Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1886-10-29

JUST so IL is IN all communities; yet the
influence of Masonry, though the cause is
unseen, has everywhere been felt for good,
the wonder of all save those within her
walls, and her charity has heen so dispens.
ed. that not only members, irregular in
lodge attendance, but even the recipients
themselves in many instances are igno-
rant whence the relief has come. Unselfish
In purpose, untiring in zeal a nd unwearied
III effort for the attainment of noble ends.
she should have universal approval. On
the contrary, the shafts of envy, malice,
and ignorance have Outlines been hurled
at her, but panoplied In the armor of con-
sclous rectitude, they have fallen harmless
ly at her feet. nor has she ever stepped
aside to essay public defence. for Ma
sonry neither seeks, nor wants, nor needs
defence. She has witnessed the rise and
fall of princes and potentates, the grnysN
and decay Of kinG doms and angssssss
unchanging and INC "a sszs1'' 10
day after ssssFs sgos, strong as when
qssss ..ssG sJarted on her career proud mon
ument to chose who originated and those
ting the cardinal virtues of Temperance,
Providence, Fortitude and Justice.
The speaker then proceeded to correct
the impression, which he said obtained IN
many minds, that Masons regard the Order
as substitute for the Church. While
the Bible was the foundation and corner
stone of Masonry and if Masons lived up
to their professions they could not fail to
live good lives, yet they in no way censid-
cred the order substitute for the Church,
which had divine mission, higher,
grander. holier mission-t0 which Mason
ry could only lend a feeble, helping hand
the redemption of a sin-stricken world.
The speaker then introduced the orator
of the evening. Companion and Worship
full Brother, r. I. w. Duke, Jr., Past
Master of Widows Son Lodge, of Char
lottesville.
MR.. DUKES ADDRESS.
Mr.. Duke said:
History" says the philosopher, s'cou nts
time not by the Hours, but by the Ages.''
Standing in the presence of an organiza-
ton whose origin Is lost in the mists Of
antiquity, we may we'll say, masonry
counts time, not by the centuries, but by
the cycles" The speaker then disclaimed
the idea of dwelling upon the antiquity of
the order, or of @extolling it's deeds Of
charity and kindness, believing that they
spoke for themselves; and after short
allusicn to the Centennial of the Lodge
aud of the noble men whose names were
on its rolls, reminded them of the fact that
in the year of its foundation one Mason
Edmund Burke-was thrilling England
with his eloquence in the Warren Has
ting's impeachment, and another-Robert
Burns-in that year published the first
collection of his poemsI
He said that his first idea was to choose
that period es the subject of bis address,
or to contrast it with the present century,
and from it draw auguries of the future,
but remembering that sly yesterday is
Times, Tomorrow Gods, To-day alone
our own," he preferred to address them
upon questions Of the day.
The speaker then alluded to the grave
questions that face the present generation
and said that the peculiar characteristic
of the age was ''Haste, (" and a mad desire
to get wealth. This hurrying madness
had permeated all ranks of society, and
the rapid accumula ton of wealth. hafs,
brought about dangerous il-feeS MOE ss.s
tween capital and labor. AS one 4
factors in making men conag
Masonic Order was not tcsxss
and he Lad accordiscsss
subject of his add ss9 ;s.s II
of Free MasoSs
The speaker "a q: d ssss sss2ry
by itself could ho#x s. s. haste
and evil t9udeEoieslss gbut that,
as it tended to make 2z Sentative, it
could give great aid in helping all efforts
in that direction. The conservatism of
the order was then shown at length and
with some particularly of detail, by de-
scribing it's adherence to an unchanging
and interchangeable ritual, and to anc lent and
venerated customs and ideas; that it incul-
Gated respect for ancient landmarks, and
enforced habits of obedience and admira-
ton for law and order, and its teachings
tended to make men respect each others
natures, foibles and needs.
A sharp contrast was drawn between
the orders that only admitted laborers in
the narroWest sense Of the word to their
membership. and the Masonic order which
knew no class-rich or poor-brain or
hand-worker. and the speaker urged with
much force, that by uniting wage-payer
and wage-earner in Masonic lodges much
might be done to reconcile the laborer and
the capitalist.
AS last and still stronger evidence of
its conservatism. he alluded to the fact
that the tendency Of all Anarchists was
to Atheism, and that Atheism and Ma
sonry could not exist together. Across
the portal of her mysteries stands the i'm
penetrable bar that turns back the rash
"there is no God.''
TIE necessity of belief in God and re-
spect for Gods laws, was then urged as
the greatest need of the age. and as the
only remedy for the diseases of the body
polite, and the spread of Masonry.and a
faithful adherence to its truths was insist
ed upon as one of the means to the desired
end of the happiness Of the human race.
The speaker concluded with the following
peroration: who can foresee the good
she may not accomplish! Servant of the
Most High God Handmade of Religion!
Changeless amidst the ever. changing tide
of time, she remains to day the same as
when Hiram first taught her secrets To-
morrow and Tomorrow and tomorrow she