St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-04-26
MASONRY IN HISTORY.
Address OF A. L. Ankeny ut the Rose
Croix Banquet, West Hotel.
Masonry n Motive Power--Allusion
10 the Eight-Hour Rule.

Wise Master, Sir Knights ana Ladies: i
would be most happy to respond to your
toast Masonry in History" II knew Just
what you wanted me to tell you. 1 sup
pose you do not expect me at this late
hour of the evening to give you detailed
history of Masonry, its origin and the
prominent events in its career. Its origin
is best portrayed in Bible language. Thou
canst not tell whence it cometh, nor
whether il gOeth." 1t has been so modest
too in its movements that its prominent
events have not protruded themselves upon
the world and history, as history makes
but little mention of them.
Nevertheless, wise Master, l take it
upon me To say that of all merely human
associations there is no one which has con-
tributed so much 10 the civilization of the
world. From the earliest times, when the
temple shone from the heights of Mount
MOriah, and later on. when Christianity be-
came the new law of the earth, when the
Crusader travelled to the Holy land, when
learning revived from the dark ages. when
our own government was born. and even
down TO the present time. in all these great
eraS, the influence of Masonry has per-
meated every important movement, and
stamped upon it its own glorious image. 1t
came not along all this way as the con-
queTor comes. Its mission has not been
that of either the statesman or
the warrior. 1t has never sought to work
revolutions either in the political or religious
world. Its aim and mission has been that
rather of the educator, enlightening and
liberallZing the mind starting into action
the sluggish movement of the heart, and SO
molding and controlling mankind to a nobler
and higher destiny. History informs us
that it has been the great undercurrent that
bore along humanity in allits stages. When
great and important truths were buried be-
meath the shocks Of civil war, when princi-
Piles dear to the race were obScured by ped
antry and imbecllitY. when the rack
and faggot and thumbScrew were
made the chosen instruments for
the propagation of religious faith,
there sat this splendid queen OF wisdom in
her lodge teaching the lessons that We're TO
save the world. There was taught the
principles upon which alone good govern
ment may rest. such as respect for conSti-
tuted authority, sacredneSS for ancient land
marks, the equality of all men. and the in
alien2ble rights of conscience. These were
the eorner-stones of Masonry, and they are
to-day the corner-stoneS or
| MODERN ENLIGHTENED SOCIETY.
OF such power had the influence OF such
teachings become, when our own govern
ment was about TO be formed, that you can
scarcely find a principle declared in our
constitution that had not for years be-
fore been defended and urged in the
Masonic bodies. 1t is significant
fact that the emblems Of Masonry are
found upon the very moneyed currency OF
the government, and its designs imprinted
upon many of our public records.
l think can best illustrate the peculiar
influence of money upon society by refer
ring TO an important question now seriously
confronting the country. / mean the de-
mand of labor for an eight-hour rule. 1t is
singular that a question like this only now
comes up for solution, and that there is
not in law or practice uniform rule as to
what term shall constitute a days labor.
In one calling it Is ten hours. in another
twelve, in others fifteen or sixteen. This
lack of uniformity exists not. only here but
all over the world. 1t is not for
US here to say what that term shall
| be. but it would would seem that
a question OF so much moment to this
world should receive frank explanation.
Now, how does Masonry deal with il? For
hundreds of years, and at the very thresh-
| old, it has always taught its candidates the
| importance of rightly dividing their time.
The implement shown them is emblematic
OF the twenty-fOur hours of the day, and
there they are taught to divide into three
equal parts of eight hours each, and one of
which is allotted TO our usual avOeations.
Here we find the fair division of nature, and
upon it Masonic wisdom long since set its
seal. do not undertake to say that the
present discussion of the question has any
thing TO do with Masonry, but do say that
like leaven in the lump, the effect of its
teachings is now becoming manifest in so
ciety at large, and it will not stop until a
satisfactory adjustment has been reached.
! If it be true that its Interpretation of the
law of Nature is correct, you may depend
upon the consequences, for l never knew
in al, its history failure to see fulfilled an
effort which it sanctioned.
Thus it is Masonry may be seen in his
tory, not as the fire or the whirlwind, but
as 1.-The still, small voice." guiding and
controlling the worlI.