, 1876-10-15
MASONRY.

MASONRY AND TIE MORAL LAW.
It is needless to rciterate the fact that Free
r.a.unry Is lot sect, neither is it, in its gen
erai interpretation, religion, yet in its strict
Interpretation it dies iE1uieate code OF morals
u r:l-c and devoid Of seldshncss as that taught
Ly tue church it5cn. Its foundation stone be-
ii.@ ia;t1, in God, our code Of morals is that of
The Bible, and however liberal o. restricted its
Interpretation by those not Of US, Masonry in
s:-ls u,uu literal construction Of ali those
PRINCIPLES Of ligh-tored morality, without
Nls Ii all faitn is vain aud all professions Of no
avail.
This is fair construction OF the broad prin-
c;p;es upon Which tie Order is founded, the irst
|vssons in which arc received and acceded to at
tue very tAre.:4oId OF the Entered Apprentice
degree ald increased in its binding force as it
runs through all the degrees included in Ancient
Cat Masonry, and ~ II strict observance OF
NLicu al art bound by the most irrcyocable en-
E;..e,ncnts to keep and perform. How, then,
eau the faithful Craftsman lay them aside with
si,cil easy grace and engage in those doubtful
EvperEuities Ut life that carry with tlem nought
but 1.@encrary aud corruptlone
l. 1irst stated, Frcemastnry is not religion,
Ii The popular se.;se, hut it coe5 iucu1cate and
Lsn4a~d of It's followers rigid adherence to the
,altin:-s Of that Greet Light without which
d.ra would be his pathway through life aud
gloomy mis- hore Of a future immortality. And
yet ,i.crc are men, claiming to be Masons, who
1rr living in tue daily practice Of those grosser
cIc1 sscs and imznoTa!ities from which their
earlier and later pledges bind them to abstain.
l-ow sad, aud yet low true, that, in many
i.,.14es ucn are 10 he found VINO are drunkards,
gamblers, adultcrers. siandercrs, oppressors,
.:u,i la.y ot:lerof the grosser offenders agninst
good society and good morals! We see the
evil, let ns 60 where we will, and we see. too,
the terrible effect It is having upon society
Al large, and tue membership also-
Masonry is judged By the morality Of Its men,
bclslip: and the example Vt one bad man will
d, more to warp public opinion than the good
example OF dozen others can undo, SO long rs
the uad are allowed to remain in the lodges.
Nuw, We call upon the officers of the lodges
to take Lold uf this matter, meet the Issue firm
", aud purge their lodges of all impurities
/ nlcss you do, good men will neither come nor
s.ay among you, and our beloved Order will be
forced TO the wall under this foul cloud. Of
lters. brethren, remember your obligations, do
yo;r duty and purge your lodges.-4Hasouie
Jvurz.al Greensboro, y. G.
lMposroRs.
The number Of tnpostors travelling about the
county is unusually large, aud their brazcnness
j. almost beyond belief ii it has not been wit
messed. To obtain money they hesitate at noth-
ill.. III the way Of false pretcnses, aud, there
i:rc, it becomes all lodges and brethren to be
very careful on whom they bcstow charity. Ii
the applicant is stranger, his diploma with
recent receipt Tor dues should be demanded,
and if they are not produced, resort should be
l.;d 10 the mails OF to the telegraph. This pre-
tallloH ID ~! tue uoit necessary iroa te Aact
Tat many IT the impostors are either suspend
tl or expelled Masons or their confTcres. This
diligence should be exercised that the worthy
may bc invariably assisted anu the unworthy re-
1uscd.-]vtce-
rouSG woRsHIPFU1. MASTERS.
NJ. W.. Bro. Cushing OF Texas, thus gives
ore Of the reasons why dlssentions exist III many
lodges:
More than half OF Ill the troubles of our lodges
come from the ambition OF Young men to WELD the
rAtel- More than hRlf the Masters of
ttr!y ignorant OF the constitution the landmarks.
the Grand Lodge cdicts, the customs, and the
t:udes OF government OF the institution. Hence,
when called upon tn decide questions, they evolve
conclusions f;om the depths Of their own orlGi-
nalty, not always TOO deep TO be sounded. and the
outraged Sometimes young M2sons make the
Ltst HAstere, but ench are only men OF principle
and ttuuents. and whose ambition is more the
good ut the institution th@n personal advancement.