The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1878-07-02
The Social Advantages Of
~ rTy Mas0nry q

"
II is with pleasure that We present to
our readers the admirable address deliv'
cred By Rev. John 0. Wilson before
Kershav Lodge No. 90, a. F. NJ, on
the oath instant, the annual festival Of
St. John the Baptist, which is published
by request of the lodge. 1t will be read
with profit by the members of the craft,
and with interest BY all. Being intro
duccd by Gen. O. D, Kennedy Wor-
shipful Master of Kershaw Lodge, Mr..
Wilson spoke as follows:
WorshiPtM Master, Brethre" an't
Friends
Masonry has fixed but two festal days.
One is appointed at time when the
diving year is clasped in winters icy
Grasp; the other, when blooming spring.
under the ardent kisses of the kiugly
sun. bushes into summers radiant
beauty. Thus VIC learn and teach that
the Joy Of the bumsp .hfart-is indepeud-
ent Of uut ward surroundings. One of
these festivals commentaries a man and
Mason who loved to rest on loving bo-
som. but who wns so absorbed in grand.
es. mission, that he found smallest time
for such sweet shelter. The other COM
memoratcs man and dason who chose
the solitude of tie wilderness for home;
but as d voice in the wilderness was
able to empty the citys multitude int"
the rude lap of the desert. Thus We
lea,n and teach that human hand and
tongue often pour oil Of JOY on Others,
when its own heart is denied the
draught
To-day is the festival Of that John
who from wilderness toll was thrust into
prisons fettcrcd darkness, and by
tempted hand Of violence was soon hur-
ried to "his chamber in the silent balls
If death" We therefore commemorat,
a lonely, friendless life. Does not it'
great want and our abundant suppl,
suggest and enforce as our theme
THE SOCIAL ADVANTAGES or MASONRY
II is needless to argue the necessity
of mans association with man. Th'
same voice which said, "let there be.iigh
81 ,ber. was light" in gentler toni
spake, saying: ut is not good Tor mar
to be alone;;' and of the dust alrend!
refned in mans creation, God made
mans fairer, purer helpmeet. The sleep
ing Adam woka to gaze on beauieou'
Eve, and tten hand locked With hant
thew walked the fair meadows of Elder
spd tht rugged sleeps of earth unit
death made their parting. And since
that dsr each son of Adam seeks hi
Eve-tbrice happy il he finds her.
But this companionship does nat sup
plv all the need. Mans association viii
sSaon is an absolute essential, but l
must be supplemented by assOclat'o,
with his fellow mau. Ghut out man
fellow from him, and he becomes pure
but weaker. Slut out woman from hlr
md he becomes stronger, (rerhaPs,) } bu
certainly less puse, Proof Of these as
scrtions are daily facing as"fy one Q
NJ. Il follows. then, that the ht'
manhood demands both conpanlonsh'p'
How to obtain and profit by sweet wo
mans presence, hes not in our teachln
to-day Bright eyes and rosy lips or
the bcst guides to the seeking. Ou
n,a;ncr path directs us in the search a.
ter the supply Masonry has Furnished
or can furnish, of manly companions
their fellow man.
The first and chiefest means OF SUI
plyiog this SOCIAL need, Masonry Po'
sesses in her
UNIV fRSALlTY.
do not refer TO the abstract specuI'
.;on but to the living facts. Masoni
hos .;rdled the globe. From hill'to
to hilltop the temples speak each
oihe.. Every sea is cleft by nay'
tearing Ler p,gnaia. There are to NJ !,
uol, Ugh no foreign parts, i"f hfT I, q q
"e.ao. ~v,, 70 o,e,e, ,.rvwhere. ia he .ua GU
s"S s"T'i in I'll the deserts solitude broth til.
meets brother. Beside his OWN W
and flo tree and on alien SOIL mast
, oreets master. Wherever pan owen
wherever he tolls, wherever he tfaSS'
wherever he rests. he may hnd o.
!, n whose ear is cnsy access, anu
: whose heart he may safely eonhde
Mason is never an utter stranger un'
bs chooses so to be- He may be su
rounded by strange faces bu' h' G.
find that behind many lthfre, oea'S
y 6tFthcr's theart.s ea - - ~ 10 a,
Where else is name, or fame, whl
pases current ip civilized oT ID nVs