The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-28
Tho Freenasong.

The near approach of the dedication Of the
new Masonic Temple in this city tends to fix
attention on an Order which is older than
any existing government and antedates the
Christian religion itself. Men may differ as
to the propriety Of secret societies whose
aims are not known; but the Freemasons
are too ancient an Order for any intelligent
man to dstrust its objects. 1t would seem to
derive its power from the love of mystery,
which has a strange attraction for human
hearts; but even those who regard its ritual
as a mummery cannot, with any show Of
reason, impeach its moral aims A majority
Of our most illustrious statesmen, including
Washington, have been Freemasons, and an
institution in which he held a high rank
might be safely accepted on trust as not in
consistent with sound morals, ardent pat
riotism or religious duty. 1t is simply one Of
the many forms in which the social instinct
of men seeks lndulgen@, and is only a
little more select and exclusive than the
modern clubs Club lite is almost purely social.
even in clubs which arc organized with an
ostensible political purpose. The Masonic
TO the social feelings, would seem to cherish
higher moral ends than modern clubs. While
its organization excludes political and sec
tarian objects its members are bound to one
another by obligations Of benevolence which
have no place in clubs. The members Of
courtesy at their habilual place Of meeting.
but the members Of the Masonic fraternity
bind themselves to assist brothers in distress,
even though they may never have had
any previous acquaintance with them.
Their ceremonies Of initiation and the
mystery in which they veil their proceedings
are merely an extension OF the exclusyeness
and the self-protection against intruding
strangers which are the ordinary prSctice Of
clubs with the added attraction Of mystery
Too many Of our most hcnored citizens have
always belonged to this ancient Order for any
reasonable man to regard it with suspicion.
We PRINT this morning mass Of valuable
statistics giving the number Of lodges, mem
bers, encampments and knights in IN the
States OF the Union. accompanied by map.
which enables this information 10 be taken in
at glance. We also publish COM
municaton, written at Our request BY
Mr.. Thorne, high dignitary Of the
Order, giving sketch II the history
and aims Of Masonry. In view Of the i'm
posing ceremonies of dedication 70 take place
next Wednesday, of the most costly Masonic
Temple ever constructed in this country We
suppose our readers will 10 glad Of this in
formation. We think everybody recognizes
the picturesqueness Of the Masonic par
AIDES and ceremonials on public occasions,
such as dedications and funeral pageants
in the burial Of members Of their
Order. The public always welcomes an inter-
esting spectacle, and the dedication Of
the new Masonic Temple would attract as
much notice as the comforting Of the berrcRa
on Cardinal McCloskey If the latter had not
been 50 novel and unprecedented in this
country. We ought always to be glad of i'm
posing scenic observances which relieve the
duh monotony Of our ordinary workaday
life