Los Angeles daily herald., 1875-06-25

ing principle Of strength is at the bot
tom Of such undecaying tenacity of
life? Masonry is imperishable. You
cannot kill truth. 1t is immortal,
and all beside it is weakness. 1t has
encountered obloquy, reproach and
persecution. Its lodges have been
broken into, its retreats violated, its
charters taken away, its insignia de-
stroyed, its members scattered; but its
secret has remained and it's principle
is indestructible. Every Masonic
heart is lodge in itself - lodge
where its inviolable principles are
securely deposited.
MORAL MASONRY.
The pearl is in the casket, and be-
meath all the signs and symbols of op-
erative Masonry lies concealed its
moral meaning and purpose. Could l
cause to pass in review before you all
the uncounted multitudes who have
been lifted up and strengthened by its
blessed ministrations, the sick and
languishing who have been watched
over and cared for, the heart broken
and afflicted who have been comforted
and cheered, the widows and orphans
who have found Gods promise verified
in Masonic protection and support, the
dark homes that have been lighted,
the sad hearts that have been soOthed,
the scalding tears that have been
wiped away,--T should need to say no
more; your hearts would instinctively
leap to honor an institution which has
left its impress deepest wherever hu-
man suffering was keenest or human
need the neediest.
OBJECTIONS.
1t is objected that all Masons do not
live up to this high ideal. Neither do
all church members to theirs. Christ
found devil among the twelve apos-
ties; it is rumored that now and then
one of them gets into the church and
even into the pulpit; is it so very
strange if we occasionally catch Tar
tar? The mysteries of the Order are
stumbling block to many. If it is so
good, why need it be so mysterious?
There are mysteries everywhere. "The
secret of the Lord is with them that
fear him." Masonry has it's mysteries
and secrets. But so has every family;
so has every firm; so has every lawyer
of his client, and physician of his
patient, and minister of his penitent,
and he who keeps them is alone hon.
orable, while he who betrays them Is
a villain, the deep damnation of whose
offence smells to Heaven. It's symbols
are cause of offence to some. But
the church has its symbols. Think of
Catholic arguing against us on this
ground! And before even the strictest
Puritan church can consistently bring
this accusation it must discard the
symbols Of the Holy Communion.
And even the plain old Quaker who
affects so much horror of such things
Is nothing but bunch of symbols
from his broad-brimmed hat to his
shad-bellied coat. The flag of regi-
ment may appear to the mere utilta-
rian to be nothing but piece of paint
ed silk, but though pierced by many
bullets and blackened in the smoke of
many battles, it is still dearer thing
to the soldiers heart than life, and to
carry it in safety from the field is the
darling object of his heart. Our dear
old flag the symbolic fiag-symbolic
of our fathers blood that bought it
symbolic OF our proud prosperity under
it-symbolic of our national power on
whatever sea or shore it floats
Long has il waved on high
And many an eye has danced to see
That banner in the sky"
CONCLUSION.
Let those who will object and cavil,
be it ours to show them a more excel
lent way; to so exemplify the princi-
pies We profess, to be so charitable to
the erring, so merciful to the suffering,
so swift to run the length of our cable
tow, so pure in heart and just in life,
that we may not only secure the favor
or men, but, what is of infinitely
greater Importance, the appreciation of
God. And then, when Death, the ruff
fan, shall seize us and from the scenes
that know us now shall hurry us away,
we shall be raised by the extended arm
of the Almighty Master of the Uni
verse to that Celestial Lodge above,
where He sublimely reigns, and men
ad0ring bow!
When the orator ended his address,
an oppressive silence perva lied, bro
ken at last by music from the band.
The choir then ended the musical en-
tertainment by singing the dedication
ode:
Now open wide the Temples DOORS
On golden hinges moving;
Securely tread the solid floors,
The work well done approving.
The benediction was pronounced by
Rev. A. w. Edelman, who also an
nounced preaching next Sunday at
Turn-Verein Hall by Mr.. Kalloch.
The crowd slowly disappeared and
the line reformed, marching to the
Masonic Hall, where they were dis
missed.
THE BANQUET.
In the evening in n-Verein Hall
at 8 o'clock, two hundred guests sat
down to the well spread tables, from
the Hotel DIES Princes. The orator of
the day, Mr.. Kalloch, occupied the
place of honor, and was we'll sup
ported, by the President of the Day,
and Chaplain, on either side. The
viands were discussed for about an
hour, and all retired in o good humor
with the world in general, and Ma
sons In particular.
AT intervals excellent music was
dispensed by the brass band, after
which the following vocal programme
was given, Prof. Falkenau presiding
q tha yniann