Omaha daily bee., 1882-09-25
SQUARE AND COMPASS.
Continued from Eighth Page. |

Few minutes IN which to make this
response. But, my brethren, as it il
always a duty, If not always an un.
mixed pleasure, to obey our present
grand master, and as he has ordered
me to talk whether / have anything tc
say or not, l beg your indulgence, as
l briefly allude to the four points con.
tanned in the proposed toast aud men.
ton some matters germane thereto,
which have fallen under my observa.
ton during my stay in Germany.
In the language of the toast it Is a
Msson's duty to assist in giving
"health to the sick" | remember
when l was in Germany to have seer
a painting representing a man stretched
upon a bed of sickness, by his side
was the watcher with one hand upon
the patients pulse, the other upon
his brow. The window was open and
the morning rays of the sun were
shining in bright and filling the room
with light, and far in the background
appeared an angel with wings ex.
panded and arms extended as if ap.
preaching to bear away that sufferer.
As l looked at that picture and saw
the person sitting by the side of the
bed in the performance of that holy
duty which Masonry has taught, L felt
az if that angel should bear away the
watcher along with his patient to
heaven as was Elisha. And my breth-
rem, if Masonry has done naught else
than to teach US that it is our duty to
go to the bedsideo of suffering humanity,
Masonry would deserve to live, and
although it is true in Germany that
the brethren do not go 10 the sick
bed as they do in this country, the
reason is that in that country labor is
cheaper and skilled attendants can
always be easily obtained for a small
compensation; therefore these skilled
attendants are sent by the brethren.
The Masons in GERMANY are ever as
willing to send some one to
watch and care for tho suf-
ferer. And my brethren it
matters not whether you be a
stranger in that country, it matters
not that your kindred are on the
other side of the Atlantic, if the hand
of affection falls upon you in Germany
you will never want for some n to
care for you who will be a brother.
In fact, you will find it the same as in
this country.
And, my brethren, in the language
of the toast, it is a mason's duty to
give ''aid to the needy. 1t is not
my purpose to-day to speak to you in
regard to charity, for you all know
you have been taught charity from
the first time you entered any lodge.
Charity is the foundation stone of our
order, and this it is which
creates. And, my brethren,
not only is charity the foundation
stone of our institution, but charity is
of the eternal-charity is love and
God is love, and therefore my breth-
rem if all of Gods gifts be cast at
your feet and you have not charity
you are a wretch. You have nothing,
you are nothing,
Perhaps 1t may not be out of place
to-day to say a few words in regard to
the charity of Germany. Never is a
lodge held in Germany, but it is
closed with a collection which is taken
up for the poor in that country.
Everything has been systemized and
charity is dispensed where it will do
the most good through certain chan
nels, and certain widows and orphans
receive a certain amount every year.
1t is like a pension to them.
One of the proudest hours l
ever spent was in n of their
lodge rooms. / had been invited as a
certain amount of charity was to be
dispensed. l went to the lodge room
there. l ia six or ten or fifteen ill
clad women, whom l after wards
learned we're widows, and ten or four
teen boys about to be confirmed into
the Lutheran church. Inquired into
this and found that the widows were
not widows of Masons, and the boys
were not Mason's children; but 1 am
proudto say that the order had reached
out its hand and gone into the streets
and brought in the widows and
orphans, and was clothing and feeding
them. That is what our order is do.
ing in Germany to-day, my brethren.
Are you proud of it, or are you notl
[Applause. When 1 saw that Ma
sonry had done all this in Germany
my heart bounded within me to know
that l was a Mason also. Applause.
In the language of the toast 1 find
it says there should he "help to the
oppressed" Man has many oppres-
sors. The tyrant that wrests money
from the pockets of his subjects to
carry on wars even, is not the worst
of tyrants, but there are tyrants that
rule over the individual, (the individ-
uals which compose a pation,) who
are far more cruel and far more op-
pressive than any tyrant that rules
over the masses. 1t is not my pur-
pose at this time to speak at length in
regard to these tyrants. If you will
give it u moments thought that some
tyrant's heel has been upon your head
and bowling you to the earth
from the time you arrive at age
till the time set in creation
for you to leave this world
For instance, suppose we speak of
vice, or a bad habit. Why, brethren,
that habit will follow you throughout
your life, and you will see its presence
wherever you go. The greater the sin
still darker the shadow that Is cast.
My brethren, it is your duty to reach
out your hand to assist your brother
in driving away and breaking the pow
er of such u tyrant as that.
Let us speak of anothe err tyrsnt, the
tyrant of poverty. That is a tyrant
and an opprsssor that has oppressed
more people than any other that We
car name, and multitudes toll from
morn till night in order to obtain the
neceasaries of life for themselves and
their children. MY friends, it is our
duty to assist in breaking the power of
that oppressor. 1t is very easy tor
those who live in sfiuence to be vir.