The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-06-02
The Dedication OF the Masonic
Temple.

makes the dedication OF their Temple the oc-
caslon OF their most elaborate and imposing
ceremonies. The very name OF their Order
signifies that they are builders aad when a
mechanical handicraft is idealizsd into
/ On institution for moral instruction ana
training, il is fit that o good specl-
men OF practical architecture should have
fcIdt and illustration by making the
most of its emblematc significance The
edifce which is 10 be ceremonially
set apart for its peculiar uses to-
day is structure which justities
the workman-like pride OF practical masons,
and is not unworthy type OF the social and
moral fabric which the Freemasons claim to
have constructed. The Masous themselves
will not assert that their new Temple is the
highest embodiment in stone Of great archi-
tectural IDEAS but it is the best specimen OF
good masonry which has ever been dedicated in
this country to the observances OF The
Masonic ritual, and in the great requisites OF
solidity, finish and adaptation it is salts
factory example of faithful and creditabie
workmanship, which deserves the acceptance
OF an Order which should be competent
judges OF good building, il competent
judges of anything The Freemasons are
bound to build well, unless they are willing
to belle their origin and change their
name. Although the Order has long
ceased to be practical Masons and
become merely speculative Masons consist
ency compels them to give heed to the archi-
lecture OF their own buildings, Tor II would
be ridiculous for the Order OF Masons to dis
credit their craft. by the testimony OF COM
petent judges their new Temple, dedicated to-
day, does not expose them to this reproach.
1t combines the requisites of solidity and
taste more perfectly than any other struc-
ture built under the direction OF speculative
Masons Tor the uses Of their Order IN the
United States, and is the costliest Masonic
edifce in America
| 1t il creditable to our city press that, with
out any exception, it has given preparatory
prominence 10 this celebration and promoted
its success by friendly publicity, which is
betting discharge OF the duties of hospitality.
| On this interesting occasion the Freemasons
of every part of the United States and OF the
British provinces are represented by dele
cations, and we rejoice that there have
been found no churls in our metropolitan
| journalism who erudge these visitors an hon
orable and cordial welcome. The HERALD, as
usual, takes the lead in liberal recognition OF
an occasion which touches the pride and SYM
pathies of large body of our citizens, which
aft cts the credit of our city Tor hospitality
and which promises to eElivcn our streets
with pageant better worth looking at than
any of the ordinary parades Our columns
have for several days borne witness to our
sympathetic appreciation and desire to fur
nish pertinent information, and some OF the
matter which we lay before our readers this
morning has patriotic as well as Masonic
interest The fac-simile of Washington's
letter, written by Freemason to his Masonic
brethren will not only attract attention 10 the
/ fact that the Father of his Country was q
devoted member OF the Order but show
how easily his obligations as a Mason
blended and harmonized with his higher
obligations as patriot. In American
estimation, and in all just estimations,
the recent installation of the Prince OF Wales
as the head OF the Order in Great Britain is
q feeble testimony in comparison with the
membership OF Washington. The American
people will be slow to believe that an Order
Of which Washington was o jealous MEM
Der has any aims inconsistent with
public or private virtue. 1t is GU
rious 10 see how naturally Washington
adopts the language of the Freemasons
and speaks of '4he Great Architect Of the
Universe" There must be some merit IN an
institution which had attractions for man OF
his solid understanding and moral worth.
His name alone would render Masonry re-
spectacle but large proportion of the
illustrious men whom American citizens de-
light to honor were also Masons- Lafayette
was Mason Andrew Jackson and Henry
Clay we're Masons. We should make long
catalogue indeed if we were TO insert all the
names OF illustrious patriots who belonged to
this fraternity. We know no reason for
thinking that the Order has degenerated since
those men belonged to it. Nobody could
have scanned the faces of the several COM
manderies which marched up Broadway yester-
day evening Just as the sun was setting with
out recognizing III bneH AheaAnehls in1llBence
and moral worth, which stamped them as
men of sincerity and probity. We have never
looked out at procession which had q larger
proportion OF honest. intelligent faces.
But after all, we must take Masonry on
trust, for It wells all that is vital in its prnci-
pies in impenetrable mystery. We were told
day or two since, by one of the most intelli-
gent Of its official expounders, that Masonry
il s'the science Of symbols" This neat phrace
may mean much or it may mean nothing If
Masonry be science" it must he judged,
like other sciences, on evidence which appeals
10 the human intellect; but when the
evidence If there be ahy) is carefully con-