The Republican journal., 1892-03-17
MASONIC ADDRESS.


MARCH STH, ON THE OCCASION OF THE
sEvENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF PHE-
NIX LODGE OF MASoNs.
Phoenix Lodge of Free and Accepted
Masons celebrates on this occasion the
seventy fifth anniversary of its organiza-
ton as a Lodge. Its officers and mem
bers believe, and justly so, that an exist
ence for so long period. though com
pared with the age of Masonry itself it is
brief indeed, is worthy of commemoration,
and so they meet to- night with their
families, their brethren Of the mystic tie
and their other invited guests, to cele-
brate in a becoming manner this anniver-
sary of their Lodge. They believe that
Phoenix Lodge is entitled to your congrat-
ulatiOns tonight, not merely because 1t
| has lived for three quarters OF a century,
for the man, or the society. that has no
! better or higher claim to the good opinion
of mankind than length of days. is not
entitled to congratulations. The lives of
men are Justly measured not by years but
| by worth; not by length OF days, bat by
their works are they to be Judged. The
standard that is applied to men, should be
applied to all associations and organiza-
tons of men. Phoenix Lodge invites your
presence here this evening and seeks your
commentator and good Wishes not. | Re
peat. because it has lived these many years,
but because during all that period it has
proved itself worthy of the grand princi-
pies and noble purposes upon which are
founded the ancient and honorable frater
nifty OF which it forms part: because OF
the upright character and sterling worth
of those whose names have been during
these years borne upon its roll of member
ship; because of its many acts of beneti-
cence to those in want and in trouble; be
cause of its patriotic stand in the time of
| the nations peril, when its members by
scores enlisted under the flag OF the
! Union; because of the influence for good
which it has ever exerted in this commu-
nifty. Its records. private and public,
written or Evolutionary, disclose no act,
no effort, no thought. which can bring re-
proach upon the masonic fraternity, or
the blush of shame to the cheek of any
member of the Order. Its long life is I'M
furnished by injustice, falsehood or inhu-
manity, but is rather replete with benefi-
cence and well doing. Its members are
justified tonight in confidently submit
ting its career, its life, its reputation to the
judgment Of the community in which it
has existed.
Notwithstanding its many years, Pho
IuA IoClSt COIltS llOl lulS evening W LII lllc
decrepitude and WEAKNESS which SO many
years bring to man, but rather it appears
in the pride of its strength in the vigor
of manhood. 1t is no dying gladiator sa-
luting you as the final effort of his life
but it is rather a valiant knight with vizor
down and lance in rest eager for the com
ING battle. Its finger is pointed backward
with pride to its past career but its face
is still to the front. ready in its strength
with courage and hope. to meet the du-
ties and do the work which future years
may bring. We believe that its past is
but an earnest of its future: that the good
which shall emanate from it in the COM
ing century will richly fulfill the promise
of its earlier years; that its career of use
fulness has but commenced
OF the past history of this Lodge in de
tail, of the worthy brethren who have in
the years that are past sat within its walls
but who have now gone before to the Grand
Lodge above, over which the Supreme
Architect of the Universe prestles, it is
not my province to speak. That duty has
been committed to other brethren who
have ably and faithfully performed the
trust. In listening to their recitals of the
history Of the Lodge. and of the illustri-
Gus men who have been numbered among
I
grand old organza ton and rejoice that
we, too, have been found worthy to lie
enrolled among its members.
In the brief time which now remains to
me | propose to speak somewhat of Free
/ Masonry in general. | do not address
myself so much to those present who be
long to the Fraternity, as to those who are
unacquainted with the mysteries and prin-
ciples of the Order
OF the origin Or history of Masonry
shall not attempt to speak. 1t matter,
not to us whether solomon. King of Is
rael was the founder of Free Masonry,
as masonic tradition teaches, and as most
Masons believe, OF whether Masonry eX-
listed in some form centuries before Solo
mon ruled in Israel. as many are of opin-
ion. or whether it originated since the be
ginning of the Christian era. In any
event, it is an ancient institution. hallow-
ed by age and venerable in its antiquity
\ more vital question with Us is what is
Masonry to-day.
\ recent writer on Masonry has said
There is no society so widely known
and yet so little known as that of Free
and Accepted Masonry. This remark is
true. All over the world Masonry is
known. The square and compass wher
/
this ancient fraternity. And yet, though
so widely known and SO universally recog-
nized, little is known by those who are
not members of the craft of the princi-
pies upon which Masonry is based, or the
purposes for which it exists. Its secret
ceremonies and mystic symbols excite
curiosity and invite discussion to such an
extent that most people regard these to
be the very essentials of the fraternity.
But the grand principles upon which this
society is founded, the truths which
underlie the great fabric of Free Mason
ry, the noble purposes for which it is sup
ported and maintained, are little discuss
ed and but little known.
But it may be, and is said, that Mason
ny is a secret society, and none but its in
itiates can rightfully know or correctly be
informed of either its mysteries or it's pur-
poses. You give us, they say, no oppor-
tunity to pass judgment upon your soci
ty.
In one sense, for certain purposes, Ma
sonry is a secret fraternity. But Masonry
does not consist merely OF mainly, as
many suppose, of secrecy and mystery.
These are in no respect it's essentials.
They may be termed the accessories of
the order, factors which conduce to the
perpetuity, the integrity, the unity of the
society. They are means to an end. They
teach by illustration, they initiate the
| truths and the Sllhlimp rrincinIeS of the