Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1883-08-30
IRONTON, MO-, THURSDAY, AUGUST 80 1888

and Incorporate habits bring reproach
and shame upon our noble institution.
Many. I am sorry to say, wear the
Lamb-Skin, OK White Apron, unwor-
thily. Brethren, to this unpleasant
fact we should keep an eye single.
We should be more careful in future
upon whom we confer degrees. De-
grees only make members, but Masons
never! ut is important" says an
eminent Mason, that the minds of the
Craft be constantly called to the vital
importance of a more thorough investi-
cation into the character and qualifica-
tions Of candidates. You cannot take
a candidate, unless he be worthy and
we'll qualified, and make him a Mason
by comforting degrees. He must be a
man, God-like; his vision undimmed
by vice; his thoughts elevated; his rea-
son bearing full sway, stamped with
the Divine impress, or degrees will
never make him a Mason. You may
manipulate him and restrain him for q
time. but truth Is mighty and will pre-
vail.' His true character will develop
itself, and when too late you will find
that you have either pestiferous med
dler or q useless drone." Degrees will
not make q man Mason, and create
within him a principle which he did
not previously pt'ssess. We were first
taught to look at the heart for the prin-
ciples of Masonry. Principles, eternal
principles, firmly and surely implant-
ed by God alone, can only make Ma
sons. Degrees may make members,
but "Deity alone makes Masons." In
many ways we, ourselves, are to be
blamed for the conditions Of our lodges
and the fidelity of our initiates. We
should be more careful to practice the
principles of Masonry. A Mason should
be a model Of temperance in all things.
He should, indeed, be total abstainer
from those evils which corrupt morali-
ty and deprave the intellect. None
should enter its sanctum sanctorum
who Is not and cannot be true and
faithful representation of its holy prin-
ciples.
1.-THE LAMB SKIM ..
"With emblem Of all things pure
The Mason's badge; oh! let him keep it sure.
More ancient than the Golden Fleece by far
Or Roman Eagle. Fen more honorable than
the Star
A A,~I A.
Even King or Prince or Potentate can bestow
AT any time except Mason; he
Let every brother strive to keep 1t free
From stain thus worn pleasure to himself;
An honor to the Craft, 'tis more than wealth."
1t is asserted by many that Masonry
cannot exist among colored men; that
their "so-called Masonic Lodges" are
clandestine and hence not within the
range Of universal recognition. This
assumption is based upon the frivolous
"free born" In this intelligent age of
the world 1t is we'll and proper that we
confine ourselves to realities and not
mere localities. And in the discussion
of this matter, 1t Is right that we con-
fine ourselves strictly to the former.
If our opposers are inclined to "dodge"
the real issue, we have no desire to
persue them. If they will meet us on
the square principles of truth, and lay
aside mere theories which have been
exploded long ago, we will meet them
willingly; for We, as true Masons, ad-
here to truth, believing it to be the first
lesson taught in Masonry. If our op-
posers and prosecutors would be more
precise in their meaning Of the express
sion "free born," we would know the
better how to attack them. They SIM
ply make the statement, and there
leave it in unsolvable Indebtedness.
The world has grown out of that mar
row intellectual range Of thought in
which assertions were taken for argu-
ments and high-polished theories for
eternal truths. The institution of sla-
very which virtually cursed the Amer
ican continent for near two hundred
and fifty years, is forever swept away.
1t was born in iniquity and founded in
wrong and revolving injustice. It was
a mere visionary assumption OF power,
having no right to its existence by Ell
ther the laws of God, the laws of Ma
ture, or the laws of man. The same
may be said of slavery or involuntary
servitude-except for the punishment
Of crime-in all ages of the world, in all
its features, and in every cline. If
slavery was right, if the institution of
slavery was founded upon the ground
Of right-founded in the eternal and
nature of things-then, and
then only, could it be truthfully said
that man born in slavery is not free
born. But if the institution itself is the
mere corruption of iniquity and injus-
tice-if it has no right, divine or hui
man, to exist, where derive its inherent
virtue to permeate the blood of unborn
L. u 90,