Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1871-03-02

- t8AAO ,G4-r4 Gel 10
F. - =. Address a
OF THE g H ND N As r e =
orr. and a.. Nlasons of Ohio.
ToLEpe, o., JAN.9 9, AZ. 5s7l.
BRETHREN-Freemasonry is based upon
| the practice of virtuous principles, IN
culcating the highest standard of moral
excellence morality is, its foundation
and chief corner stone : every Mason
should be moral man ); no member Oh
our fraternity, however dePraved or de-
based he may be, will for moment
dare to deny this fact, and yet how
many, knowing their duty as Masons to
the moral law, practice what they pro-
fess? Our institution has suffered more
through our. own negligence in allow
ing SO much immortality amongst our
members than from all the anathemas
that ever, from ignorance or fanatical
bigotry, have been hurled against it ;
Its enemies, through our own inconsid-
crate acts of imprudence and negligence.
have been furnished the weapons to as
sail it, and we have thereby weakened
the means of our own defense. A man
addicted to deliberate profanity, intem-
perance, gambling, or any other licen-
tious habit erVice, is not a. proper per-
son for reception iinte the fraternity,
much less to be a member thereof, un-
less he reforms Immediately, for such q
person may with just pr0priety be
classed as an irreligious Iibertine-his
habits would at least entitle him to that
credit. An Institution where the purest
of morals are taught, where reverence
TO the High and Holy God is enjoined,
should never be contaminated with i'm
pure and deiled elements. Good men
and true revolt at it, honor and honesty
forbid it, and divine justice will sooner
or later demand full retribution for AL
such delinquencies. We have nothing
to fear from outside pressure the pow
.ers of Church and State, with the feeble
breath of the fanatic, have been hurled,
time and again, against our noble aud
time-honored institution, and yet it oc-
cupies stronger, nobler and higher
position throughout the world than ev-
er before, and SO it will ever continue to
doif you will only be just, and practice
outside of ihe lodge those noble pre-
cepts which we are faaght in IL. 1t
must be apparent to the mind Of re-
flecting and considerates Mason iat his
obligations are of most serious nature,
that he has voluntarily. and of his own
free will and accord, assumed duties
and responsibilities which require him
to obey both Gigine and moral law; and
the nature OF these -fespoifsibiIities he
cannot-nay, he dare not-with impuni-
ty disregard. His duty to his God, his
his lodge and to hiniselfand
nily, requires not only that he should
66ey it, buttha he should;use allmeans
IN his power 70 enforce obedicnce to
that law from every member of his
1odge.. Every institution, and more
,particularly ours, is judged by, its indi-,
'Tidual members. II any Of our mem
bers are incorporate, profane or immor
al men, our Order must to a'great ez-
tent suffer for their actions. A great
responsibility rests upon the Master of
o Lodge. He should at least be possess
sed of all the, cardinal virtues: tempe
rance, fertitude, prudence and justice.
How can the Master of Lodge teach
morality and virtue and expect his
membcrzYte follow those teashings,
when. perhaps, he is intemperate, pro-
fame, licentious and immoral in his hab-
its? Ii SO, he is false to his God, false
to himself and his lodge, violating his
obligation, violating the promises he
made at his installation. He stands be-
fore his, lodge q perjlred man. Such .
man is unw orthy the name ofa Mason,
aud ought not TO be allowed to preside
over a. Lodge of Masons.[ He cannot
expect obedience to our laws from his
members if he violates those laws with
impunity. A man ought not to be Mas
ter over others who is not Master over
his own habits and passions. cuch a
Master w0nld not be the proper person
to enforce this edict of the Grand Lodge,
unless he immediately reform, and if he
does not reform, upon proper informa-
tion being sent to me will deem it my
duty to Immediately suspend him from
Office. as being unworthy and incapable
of diffusing that light and knowledge
due from aaM2ster to his Lodge, and1
hope ne brother, throngh fear orStavor
will hesitate to inform me if the Master
of his Lodge is profane, intemperate, Or
guilty of any Rcentious or immoral hab-
its. 1t is duty every man aowes 10
himself and his Lodge TO see that none
be elected to Office but good men and
time. To the end that our institution
does not suffer by the election to Office
of men who will bring censure and re-
proach upon our Order, it is necessary
that we should commence at the Master
of the Lodge. If he is moral man he
can eofnmands the respect and esteem
of his brethren; if he is immoral, the
first thing to be done will be to relieve
him from office. Andsit is hereby made
the imperative duty of the Masters of
the several Lodges in our jurisdiction,
and they are hereby ordered and en-
joined-zto use all the powers of moral
snasion, dbroiherly love and kindness to
induce the erring brother 10 reform ;
use all the arguments and entreaties in
your power, talk to him as you would
| to your own brother or your onlyson.as
you wo'd like TO have others talk to you
| if you were indanger; point the broth
er who indulaes in Intoxicating liquor to
the danger he is in, to the serpeut he is
handling, to the fire that is SLOWLY but
! surely consuming his vitals, destroying
his intellect, Sdebasing' his manhood
No man can indulge in the use of Ii
quor and be safe. If he is moderate
.drinke-, as some call it, it-only takes
littlemore time ; the fangs of the ser
fpent viii soon strike home. Nc, maj
of goodssense willSsay that the use o
llquor is benefit to himself or his fam
| lily. Then why use it taAaLet each ant
every.oae ofssus who have the interes
{, of Masobry at heart raise our warming
voiceagainstthis foul monster, this de
| mon incompetence, who is destroying
its victims by thousands daily. How
many sofrour brethren, otherwise noble
brave and generous, are slowly bu