Helena weekly herald., 1889-11-07
MASONIC.
Address of Ohas. q. Gould, Grand Orator,
before the Grand Lodge of Montana.
at Great Falls October 81, 1889.

Most Worshiptm Grand Master, Wdrdens
and Brethren: Whatever may have been
the usages of our ancient brethren, certain
il is that since the time when Masonry
was changed from an operative to wholly
speculative institution, it has been GUS
tom-almost worthy of being termed a
"landmark"-to appoint some brother to
present an annual address to the members
of the NJ w. G.. l.. upon some subject
germane to the mysteries of the craft.
In our territory the custom has been
more frequently "honored in the breach
than the observance" Not, indeed, for
want of oratorical ability, or for the alb
sence of scholastic attainments of Montana
Masons, but probably for the reason that
lodges were few and far between, the con-
yenlences of travel limited and uncertain,
and the transaction OF routine business
considered of more Importance than pan
egyrics or declamations.
Father Time has wrought great changes,
however, during the quarter century OF
Masonic life in this jurisdiction, and while
his remorseless fingers have furrOwed our
cheeks and silvered our hair and, some
times. alas! draped our lodge rooms with
the insignia of mourning, yet he has In
creased our membership by generous in
fux of young and jealous brethren, added
largely to the wealth and prosperity of the
territory-so dear to the hearts OF all true
Northumberland go increased our facilities
of travel that although additional work
has necessarily fallen upon the shoulders
of the G. L., yet withal we can find little
more leisure for fraternal chat and for the
discussion of topics congenial to our labOrs.
Fortunately the prosperity or perpetuity
of FIeemasonry does not depend, to any
considerable degree, upon the elOquence or
literary attainments of its followers and it
IS considered more important, by the craft
at large, to encourage by precept and ex-
ample the zeal which has ever existed
among its votaries to faithfully preserve it's
mysteries, than to multiply words, however
artistically they may be arranged.
If then the Masonic speaker succeeds in
saying some word that a brother can carry
away aud treasure up in the archives of
his memory as a truism, or relieve the
tedium of labor by Willing away a pleas
may well feel satisfied with his efforts, if
they do not shine with rhetorical splendor
or glitter with pearls of thought strung
upon golden threads of dramatically
construed speech.
labor under the disadvantage common
to Masonic speakers in this: That we are
only cleaners in a field whose golden har-
versts have been many times gathered by
hn-x IL
were in full accord with the grand SYM
phony of Freemasonry.
shave no particular subject to discuss,
or new and startling theories to present, but
will oOnfine my remarks principally to the
expression of thoughts that have occurred
to my mind as I contemplated the word
mystery"
A word, simple in its usual definition,
but considered from its influence upon Free
Masonry and upon the influence it has
exerted upon the destiny Of the human
family, as boundless as the universe. Any
thing mysterious in its character, whether
it be the mystery Of Free Masonry, religion
or any proposition or creed designed to
make men better for having investigated
lis teachings, is morally certain to call out
the opposition of the bigoted and narrow
minded few who have burdened the Earth
with their presence since God said, Lea
there be light"
The word, mystery, to these self-consti-
tuted critics, is potent emblem invented
by Pluto for the purpose of leading NOR
tails to immoral practices and disreputable
companionships but to the GOd-trusting
and truth-loying, the word has far differ
N fhapo II q tho kQv IN q
system of beautiful allegories written by
Ompipotent fingers, and designed to lead
man by peaceful paths to the pure springs
and sweet waters of morality and virtue,
where he may drink and be satisfied, even
as God has promised in His word, Whose
promises you accepted and on whose glow
ing pages your hands were placed, my
brethren, ere you were permitted to cross
the tesselated border and stand unchal-
lenged upon the checkered pavement of
Freemasonry.
1t would be utterly useless, and Mason
ically unusual to honor the first-men-
toned by answering their arguments, or
noticing their existence, although l shall
allude to them more particularly before
closing. But with the last mentioned l
hold all things in common and to them to
you, my brethren of the mystic tie, feeling
assured that whatever l may say which
has merit will be cordially received, and
that if, unfortunately, give expression to
thoughts inappropriate to the occasion
they will be excused by an application of
the fraternel charity, which should ever
prevail among Masons.
Let us begin with the first words which
fell upon our expectant ears when, on
bended knees we asked to be received
among the Sons of Light. "And the Earth
was without form and void and darkness
was1ur on the face of the Deep" Phebus
had not fashioned the royal chariot OF the
Sun: Diana, of the crescent moon, had not
hung her silver bow in the western horizon
and Sirius, the dog star. had not set his
silent watch in the sky. The mountains
were not; neither hill nor verdant plain,
nor smiling valley, to greet the tardy
morning; no leafy groves invited weary
life to cool shadows, dreamy rest and
'balmy Sleep" no bursting bud or perfect
flower or ripening fruit; no dewy morn or
fervent noon or evenings cooling breath;
no bright plumed bird shook the dew from
his breast and rose on buoyant wing to
warble his morning hymn to the
Creator; no babbling brook or
ripping lake to preaK tne
awful silence; no life but the quietness OF
death was everywhere. The inky dome of
starless sky settled down upon an inanimate
world; Night held her court in the halls OF
silence, and the black waves of sunless
ocean fell with remorseless fury upon the
snrf line of chaos.
LET there be light, the Almighty spoke,
Refulgent bea Us from chaos broke