The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1889-01-24
FREE MASONRY ABLY DEFENDED.
fContinued Prom First p,oo \

Gle do not fathers and mothers hold
secret councils. In the lonely watch.
es Of the night or before the arrival Of
mornings gray dawn, in the privacy
of home or in remote seclusion, faith
ers and mothers confer together on
matters that prudence keeps from the
ears Of their children. Because OF
this should governments and the do.
nestle relation be scattered and abol-
ished? The proposition is futile, inn
potent, absurd.
No fears need be entertained of Ma
sonry. She numbers among her mem
bers the grandest men of every nation,
and from the twilight of history the
Masonic fraternity Boosted the posses
sion of the patriot and men Of purity,
the statesman and men Of prob,ty and
worth, and the giants Of intellectually
the world over. The patriotism OF the
order cannot be questioned. The en-
blems of the order which were on the
breast Of George Washington com.
pletely dissipates the charge. Can
you charge it with antagonism to re-
ligion? Let the 10000 bishops, priests
and Iaymen belonging to the church
of England reply. There are secrets
of Masonry-objects and principles
that unfortunately were a secret to too
many, but they could be solved and
discovered by investing 81 so in book
that was as easily obtained as q Bible
or school book. The only secrets Of
the order were those which experience
teaches are necessary for the preser.
walton Of unity, the Strengthening OF
the bonds of fraternity, and Tor rem.
deling possible and facilitating reeog-
milton, and these secrets are the right
full property OF the members OF the
order. These secrets are no more
than belong to the members of all ma
tons, Of all families, of all congresses,
conclaves and considerations OF men
who band together for mutual protec-
ton and the proper exercise OF charity
and benevolence.
Concluding his remarks to those
without the pale, he directed his dis
course to the members Of the order,
pointedly asking what was the duty
of Mason? and answering that it
was to love, obey and pray to his God ;
to be a good man, a good citizen, an
upright, honest man, to be generous,
pure and true in every walk of life.
But many Masons do not live up to
Masonic principles. Granted The
objection, however, is two-edged
sword, which is dangerous to handle.
1t is a melancholy fact that hundreds
Of those who profess Christianity-nay
hundreds Of men who have taken up
on themselves ministerial VOWS, and
who essay to preach and teach the
Word OF God, profane His holy name
and pollute the cause OF Christianity
with their own deflement-"they have
stolen the livery of heaven to serve
the devil" And shall we abandon the
cause Of Christianity and religion be-
cause OF this? mol no! Though
many men are wearing the garb OF
religion who are unworthy the name,
this cannot be used as an argument
against it. Cucifer, the son of the
morning, waged war against God, and
was precipitated over the battlements
of heaven.
Masonry has nothing to fear except
from tn, delinquences Of those who,
belonging to the order, are unworthy
of the order.
The lecturer explained the objects
symbols and paraphernalia of the
lodges and some Of its workings, ex-
planning that on entering, upon the
altar was seen the Bible-the same as
that from which ministers OF the COS
pei are required to select their texts
before preaching Gods woodland as
serted that as long as Masonry lasted
the Bible would be loved, respected
and read, and would never become
obsolete.
The oath Of Masonry was solemn
thing. 1t was taken honestly, rever-
emily and on Bonded knees, with one
hand resting on the Bible. The obi.
cation, like baptism, was only admin
istered once. Once o Mason always
Mason, but it depended upon the in
dividual whether he made himself a
good OF bad Mason. 1t was taken
voluntarily. No one was ever dragged
in and compelled to take it. 1t mus;
be taken OF ones own free will.
Do you know why any one has new
er asked you to become Mason? He
dare not. The ordor must be sought
out it is not seeking.
Referring again to the duties of a
Mason, the lecturer exhorted his hear
ers to remember that they carried with
them their obligation into every walk
OF life and at all times. The princi-
Piles OF the order take hold Of the very
roots of our natures and raise us up
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