The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1883-02-28

demand that the plans we shall conceive
shall correspond, in the grandeur and
beadth of their conception, with the
exalted honors which we enjoy. IF the
high dignities and sounding titles we
possess be our only qualifications to en-
tighten the craft and the world in res
pect to the aims and objects of Freema-
sorry, we shall merit the denunciation
so justly pronounced against those who
assume duties they are not qualified to
perform. 1t is not given unto all of us
toaccomplish some great work, bywhich
our names shall be perpetuated after we
are dead, but there is no man SO humble
or 50 devoid Of talents, that he may not
accomplish something to make the
world the better for his having lived in
it, and to impress
Footprints on the sands Of timen
which even, although they may be ef-
faced by the first rising of the tide. shall
while they remain, mark the path trod
in the performance of duties rendered
not unwillingly and solely because thew
are duties, but because they tend to the
accomplishment of a noble end, and
some one, it may chance to be a stranger
and an migrate, is to be benefited there
by. 1t is said that celebrated Egyp-
tologist discovered tomb of the god
Apis, which had never been opened. On
entering, he says, for the first time. he
beheld distinctly marked on the delicate
bed Of sand which covered the soil. the
impression of the foot prints Of the
workmen who three thousand, seven hun
bred years ago, had placed the image
OF the god on his couch and then retir-
ed. AS no one knows, or cares to know.
the names of the workmen who. nearly
forty centuries ago, left this, the ONLY
record OF their existence, SO it may be
T. tno one will know, or care to know.
our Games, but it is possible for us to ac-
complish, in the few years which are
allotted to us to labor in the Lodge fer
restrial that which, forty centuries
hence, aye, for all eternity, will work
for good or evil, and thus it happens that
our deeds are Of moreimportance to those
who shall come after US than we our
selves are. Men seldom pause to INQUIRE
whose hand traced or whose brain in
spircd statute which confers benefit
or works an injury, but the consequence
resulting from its enactment make thu
law itself the object Of respect or denun
citation. What we shall do here thi.
year may be undone by those who shall
stand in our places another year, but tn,
consequences Of our acts are for all tim,
and cannot be undonc. Thus it become
us to consider we'll the results which ar,
to follow our acts and judgments, les
we infiict an injury where we inten,
comforting benefit, or render a iudp
ment which shall work an irreparabl
wrong where we design admir- isterin,
impartial and exact justice.
Let us, my brethren, approach tn
: labors and duties which have summone,
us once more from our homes to Assem-
bic in Annual Grand Communication
with that degree Of calm deliberatiol
; which their grave Importance demands
remembering that it is but the work q
a moment to abrogate law or usag
3 which for many years has been
, bulwark Of safety to the brotherhoo
: and to set up in its place another
2 which at best may prove to be but a
r experiment Of doubtful expediency.
. am led to endeavor TO impress these cor
8 siderations upon your minds by som,
? what protracted examination Of OH
9 proceedings, made with view to recor