Daily Republican., 1879-01-30
rslE MYSTIC MASONIC TIE.
Rev. Dr. Caldwell. gives its Origin,
IT'S structure, its Belief, and the
Battles Of It's Members.


, Dnties OF It's Members.
A large aud appreciative audience as
sembled at the Opera House last sven
ing to listen to a lecture on "Freema
sonry" by Rev. J. II. Caldwell, D. D.
Of this city. At precisely 8 o'clock the
speaker of the evening appeared on the
rostrum accompanied by the Grand
Master of the Grand Lodge Of Delaware,
John Taylor. Seated on the stage was
His Honor, Mayor Almond, George
Troup Maxwell, DR.. Simms, Ex-Mayor
Joshua Valentine, Charles B. Lore,
John Otto, Isaac v. Lloyd, Virginius
! v. Harrison, Charles Foster, Thomas
Davidson, James II. Price, Eldridge
Pierce, James c. Aiken, Professor Rey.
nolds and others, being representative
from the various Lodges Of this city.
| The exercises opened with singing
the anthem, Come W that Love the
Lord, " etc., by choir of ladies' and
gentlemen from St. Paul's Church, Miss
Eva Crouch presiding at the organ.
Rev. c. M. Pegg delivered all earnest
prayer. The speaker Of the evening
was introduced by ths Grand Master in
a few words, stating that he had the
pleasure this evening Of introducing TO
the audience Rev. J. II. Caldwell, the
lecturer Of the evening.
The speaker in his lntroduc re.
marks said: Ladies, gentlemen and
brethren of the masonic fraternity,
have the honor to address you this
evening in behalf Of the Fraternity Of
Frsemasons. do not presume every
member of the Order will expect me to
enlighten him in regard to the nature
Of the institution and its highest prin,
ciples. shall only touch on some
points as may with propriety apply to
miscellaneous subjects. On all such
matters the Lodges have more comps-
tent instructors than the one who now
addresses you. can only touch upon
such points as may in propriety be
handled before miscellaneous audi.
ence, for as you are we'll aware there
are certain mysteries belongin to the
Order of which IL would be unlawful TO
speak save in the presence Of members
of the Order.'
Speaking Of the Origin of Masonry,
he stated that in oldsn times there
were numerous orders and to betray
the secrets was held by them to be a
sacriligious crime to be punished by
death. He thought that Free mason
~ existed in the time of King Solo
mon. Originally the temple consisted
Of practical artisans, workers of stone,
and hence the word mason. He stated
that it was fact that may be clearly
established that the Order was first in
troducsd into Europe by the lsraelites,
and 1t Is further claimed that it was
protected by Julius Caesar. He stated
that nearly all the Kings Of England
were members of the fraternity, and
among the Grand Mast Is We find some
of the most illustrious men who were
mem bers of the Order.
The speaker stated that the great
aim of masonry was to soothe the un-
happy, sympathize with the unfortu.
nate, and assist the needy. The craft
is taught to circumscribe their desires
and keep their passions in due bounds;
they are taught to be good and true, to
practice the cardinal virtues, temper
ance, fortitLde, prudence and justice.
In masonry too we find a retrosp pective
view of life, the pot of incense, being an
emblem of q pure heart, is always an
acceptable sacrifice to the Deity; the
beehive, an emblem of industry, rec
ommends the practice of that virtue to
all created beings, from the highest
seraph in heaven to the lowest reptile
on earth; the beck of constitution re-
minds us that We should be ever watch
full and guarded in our thoughts, words
and actions; the sworI demonstrating
that Justice will sooner or later over
take us; the all.seeing eye, whom the
sun, moon and stars obey, and under
whose watchful care even comets per-
form their stupsndous revolutions; re-
mind US that Gods watchtul eve is
ever upon US; the anchor and ark are
smblems of a we'll grounded hone and
a well-spent life; the shour z ass an
emblem of human life.
Behold! how swiftly the sands run,
and how rapidly our lives are drawing
to close; the scythe, an emblem Of
time which cuts the brittle thread of
life, and launches us into eternity.
The XLVII problem OF Euclid, he said
was an invention of the ancient ph;los-
,pher, the great Fythagoras, who. in
his travels through Asia. Africa. and
Europe, was initiated into several or
3ar. of pr;a,thoo1 and Ia so;J +o L