Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1881-01-21
MASONIC.
Eloquent and Practical Addresses Of
the Worshipful Master, Hon.
Asher Cook, and Rev DR..
w. A. Yingling.
Delivered nt tho Hall OF Ph@nix Lodge
OH the Occnsion of n Public lns
stnllntIon OF Officers, JAM
unry 1911, 1881.
ADDRESS OF HON. ASHER COOK .

BRETHREN OF PnHSix LopeE:-Ai
the close Of these impressive ceremonies,
deem II not inappropriate, to call attention
to the reciprocal duties which we have
hereby assumed, M well MS to those rules by
which our conduct rs Masons should be
governed. suf.f.
These on my part, are 10 see that the
lodge is governed In due and ancient form,
aud that all rules, regulations and by-aws
Of the lodge are carefully maintained, and
consrientously enforced. And you,by elect
ing me Master of the lodge, have assumed
te yield obedience to all lawful require
menis nnd to assist in working the lodge
by your presence, and cheerful co-opera-
ton. This is not only your duty but IL
should be esteemed a privilege to mid In
preserving peace and harmony in the lodge,
while by the wisdom OF your counsels you
assist IN maintaining the ancient landmarks
OF the order. These duties are reciprocal.
The Master is M much dependent on the
members of the lodge for assistance as they
on him for direction. He may command,
but II there be none to execute lia orders
The work will languisI. Between the off
GERS elected by the people and the people
themselves, there should be no conflict and
there cannot he any properly, so long rs
the officers confne themselves to the legiti-
mate nnd conscentiou enforcement of the
laws; for, in all Republican forms Of gov
ernment, il is by the election OF officers the
people enforce on themselves The laws made
by themselves. Law is only the legally
formulated will Of the people, and the ex-
eculion of il is but the enforcement of the
collective will on each individual in the
State or community nnd when enforced
TO the fullest extent affords no cause OF
complaint, for it is but II refexive action
Of the formulated will of the individual on
himself And so in our organization, there
every member has not freely nssented, and
therefore, il actuated by truly mnsonic
spirit, each will rejoice to have his own will
executed on himself.
Ar unity of design and concentration OF
nc ion are the strength OF all institutions,
your punctual attendance on all regular
communications, and your cheerful assist.
ance in the work of the lodge ARE impera.
lively required. 1t will lie impossible 10
transact the business OF the lodge without
your presence, while by nbsenting your.
selves, you will he deprived of those lessons
of virtue which are 30 frequently and 80
impressively incucnted in the lodge, and
without the knowledge of which, you will
be unable to.discIarge those high Masonic
duties which are incumbent on you ns Ma
ster Masons.
Let il not be thought, because we are on
ly Muster Masons, we therefore occupy an
inferior position in the order of Masonry
The Master Mason's degree is the most an
cient and honorable of all the Masonic de.
grees. 1t is the corner stone of the whole
structure of ancient Free Masonry. To
this all other degrees aud orders are junior
in time and inferior in authority. Here
all enjoy an absolute equality. No dis
tinctions are recognized among the brell-
rem; all are Masons. The equality and
simplicity OF The members of this degree
have sustained 1t amid the revolutions
which have overthrow Kingdoms and em-
pires. These primitive virtues which make
this degree the support OF all Republican
forms Of government, and dangerous only
to those who would rule without the con-
sent Of the people, have proved distasteful
to men Of vaulting ambition, and other
degrees and orders have been invented,
which have no other effect than to create
distinctions among men where none exists
| by nature and which contradict the idea
that God created all men equal. This bas-
tardizing of free masonry has reyailed 10
ments where the virtue of the subject is Of
less consideration than his facile obedience,
and where ambitious monarchs decorate the
crimes OF their unworthy tools with the
emblems of the legion Of honor.
On this ancient and honorable degree Of
Master Mason, we meet tonight, and
while acknowledging no superior let us see
to it that this degree suffer no deteriora-
ton from our unworthiness. And give
it to you especially in charge my brethren,
10 see to it tonight, while ut refreshment,
no brother converts the means OF refresh
ment into those OF intemperance and excess.
The order of Free Masonry owes its pres
ent high standing 10 the purity, virtue,
knowledge and eminent services of its
founders and patrons. A Free Mason is an
honest upright t,concienlious, peaceful ,iemp-
crate, God feuring man. No man addicted
10 vice can be said to he free and none but
free men can be Masons; therefore men
who are in the habit OF taking the name
OF God in vain and who revel in drunken
ness, licenliousness or other forms Of vice
cannot be said to be Masons. They may
belong 10 n lodge, but they nre no more
Masons than hypocrits nre christians, and
Masonry should not be condemned for the
, one more than the church for the other
The former seek to hide their unworthy.
ness by display of the emblems of Ma.
sonry, and the latter their sins with The
mantle of religion. They are both IN
, worthy the consideration of Masons and
, christians. This may be n hard saying bn
the principles here laid down are and have
, been the creed of Masons through all ages
aud If any OF ns have strayet from then
it is our duty to Immediately retrace oul
, the ancient y ecepts OF the order. St.Panl
more like the Master OF lodge to hi
church composed of men, women and chill
dren). He said III Thesalo mans, III 6-l7
I Now we command you brethren, that 20,
Withdraw yourselves from every brolhe
that walkeih disorderly, and not after tn
tradition ye have received of us. =
For yourselves know ye ought to follow ns
. For even when we were with yol
e this we commanded you, that, il any maj
would not work neither should he eat. Fo
we hear there are some wliicl, walk amonj
e you disorderly, working not Mt all but arr
n bnsy-bodies. Now them that are smch W
i. command and exlorl thar, with quietnes
:. they work and eat their own bread. Bi
ye brethren be not weary in well doing
o And ii any man obey not our word, not
y that man and have no company with hin
that he may be ASHAMED. Yet count hin
not as AN enemy but adnionish him az
u brother"
!; Thia, II not addressed originally to
y lodge OF Masons, we may adopt. wilhou
doing violence either to religion or Ma
y, sonry for it enforces obedience to one q
y the principal leneis Of our order, and at li
Y same time covers the faults OF the erin
/, with the mantle of Masonic charity, whic
: win not allow the offender TO he cut off 1
the midst OF histransgressions,b but cherishs
: the hope that The dying embers of virtu
I may be revived in the bosom of brolhe
= struggling between ,lispair and desire io
/, reformation. Indeed the intimate relation
between the founders Of the true chnrc
y and patrons Of ancient Free Masonry
j proves there is no quarrel between Masonr