The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-06-11

gard 10 all discussions which nay lad 10 the
eart-burnings and ncnfEl distress of "a low
thoughts, good and noble. In fact, it is for a
Mason 20 be true 10 himself. 90 be true TO his
neighbor. TO be true TO his country and 10 be
true 10 his Cod. These are the attributes and
grand characteristics OF good Mason.
We are not speaking to allure the ignorant and
unthinkfng masses with the belief that Masonry
is great reformatory school; neither should
IL be understood that this is propaganda effort,
By specious or seeming sentimental iaudation,
10 induce tie outside masses 70 seek admission
into the fraternity; Freemasonry invites none
70 her portals All must come, IL they come 81
all OF their own free win and accord, and none
but the worthy and well qualified need apply.
We have q higher aim, and eschew, as
Mason, all Efforts at poruiarizing Masonry out
side Of the exemplidcation of its principles in
the upright and useful lives OF its members,
their efforts 70 improve and benefit their fellow
beings and excmplifying the great principles OF
its charity. Freemasonry needs no ecoraium
There she stands and has stood from time i'm
memorial. Let her speak for herself Look at
her, ye thoughtful and unprejndiced. See the
great good she has accomplished for the human
race and judge FOR yourselves.
Masonry is non-sectarian- We believe sec
tarisnism h9s no proper conception OF ine
urai tendency of sectarianism is 10 narrow
mans conception OF the Divine Being and TO
narrow his relations TO his fellow men. II 10 m
imical TO the fraternity in a wide sense. and
hence foreign and opposed to the universal
principles of Masonry. IL does not recognize a
common brotherhood nor common Father,
while Masons follow, even TO the grave, the re-
mains of those who are not OF the same creed,
faith or opinion, the only question being asked
"Is he my brotherz
Deity, comprchendng the attributes OF omnipo-
tence, omniscience and omnipresence, recog-
nize the power. wisdom and love of God in the
embodiment OF universal nature; the. efficient
means provided to supply all possible true
needs Of His children, aud that universal hu-
msnity are one family, and that all live, move
and have their being IN one Parent. Masonry,
therefore, makes no distinction among men. IL
Acknowledges all as brothers, among sll nations,
tongues and creeds; but in its aims an or
ganization to improve and benefit mankind,
position, manifested by their lives, TO cooperate
in promoting the objects of the institution.
IL this effort no distinction nor differences
among men are known as to place OF birth. OF
race, creed or opinion: but those only of what
ever nation, tongue or creed are privileged to
unite in its useful and beneficial aims who have
an established character for integrity, upright
ness. love of their kind, and are well known for
their efforts in behalf of humanity, and as pos
sess.ng kind, fraternal and benevolent disposi-
soas The principles q Masonry are psser cal
Divine Being in the phenomenal manifestations
OF nature, the universal exemplar through
which iScd teaches all human beings the mode
and manner of His government.
Ali aims are only valuable So they are useful
To be employed should be mans aim in indi-
yidual or associative effort. God never intended
renew his energies. Human beings are finite
and subject to natures Limitations, and there
fore need rest. God is infinite, and is cease
lessly az work through the instrumenfalities of
His laws in unfolding phenomenal nature. In
God
In order. therefore, to be useful in promoting
civilization, as God designed he should be, he
must exercise his faculties to unfold his interior
perceptions.
Man can only be useful as he is intelligent,
hat
he has the greater his capacity for usefulness
Man should, therefore, exercise his faculties,
expand them in increasing knowledge, so THAT
he can more ably cooperate and fulfill the
design OF the Creator in advancing civilization
and to add to the comfort and happiness of his
felow-nen.
promoting useful knowledge aud in conducing
TO the welfare and happiness OF mankind. Such
should be its aim; otherwise it is of but little
use, and, like the non-prodncer, would only be
an impeachment to the worlds progress.
We believe that the principles OF Free
masonry, outwrought in their fullness, are the
best ever devised by man to promote his hsppi-
ness in this life and advance him to higher
spiritual life. The visible and invisible worlds
are all embraced in Gods universe. God is a
spiritual being. Man is a physical and spiritual
being, designed by nature to reflect Gods own
image. The physical is subject to the limita-
tions OF nature. The spiritual is not subject to
any limitations 1t is the spiritual that is the
the psyscaI man This 81 sublime s.son Gs
taught by every symbol of Masonry.
Masonry teaches more. 1t teaches that the
spiritual never loses its consciousness. The in
telligenco it possesses and all that it has ac-
quired in the development of its individuality
1t carries with it into spirt life, and ever con-
tinues TO develop its individuality in its pro-
gress through the eternal spheres. The spirit
ual is not buried with the physical Life is
eternal. These are the highest teachings of
Masonry as illustrated by its mystic symbols,
which to the thinking Mason speak a various
language"
Kind friends, be patient aud bear with us
while we continue these thoughts little farther,
Masonry. The spiritual is within all expressions
OF man and all OF natures productions. Within
is the spiritual life the true life the outer is only
the manifestation OF life All objective nature,
wrought manifestation of life. Objective
nature is the outwrought of invisible
elements combining according 10 Atm
into concrete material and are reduced again to
elements. The rock and the tree, all objective
materialty. become invisible. Natures life is
an incessant and continual change: in other
words. change is the great law of nature ave
shall all be changed in the twinkling of an eve
and this mortal shall put on immortality" we
read in the sacred writings In the ultimate all
things become invisible, but there is nothing
lost in all natures changes This brief iliustrs.
uon is convincing proof of mans immortality.
As nothing is lost in nature, so consciousness.
the ultimate of Gods phenomenal manifesto.
tons. Gods medium, through which man he
comes co-worke- with Him, can lose nothing
that il has acquired in being Invested of tho m %
;erial body. That the soul is immortal is one OF
the sublime lessons taught by Missionary A the
consciousness Is never in allegiance, and as God
works in and through uses only, the spirit
LIE OF man must have purpose. That pur-
pose, as God never works in vain, must be in the
unfolding of the consciousness TO higher attain
ments. In view of the eternal life, life, then, in
the material form is most important and not to
be trihed with or fritteFed away in the frivolous
manner II frequently is. Free Masons, Of all
men. should give this subject their earnest at.
tention, for the subject specially pertains 10
Masonic teachings.
The study OF man, the chief and most i'm
portant OF all subjects, erect in form. with com
mandlng figure, Is that TO which Free Nasons
should give their attention. II should be ali.
absorbing. IL embraces more than can be writ.
ten or spoken. The study of man, man formed
IN Gods own likeness, how great the theme,
how sublime the subject The eopsideration
that the thought in the mind of Deity TO create
a being formed alter his own image, involved
the gradual process through iliinlitsble ayes
70 produce the condition throug h the fuIfiIl,
ment OF natures forces in phenomenal man.
ifestntions TO attain the grand end in the
conscious human being appearing on the stage
OF mundane life These thoughts are particu.
larly addressed to the brethren of the ssNvstic
Tie" in the hope that some at least however
lew, may turn Their thoughts 10 the study o.
themselves, the aim and objects OF life and in
the progress OF investigation they will not only
learn more OF the nature and attributes and
mode OF Gods government, but that the study
NAsN SsNShtt aNsA ~ tNSlE HHEKekLCSc ADQ give
them the conscious conviction o: eternal life "a
taught by our beloved order
As we have here today laid the corner stone
OF our temporal Masonic building. SO may these
thoughts be to US, one and all. as foundation
stones upon which TO erect oUrtutu moral and
spiritual Masonic edihce; and as the cement
here spread Will cause this cornerstone 10 ad.
mere 10 the superstrueturs. SO may we, my
brethren, continue during life 10 spread that
cement OF hrothsrly love and affection which
binds Us together in bonds OF brotherhood IS
strong as iron bands, while its application is as
Can-ln thnaad - ~. a. -