The Wilmingtonian., 1886-04-10
The brotherhood of Man,


In a late number we pointed out that the
whole fabric of Fleemasonry had for its
foundation stone a belief in the Fathelhood
Of God. On this glorious basis do the Sons
of Light daily erect, to the honor aud glory
of the Creator, their moral and spiritual
ediiiee-"that house not made with hands,
eternal in the heavens" 1t is glorious
faith, noble heritage, that they have left
unto us, and in which we as IIranitos con.
tnually rejoice. But in addition to this great
and glorious truth, Freemasonry also
teaches the God inspired doctrine of "tbe
Brotherhood Of Man, doctiine next in
Importance to the former and one which,
when used from the proper standpoint, is tile
natural sequella aud elimination of the
other. The two combined teach the essence
Of purity and virtue, and are the c:owning
glory of truth
The Brotherhood Of Man! What an i'm.
mense vastness there is in the thought. 1t
sweeps away with breath the bigotry of
churchism, the sectarianism of creed and
the prejudice oC color, race and nationality.
1t is the echo Of the voice of God to draw
the mind of man far, far back into the dim
and distant past it reveals to him the era
in which there must have been race Of only
one nationality, of only one creed. 1t takes
him to the earliest period Of the worlds his
tory, and opens TO his vision the marvels aud
myster les Of the creation.
The Mason who thoroughly grasps this
idea Of the Brotherhood of man, has master
ed one of the poignant features Of our philos-
ophy. To tbluk that there is a society,
whose members are Of every cline and count
ry who worship at the altar Of the Christian
and the shrine Of the Moslem who bow the
knee to Nshnu aud believe ia the dogma of
the Chrsma. and yet stand united in one
common faith, bowing the head in reverence
to one Great God, aud faithful to each other
as Brethren sprurg from one common parent.
The Mason may know not the language Of
his Brother he may not possess talent, posi-
tiOn or fame yet in the Lodge he is equal,
perchancc his supeliur-at all events he is
Brother, and as Brother be has the right
to appeal to him in distress, difficulty or
danger.
No other organization can lay claim 10 this
tangible Brotherhood, because no other be-
lieves in the one common Fatheihoud.
This is the real secret of the difference be-
tween the Brotherhood Of man, as taught
and practiced by Frccmasonry, aud that Of
the brotherhood Of all other so-called secret
societies 1t matters not where the Mason
goes, Or to hat branch Of the Oldcl or Rite
he may belong, he can find friend ami a
Brother if lie himself be lsed in Cur uni
yersal language. Thousands and tens III
thousands Of instances bear testimony of the
real, trrc Brothelhoud that exists amongst
Craftsmen. On tile battlefield, amidst tie
roar Of cannon ami the latJe Of muskCtry,
the IL. 5. of ID, has buru rcrogt lied ard
answered. In The II. aguc-s;ricken hospital
the Masonic tie has prov It's worth On
the sto my deep, wien death Star.d brave
men in the face the Masonic cry for heIp
| las been responded to with readiness and
eager haste. THIS is that Brotherhood #
man which Masonry, urd which MlSums be-
ievc in, up'.o'd and practice. It is Bro
therhood based on holy Fathcrhooa.
| 1t is a strange SIGHT to those who under
/ stand not our mysteries, tOuOtc how quickly
men who ac Numerically opposed to each
other in politics and religion coalrsuc when
they Iiud they beltng to the same. noble
/ Order. How can Mason fail to feel and
act as a Brother towards every lIramtc,
when he remembers the solemn obligations
he has voluntarily assumed, aud the sacred
| pledges he has given to his Brethren from
the Most High God? 1t is impossible for a
true Freemason to be a bad man. OF course,
there are many lIi.amitcs who never either
care for or appreciate single lesson taught
in the Lodge room and who consequently
! were never Brethren. They were members