Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1880-09-16

difference IN the meaning OF the two words
it relates to the manner rather than the pur-
pose of the dedication. A conservation
may be performed mentally in the form of u
VOW or solemn purpose OF the mind, unat-
tended with outward rites OF ceremonies; but
usually dedication il performed with more
or less of outward ceremony and ritual
observance. To both words the idea of
sacredness attaches 30 that whatever is dedi-
Gated or consecrated must be strictly held for
the uses and purposes for which il il set
apart. 1t may be some house set apart for
the worship of God, or for educational uses.
as college or academy; it may be- some
person devoted exclusively to the service OF
God III some sacred office. or to the perform
ance OF some stated duties; il may be vessel.
u garment, an altar, or anything else which is
to be used for some special purpose. In any
case, and in all cases whatever as thus set
apart, either in mental VOWS or by outward
rites, must BE- sacredy held to the use for
which 1t is devoted. To employ it for any
thing else, especially for any purpose incoil-
slstent with such sacred use, is to falsify the
dedication aud make it nothing better than
solemn mockery.
The idea of completeness or cntireness
attaches to Whatever is dedicated. If ii IL Il
house or other inanimate thing, every parti-
Gle OF its substance, with all its capacities and
powers, Is set apart and devoted to the spec
lal purpose intended by the dedication. Ii 1t
il person, and especially in religious consc-
Grafton, all tue powers of mind soul and body
which belong to that person are embraced i'll
the dedication. OF this deyotement of any
person or thing there was in the ancient
Jewish ritual most significant and express
i've type-it was the whole burnt offering in
which the entire body of the victim and all its
parts were consecrated
In declarations there is always the recognl-
tons and acknowledgement of supreme
Il a.. -l...Y..
the subject IN devoted. Without the rccogni-
ton and acknowledgement of such power.
the dedication services, however elaborate and
lmpresSing. would bc but unmcaning mum
merry. Such il would undoubtedly be ii per
formed by set of atheists. To what and IL
the name of what could they dedicate? Their
only God Ii chance or blind force. that has
neither intelligence, feeling or consciousness.
II might be snid that they could dedicate to
reason but that was once attempted by n
whole nation and turned out ut last to he n
bnflcsuhe upon reason, stllpendolls folly
The atrocities TO which it led were such as
were revolving to reason Atheism. then, has
no use for dedication ceremonies.
Free MasOns dedicate their halls affairs and
emblematic implements, and by this solemn
performance they mean that such things are
set apart to be used exclusively for Masonic
purposes. AZ those purposes embrace sacred
obligations the incubation of truth and the
practice of all social and moral duties, there
IL meaning attached to the ceremony of
dedication which is of vital importance. In
this solemn service there Is the recognition of
a supreme power Almighty God. His holy
word occupies a conspicuous place in every
lodge it lies upon an altar that il dedicated
to His name His favor and bencfactions are
invoked in regular forms of prayer which are
stately used and His authority in matters
of moral nature is acknowledged to be
binding on the conscience.
Among Alasons there is not only dedca-
ton of buildings, affairs and implements, but
there IL, likewise, personal conservation.
This il made by every Mason when he
assumes the obligations imposed by the fra
ternity. They cannot be forgotten. 10 prove
recreant to VOWS thus assumed must ever fill
the conscience with reproach. The sense of
obligation is kept alive by repeated admoni-
tons, instructions and persuasions; and i'll
their stated communications the members arc
constantly reminded of their duty to them
selves, too another and to God You thus
see what is meant by n dedication ceremony
II is not mummery, but Il great and salutary
lesson which is designed to enter into each
individual life and bear good fruit.
What, then, are we taught by the dedication
services? We are taught to be mindful of all
the salutary lessons impaired by the things
which are thus consecrated and devoted. The
buildings or place dedicated is the type OF IL
great moral and spiritual temple in which the
members of the fraternity may adore the per-
fections Of Deity and impart salutary instriic-
ton to each other. The tools and implements
of the craft are used az emblems of the truths
which are taught. BY the explanation of
their various uses the members are instructed
as to the duties they owe to God, to their
neighbor and to themselves.
The candidate for admission comes pro-
fessedly with desire of knowledge and
10 1a 1.,t ..
and is accordingly taught to be diligcnt,
prudent discreet and temperate; to befrend
and relieve every worthy brother who needs
his assistance to remind another of his
errors and aid him in reformation to
divide his time proportionately between the
service of God and his distressed brethern,
his usual vocation and necessary refreshment
and sleep to divest his mind and conscience
of all the vices and supcriluities of life, ha is
taught to understand the three great supports
OF the wisdom, strength and
beauty wisdom to cOntrive. strength to sup
port and beauty to adorn all great and inn
portant undertakings. lie is taught that the
whole human species is one great family,
created by one Almighty Parent and bound
to support and protect each other that to
relieve one another is n duty in
cnmbent upon all mankind, but pr
ticularly Masuns who are linked together by
an ndissolublo chain of sincere affection
The great aim of Masonry is to sOothc the
unhappy; to sympathze with their misfor-
tunes; to compassionate their miserics and
restore peace to their troubled minds. II
incncates Faith, Hope and Charity, the great
rounds of the mystical ladder which reaches
from earth to heaven. The craft are taught
to circumscrlhn their desires, and keep their
passions within due bounds: they are re-
minded in one of the emblems Of their rude
and imperfect state by nature: in another
ntplpfn .r tl,,. ~ "a, ,tlt
they may hope to attain by yirtuous educa-
ton, Their own endeayors and the blessing of
God. The first lesson the Mason Is taught is
to be good and true, and he is told that the
cardinal virtues are ForttIldc, Prudence,
Temperance and Justice. lie is required to
be quiet and pcaccahlc subject; to he true
to his government and Just to his country;
not to cotntci.,.nrc diAloyalty or rebellion,
but patiently submit to legal authority, and
conform with checriunrsS to the government
in which he lives.
As the novitute il advanced to the second
degree he is still reminded of the great design
OF the institution and Of the moral and social
duties he il expected to practice, and these
are illustrated with different set of einbems,
appropriate To more advanced state of
knowledge. Here the literal arts and sciences
are set forth rs noble themes of study and
the "l|ellOw-crHft' il furcibly reminded that
he is travelling upon the level of time to that
undiscovered country from whose bourne no
traveller returns Here one is taught
that speculative Masonry is $50 far
interviewer with religion as to
lay M under obligation to pay that rational
homage to the Deity which at once const-
tutes our duty and onr happiness. The truly
contemplative are led to such view of the
glorious works of creation ls inspires the
most exalted ideas Of the perfection of the
Creator As one is exalted to the sublime
degree of Il Master Mason, he IL Taught by
one OF the expressive emblems to spread the
! cement Of l'rothcrly Love. 1t is that which
''unitcs MasOns into one sacred band, ur
society of friends and brothers. among whom
no contention should ever exist but that noble
contention, or rather emulation, of whO can
best work or best agree.
Here comes in Il beautiful rctruspcction of
human life, youth, manhood and age. In
youth the Entered Apprentice ndustrously
occupies his mind in the attainment of useful
knowledge; in manhood the Fellow-Craft
| applies his knowledge to the discharge of his
duties to God, his neghbor and himself III
age, the Master Mason enjoys the happy
reflections consequent upon IL well-spent life.
In looking over the cmblems of this depart
mout of Masonry, we find the beehive the
emblem of industry the pot of incense, the
emblem of pure heart the book of consti-
tutions guarded by the Tyler's sword to re-
mind the Mason of the two great virtues
silence and circumspectiOn the sword point
ing to the naked heart to signify that Justice
| will sooner or later overtakc us, and the ALI
| seeing Eye pervades the inmost recesses of
the human heart the anchor and ark,
emblems Of a well-grounded hope and II we'll
| spent life; the hour-glass, the emblem of
| human life the scythe, emblem of Time
which cuts the brittle thread OF life.
| Now we see in the length and breadth of