Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1875-01-01


happiness and point ont to us the whole
duty of man. And although those degrees
of Masonry, which are ordinarily received,
had their origin before the establishment
OF Christianity, yet the very fact of their
reverence for Holy Scriptures which are so
full OF the Messiah, is guarantee that
nothing like an ignorance or dishonoring
OF Him can ever prevail in a well regula-
ted Lodge. In Knight Templarism, all
the most impressive and significant portions
of its Ritual would disappearif Christian
ity were withdrawn from il.
And by Just 20 much as we are able to
commend our Fraternity TO the confidence
and esteem Of the community, by 80 much
are we made responsible for the virtues and
practices thus approved. Masonry is not
something to be sought for the mere sake Of
the honors and privileges it confers. They
will matter but little il they be not accom-
panied with an honest purpose and Jealous
effort to be faithful to the trust committed
unto us, steadily preserving in the practice
Of every virtue, and demonstrating in our
lives the great moral principles belonging
to the Order We suffer, MS docs every 9TH
er similar organization, from the inconsist-
ent lives OF our members. and although /
do not assume to myself the province Of
censor, / cannot forbear on this holy day,
and in this holy place, to remind you and
myself how much power for good we allow
to lie undeveloped by reason of our own
personal unfaithfulness to what we have
covenanted to be and to do.
/ know it is not an easy thing to live cx-
actly in accordanc with all the regulations
imposed upon us, take any station in life
which we may choose. Select, if you will,
the rule proposed to us in our text, and
which, l have intimated, is so complete
summary of much that is contained in Ma
sonry. 1t is with the great majority of us
a hard thing to love our neighbors as our
selves, to stop short in all our thoughts and
words, and deeds, and reflect whether
we would have others think, and say and
do towards us as we were then thinking,
saying, and doing towards them. In num-
berless instances, we should if we obeyed
the rule, be obliged to change our course
completely. 1t is so natural with most of
us to be selfish, to do as we feel inclined to
do and let others take care of their own
interests.
We all need larger infusion of that
great-hearted, Catholic, self-denying love
which was so prominent trait in the char
acter of that sanity man in whose memory
this day is kept, and in whose memory also
our lodges are so generally held FORTH St.
John the Evangelist He is reported to
have been a Master of one of the ancient
lodges; and we can easily imagine the
zeal with which he would have inculated,
both in his public and private instructions,
the practice of that virtue which shone
forth so beautifully in all his life Allied
to him as we are by hallowed associations
we certainly do well if We endeavor to i'm
itate his strict adherence to the rule set be-
fore us in the text, and thus show practi.
cally that honor to his name, which we, in
this manner outwardly manifest.
! lie was encompassed with the same in
/ iirmities and temptations as surround us
but on this account he did not abandon his
/ work, nor did he undertake il in his owr
strength. lie had already experienced the
help furnished to all who seek it Alright by
the Supreme Architect of the universe
through Jesus Christ His only Son; and
| with this aid, he had been enabled not onl y
to obtain the victory over himself, but also
| to bring many a heather and idolatrou,
brother out OF darkness into true Gospe
light.
This same grace, brethren, is within oul
reach and use. Without it we shall be bu
| need hardly say to you how intimately
these several interests are blended together
| While some would seperate them widely,
would for myself, rather join them in closer
| union.
The time when it would be generally be
lieved that Masonry is inimical to Christi
anity, has, trust, forever passed away.
would be strange if after so violent con
/ trpU Will tba,
ury, ragged so generally, there should no
remain some bitter opposition to our fra
ternity, some holding of the opinion tha
in more ways than one we resoIutel,
set at defiance religious truths, and cas-
discedit upon the doctrines of Christ
But, however limited now, such prcjuiice il
none the less unfounded. While there ma,
be some who do not recognize the claims o
Christianity, and vet are much interested
in Masonry, and who, it may be, make to,
much of substitute of the one for tn
other, yet | am entirely at 4 loss to discove
where they receive any encouragement t,
do so in our principles which are so direct
ly based upon the infallble word of God.
| would not say that Christian neede,
for his perfection in holiness to become
Mason; yet will say that in dischargin
his Masonic duties he will find ample op
portunity for the exercise of many of hi
most cherished christian virtues; and there
fore, | would alike deprecate any assump
ton of incongruity between these two OF
|, ganizations, or any such erroneous view G
, the Christian religion as would consider i
supers ded or made less obligatory by tn
: prevalence of Masonry. In each, God
/, sought to be g'orifcd, and man is taugli
his duty to his neighbor. \ true, thoroug
, Mason will, | think, almost involuntarilv
: solicit the grace OF Christianity faithful
to perform his vows; and a good zcalou
} Christian may rejoice in cooperating wit
Masonry in every honest effort to accom-
lish our Heavenly Fathers VIII.
; This after all, beloved, is the great bu
: sihcss OF life--to have Gods will done o
, earth as it is and ever will be in Heavel
: Anything, therefore, which tends towarC
: its undertaking or completion, should |
5 recognized among all men as deserviu
their fullest sympathy and aid OF cour;
} it involves ms in countless struggles, in sci
: denial, in watchfulness, in endurance an
g bravery. 1t makes us to contradict ou
g selves, and oltentimes our neighbors
t not intrequently exposes us to their ev
I surmisings, cavils and reproaches BIT
e is right thing to do; and being right "
= ought not to shrink from it. In its pc
t formancc we have need to initiate ii
c prominent traits Of character belonging
! another holy man of old, who is also cI
! of the chief patrons of our Order, al
whose day is observed in many parts
: tue world as we are keeping this. | mea
g st. John the Baptist, the forerunner
{ Christ, who, in his prophetic preparation
$ the way of the Lord, encountered sue
: host lity from the lovers of sin and Sc
i that he early suffered martyrs deaf
i Would that we all possessed more OF h
/ boldne in rebuking vice, and of his p
n thence in suffering for the truths sake
e We can not in all things expect to agre
Il Our mental constitutions, our temper
l. ments and surroundings alike prevent
= but there are certain well underlined pri
a cipcs which at once impress themsely
/ upon our minds as of Divine origin and o
II legation; and these ought to be manifest
l. by us at all hazards No mere timidit
y no dread of what others may say or do,
allurement OF temporal gain, no love
l. ease or uuiptude should tpmDt MS to der