Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-11-12

| and charity. Our lodges are or should be
the asyiums of peace ana love; political or
religious disputes can never enter here, and
/ within its peace inspiring walls nenEo of an
/ tagonistical faiths meet as brethren and
bind themselves by solemn vows to fulfil
the Christian law of love and do good 10
all men as they have opportunity or
ability. Wa &eS2sFA a8A
Twill not be uncharitable to other asso-
cations whose objects are to improve mans
| condition, but Masonry embraces the ex
| cellencies of all these, and towers above
| them in pre-eminent beauty and splepdor
| as the bright moon amid heaven Of stars.
| I affirm then without any qualification.
| that there Is no humane institution which
has SO many legitimate demands on our
| reverence and sympathy, and of which
there is such pressing and absolute neces-
| sity. arh
The great and divine task of Masonry
cannot be accomplished without unwearied
toll, sufferings and sacrifices. Affections
may also come, but remember that this
world is bat threshing floor, where angels
use Affections as fails, to beat the chaff and
| dust and cheat from our hearts to present
| them as perfect grain for the garners of
| God. Then be not discouraged. The dav
of toll and labor viii pass by, the hour of
| victory will come, the storm and clouds
will roll away and the everlasting stars.
'bright, clear and SERENE" viii look ont
upon you from the smiling heavens. and
| voice sweeter than the Emusic of the
| spheres will speak frem their brilliant
nights, saying, "Ye weary, toil-worn. bat
| tie soiled SOILS OF earth ascend to your re-
ward among the famed-crowned hosts
| above."f 10 -, suss -
The objection has been urged against
Masonry that it interferes with religion.
usurps its prerOgatives, and, indeed. aims
to suppiant it. No graver objection to the
Order could be possibly made than this,
and were it true, our lodge doors would be
forever closed in darkness and in silence,
these emblems which are now worn with
pride and pleasure should be rudely torn
of and trodden in the dust. But the charge
is untrue. 1t in 10 manner claims to be
religious, but it accepts reverently all the
facts of religion, the divinity of the word of
God, and the everlasting virtues of Christ
ianity. Weak, indeed, is that mind which
supposes it is the intention of Freemasonry
| to supplant and weaker still the faith which
supposes that any. thing can be substituted
for our glorious system of Christianity.
Freemasonry is not, | repeat, religion,
but it is the embodiment, the personifca-
ton of the idea and theory of love for our
fellow men, and the same Saviour who has
said, "thou shalt love the Lord thy God with
all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all
thy mind" has also said, .sthou shalt love
thy neighbor as thy SELF" Then brethren
let US so live, that when the angel of Heaven
shall read from the book of life the names
of those whom the love of God hath bless
| ed, ours, at least, shall be written with
tho e who love our fellow men.
Be as true, as faithful, as generous, as IN
selfish, as woman. All! noble mission to
clothe the naked, feed the hungry, bind up
| the wounds which Affections have made,
support the orphans dropping head, and
present the ambrosia of hope to the weep
ing children of sorrowing humanity. Go
on with your labor of love, unsheathe Your
mystic swords armed with the three
most excellent qualities of Faith, Hope and
Charity, and tfhfurl your ban
ners and iuscribe upon its gilt
tering folds the whole measure of your
duty, the sublime intent OF your order,
"Glory to God in the highest, on earth
peace, good will towards man." and go for
ward cOnqueriBg and to conquer. Then
when dissolution draws nigh, when the
cold winds Of death are signing around US,
the chilly dews already glisten upon our
foreheads, and our mission here below is
ended forever, ma we go from our la bors
on earth "to everlasting refreshment in the
paradise Of God"