The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-10-15
men. not only by ,oord. but also by their

men. not only 6y ,oord, but also by their
aoorEs.
Masonry cherishes freedom of thought
The brethren we're wisely instructed,
and could not fail to teach other in
turn. They wrought incessantly to i'm.
prove themselves, and thereby brought
about the moral aud intellectual i'm
provement Of nll with whom they came
in contact. It is selfish man who.
sponge-like, absorbs all the learning he
can, only for the purpose oc retaining it..
Our brethren acted otherwise.
said that our ancient brethren taught
their cotemporaries not ouly by word,
but also by their works. Look, for in
stance, at those grand Gothic cathedrals,
which were simultaneously erected by
the stenmetzen through Germany and
Great Britain. Those towering spires,
stretching up towards the heavens, were
but the emanation Of their free thoughts.
Who can behold these lofty spires, with
their ornamental pinnacles and open
walls, supported only by few flying
buttresses, yet possessing strength
enough to withstand the storm and the
corrod.ng tooth OF time-who, say, can
behold these truly magnificent struct-
ures, aud doubt that our ancestors were
men of mind and refined sentiment?
Are not our productions the reflex of our
whole being? These Masons started IL
new school, aud with it began new ern
The inspiration of free thought was the
spark which was eventually famed into
furnace of fire. which melted the iron
fetters that held free thought in bond.
age. These lofty spires are living
tongues, which proclaim, day and night,
thought must be freel
The cloud, small at first, gathered
strength, growing into storm, aud hea-
ven's forked lightning. courted by the
sharp-pointed spires, piercing the ele.
ments. came down, robbed of their
power to harm, and broke the CALLING
yoke. Thought was free; aud tue result
Is, that we to-day worship God accord
ing to the dictates of our conscience.
This great victory was not achieved with
out shedding OF blood; but to prevent
the effusion of blood is another aim of
Masonry. Masonry opposes everything
like strife and violence; mind must CON
quer. Yet while the votaries of Masonry
shun war as an evil, and have continually
endeavored to mitigate it's horrors, they
ars not wanting IN patriotism whenever
their country demands their strong arms
and willing hearts. OF the signers of
the Declaration of Independence, all but
two were Masons. The Father of our
Country, as we love to call him, WAS
Mason, and so were many Of his generals.
The country in which we live has the
first claim on us, and, therefore, when
ever the tocsin of war sounds. the mem-
bers of our fraternity rush to arms
rent love for country, which we find i'm
| pIanfad in Tho hrouot 0f hnr
being; for no matter how cheerless, how
sterile country may be, its children,
when far of, sigh for home.
| venture to say though, without fear
of contradiction, that while the members
Of our brotherhood draw their swords in
the defence of their country, they will
never wantonly spill the blood of an
enemy. Many musket, already leveled
on lis deadly mission, has been lowered,
when Ee who pointed it recognized a
brother, and thousands of lives have
been spared, and a vast amount of pro-
perty has been saved from needless de-
struction. could here enumerate many
most interesting Incidents, not only in
the civilized world, but also among the
Indians; yet why do it, when many Of
you must have benefited from the influ-
cnces OF this powerful arm at time
when We were all sorely tried, and the
cup Of bitterness was held to our lips?
Masons were everywhere at work to help,
and to save property, and in very many
instances their efforts were crowned with
success.
We will now consider the second part
of our address-"Has Masonry fulfilled
its mission?" We answer no, although
we hear it frequently asserted that there
is no longer any necessity for the exer-
tion and influence of Masonry, and that
the order has outlived itself. But as
long as the four cardinal virtucs-Tem-
perance, Fortitude, Prudence and JUS
tice-are not the sole motive power of
mans every action. there is need for
Masonry. AS long as men indulge in
the free use of the Intoxicating cup-as
long as men lack strength OF mind to
shun evil and do good-as long as injus-
tice pollutes Gods earth-we dare not
lay aside the chisel and the hammer.
Yes, as long as there is but one rough
ashlar left, we must work it. 1.-THE su-
perfuities of vice" must come off before
the perfect ashlar is obtained. AS long
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