The Republican journal., 1892-03-17

it has adopted and which it prescribes as
the rule and guide Of human conduct, the
beneticent and human purposes which it
strives to attain, these are no secrets.
Though they are not proclaimed from the
house top.-for Masonry tolerates no
boasting or PROSECUTING they are and
have always been publicly avowed and
freely and fully communicated by Masons.
All public ceremonies are replete with
these characteristics They have the
place of honor in all public Masonic adj
dresses and in all the standard books on
Masonry The profession and practice of
these truths and principles and purposes
constitute true Masonry They are the
essential requisites of the order.
OF what do these characteristics consist?
In a general way they are expressed in the
three words so conspicuous in Masonry
Faith, Hope and Charity To fully eN-
press the truths and principles of Mason
ry however. these words must be under
stood and construed in no narrow sense.
but must be taken in their fullest broad
est and most liberal signihcation.
Faith, in Masonry, includes the great
est of all Truths, belief in God. No man
can lawfully be made a mason who does
not have and profess a belief in the exist
ence of Deity, Masonry does not seek to
control man conception OF God. it does
not require belief in the God of the Jew
OF the Gentle but it does require of all
its members Il firm belief in the one SUI
preme Being in the Over ruling Power
who holds as in the hollow of his hand
the destinieS of the world and of mankind.
No atheist can rightfully be admitted a
! Mason.
| Masonry not only recognizes this great
truth but it seeks on all occasions. in its
secret work as well as on public occa-
sions, and in masonic writings. to incul-
cate this truth, and impress it upon the
hearts of men. In its rituals, in all ma
sonic documents, even in its emblems, the
idea of God is prominently and impress
sively expressed. Faith in masonry in
cludes not only faith in God but also faith
in man-faith in his almost infinite capa-
bilities, a hope and faith in his final des-
tiny. In no other order or society of men,
not even in the Christian Church. is The
hope of the immortality of man more inn
pressively expressed and inculcated than
in the fraternity of Free and Accepted
Masons
And now abideth faith, hope and char
ity, these three; and the greatest of these
is charity ''Charty envieth not, Char
ity vaunteth not ITSELF Charity never
faileth." | am not certain that the great
Apostle, whose words | quote, was not a
Free and Accepted Mason. He may never
have been admitted within the body of
any Masonic Lodge. he may not have
been instructed in the esoteric parts of
masonry, the non-essentialS of the craft,
but surely in that magnificent chapter
from which the language | have quoted is
taken, he truly and fully defines and de-
scribes the masonic conception OF that
greatest of virtues, Charity.
To visit the sick, feed the hungry
clothe the naked and bind up the wounds
of the afflicted is the duty of every Ma
son. Though he is especially expected to
minister to the wants and relieve the dis
tress Of brother Mason for all Masons
are regarded as brethren of one great
family, each OF whom has peculiar claims
upon every other, vet universal benevo-
lence is required of all Masons, and i'll
masonic practice ''Charity never faileth.'
The true Mason is ever ready to relieve
the distress of suffering humanity. Ma
sonic 'Charity vaunteth not itself" Ma
sonic acts OF charity are not performed to
gain the praise of men, OF to be exhibited
to the gaze of the world. but are dis
pensed quietly, unostentatiously. often III
secret. Masonic charity envieth not. 1t
is charitable in it's opinions and judg-
!
men. The original of all existing fra
ternal organizations. masonry extends a
welcome to all societies which have for
their object the improvement Of mankind.
1t rejoiceS in their success: it extends its
sympathy in adversely. 1t believes the
field of labor to be broad enough for all
philanthropic Institutions 1t is chart
table towards the beliefs and opinions of
all men. 1t condemns no man on account
of his religious belief or his political con
victions. To be good men and true is the
first lesson taught in masonry Masonry
requires no more than this Of its Nom
hers: it is satisfied with no less Being
good men and true, they may exercise
their opinions, enjoy their beliefs, indulge
! their fancies each as his conscience may
dictate Over what may be deemed their
errors and weaknesses, their foibles and
their faults, their brethren cast the broad
mantle o1 masonic charity.
Masonry teaches men to he good citi-
Gems, obedient to law and to constituted
authority: it eAhorts them to be true to
their government and Just to their coun-
try. At the same time it requires justice
and moderation on the part OF those in
authority. and no men are more prompt
than MaSonS to resist. with force if nee
essary. the entertainments of oppression
and tyranny.
The famous Boston Tea Party as
sembled at the lodge room of st. An
drews Lodge of Masons, of which Joseph
Warren was Master before proceeding ON
their patriotic mission, and Washington
was a Master Mason long before he was
made Commander in Chief of the Cont
mental armies.
But no words of mine can state the du-
ties imposed by the principles and prac-
tice of masonry so simply, and yet so
clearly as they are defined in a charge
given to every masonic candidate during
the ceremonies of his initiation. ''There
are three great duties which as a Mason
you are charged to inculcate-to God, to
your neighbor and yourself To God in
never mentioning His name but with that
reverential awe which is due from crea-
ture to his Creator, to implore His aid in
all your laudable undertakings, and to
esteem Him as the chief of good; to your
neighbor in acting upon the square and
doing unto him as you wish he should do
unto you; and to yourself. in avoiding all
irregularities and incompetence which
may impair your faculties or debase the
dignity of your profession.
1t is sometimes said that while the prin-
ciples professed by Masons are founded in
atar the ha If tha nrlap