Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-05-27
Masonry and It's Mission.

hall, at st Joseph, Missouri, june 9th:
Discussions, broils, aud even separation
may occur within the church; parties may
arise and hold their sway for a time, aud
then, like all things human, pass away and
be forgotten empires may fade away, aud
governments may change, but amid all these
scarcely ruilie is seen upon the calm sur
face Of Masonry Bu', surrounded by ell
these discordant elements Of creed and OF
party, she generally insnuates herself within
the notice of all, and kindly and sweetly
whispers in their ears that delightful lan-
guage Of the old Psalmst, uttered through .
inspiration three thousand years ago Be- |
hold how good and how pleasant it is for
brethren to dwell together in unity With /
these grand and holy words omblazoncd |
upon her banners, and engraved upon the
very heart of the institution, sac goes forth, |
not defantly, but humbly and dependentlyi /
to do battle for the right, and in her own
quiet way, to organize a grand army Of SOL
dicrs under this banner, pledged not to de-
stroy, but to ameliorate the condition Of
mankind-not to estrange and ALLEVIATE
brethren, but to unite them in bonds Of
friendship and unity, for the general hap
piness and prosperity Of their race.
Before this talismanic motto Of Free
masonry, borne by its grand army Of mil
lions, throughout every portion OF the habit
able world, discord and strife are tramped
into the dust, jealousy and sefshness are
thrown to the winds and unity and true
companonship, and brotherly love, are
firmly established upon the foundations Of
eternal and everlasting truth. This is no
fancy picture Of the imagination, drawn by
me, to hatter and to please, but it is the
true legitimate result and consequence Of
the proper carrying out Of this great princ.
pie of Freemasonry,
"And here repeat, that whenever it fails
to produce these grand, beautiful results
this happy bringing together Of men, and
uniting them 10 one common object it is
because great and culpable mistake has
been made in the material used. 1t is
want Of capacity to appreciate the great OBJ
oct of the institution, and desire on the
part of the individual to use its unity for
his own selfish and perhaps secular, or even
political purposes. For these purposes,
Masonry always disappoints the party who
seeks to use her. And my brethren, let
me say to you, that whenever you hear
party say that he is disappointed in Masonry
that it is not the thing he expected it
was-set this sentence down as true as gos-
pei, that Masonry has refused to violate her
principles that she has refused to be used
by that party for some selfish and ignoble
purpose. Such men occasionally impose them
selves upon the brotherhood and receive the
degrees, but they never become Masons. For
few months they are seemingly Jealous
and active members of the Order; then
their visits to the lodge become like angels
visits to this sinful world They have
failed to use the institution for their mer-
cenary purposes Finally, some old brother,
whose hair has grown white in the work,
and whose shoulders bear the marks Of many
years of service in this great struggle Of
truth against error, meets this brother and
speaks thus Why, my brother, have
not seen you at lodge of late The young
brother answers: No, have not been
lately. | am disappointed in Masonry. 1t
does not come up to my expectations. The
brethren do not stick to each other as
think they ought, and | do not think as
much Of the institution as | thought |
would. | am ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
and think | won't 90 back any more
Now listen to the response Of the old,
white haired brother, who had accosted this
thing He reverenty uncoVers his head ;
his few white hairs Hutter in the gentle
, wind his wrinkled and palsied old hands
are clasped tremblingly together; he turns
his eyes piously to heaven, and says Oh
Z Father and God, | thank Thee in behalf Of
Masonry that this man before me is disap.
pointed Now hear the sound that comes
/ like the roaring of many waters like the
distant murmurings of the thunder. From
Y millions of tongues all over the world
Q wherever the language Of man is spoken, OF
!. the simplest intelligence is found come,
the grand Masonic response to the ole
o brothers pious thanksgiving So mote il
e be, amenr Let all join in the swelling re-
4 Spouse to the old veterans pious invocation
o so mote it be- amen. Thank God that b,
y is disappointed, Thank God that all suct
a as he are disappointed in Masonry. HI
|. has failed to use this grand old institution
n organized for holy and benefcent purposes
7 to further his own selfish and infamou
! schemes. He has failed to enlist her gran,
"a army of millions in behalf of somethinl
, they never agreed to fight for. He become
= disguised with an Order that he cannot us
- for his own ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, and turns ava,
. from it with loathiug, and exclaims .
i am disappointed We'll, if such men wer
not disappointed, Masonry would not b
"a worth single thought"
II In conclusion, he paid deserved tribut
n to NJ. w. Brother j ohm D. Vincil, by quot
ing the following eloquent remarks:
- Thus, nv brethren, have | endeayore
TO present a few thoughts on the practica
workings of this ancient and honorable in
stitution, which. to quote from Past Gran,
Master Vincil, one of NIissouri's most pifte,
and most honored Masous, has outliyed IN
u mutations of earth and the rage of its enc
le mics. The temple that stood a thing q
beauty and the 10Y of the whole earth, n
in challenges inc tau'ance Oh an or'eh!ai sur
Inc voice OF Tue proPne' ana priest ar
husheu amld silence ueep as Where tn