The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-12-21
that was ceremonial and peculiar to Judaism,
he enSrafted its fundamental truths upon the

winch adapted 1t and made 1t acceptable TO tne
many strangers and foreigners who composed
Sd large proportion OF the temple-worhm
This cathUl!city Is still the boast of Masonry.
If our H-brew brethren look for The "fl fill.
ment Of the law and the prophets" in
Messiah 10 come, they are none the less our
brethren becaus. the Christian brother looks
back TO thleh I'M, Naz iretb, G-thsemane
and Calva:, AMI sees the fu6lment in the
Prince Of the House of David. Masonry Is not
only not sect but it Is not religion. 1t is o
witness OF religious truth, and teacher oil lis
divine ethics; witness and teacher which
finds no parallel without the pale of Christen-
dom or belief In The one trne God.
If any one doubts The title OF Masonry to this
distinction let him examine the writings OF
emin mt Masons who have unvei ed all OF onr
sl stem. which may be communicated. He will
find in the Holy Scripture, not only The neces-
sary part OF the furniture of the lodge, rule
and guide Of our faith and conduct. and not
only This, but the luminary that enIightens all
that would Ue otherwise dark AMI impeneira-
b e. It's legends and ki-toIy point with rrf.r-
ences AMI analOges to the Incidents recorded
In Holy Writ. lis charges and lectures refer
10 the duties and obligations there imposed;
the illustrations of characters, localities and
events oflhe slcred writings are pr1-eIinenlly
commemoratsd in her traditional lDre, and
her mystic ceremonies fur.i,h topics tor the
investigation OF the enlightened craftsman.
Who OF the ''sons OF light" have failed to real
lie the sublime significance OF these revela-
lions? Turn. for instance, 10 that sacred sp1t
where Faith achieved her brightest human
triumph; 10 that three cornered lhreshing
floor, wnere DLril was sacrificed and the
plagued was stayed; where our ancient breth-
Teu were taught the resurrection at the open
grave OF an iials rous companion.
Throw upon this spot tile light oil Christian
faith and IL becomes Calvary. Where within
the range Of theology can be found more pro-
found, more Divine subjects for contempla-
liOn?
The hlstlry OF Freemasonry having been
Tins incidentally Traced TO The lint at wh'chit
acquired It's mcss sublime character, 1t remains
briefly 10 skc:ch what We know Gifts career 10
the present day. 1t is sad that for five hun
drci years alter the building oil the tempe
Masonry chiefly flOurshed In gyp', with
which country Solomon formed an alance by
intermsrriage with The royal house. Pytha-
gOras introduced it into Greece, at CcOpona,
thence Into Europe.
In the year 557 It. Austin arrived in Eng
land with a number Of Masons, and uader his
charge the Cathedral of ofCanterbury, in GOO that
of Colchester, and in 604 ST. Pduls, In Lon
don. were built. In the year GAG, by the an
thority OF Alhe.stane, the Masoas assembled
in Conyocation YORK, under Prince Edward,
to revise The ancient constitution, real firm the
landmarks and make them of perpetual obll-
gallon.
From this convocalion Mas nry Is derived
| In an uninterIul It'd succession Cf lodges. 1t
hos mum bered in its ranks many OF the most
distinguished men oil cur aye-even The proud
uonarcts of England. In lhe early part of The
lat century it h I'd fallen almost exclusively
| in o the hands Of accep.ed Ma oas, and exists
| now only as moral Organization OF srecuia-
| live Masonry.
II his sketch has not proved in erestlng, the
failure Is not due 10 the want OF any merit In
| The subject. The views presented on The char
acter and purposes of Masonry are for those
who have laid pare the Very arcana OF our my
leries. Content not yourselves with any su-
| perhclal knowledge Of our system, but search
beneath the surface. Examine them as intelli-
gent investigators by the light OF the sacred
| writings Rise to u conception OF the true
dignity OF our sublime calling as Masous. Let
your conduct prove You 10 oe well tried, true
and trusty, living and polished stones In the
temple. AS Masons You are taught faith In
| God AMI charity 10 ali the world. '.What man.
ner of persons ought you to be in all holy con-
| versation and goodness"
Most worshiplul sir, the occasion which
brings us together Is one OF the livel:est inter
est. That the unprecedented spread of Ma
sonry In these disastrous days should demand
| more spacious edif1ce 10 be de Heated TO the
| genius of Freemas)nry and her attendant vir-
| Is we'll adapted 10 the wants aud necessities Of
suffering people. That at period of such
| unpuraIle led corruption aud licenliousnesS
| Masonry should thus attract 80 large number
| of the wisest and best of our citizens, proves
| selr secure from that moral pestllence that is
now sweeping over the land. That 1t should
| have been determined 10 erect temple oil
| such grandeur and beauty Is most assuring
Indication, not only O. present pl osperity, but
OF bright and hopeful antlcipaI ion 'ior the
lulurc Recent explorations have laid blre
| the ancient foundations OF Stl0m0n's temple,
buried beneath The accumulated rubbish OF
| ages. Each stone bore upon lis face the
marks inscribed by the ancient craftsman who
fashoned-thus altestinS the works OF his
| handssfOr general ms 10 come.
We may not hope that This structure shall be
as enduring as tnat ancient temple, or the
handiwork OF the Craft be identified by any
mark, but let us inscribe upon our lives and
conduct The far more enduring impress Ct
those cardinal virtues Of Masonry so essential
in tn, Sc days of aflction, persecution and
irritation. They have served 10 perpetuate
preston of The past; they will insure for the
| future the protection Of That Almighty power
| whose gilt thoss virtues are, however brutal
and malignant the passion which swayed the
| oppressor's rod or forged the chains OF the IN.
nocent. Their faithful culture will cause this
house to exceed the former In spiritual glory
| and beauty, aud make 1t the harbinger o!
better days for this venerable city and her
people now stepped In the waters Of Marah,
Faithful and true to the great brotherhood ol
! FrtemasOns a1d The pure principles oil our
profession, we shall cause this temple and this
city 10 resound with songs OF deliverance, as
when our ancient br thren "brought forth the
| capstone with shouting and praise" and the
q ory of Tie Lord shall bill the house.
On occasions like this, my friends anil breth-
rem, it is customary 10 remember tuat lairel
and better part Of creation which graces and
adorns this assembage o day. The few words
| that shall utter In tnat direction Will have
| to be repeated to their ears by your faithful
tongues, and trust you will add grace to
| the poor compliment which Shall 10y at their
feet. These compliments generally assume
the form Of d"precating apology tor their ex-
| clusion from our private assemblies ana secret
arts. What they know OF man, We fear, Goes
not incline them to think too well OF any ass }.
citation which excludes their own pure ana
refining presence AMI influence. IL may De
| satisfactory 10 explain now aad why lhey are
excluded.
Original Masonry Was both private and
speculative. Fiom the rude libors ofs sUpera-
tive Masonry. they were properly and consid-
erately excluded by one Of our ancient land-
marks. When, therefore, nine hundred Yeas ago
the Grand Lodge oil York made the landmarks
of perpetual obligation, 1t relieved lis from any
r.srois binty ol their exclusion. Our ins ilu'
lions is sad TO be supported by wisdom,
strength and beauty. AS the sun Is The beauty
and the glory of lhe day. so Is woman The
beauty OF nuns life. AS the rays Of the sun
disnpi,sps life strength and beauty TO phN s cal