The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1873-08-16
NUMEIlR %
The audience being now all attention
r w James f Izlar, district deputy
grand master addressed them as follows:

Ii w James lZlar, district deputy
grand master addressed them as follows:
ADDRESS OF GRAND MASTER IzEAR.
We are assembled here to day for the
purpose of laying the corner stone Of The
Fair Building of the Orangeburg Agri
cultural and Mechanical Association.
according to ancient masonic usage; and
we extend to all those who have couas
up TO cheer and assist in this noble
enterprise a most cordial and .heass5
greeting. To those unacquainted with
the object Of our institution, these eers
nonies may appear vain, idle aud uR
meaning. But to us who have pessod
the Square, and have seen tbs light,
they are full ofbeauty, fraught within
tcrest, and teach great and important
truths AS the rude and unpublished
stone, just taken from the quarry, Is
symbo!,cal of our rude and imperfact
state By nature, sothis polished stous
made ready by the hands Of che skiIgul
workman to be adjusted in the buiiding.
is typical of that perfection to which ws
may at last arrive by good and Yirta
Gus life-"our own cndsavors and tho
blessings Of God" It represents tho
heart aud mind of man, divested ofaail
the vices and saperaaities Of life, !" ana
fitted as lively and living stone gor
that spiritus! building, "That house NOT
made with hands, eternal in the heaYens.'s
1t represents the soul Of man ripsned Tor
haven and glory for it can only be nor
tried by the Square Of Gods Holy
Word, and pronounced perfect. This
stone is perfect cube, which ! = sym
bolieal of truth. It is square, which il
an emblem of morality, or the strict per
formance of every duty. Its durability,
in contrast with the decay aaaa rain OF
the wooden edifioe te=be erected apunit,
reminds the MaSsa that when ttlis earth.
y kouse % his tabernnsls. shalI have
passed asay, he kase euiEhinIhin I sera
loaiilaasiop stsas 3 sssshsI l;Fe--a DOR
:ner stone Of Immortality an eniaaatioa
from that Divies Spiris which peryaaes
all nature, and which, therefore, niuxs
survive the tomb, aud rise triunsphans
aud eternal above the decaging dust OF
death aud the grave. Thus, by tho cor
ner stone, the coed Mason, is taught
signifcacn and useful lessons. Lessons
of duty, virtue and religious truth are
portrayed to the contemplatiye mind, and
he ii led "from nature up TO haturoia
|od"-from the vanity and defsrreity az
the things OF earth TO the glories aua
beauties of Heaven. The stone efthe
temporal building is tried by the Square,
Level and Plumb, aud pronounced to be
"woli formed, true and truaty." So the
Mason in this life must be tried hy
temptation, suffering and adversely be
fore he becomes polished stoua, CT for
the Temple above. He must be tested
by the Square of Faith, the Level OF
Hope, and the Plumb limo of Charity
before he can be pronounced by tho
Master Builder of souls 20 be material &c
for the spiritual building of Eternal
Life But if he comes forth from the
trials, temptations and sufferiuss like
pure gold from the renncr's FRO, then
verify shall he be deemed "Well formed
true and trusty," and worthy to offer
unto the Lord au Offering in righteor,
ness" The corn, wine and oil arc typsa
and symbols of all those abundant gifts
OF Divine Providence bestowed on us
daily, and are spoken ofby King David
in his catalogue of blessings, "As vine
that maketh glad tho heart of man, aud
oil to make his face to shine, and bread
that strengthenoth mans he,rt."
"M therefore,, my brethern, do you carry
csrn, wine and oil in your prOcessions,
but to remind you that in the pilgrim
age Of human life you are to iupart
portion OF your bread to feed the hungry.
to send cup of your wine to cheer the
sorrowful, and to pour the healing oil Of
consoiation into the wounds which sick
ness hath made In your bodies, or afsis
tion rent In the hearts Of your fellow
travellers" Such are some Of the uss
ful lessons and important truths these
ceremonies are intended to teach. Let
us study, then, these truths, pras.ios
these virtues, aud SO live as to o. our
selves as lively and living stones for the
spiritual building Of eternal life. again
j extend TO yea all u warn, and aoartfels