Weekly Trinity journal., 1878-05-11
NUMBER 10.
MASONRY.
THE ACE AND EXTENT OF TEE okpxR.

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While the Graft contend that its rites
snd ceremonies date from the time when
Solnmon's Temple WAS first designed,
others, apparently without data Of any
sort. have declared that it is an English
Society of some two hundred years
standing, founded much in the same
fashion as we're other secret conclsves,
we're pursr, and its objects nobler.-
Against this latter supposition thare are.
however, the facts that Masonry ia to be
found wherever human beings dwell. and
in German lodges a congsnial home, al
belt that their tribes had not had Mason.
ic communications with the Western ma.
tion. tor we'll nigh seven hundred yesrs.
That Mssons toward the close of the last
century were somewhat divided i. gensr-
ally admitted and that they we're united
under the leadership of the Duke Of Sus-
sex, who from that time forward till the
day vf hi. death ruled over tho Crsn
without fear of rival, Is also conceded.
| Be the history of this extraot tdinary ss-
socistion. however, what IL TAy, ono thing
is certain to day It's influence sprrsd all
over the globe. Tho Emperor of Germa-
nv boasts the title OF Grand Protector in
the FSthrrlsnd King Victor Emanuel,
a. Grand Master Of Italy. bears sway in
the Southern Peninsula Denmark, Swe-
dan and Norway have monatchs for their
Gran chiettains Portugal and Spain,
despite their allegiance to tha Pontif.
b"sst fity-sir lodges; in the Netherlands
thc hoir to the throne fwsys the baton OF
command /; four hundred lodges own the
sovereignty ofthe Grand Orient OF France;
the Prime minister OF Brazil 10 Master OF
his Masonic countrymen IN the Argentine
Republic, Hayti, San Domingo, Mexico.
Uruguay, Venezuela and Peru, The
most notable OF politicians nre the best
know craftsman. Canada and the Uni
ted States are proud of powerful orSsnl-
cations and magnificent temples in
Greece, the " Children Of Leonidns "
hold monthly congratulations at Svrs
Mssons work amid tha ruins ofthr Pirmus,
n lodge assemblies al Athens. and Pstrss.
Corfu and Chalet. help 10 swell the total
" the Grand Orient OF H.la.. Even
Turkey contains thousands of brethren,
Inds can tell ot lodges by the hundred,
Au>trslis and the South Pacific find sym
bols for the expression OF frnternal feel
ing in the compass and square. and Ahi-
can tribes, with wandering Arabs. claim
the righ. to belong TO this singular broth.
erhood.
~ remsmher." said Sir Archibald
Alison. whom speaking at a Masonic fets
In Glasgow. THAT in the Crmesn war,
during the assault In Bsdsn, an Eng lIsk
officer led small party of soldiers up to
ono ofths guns placed In a recess Of the
fortress. Most OF the men fell before tho
tremendous fra with which thev were re-
ceived. Tho other. were STACKED by ~
body Of Russians, and tho English officer
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chsnced to catch the hand OF a Russisa
officer. and had ths presence OF mind ~
give him Masonic grip. The Russian
in = moment struck up ths bsyonet ofths
soldier, led the newly found brother 10
tho rear, and treated him with all the
kindness OF Mason" The story u by
no means an isolsted one. In the an
mails Of Ma-onry are records o. kindness
innumerable, and assistance unbound in
all kind. Of peril and adversitv. Vic
tors have recognized In PROSTATE foe
= brother. and forborre "a slay csptors
hsvs discovered in their prhoners fellow
craftsmen, and In place Of the dungeon
have given them liberty stranger. in
quest Of friends have found in the lodge
those who were united to them by lies
more binding than those of kin.hip
and in Masonic charities the poor have
found relief. The frt principle OF
craftsmen-" Peace on earth and good
will toward men"-hss had its exrm-
plihcatisn In every cline foes have
become friends, rivals have ceased their
competition, and, where bitterness and
hostility existed, kindness. and brothcrly
love have appeared. Wherever men
have subscribed TO the tenets protessed
by the adhersnts Of tho society which
was founded by Solomon when the
temple was reared, peace and smity
have b.en exhibited. Instead Of hatred
and strife. solicited Tor tho general go"d
has di.plsved itself, j-slousiss have
c-nsed, hatred has been quenched, and
charity which "besreth all thing. and
endureth all things," has under its
benign sway, softened the nsperities OF
life. and given q foretssts Of 9 better
and more enlightened era.