The Osceola times., 1875-05-08
.InunnnlcnitlI

researches, ! hnd that anC!ett ma
sons were attrociously Persecuted;
in-so-much, that to become mason
was n hazardou. undertaking, and
Consequently it required men Of
nerve-ihe best and purest motives
having his trust alone in God,
to make tho effort TO be admitted
INTO the ancient and honorable
Fraternity. But conscious, as they
were, that when mason, they
would be compelled to undergo the
most cruel prosecutions il every
conceivable manner, well may
We say that their trnst was in God
and their faith well founded.
now few applications would
Lodges m our day, have for initia-
ton and membership, if the bitter
prosecutions of tho second and
third centuries against masons
were procticed to-day. | imagine
there would be comparatively few.
But those few, no doubt, would be
more Jealous, more devoted, more
useful to their Lodges, and society.
Autiently, masons were actuated
from pure motives A sincere de
sirc.Ior knowledge, and OF being
seryicable to their fellow creatures.
Then, the unfortunate widow, the
helpless orphan, the worthy OF al.
classes, could confidently appeal to
the masonic brotherhood for pecu-
MARY aid-couli confidently make
known their wants, or open their
hearts fully to the good masons,
whose chief aim was TO relieve the
distressed, 70 sooth the unhappy
10 sympathize with misfortunes,
and TO restore peace 10 the troub-
led mind. What great mission -
But the masonic fraternity OF today
is not 81 pure by reason OF 50 ma.
ny of her meu.bors having been
prompted to solicit the privilege Of
beng admitted by merceuary or
improper motives, who sought ad-
mission into the Lodge from idle
curiosity hai not the good OF 9TH
ers ~ heart, nor his trust in God
never intended 70 make any sacr!-
hce tor masonry; and many appear
to have been aeiuated by desire
t. show to the world, by display
-ured evidences thlt THEY were
masons. s. soon as they have
u-en entrusted with the third de-
gree, they seem to lose all their
zeal ler the institution Sec them
on the streets, ask them If they
sre mason., they answer promptly
"le-, Sir. | am a member of
Lodge, in good standing, but |
have not been in Lodge in 4 good
while, and ] do not know much
abou, ,he lectures" &c.
Some we hear pro2ning thai,
name which, among the Jews, was
not mentioned but by the High
Priest, once year, and then IN the
mos. solemn and revereulial man
ner Yes. We end masons. that
have been taught never to mention
the name OF the @ A. .. I. l.. but
with that reverenlial awe which is
due from the creature 10 its Crra-
tor, pro'aning his most holy name
10 almost every breath. We al
so see some who have been taught
that their attendance at all regular
meetings is earnestly solicited, that
they should bear their part OF the
responsibilities and expenses of the
.odse; that they are masonically
bound 70 obey regular summons,
etc; yet, they say that they have
not been ia the Lodge in q
long while; but GU lodge nights
You may md some OF ther en-
gagged m fruitless occupations, in
,he Indulgence o! which, thousands
have been rained. Will some good
brother give us the tru. cause OF
al. thu. Have ma.ons nothing
to 10 but simply have their names
on the roll OF some lodge ; Broth.
r.n, again | ask, what induced YOU
10 become a mason! Answer this,