The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1872-01-04
DE1EsES%
Deferred By John r. Buell., III H.. H.. p.
Of Jackson Royal Arcb Chapter. No. 6,
on the och December, ISL.

COMPANIONS: Once more we are per
mitted by the kind providence of the
Great 81 AMP to meet in this hail for the
purpose of closing up the business Of the
old year and preparing for that Of the new.
i have deemed this a fit occasion, even
though | may consume valuable time and
perhaps fatigue you, TO take brief review
of the past, eand il ] can be the hum
BILE means of drawing from its great store
house useful lessons for the future. VIII
feel that l have accomplished some good,
and have not altogether failed in the dis
charge OF the high trust that you have re-
peatedly reposed in me.
Why are we spared in the enjoyment Of
health and happiness whilst many around
us have been laid low upon beds of atlic-
ton or cut down by death: Philosophy
fails to answer; verify Is the "wiSdom OF
man foOlishness with God" The answer
is only found in the Book of Divine Revala-
ton; there we learn that it IS alone be-
cause God has SO wilicd; we are each and
all the spared monuments OF a PTOVldI nce
that is too deep and high for our finite COM
prehension, and we can only cXcllim, Even
so, Father, for so iJ seemth good in Thy
sights" while | presume there are none
here who do not admit this truth, arc there
not those who do not realize its force, but
who live in the daily enjoyment OF blessings
with scarcely a thought of the 6iver; let
us try, companions, TO be more grateful TO
our Father for all his merCiCs, and to CON
form our lives to the teaching of His word.
Have we been true, consistent, Royal
Arch Masons? suppose each one asks him
self this question Tonight and then looks
back for only one year and see when and
how we have failed; fear, companions,
that we would find our failures so frequent
we wonld conclude that il was hard To
find even one instance in which we had not
failed. Are we proiane? If there is anything
that rises high above all others as a viola
ton of the fundamental principles of
* /. IN -
the majesty of Heaven, an open violation of
Gods law, and ialsitieS the only creed that
a Mason is required TO profess; how man
who has received the lessons that every
Royal Arch Mason has, can then in the face
of all he has been taught (and to the truth
of whichbe bears testimony deliberately
and habitually prOfane the sacred name OF
Diety is more than ] can understand.
Are any Incorporate Masonry teaches
us to be temperate in all Things: and there
is no one thing that has done As much TO
drag Masonry down and debase i in the
eyes of good men who are not MasouS, rs
the crime of drunkenness on the part OF
members of our Royal fraternity; but even
the Incorporate MaSonS would agree with
me here, and endeavor thereby to break the
force of this truth; and then comes the eX-
cuse. Il have formed the habit and cannot
resist the craving of my appetite" J cannot
admit the force of this excuse. You ought
not to suffer yourself To become Il slave to
this master, and if you are one, remember,
"that though thy right eye offend thee COR
cause thee to otlend) pluck IL out and cast
it from thee;" you cannot be consistent
Mason and an incorporate one.
1t is unnecessary TO- dwell especially up
on the faults which are regarded as most un-
masonic; there are many things of which
l fear most ii not ALL OF us are guilty that
are regarded as unimportant. and to these l
would call your attention for few mo-
ments aud urge their Importance; we dis
cuss Masonic business too much in presence
of protaneS; how often do we find group
standing on the public streets discussing in
loud tones the transactions of the Lodge or
Chapter, and not unfrequently, perhaps You
see two or more persons engaged in the
conversation who are not MaSons; COM
panions, the world has no business to know
ANYTHING that transpireS in the Chapter I'M
less it Is something that Is published by its
order; these public conversations, aside
from the danger of divulging what ought
not to be divuIged. make Masonry common
and should be avoided. DO we guard with
jealous care the good name of a companion !:
or do we not often (either by act or word
Ill those who would injure him ? are We
careful upon any and all occasions To treat
with Difference and courteous respect the
feelings and opinions of a cGiapAnion !?
Are we careful to manifest in our daily
walk before the outside world that we are
goreraed by the principles of morality and
Uiyfae which we profess. or is our professions
"but as sounding brass and a tiukliug
cYmbaP' because unaccompauied by the
right kind of fruits. During the past year
death has not been idle in our midst: we
miss from our assembly Tonight our be-
loved companion. Henry G. Tapley. who
was called by our Great High Priest 10 er-
hibit specimen OF the tc0rk he 9rr01tght iR the
quarry Of life, on the 9th October, ISL; ever
ready to obey the call of duty though it
might lead him over rough and ragged paths
he exemplefied in his life the most excel
lent tenetS of our beloved order.
herewith. companions, submit synopsis
OF the history of the Chapter from data
which has been kindly furnished me by K.
Il. Com panion j. L. Power, Grand Secre-
tary; as our older records are lost L con-
slider that this may be valuable hereafter for
reference.
jackson r. A. Chapter NO. was char
tered by the General Grand Chapter of the
United States on the oath day of August,
1913, and is therefore now in the both ye..r
OF its existence; the chartered officers were
as follows:
A. Hutchinson, HIP. c. F. weigandt NJ 3 Y.
Thomas Palmer. s. n. w. Camp, NJ. Ist v.
j. f. Foute, c. H. j. 7. Hull, Treasurer.
Charles Scott, 7. 8. E. Whaley, Secretary
7. ]. Hawkins, R. A. c. J. W. Fite, Tyler.
Iapplied to the General Grand Secretary
of the General Grand Chapter for copy
of the reports from this Chapter for the
years 1S43-4-5. but he writes me that they
were not in his possession at the time my
letter was received, but promised to furnish
them whenever he received them from his
predecessor in Office; therefore can only
give you the history of the Chapter, begin
ming with the year 1916. On May 18th of
this year the Grand Chapter of Mississippi
was organized; the officers and members OF
this Chapter were as follows. viz:
oFrIcERs- 1876.
A. Hutchison, HIP. BE. Alexander. N. 3V.