The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-01-08
MaSOniC Election.
Masonic Vitality.

The century in which we now live has
been often and aptly characterized rs the
age, of marvels. The genius, industry and
application of men have rcvolutionzed the
ideas of thirty years ago, and things which
then, if predicted, would have been scout
ed at as impossibilties and only to be
thought of as miracles most unlikely of ac-
complishment, are now such everyday af-
fairs as scarcely to attract attention.
But of all the marvels of this nineteenth
century the steady, upward and onward
progress of the Masonic institution is the
most marvellous. While social and business
matter have undergone absolute revolutions
while parties in politics and sect in religion
have been completely overturned, while
ideas once-and but lately-u universally ac-
cepted have been relegated to the dust and
ashes of the past, Masonry has kept steadl-
lily on its way, turning neither to the right
hand nor to the left, but looking and
marching always toward the ideal set out
from the beginning. During the past few
years the distress always following war
has fallen upon the commercial and indus
trial classes of this country with force all
the more severe, because the last prepared
for and unexpected, yet we do not find any
sensible check to the progress of the craft
Year by year its lodges increase and its
membership is enlarged, anG that, too in a
degree which the most sanguine could not,
in reason, have expected and not only
this, but the advanced degrees, involving
large expense to those who solicit them,
have made greater strides than ever before,
and are to-day much more sought after
than has ever before been known in the
history of the fraternity. To account for
this we must look beyond the surrounding
circumstances for we see that while trade
is almost at a standstill, while the work by
which thousands get wealth and tens of
thousands their daily bread, lags. because
there is no demand, the progress of our in
stitution is scarcely interrupted, and all the
branches OF the craft move forward as if
possessed of the gift of perpetual and on
ward motion. The true solution is in the in
herent and natural vitality of Freemasonry
1t is the natural outgrowth of that persist
ent element of power and continuance
which has ever distinguished the societyr
1t 10 demonstration of our right to live,
and our claim upon the sympathy and good
will OF all men, of whatever persuasion or
manner of thought, who wish to elevate
the general social status and persuade men
to live, not for themselves alone, but for
the general good, and that each generation
may take one step nearer toward that con-
summation which all good men so devout-
ly wish for, when nations shall no more
make war, and when peace and good will
shall prevail among men. Seeing this, we
commend to those churchmcn who still
cling to the obsolete ideas of the middle
ages the problem whether in the face of
our constantly increasing strength, in view
of the fact that no misfortune discOurages
and no adversely prevents our onward
march, the work they have undertaken Is
not beyond their strength and whether their
efforts against MS are not likely to recoil
against themselves, as when man cuts
his nose off to spoil his own face 2