Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-07-02

Turning 10 the last report 81 orr committee
Oh foreign correspondence we find they reviewed
the proceedings Of Grand Lodges OF every State
IN the Union, also those OF British Columbia
Nova Scotia, Prince Edwards Island, and Que.
bee. In the proceedings OF the State OF Now
York, where anti Masonry once had strong
foot hold. and where the Grand Lodge ~ Just
entering upon the hundredth year OF its exis.
tence we find there are seven hundred lodges
having n membership of 10 132 Mas0ns Brother
DrummOnds statistics show In the United States
alone 1891 Master Masons on the Rolls. This
does not embrace the thousands OF unaiiiliated
who am sc.Ty to say almost equal the aililia.
ted.
England. where In i7l7 were only four lodges
now has upon the rOlla Of the Grand Lodge
nearly two thousand, not considering the hun.
dreds chartered by her in other countries, which
have grown into Grand Lodges of their own.
Al the railroad whose welcomed scream We
hear in the near distance starting ut this point
on the banks Of the mighty Father OF Waters
which flows ut the foot OF your beautiful city,
taking straight line, reaches IN shortened
distance. the metropolis Of our State, touching
from time to time the rapidly flowing stream, "a
In its devious route IL flows 10 the same desti.
nation, 40 have ralir0aded you M 1t were, down
the stream of time from 1912 Il. e.. whore we
found the foundations Of the first temple and the
organization Of Masonry as m operative and
speculative science, 10 iIf pifstHt, ~ sVl'f Va
1893 years bring to your view from time to time,
nm evidence of its continued flow on the stream,
until at this end stands our own NJ. W. Grand
Master, who presideB il our grand East with
such dignity intelligence and zeal, or to use
another comparison, | have hurried you al,ag
the line OF time, and have shown y0n ont the
out.posts. of our grand Institution, but which Is
sufficient to satisfy you that the line Of It's ex'
isteiNc IL continuous from the first, when 1t was
organized by the God given Masonry Of Solo
mon to now where we find our own NJ. w,
Grand Master standing ready and able to give
the craft good and wholesome instruction and
advice.
But at best / have but taken you around on
the outside of the edicc, and have been able
TO show you but n few Of is stately columns and
supports, which may have attracted your at
tcntion and created your wonder But cannot
hope to gain the C0mmendaliOn Of your hearts,
unless ] open the portals and display the prnci.
pies 1t teaches, the virtues II inculcatcs the
practice OF which II cnjoin Up to li@ many
Masons deemed II among the requirements Of
the order that It's objects should be concealed.
But We know those brethren, who feared to
publish to the world the principles, objects and
end Of Frccmasonry and who believed that such
publication would tend to the overthrow Of the
order, greatly erred for every community has
| u right to know the true principles upon which
are based the existence OF all secret associations
withia its borders IT was the realization Of
| this fact which caused the Grand Lodge OF Eng
! land in 1922 to wisely order the publication Of
the ancient charges; which clearly set forth the
| terms OF cement and the principles OF the Asso
| citation, the result of which was to remove the
vulgar prcjudices and idle tales then in vogue
in reference to Masonry.
It did much more than this, II rendered the
institution popular with all classes, except those
| whose moral character was 10 defective that they
| were excluded from its benefits. We ITO not
however, ntgnd to claim too much. When ask.
| ed fit Is not religion, We answer, In the words
OF our patron saint whose fca'a we this day cell
citrate He that hath the bride Il the bride
groom But the friend OF the bridegroom, which
| standeth and hearcth him. rCjOiccth greatly be-
cause Of the bridegroom voice. and again:
"lIe that c0mcth from above is above all He
! that IL Of the earth II earthly and speaksth OF
the earth he that comcth from heaven Is above
| all
The foundations Of the institution are laid IN
the cement of Brothcily Love, Relief and Truth.
| The cardinal virtues Of Mason are Temper
anCc Forttudc, Prudence and Justice.
BrOthcrly Love is Il duty taught from heaven,
the practice of which is held in the highest cs'
| TEEN by God, the creator OF all mankind.
But few Sabbaths since ! heard a learned
divine state from the pulpit that III old legend
declared the reason why God selected Mount
Morial IA the site of the Temple was because OF
a beautiful act OF broihcrly love performed on
that spot. And when we remember God in his
plan OF the Temple provided n place for all
| Gentle rs well ~ Jrw--wc are struck with The
design OF the Almighty Parent to unite men Of
every country sect and opinion and to concil
ate truc friendship among those who might 9TH
arwisc remain al 4 perpetual distance.
Masonry 1T an eminent degree aCC0mpli'hc'
this end.
II IL brOthcTly love which causes one Mason L
30 upon the cfrand of the other, 50 do him {
service, should he 20 barefoot and bareheadcd
II Is the same influence which causes him 20 re-
member his brother when offering up his dcv0
lions to the Supreme Architect OF the tnvcrH'
and makes him guard his scclcts IN his sympa
thizing breast, IA closely ~ the brother doe
himself Il will deter him from speaking cvi
Of his brother behind his back. and sill pi"inp
him to whisper good cheer in his ear and sup
port falling and shaking brother
Recfis peculiarly i man duty aud pleasure
By relief however We do not mean an indisCrim
mate charity or almsgiying, While the Mason
is ever ready to relieve tAc necessities OF u,
poor and distressed and his hand dispense
aims - readily, If not Nor" readily than Others
this is not what We moan by Masonic relief. |
il Tor this relief in pat that lodges are cStat
ishrd aii over the world. Il Is to bc able 10 Il
ST. ycrabIc 10 his fellow. creatures that prompts
or should prompt, each initiate to ask admisaio
into our order. II ~ to render this rclict tina
the funds OF each lodge arc primarily appropr
atcd. II is for this purpose that your Relic
+ LODGE Il established IN this State aud the Con
mittcc OH Charity was framed in England an
like committees appointed all over the worlt
, The worthy Mason need never fear whcnsOrvr
he may Do 40 disposed, to apply for this rcli"
, BIT the unworthy, when thry apply bccOm
/ impostOgs. The w0rthy need nryrr To- aahaur
. toask it, for it is ht due. Those who grant
+ arc but performing one Of their most sacred oil
. legations. Ihc.c obligations extend fulthc
, The willow and orphan oftns worthy Mason CON
, | within them. iiui. my brothers, yDu must bcl
= in mind, the obligation il only to the worthy.
n fear too many forget this; for II Is fact that I'll
greater number OF applications come from thOs
, | who have neglected the Masonic duties. An
4 many are the instances where applications ~
O. | made by Masons who At the outset inform II
I examining brother that he is very rusty, NJ
! having been in lodge for long time. cann'
I | but believe, If ii waR remembered that this 81
Il ! legation to relieve is one holding only for III
: worthy, there would not be 80 many n0n.ati
. ted Masons especially in this jurisdiction
= where the resolutions Of the Grand Lodge II
|, clare failure 10 apply for utilization within twcI
h | months after dCmitting, dcprivcs Of many VI
n sonic rights. None of us know how soon "
+ may hc in circumstances 10 crave its privilege
l., We should all SciupuouSly perform our 0hlig
. | ton az contributing members to the order, thl
, we may, III case Of need, not be ashamed TO r
n | ccivc in our distress. What our illnstrioi
q brother, Albert Pike, says Of wages, can vii
Il equal truth, be applied to Masonic Relief. y
Il BE careful my brother that thou rcCeiV
q no WAGES here or q stwhe'c. that are not III
!, due. For il thou dost thou wrongest some OF,
r. by taking that which in Gods ChauCcry b
n lorg, to him"
Il Truth is divine attribute and the found