Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1883-05-04
ADDRESS.
Delivered at N. E. Church by Rev. It.
J. Wheat, on the occasion of the
Laying of the Corner Stone of
the klrksyilie Business
College, April 81,
1888,

The great SirIJ ohm Hershell once said
"if We're to pray tor O. taete -p..ioh
should stand me under every variety OF
circumstance, and be source of happi
ness and cheerfuiness to me through
life and shield against its ills, however
things might go a miss, and the world
frown upon me, it would be taste for
reading. Give man this taste and
the means of gratifying it and you can
not fail Of making happy man, unless
you place in his hands most perverse
selection of books There is great
force in this statement. A student Is
constantly brought IN contact with the
best society ofevery period of the wold's
history, with the wlsest, wittiest,
tenderest, purest and greatest charac-
tiers that have ever adorned society.
You make such man denizen of all
nations, contemporary of all ages.
Such is the man who thoroughly I'M
| derStands Masonic history and princi-
pies. When l tell you to-day that Ma
sonic history maps the ages, assert a
recognized fact. When man placed
upon this earth, saw himself surround
ed by so many differently formed be-
ings, and such beauty ana grandeur
meeting his gaze everywhere. his mind
was filed with but one sentlment-In-
tense admiration! But on his dimly
compromising the mysteries which
were seen in the return of day and
night, light and darkness. the senti-
ment of admiration blended with graf
itude begat still another-a natural
product-wo rShip. From that day pure
men have loved the light. Masonry,
therefore, properly understood, Is a
moral and devotional institution estab-
lished by vlrtuous men. 1t is beauti.
full system of morality yelled in allegory
and illustrated by symbols. Truth is
its center-the point from which it di-
reefs its membership to knowledge of
the Great Architect of the Universe.
Masons accept the moral law and pro-
claim it the rule of life. What then
are the leading thoughts of the Deca-
logue? Are they not the love of God
and our nelghbors o! what JOY lies
sleeping here! Our mission Is to wake
it up. Let US be faithful to our views.
The language of Masonry is world wide;
it reaches back over to the very depths
of antiquity. From the commencement
we may trace IN plain and well defined
definitions the great principles of our
order. Ever since symmetry began and
harmony displayed her charms, our
mystic order has had an existence. No
art or no science preceded it. When
the science of Masonry was unveiled,
arts arose, civilization took place, schools
were established and knowledge gradu-
ally dispelled barbarism and ignorance.
With these facts before you, you I'M
ierstand why we encourage and take
such deep interest in institutions of
earning. During the dark ages Ma
;onry was the CONSERVATION not only of
literature in general, but especially of
he Holy Bible. 1t is therefore but
natural that we should care tor these.
am not hers to answer objections to
Masonry, suffice it to say that in many
hingS, what one regards as an excel L
ence another looks upon as cnrse.
'ome object to us because to the out
ide world there are mysteries in Ma Il
onry. Mystery signifies that portion q
t the doctrines of religions for which
eason is unable to account, and which
), therefore, wholly suspended On faith.
rom our standpoint this is common
alton. Take the deiiverance Of the L. Il
elites at the Red Sea or the life of
hrist and they present unsolvable t,
lysteries to. the rejection of Gods holy a
ord. Take the fact, the path through Il
le Sea. and Israel passing over dryshod, ii