The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1882-04-27

be like taking flax out Of linen The life
blood out NJ " man the residue would be
vanity aud chaos.
lo you imagine put this too strongly
tell you nay, Language too force
ful cannot be employed In describing the
essentially Of the Bible 10 Templnr
Masonry.
Third-rcmpar law requires Of the
knights Tcmplar belief In, and q CON
iession of the supreme divinity and sover.
eighty Of our Lord and Savior, Jesus
Christ.
The luminous cross and inscription which
thrilled the heart of Constantine is the en-
sign of our order. Its motto-"By this
sign we conquer'-is the knights Templar'
declaration OF faith 10 the world. To every
true Tempar Jesus is REX regum ct dom
mus dominorum." This enters into every
knightly vow. In manner that can never
be forgotten. Is the knight Templar taught
that only through the atonement of our
Lord Christ can man be saved. The cross,
the symbol Of that faith, is emblazoned on
every banner Of the order, 1t is on the hilt
of every sword, it is the badge shining on
the breast and forehead ofevery Sir Knight.
Every Knight declares this divinity OF
Christ in terms as unequvocal as those
which tell from the lips of st. Thomas ms
his fingers pressed the broken side of the
son of.God, forcing him to cry out, "My
Lord and My God"
The order of Knights Templar is, in
its whole theory and regulations,
its origin to the pious enthusiasm of the
crusaders, in their somewhat fanatical but
certainly devout endeavors TO wrest the
sepulcher of our Lord from the iniidel Sa-
| raCen.
Fourth-Templar law requires Of the
Knight Templar a profession of faith in the
resurrection Of the body and in the i'm
mortality of the soul.
Fraters, you know that this is a tenet of
Masonry, taught by her as it is taught no.
where else. With our eyes resting upon
representation of the most remarkable
event in the roll of the ages we are taught
the mutability of all things material; That
the mighty concourse of all worlds around
us now choiring the praises of Jehovah are
finally to yield to decays eflaclng fingers,
and are to pass away, even earth's granite
ribs are to yield to the heats of the general
eonilagration and be eXhaled in vapor, but
man can never die. Changes of state and
abode may await him, yet he must live on
and on forever. We can imagine the in
FAINT born amid natures dissolv-
ing throes, living on, and in some
M ds nd eternity Thnb SSknG Oa6 SsorS to
our whole being will regard it but as Leaf
let flung upon the bosom of infinite space
that played awhile upon its surface, and
then sunk forever into its fathomless
shades. The soul of man will outlast the
stars-"wili survive the. wreck of matter
and crash of worlds" and as long as God
lives will man live. Faith in the Lion of
the Tribe of Judah is the strong grip by
which we will be raised from the rubbish Of
the grave, and our bodies be made as in
corruptible as our souls. 1--WE belive in the
resurrection Of the body and the life ever
lasting"
Fifth-Templer law requires the Knight
Templar the exercise of brotherly love.
Love is principle most highly esteemed
the mystic ladder are faith, hope and char
ity Faith in God, hope in immor-
tality, and charity, or love, for
all mankind but especially for BROTHER
Paul has declared, in comparing these
three, that love is the greatest. Faith is
sublime in itself and heavenly in its mis-
sion; heaven born, it is true, but dies on
the earth. Like the rain, it cometh down
from heaven, but returneth not thither.
The time will come when it ends in sight.
Its light flashes into the soul here, but as
the midnight lamp pales and becomes use
less in the splendors of the meridian sun,
so faith becomes useless in the
glories of the upper wori!, where love
ensplendors all things, is the light and
glory of the heavenly world. Hope, by the
genius Of the poet, has been decked with
beauty and power not her own. 1t has
been sung of her that she commenced her
career as the morning stars sang together |
and the sons of God shouted for joy at the |
birth of our world and it is said of her,
when natures funeral pile is built and the
general contlagration shall envelop crea-
ton, she will be there to tighten the gloom |
and cheer the despairing. The truth is,
nj hat iG hniIt-bnnn w hp
laid upon it-amid the terrors Of that |
day her gentle footballs will not
be heard. She will not be there to |
smile upon the ruin, nor will her torch |
tighten the smothering gloom. Hope, like
her sister, faith completes her mission here.
Their blended beauties form the glowing
arch on which we ascend to heaven, but we
heaven il is no more seen. 1t o er arches a
world where clouds are seen. We go to a
land of cloudless skies and supernal bright
ness. Faith, God knows not. Hope! For
what can God hope? Love! God is love
and this we hold to be the key to the heart
and life of a true Knight Templar.
Without love he is a tinkling
who does not with jealous care protect his
brother Knights character, family, life and
fortune is forgetful of the solemn obliga-
ton which binds him TO the fraternity.
We are taught to nourish and cherish a
brother, to whisper good counsel in his ear,
10 admonish him of his errors and in the
most frieEdly manner aid a reformation.
No congealing frost, nor swelling torrent
IAN make us unmindful of the cry Of dis
ress yelling up from the soul OF worthy
Sir Knight. Purse, counsel and sword are
pledged TO him, and perjured and forsworn is
he who unjustly withholds them. Are you
remplar? You have a brother in every true
md worthy knight throughout the world.
Even upon the battlefield the mysterious
oxen OF the Mason has converted the dead
lest foes into kind and helpful brothers.
Asan outgrowth of this love, is a charity ,
or which our order has been so distinguish
d. In mere money-giying and in the life ,
insurance business, we have been out ,
tripped by many organizations. Our pc.
itioners declare that unprompted by !
nercenary motives, they have sought !
membership sID !Pou., AMONGST rs, soa and we
ave $50 sought hn,or 10 s,oI keep the
let are we commanded to exercise a gener- ,
us charity. Ours is no destinations dis !
lay, seeking popular favor at the expense \
4 the bleeding sensibilities Of the needy, !
Yhile making a disgusting display OF the !
eartlessness Of the giver. We are taught 1
0 listen. relieve and be silent. We wait !
ot 10 be begged, but we seek the abodes of 3
isease, misery and death, and without q
'OnIp or parade administer cordials 20 the
ck and consolation 10 the dying. When we =
reate knight Templar we make an aims \
hest Of his bosom, aud give every brother !,
throughout the world key 70 10. When
be Sir Knight dies be leaves the keyt his
-idow and orphans, aud worthless-nay,
-Orse than wOrthless--is the Templar heart !
hich does not open 10 It.
Sixth-Templar law requires Of knight Il
emplar 1he exercise OF every virtue.
Yes, OF every virtue, private, social and y
ublc Her solemn voice is ever heard
ngng from the temple, urging the X
nights Of Jesus 70 be good men and true. =
o.. Of Masonry in all her g
boois. The L. A. j. taught y
la n become a Just and UPRIGHT man. 2