Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-01-28

AT an early day the Masons Of this
city will occupy their new and COM
modious temple lately completed at
the corner of Madison and Second
streets. No pains have been spared
we understand to make the halls to be
occupied by the various lodges COM
Portable, elegant and adaptable to the.
peculiar rites and ceremonies of this
ancient and time-honored organiza-
ton, which is doubtless as old as the
earliest civilization of which there Isl
record or tradition. The
work on the temple was sus-
pended in the great crash of 1873, but
within the last two years the mystic
brotherhood made a united effort
which resulted in the completion Of
this elegant and beautiful edifce. 1t
stands out distinctively and alone as
the only public building finished in
the city within the past four or FIVE
years and the members of the order
may well be proud Of this substantial
evidence of the vitality of Masonry
and their fidelity to its undying prin-
ciples. Masonry comes down GER
tainly from the middle ages but
as many believe from the days of
Solomon, while there is good reason
to believe that it originated in the
palmiest days Of Egyptian art and
learning long before the days of
Moses. This view is greatly strength
ened by the reported discovery of
Masonic emblems under the great
obelisk at Alexandria, shortly to be
removed to New York. Be this as it
may, we know the names and record
of knightly MasOns who fought with
the Crusaders to recover the Holy
Land from the infdels. Masonry is
the parent society, the ancient and
solid trunk from which numerous
other secret benevolent organizations
have sprung. These younger aud
very useful societies can all trace
their origin to Masonic teachings and
practices and discover more or less
similarity in their objects, methods
and principles. The work of the
Order is done quietly as the falling of
the dew but Systematically and with
unchanging purpose. One lodge in
this city has, in the last two years,
taken in fifty-one on-afiiliated mem
bers. Thirty-fve members have died
in that time leaving many widows and
orphans who are assisted when in dis
tress. Much has been dispensed in this
way, and to needy brethren of which
the world will never know, as
no reports are published outside Of
the lodges. The particular lodge tC
which we allude numbers nearly two
hundred members. They are the
best Of f citizens. Masonry teaches
men to be law-abiding and loyal
benevolent, fraternal and charitable.
The order in this city, notwithstand.
ing its heavy losses by death and the
constant drain upon its treasury, is in
prosperous condition, and when the
lodges have grand reunion, as we
presume they will soon, in the new
temple, they will have cause to con-
Vratulate themselves and to liken the
occasion to the completion of a greater
temple many centuries ago. A wor.
shipful master of this city, in an ad
dress not long ago, said The glory
of Masonry is the beauty of its mora
symbolism. Clothe our work with tn,
magnificent display of art, and w
make our legends glow with an orient
al s,lendor that wins our hearts
whilst ii dazzles our imagination anC
attracts our presence" These few
words convey an idea of the strength
and beauty of Masonry, an orde
which has survived empires, crossed
oceans, outliyed prosecutions in man.
lands, and comes down to us purified
by great trials, baptized in blood, ant
sanctified by the most tender and last
ing associations that ever knit tn
hearts of men together.