The Russellville Democrat., 1883-05-10


can or does conflict with their duties
TO God, their country, their neigh
bors, or themselves. Follow these
teachings which Masonry so truly
gives; live up to her wise and truth
full maxims, and one is true man.
To be good and true is one of the
first lessons we are taught in Ma
sonry. The same idea follows from
the first to the last step of Masonry.
In every portion OF her work there
is not single thought expressed CT
word spoken but what tends toward
godliness and morality. Again,
Masonry is purely phllanthropic in
her purposes. Relief is to her di-
vine attribute and the Importance OF
truth cannot be over estimated.
Such being the lesson of Masonry
and as she endeavors in every way
to inculcate those lessons into the
minds of her adherents = Is 20 iault
of the Institutioi. ssthaJ few OF her
adherents who have failed perhaps
through incapacity of intellect, or
inclination of mind TO comprehend
her grand moral lessons. If ones
mental capacity or moral inetlna-
tions are such that they cannot COM
prehend them, Masonry may teach
and preach forever, and yet fail to
impress upon their minds the sub
Unity and Importance of her lessons.
From the fact that their mental cal
iber is snch that they are incapable
of receiving, much less retaining,
these teachings.
II you want true Masons, make
them out of true men; manhood is
something more than an idle word.
The question may be asked, how are
you to avoid the 6rones, the block
heads, the useless members of Ma
sonry? | answer, cause your com
mittee to do their whole duty, use
the negative ball at the very com
mencement, and truly avoid the pain
full duty Of Masonic discipline. It
also happens that many lose inter-
est after they have received the full
fruition of Masonic light. They
we're led to expect more than that
particular lodge gave them. In other
words they heard certain words re
peated by certain officers and even
while they were being uttered they
knew that they were simply words
spoken but not lived up to by those
who spoke them, that the daily lite
of him who uttered them was in di-
rect controvention of the sentiments
uttered. In such cases the fault does
not wholly lie in the candidate. Had
he received Masonic light in true
manner he might have been impress
ed with being useful member of
our institution; he might have been
an active worker both in and out of
the lodge room.
The masters Of our lodges have a
great responsibility resting upon
their shoulders. In great measure
the future Masonic life Of those who
receive light at their hands rests
upon them. Such being the fact it
stands every master well in hand to
be a model master IN every sense of
the word. 1t is no less Il lamenta-
bic fact that there are many who are
elected to the responsible position of
master that are wholly unfit mental
~ and morally for that position.
Influences may have been brought
to bear to put them in the place that
they occupy and during their admin
istration not only their lodges but
the whole fraternity suffer. "As the
master SO the lodge" is an adage
that has great deal of truth in it.
A master inactive, selfish, egotisti-
cal, or devoid Of the true principles
of Masonry will gather around him
kindred spirits. They rule the lodge
to the detriment, not to the advance
ment, of Masonry. On the other
hand master who is a Mason in
all that the name implies finds him
self surrounded by true Masons. not
superficial ones, and their and his
influences are perceptibly felt in quail
| ity Of the work performed.
First impressions are very apt to
be lasting ones. If the candidates
first reception of light is given as it
should be, and as the spirit of the
ritual intends, with life and energy
combined, and rs if the master
meant every word he said, there is
left on the mind of the candidate
favorable impressions that are not
easily efaced; but if it is given in a
careless, don't-care manner, regard
less of precept or example, he retlres
from the room with feelings amount
ing almost to disgust; at the least,
with no favorable impressions of the
institution or of the solemnity and
Importance of the step that he has
taken. Under the careless, don't
care master, if the candidate turns
cut TO be drone, which sometimes
happens, that master must assume
greater part of the responsibility,
for in many cases had he performed
his whole duty as master and given
the solemn and impressive ceremo.
MES as they should have been the
candidate must indeed be block
head that falls to perceive their
beauties and symbolical illustra
tions.
Now, the remedy. Elect officers,
especially masters, that are Masons;
not Masons in name, bat genuine