Orangeburg news and times. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1875-1877, 1877-02-17
VOLUME TO-.
MASONIC ADDRESS.

Sumter by t. w. Noise on 9th
Dec, 1876.
B,cfhrcn,- We have assembled at
period Of great public anxiety. The
alarming condition Of our State and
national government, the grave issues
presented to the public mind and the
unsettled if not anarchic posture oI
affairs around lis, all tend to concrn
tratc popular sentiment and thought
upon political matters to tn. utter
exclusion OF other considerations.
At such q time il would seem to be
difficult to rivet attention upon Il
subject so purely athletic us sprcula-
tive or symbolic Masonry. Yet IL
moro careful review OF the situation
OF the people, most nrary affected hy
both governmental mi<rulc and
Masonic association, will evolve aa'l
exhibit the conclusinn, tha; the !, j.
Pile alton Of tru. Masonic principles
tfaction, would be potential, in rene
xlial influence, upon the dangers which
so seriously threaten the State. TO
demonstrate this theory will require,
first, brief review of the present posi-
tion Of the people will il synopsis Of
the causes which lave produced such
results, and second, retro pccl Of the
history Of Masonry, Il summary OF the
precspts she inculcatcS and tie prac
tices. which she cnjoins, to the end
that just application Of these doe
trines may be made to the disturbed
and angry feelings Of The people, in
the hope TINT Masonic peace nav
cventuatc and Masonic harmony pr.
vail throughout the length and
breadth OF tic land That thr poyu
lar heart, is stirred to its limos,
depths, and that anarchy Sta,k>
abr, nd ] sane maj, will deny.
llnt this sad contiliun has hcc,,
caused by the want of l'"i,h, Hope
and Charity i'll the rulers Of the
people, is also plain to the 81 mplcS
understanding.
All Mas"ns know that our society is
sot in any sense POLITICAL of ali
PARTIES unite around our sacred alter.
We arc thercforca link between par
ties as we have ever lecn Il bond or
union between all discordunt or con.
ficIing human bodies or associations
civic or religious. Our sacred
Society has ever joined in harmonious
accord the followers of,he OH AMI
New Testamcnts or dispcnsntinnS, and
Our links have been welded into that
chain which connects the modern per
i'd o: recorded history. viii, that an
Ni'nt cycle Of legendary lore and Ira
rlition, When man was simple in hi,
naturc, and untaught in either tie
letters or s'ns Of later ages
Let. .ns look for !. moment to The
origin Of Masonry itself.
or all arts. Masonry, III its pr;,cli
cal phase, must of necessity BE the
oldest and first. his proposition has
been disputed, and ii has lrccn claim
ed some superficial thinkers thai agri
culturesor the cultivation Of Tie cart!,
was t'IeS fist occupation oi man: lei
us look for Il moment to This question
Agriculture requires The passage o!
:, considerable period . lime, in it,
proccsses;;"tllc seed must rulsutc into
life must PASS through various stages
of vegetation before irui,ion can take
place; c;mcantimc tl,c Seasons arc chang
ing and the vicissiiulcs Of weather
snpcrycnc; man the tillcr o!thc soil
must have refuge from The changes o.
climate and protection from tie damp
ness Of night tlcws and more terrible
effects of storms; lie cannot endure The
transitions Of heat and cold without
some shelter. Now what sort orpro
lection must lie have frst found? I.ci
us sec. In the absence OF positive
proof, VIC are to presume that some
hollow cavern III the natural f,rma
ton Of the rocks made his first house
as it has since been found 10 be The
natural place Of resort for sclG-cxilel
man. such rs The hermit, and Of the