expended III the build
ing Of the Temple, aud nothing Is LEFT
save its history and its ruins. 'Hi a1.
The work of the Speculative Mason
cannot be reached by the spoicr OF king
doms or the cankcr Of time. lie builds
for eternity. He, too. dedicates his work
to the Great Jehovah. With the magic
po Scr of real brotherly love-" he qui.
etly puts in its proper place, IN the living
temple Temperance, Fortitude, Prudence
and Jnstice--and upon these erccts the
superstructurc Of sound morality. His
principle wol King tools arc Faith, Hope
and Charity Fnifb ~ God. Hope OF I'm
mortality and Charity towards llman.
kind. Equipped with these, he goes
forth on his mission, ciicered By the
smiles and aided by the sustaining hand
of his brethren. The most effective Of
all these is Charity, and by its exercise
the Mason does most effective work.
That charity that prompts us not only TO
relieve with material aid the wants Of a
distressed brother, but also teaches US to
cover, as with a mantle, the faults and
foiblss Of errng brethcren. Not only to
hide those faults from the inpertincnt
and unsympathizing gaze Of the scoiling
world, but because we may thus work
more efectually for their eradication.
The widow and the orphan are the Ma
sons especial charge. To those stricken
ones whose earthly support has been re-
moved by the rude hand Of death, he is
to minister consolation and afford relief.
Thus it is seen that in its civilizing and
christianzing influences, Masonry is the
handmaid Of the Church Of Christ The
good Mason must be good man and a
valuable citizen. Hence. the ot1,cr must
endure as long as the sun Of civilization
and enlightenment keeps on its steady
course. 1t cannot die unless that sun
shall set in the darkness OF anarchy. ig.
norance and barbarism. Our lessons arc
all founded in piety and true wisdom, and
many Of them are taught by symbols !;
hence, the first three degrees are called
Symbolic Masonry: AS an Entered Ap.
prentice, the Mason enters upon his ca
reer Of Masonic youth. During this
Spring time Of life he sees many OF the
beauties OF the institution, which only in
cite him to redouble his efforts "i in search
Of further light" The degree teaches
him the admirable ground work OF The
order and those excellent tcnets that he
is ever strictly to observe in his coming
Masonic Manhood. 1t inculcatcs cardi
nal virtues, the healthful Influence OF
which are to mould his future BY the
aid Of the eight" he receives, he learns
that nc no longer lives for himself alone,
but is, in 4 measure, responsible for the
conduct and final destiny Of others. AS
a FellowCraft he passes into Masonic
Manhood, his sphere OF usefulness be.
comes greatly extended and his respon-
sihility greatly increased. His duties be-
como more active and the demands OF his
brethren more imperative. Then it Is,
he feels the true value of his early train
ing, and panoplicd with priceless truth
and virtue he can go forth confident OF
victory. If his Manhood Is well spent,
and his feet have persistently trodden in
the path OF rectitude, he enters the Old
Age Of Masonry and Is clothed with well
earned honors. Bnt his responsibilities
are still more largely increased and new
duties devolve upon him. lie Is no