The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1883-06-10
SYNOPSIS OF A SERMON

81, 1888.
A wise man said, there was nothing new
under the sun. If he lived now, he would
conclude that we had made some progress.
We live in one of the greatest periods of
the worlds history, time of wonderful
progress. Fifty years ago people thought
the Stage-coach was fast travelling, but now
we sometimes think it slow when a train
carries us along at the rate of forty miles
an hour. We are learning more about the
Bible than men have in the past. We UNI
derstand it better than they did. We un-
derstand the will of God concerning men
better than ever before. God is all the
time giving us more light, so that our re-
sponsibility to him becomes greater. 1t is
an age of scientific research, in ali the de
partments of science, in Astronomy, in
Geology, Electricity, in Physics, where
mind asserts its right over matter, and
science and the Bible are in harmony
one with the other. Every
step that science has taken
demonstrates the divine origin of the Bible,
But sin has paralyzed the world in a meas
ure, and impeded human progress, and hu'
man happiness; intelligent as the world is,
il would have been much more so, had
there been no sin; men would have been,
wiser and happier than now. But the
world is very beautiful one, and pleas.
ant one in which to live. God has made
all things beautiful in their season, and we
pity the man that can get no happiness out
of it. But it is SAID, the world is growing
worse and not better, but the converse OF
this is true. Our facilities for finding out
the bad are great scan the criminal col
umns of your daily papers tomorrow morn
ing you will read of all the crime that has
been committed to-day. From this we are
led to think that the world is on the down
grade, but the agencies for good are lifting
the world up, and bringing it nearer to
God. The Cross will be victorious, and by
this sign we shall conquer and the world
become the counterpart Of heaven. 1t Is
not the great, or the learned, or the refined
that have done the most for this worlds
good, the great and the learned are not 81
ways good. There are men that are IN the
possession OF gigantic intelects that have
done but little to make the world better,
and men happier; but the good, the earnest,
the phllanthropic men, are they that are
moulding and iashioning the thoughts OF
the world and leading men TO higher,
better and purer life, and trmer trust
in God. Do We not stand upon the thresh-
hold and look out upon the dawn OF the
great millennium Is not its morning star
on the horizon, when the cross shall be the
sign, and the JOY Of all the nations OF the
earth when Christ shall be revcred and
loved by alll Then shall peace and happl'
ness be universal, and the nations of the
earth learn war no more. Our faith may
but fater here. May the time not be very
near, when a nation shall be born III day
But what has Masonery to do with all
thisi II we believe it to be great moral
institution, (AND We Do,) then we believe
God has set the seal of his divine approba.
ton upon it, and it becomes the handmade
Of religion. IT is NOT RELIGION, but lis
principles and teachings, if properly appre-
clated, will lead to better life, and 10 the
great Father of light. But says one, 'you
have bad men among you" Where will
you find place this side of heaven where
they are notl They invade the holy pre-
cincts Of Gods own divine church, even
one of Christ's own disciples was a devil,
ask the sun as he sets in the west, have you
looked down on any place in this world
where sin and sinners are notl The an
swer would be, mo" But the outer door
of our lodges are well guarded, 80 that
the good over-balance the bad
Knights Tempar Masons will ever be
found on the side of right, of purity, and
Of justice, and protectors of the widow, and
the fatherless, and defenders of the holy
= religion of Christ; and if needs be hun
bred thousand swords would leap from their
, scabbards in its depense, but we hope, that
7 time may never come. But, Sir knights,
learn to be brave, as well as courteous and
magnanmous.
, But of our Knightly dead, they rest
from their labors; they did their part well
while they lived. The Master babe them
lay down the sword of the spirit, and take
the crown of life, they are safely housed in
that asylum, where the wicked cease from
Q troubling and the weary are at rest. Their
y bodies rest in this beautiful grove, they will
sleep the years away until the voice Of
: God shall awake them in the morning oil