Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1871-02-17
MASONIC EDICr.

W WIT WIN Tue very elementary principles on
which the whole fabric of the Masonic Insttu-
ion Is based. Every Masonic brother, by the
tenure of his profession, is bound to obey the
moral law, aud what said that law:
"Thou shalt not take the name OF the Lord thy
God in vain, for the Lord will NOT hold him guilt
less that taketh his name in vain."
In the first step which n man takes, Mt the
very entrance of the vestibule of the Temple,
with what snlemnity is he charged, among other
duties, that which he owes to GOd-neyer to
mention his name but with that reverential awe
which is due from a creature TO his Creator, to
lmplOre his aid in all his laudable und r,akngs,
and 70 esteem Him rs the Chief God. Again, |
as he ascends another step towards the inner |
Temple, what brilliant hieroglyphics arrests his
attention, up towards which all eyes are turned ,
in mute and reverend awe. And can even an |
entered apprentice profaHe that sacred name by
imprecatiug its curse upon himself or upon his
fellow man. How much more Master Mason,
whose feet have trOdden the sancturn sanctOrum,
or Holy Of IlOlies
Drunkenness is vice OF most hideous mein,
brutalizng the physical man and rendering him
an object Of contempt aud detestation, mingle d
with pity.
Alas how many, even Of our brethren-gen-
erous, noble and gifted have fallen victims to
this Unsuitable vice, and are now mOdering in
dshOnured graves, or fastening with trembling
strides in the same broad road TO destruction
hHu eIeTudl ubblug uunO0uTeu anu uuNepl, ShNt
by the grief stricken, heart-broken wife and
helpless orphans, or the dOling mother, on whose
maternal breast he in youth pillowed his boyish
head.
Your Committee deem 1t unnecessary to elsb-
crate the evils arising from these unmasOnc
vices not only 10 the fraternity tO which th hey
were once honOred and beloved members, but by
vicious example in the community where their
vices are practiced, your Committee recommend
for adoption the following
Resolued, That the NJ. W. Grand Master be,
! and he is hereby authorized, and it is made his
| duty to issue q circular to be addressed to the
subordinate Lodges of this jurisdiction, enjon-
| ing the Masters Of the several Lodges to action
in these premises, by all the powers of moral
suasiou and br1therly kindness, to arrest the
evil and in the last resort to cut off the persist
| emily offending members, as cancerous excreS-
cences on the body of Masonry.
BRETHREN,- is based upon the
practice of virtuouS principles, inculcating the
highest standard of moral excellence morality
is its foundation and chief corner strne every
| Mason should be a moral man; no member OF
our fraternity, however depraved or debased he
may be, will for a moment dare 10 deny this fact
and yet how many, knowing their duty as Ma
sons to the moral law, practice what they pro-
feSs. Our institution has suffered more through
our own negligence in allowing 50 much immor-
ality amongst eur members than from all the
al bigotry, have been hurled against it its enc
mics, through our own inconsiderate acts OF i'm
prudence and negligence, have been furnished
the weapons to assaIl it, and we have thereby
weakened the means of our own defence. A
man addicted to deliberate profanity, iniemper.
auce, gambling, or any other licentous habit ol
vice, is not proper person for reception into the
fraternity, much less to be a member thereof
unless he reforms Immediately, for such a per
s,n may with jus.propriety be cassed,.ss an IRE
I lgiOus liberline--his habits would at least en-
tlls HIM to that credit An institution wher,
the puIcst of morals are taught, where reverenc,
to the High and Holy God is enjoined, SHOULD
I never be contaminated with impure and defileC
elements. Good men and true revolt at it, homo
) and honesty forbid it, and divine justice viii
sooner or later demand full reiribution for al
such delinquencies. We have nothing to fea
! from outside pressure; the powers OF Church ant
State, with the feeble breath of the fanatic, hav
been hurled, time and again, against our uobl
: time -honored institution, and yet it occupies
a stronger, nobler and higher position through
out the world ;han ever before, and so it will ev
er continue to do if yeu will only be Just, an
, practice outside Of the lodge those noble pre-
cepts which we are taught in it. IL must b
, apparent to the mind of rejecting and consid
" crate Mason that his obligations are of the mos
d serious nature, that he has voluntarily and G
: his own free will and accord, assumed dutie
and responsibilities which require him to ODE
both divine and moral law; and the nature q
these responsibilities he cannOt--nay, he dar
n pot--with impunity disregard. His duty to hi
God, his neighbOr, his lodge and to himself an
=, family, requires not only that he should obey i
but that he should use all means in his pOwe
r to enforce obedience to that law from ever
s member Of his lodge. Every institution, an
d. more particularly ours, is Judged bv its indiyd
ual members. If any of our members are in
IS temperate, profane or immoral men, our Orde
II must to great extent suffer for their action:
! A great responsibility rests upon the Master
> a Lodge. He should at least be possessed of a
. the cardinal virtues: temperance, forlitude, prr
l. dence and justice. How can the Master Of
q Lodge teach morality and virtue and expec. h
members to follow those teachings, when, pei
haps, he is Incorporate, pr0fane, licentiOus al
immoral 10 bis habits Ii so, he is false TO b
), God, false to himself and his lodge, violating h
,f obligation, violating the promises he made
his installation. He stands b0fUre his lodge
peIured man. Such man is unworthy Il
name of a Mason, anil ought not to be allowed
4 preside over Lodge of Asasons. He csnnot G,
pect obedience to our laws from his members
y he violates those laws with impunity. A ma
= ought not to be Master over others who Is u
e. MISTER over his own habits and passions. Sue
"a a Master would not be the proper person to el
force this edict of the Grand Lodge, unless
S Immediately reform, and if he does MT reforI
upon proper information being sent to me, ! W
n deem it my duty 10 Immediately suspend hi
nj from Office, as being unworthy and inca pable
- ditiusng that light aud knowledge due from
to Master TO his lodge, and l hope no brothe
n through fear or favor, will hesitate to inform II
,e II the Master of his Lodge is proiane, intempe
~ ate or guilty Of any licentious or immoral habit
N 1t is duty every good man owes tn himself al
IL lodge Ia see that none be elected to Office b
& good men an true. To the end ii a. our instt
,s ton does not suffer by the election to office
e men who will bring eensure and reproach up
our Order, it is necessary that we should cor
mence with the Master Of the Lodle Ii he
moral man he can comm md the respect al
esteem of his brethren; it he is imIn rial, 1
II, first thing To be done will be to relieve him fro
j" Office. And il is hereby made the imper
a duty Of the Masters # the several lodges in o
nd jurisdiction, and they are hereby ordered and e
a. Joined to use all ths powers of moral suasic
:, brotherly love and kindness. to induce err
~ brothers to reform use all the arguments Al
y. entreates In your power, talk to him as y
D. would 10 your own brother or only son, as v
"a would like to have others talk to you ii yOn we
IN danger; point to the brother who indulg
oi in intoxicating liquor To the danger he is in,
er the serpent he is handling. to the fire that
slowly but surely consuming his vitals, destrC
ing his intellect, d blsing his manhood.
p man can indulge in th5 use Of liquor and be sa
e (; If he is only moderate drinker, s. some call
k, it only takes little more time; the fangs of /
. serpent will soon strike home. No man Of SET
VIII say tnht the use OF liquor Is u dement,
u himself or his family. Thea why use il?
is, each and every one of us who have the inter
lv Of Masonry at heart raise our warning v0
- against this foul monster this demon intemp
ance who is destroying its victims by thousar
daily. How many OF our brethren, otherw
". noble, brave and generous, are slowly but SUI
rie ly fastening on to destruction by the aid Of I
"A deadly poison Brethren. you who indulge il
"U pause for a m IIneni, reflect 0n what you are
ng ing, ask yourself If the course you are pursu
mt will make you happy, will it reflect credit VI
his the institution, will il make your friends 0
II. family happy to know that one you loveso de
o" ly is Fastening slowly but surely tn drul
10 ards grave. This may, to some Of our bre
r., rem, seem little too plain and strong langui
10 to use, but the disease requires prompt a
!" sure remedy no nther will restore the patien
bis health. And the Masters of the several LODI
en- Of our jurisdiction are hereby ordered ~ enfo
ba this edict of the Grand lodge to the very lett
" against every offending brother who is guilt,
Wy intemperance, profanity, or any immoral or
be centlous, habits. The indulgence of those vi
not only tends to bring disgrace and disho
upon the guilty and offending brother, bu
" casts stain upon and he becomes cancer
q. L.. -