Huntington advertiser. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1874-1921, 1875-01-14
made With bands. eternal IN the heavens,

1
i, honest conviction of my heart that n
: higher earthly honor can be conferred W
on man by man than to admit him to gu
mystic circle. The great ones of tn
! earth-kings, emperors and potentates-
/ have gladly grasped the opportunity @
being indicted into our mysteries. The
gladly meet with us, not as kings, but a
Masons and equals. The sceptre of n
; earthly potentate can add honor to our OF
der, but our brotherhood gives additions
lustre to the brightest diadem that eve
encircled the brow OF. royalty. .
Brothers, our society honors all that sh
takes to her bosom let ua endeavor TO b.
an honor to her. Remember that the ma
jority OF mankind Judge society by tn,
acts OF its individual members. Let Vi
then make our daily walk and conversa
ton such as to reflect honor upon tn,
institution of which we are mem bers-
That many of us neglect our duty is O
matter OF deep regret. But as well CRY
down the Church of the Living God, and
the religion of the meek and lowly Jesus
because some member neglects his duty
and forgets his VOWS, as to CRY down our
noble order, because, through the neglect
OF the workman, material has been passed
that should have been thrown over in the
rubbish. Such, however, Is the short
sightedness OF man, that these things are
so, and fear will be so as long as man re-
mainI what he is. This should teach us
to guard well the outer portal, and pass
no material that will not strengthen and
adorn our order.
Brothers, it is not in public places,
clothed in all the brilliant regalia of our
order, that we impress ourselves upon the
great heart OF humanity; it is not at the
laying OF corner stones aud tie dedication
of Temples that mankind sees the beauty
and glory of ourordsr. No; but it is in
our acts Ut silent, unostentatious charity,
at the side of the heart-broken widow and
fatherless children, in the silent watches
of the night, and by the pillow of the suf-
fering one that the beauty of our order ia
seen. There its vigils should be kept and
its Offices of love freely administered. .
- Brethren, our Mosaic or chequered
pavement so well represents my rather ro-
mantle and chequered lite, that, at the
risk of being thought vain and eg ,tistical,
have determined to give some Of my per-
sonal experience during tie sixteen years
| have been member of our ancient and
honored order. While in the ante-room.
before l had ever seen the inside Of q
Lodge, my answer to the words, Uninfu-
enced by any mercenary motives" came
from my heart Of hearts. Yet, since that
time, have been repa d thousand fold
for any outlay Of time or money it has cost
me. For what will not man give in ex-
change for his life ? Brethren, had it not
been for Masonry, to-day my body would
have been Wondering in the red sards Of
the arolinas This is not the first time
have called attention to this fact; but,
brethren. it is a circumstance that will
bear numerous repettions and il does nv
heart good to speak of those who remem-
Der their VOWS. When look back, see
q chequred life indeed. | have visitet.
nearly every civilized land, but nothing
can obliterate the memories of 1864. On
the 10th OF September in that year, | was
captured by Hampton's cavalry, Z miles
south of Petersburg. saw an officer
bearing on his bosom enc Of the emblems
Ut our ORDER and To him made myself
known. Then and there, when all the
Dad passions of our nature are supposed
to b. aroused, he acknowledged his broth
erhood, SHARED his rations, lshort as they
we're, gave me place by his fire, aud eI-
tended every courtesy possible under the
circumstances.
Brothers, justice compels me to declare
that during my whole captivity, Wherever
| met Mason, met brother who was
ready TO do anything not inconsistent W tn
his honor a. a soldier, To ame!iorate my
condition. This spirit influenced all, and
the Genius OF Masonry" followed me and
mlnisteaed to my wants from the day |
was captured till the day stepped on the
Truce Boat at the wharf at Richmond
Is this alp No, my brothers; again it
met me AT our lines, followed me to the
parole camp, and there obtained me, with
ont any OF the vexatious delays that give
the soldier SO many heartaches the fur
Tough that for time enabled me to enjoy
the society OF my family
| feel, brothers, that before leaving this
part OF my subject, / must give you an
other persona experience was at Sum
NIT House Hospital, Philadelphia, and
vas just recovering from that terrible
phlegmonous, erysipelas, which killed so
many of the wounded of both armies
For days had been delirious, but when
again clothed in my right mind, found
at my bedside brother, who had watched
during all those terrible hours, not wish
ing 10 trust ne 10 the regular hospital
nurses. One morning | received letter
from home. My wife is naturally Of very
buoyant spirits, always looking at the
silver lining on every storm-cloud but
this was 50 different from the usual tone
OF her let ers. (she stated that she was
about to BE- sick, had not dollar, &C. !,
that, weakened "a was by disease, wept.
While sitting there helpless and misera-
bic, felt hand on my shoulder. |
looked up and Brother Tevis, OF the
L. ). Sanitary Commission. whats the
matter, Brother AZ" he asked. "Noth-
ing.' X man does not weep for nothing.
Will you let me see that letter" placed
II in his hands, After rea ing it he told
me MOI 10 despair, that he would reply to
that letter. will not be te-
dious. My wife received enough to keep
lici thi"uBH tle Trying bTuedi, enough w
clothe our three children decently, with
enough fora present for the little stran-
ger who was soon to be part of the fam
lily. Why should | not love
Masonry? The good Book says, at is
better 10 give than 10 receive" How hap
~, then, must that mortal be who is able
to give. Tat We may be prosperous, and
ever ready 10 give TO the needy, IS my
prayer. Brothers, all over the
uAtry, every year, We Lear Of revivas
ut religion. Can we not have a revival
in Masonry? Not to get an increase oi
membership, but revival in tie spirit
and practice of Masonic duties. With
too may Of us, tie name is about all that
is left. We believe our charges mean
just what the say and are binding on ia
mdvidua " and collectively. Brethren,
it is by our individual acts that We can
best turn aside the shafts that ere being
/ hurled al Us by the enemies II our order.
If brother is in need, we are commanded