Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1873-10-10

Writing about Masonry in Philadel-
phia. the y. Y. Tri5uHc says some things
that will be found very grateful to many
other than Masonic readers:
The Masonic fraternity are still busted
with taking possession of their new temple
in Philadelphia. The sedate city Of
Quakcrs and small manufacturers has been
turned for a week into an encampment,
glittering with the silver and black insig
mia of the Templars and the banners Of
Knights of the Red Gross No doubt, to
a good many people, the whole of this show
of symbolism, like the purple and lace of
the Catholic priesthood and the robes and
black gowns Of the nuns, Is unworthy any
purpose beyond amusement. Its difficult to
keep ones gravity when Simmons, the gro
Ger, suddenly breaks from behind the coun-
ter, with trappings Of black velvet and
plumeS. into 4 Most Worshiplul Sir Knight
or when our chum. Jack Story, leaves his
ledger or quiet little euchre party to bios
som into defender of the Holy Sepulchre.
particularly when his defence, as far as We
can see, consists in going occasionally To
club of Jolly good fellows, and eating sup
per Tor which Delmonico or Augustin has
catered. 1t is easy for outsiders to jeer at
any decorated procession, such as that
which took place in Philadelphia last week.
Nothing is 50 ludicrous as form, pro-
yldcd we ourselves have no associations WITH
1t. but If we have, we hold to nothing with
such tenacity or reverence, unless it be the
features we inherited. The lace and tinsel
of the priest may be ridiculous IN our
eyes. bat they are not the less associated
with all that thousands of devout believers
hold sacred. The Jew butcher IN the
next market kills his beef after fashion
prescribed to him four thousand years ago;
TO us it is but childish whm-to him ltHs
a sign of the glory of his race, OF the days
when Moses was their law-giver and
Jehovah dwelt among them. As to Ma
sonry, we may assert that its ceremonies
are puerile; that, like all powerful organ
izations, it has at times been debased into
political engine and used, especially IN the
large cities, to bad ends by pad men, and
be expressing the opinion OF many But
1t Is no less true that thousands OF the
purest, most clear-sighted and most honor
able men in this and every country belong
to its membership, that now, as in past
ages, its apparent motive is simply to up
hold the brotherhood of humanity. We
can have none but friendly words for a
craft which consistently and constantly has
exhibited the practical if not theoretical
idea of Christianity. and been faithful to
the orphan the widow, and the poor. But
little fault can be found with any beneficiary
society which insures a certain aid in time
of sickness or death without the degrada-
ton of almsgiving. Masonry. as even out
siders must confess, adds to the practical
advantages of such an organization the sol
idity aud power of great antiquity and the
attraction of a varied and splendid symbol
ism; and that no attraction is so powerful
in. drawing converts rs this the Roman
Church has proved centuries ago. While
the lower grade of this Order enforce charity
Of word and act, the higher, VIC believe, arc
closed to men who do not believe and are
not willing to practice the faith Of Christ. "