The Osceola times., 1875-05-01
To Masous Who Neglect to At
tend Their Lodges Read
and Reflect.
Communicated J


!, the tendency of the craft in thes
degenerate days, TO shirk their du
; ties, it were well if they read ant
pondercd over | deem it cf grea
Importance to the brethren; espec
, ially those who neglect to attenC
their Lodges. There are som,
, however, whose faces are eve
present at oil our regular meet
ings, and who are ever ready Il
, aid the officers in the discharge .
;heir duties, both IN and cut of til,
Lodge, and to whom the poor wild
ow and orphan Of deceased broth
crs may appeal for assistance will
full assurance that they will not be
sent empty away. TO such, thi,
will be cheering; but, to all who
are unconcerned about the meeting
OF their Lodges, and seem rs though
they had attained their greatest
aspirations whea they took upon
| themselves the solemn VOWS OF
masonry, srd then so lightly re-
gard them, will be condcmnato-
ry. There is great and glori-
Gus work for masons TO perform,
and for the faithful performance OF
which, we are bound by the most
solemn tics-duties and obligations,
the performance Of which, caused
many Of our ancient brethren to
be banished from their native
homes, and even sacrificed life IT.
self.
BY reference to J. Fletcher
Brennan's General History OF
Freemasonry in Europe, page 276,
you will tind the folio wing:
"a. D., l66. The famous road
which leading from CiUtG lecch'u,
at the Aurelean Forum 10 Aries
was commenced by the colleges OF
constructions, under the orders Of
Marcus Aurelcns, and finished dur
ing his reign. Most OF the mem
bcrs OF The colleges of constructions
embraced christianity. At tins
time Their number had greatly in
creased, as well in Rome rs in the
! PROV inces. The emperor, "Marcus
Anrcleas,' greatly irritatcd, in
view of the astonishing progress
made by the new doctrine and
wishing to destroy it by force, iol-
lowed the example Of his prcdcces-
ors, and this year, ordained new per
sccutlous against the christians. In
consequence, many sought refuge
IN Gall and Brltain-partlcularly
within the latter country-Where
they found among the masonic cor.
poratlons, that protection they
sought Tor in VAN elsewhere.
Members of Christian masons
finding themselves unable to leave
Rome, sought IN the catacomb.
a secret asylum, in which to sustain
themselves against the bloody
edlcts launched at them, and TO es
cape tho punishment TO which they
were condemned. 1t is in the dark
bosom of these subtcra 1can cavern,
that they often met in traterna
embrace with their fellow religion
lists, with whom they found refuge
During the ten years OF continued
! persecution against the christian
, under Marcus Aurelens, these cata
combs were transformed by thos,
christian artists into churches, or
; namcntod with sarcophagi, paint
ings aud encoustlc adornment. Th,
, taith that inspired them, induce
ing them 10 erect their chapeis owe,
the graves of msrtyred fellow
christians, and thus the tomb
which covered their precious re
! mains became altars for sacriic
d and prayer"
= Aud on page 217.
"Uuder Titus, the members @
tho corp rations Of construction
were atirocieusly porsecute
"anew,' Tor their doctrine, and G
them, those who escaped fed t
!. the cas-. In this manner the cor
struc.or weIe driven from tn
: city OF the bertu, and none remain
e ed but the few who had not bee
d converted to christianity"
:, Hence you see hat our ancicn
n Brethren, Notwithstanding the a
a trocious prosecutions that wer
II launched against them, were yea
u Gus masons, aud suffered no motiv
= TO cause them TO swerve from tbei
o duty, violate their obligations @
a betray their trust. Oh, that ms
n sous would well consider the so
cmn obligations that res, upo
q them, and that they would do an