Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1892-03-30

hearts are the trestle.boards upon which the
supreme architect lays out his designs. and
our lives are the stones with which we are
building. Neither must we live for ourselves
alone, for our lives are 50 closely interviewer
with the lives of others that much of our hap
piness and theirs depends upon our relations
and conduct with each, and oh what sad blum
ders we often make. These clumsy feet still
in the mire go crushing blossoms without end,
these hard well-meaning hands We thrust amid
the heart strings of o friend, and We fear our
hands are not always well-meaning in their
thrust. Knee to knee, breast TO breast, hand
to back, should be to support q falling brother.
not to stab him with . dagger. Brethren we
must make practical use of the beautiful
teachings of our order, and bring them to bear
on the affairs of every day life if it Is to be
perpetuated in the world and respected by
men. 1t must be something more than rose
tinted dream, or q sublime theory. 1t must be
living acting epitome of truth. morality and
fraternsl love. 1t was q beautiful fancy of the
poet when he said that the song he had breath
ed into the air. he found again without the
loss of a single note long, long afterwards in
the heart of friend. So true friendship is
ever breathing its sweet songs into the air.
And so too it shall find them all again. from
beginning TO end, in the loving hearts into
which they come. My brethren. nothing that
| love does is ever lost Therefore we shall al
ways be as ready to sustain the name and
reputation OF brother as to sustain our own.
Mankind generally pays strict regard to the
rights of others, so far as they relate to the
laws of propriety and the preservation OF life;
| but when ii comes to that intangible, though
priceless property consisting OF a mans repu
| faf ro nor N nj n hlI
ruthlessly AMI even wantonly mar, blacker
and destroy it; and this is done with little re
gard for crushed hearts or darkened homes
And it is a matter Of regret that Masons ar,
not entirely free from this common sin. LIE
US right here brethren learn practical lesson
and when we have learned it well. then exem
plify it to the world.
In conclusion. Masonry never before ha
such numerical strength and moral infiuenc
as it now has, but this fact only makes it NOR
necessary for the craft to practice its precept
and carefully observe the ancient landmark
This is an age of intense activity, and u spiri
OF adventure pervades all classes. We ar
restless under restraint-have but little vene
alton for the past and are inclined to try e1
pertinent. But masonry is Q perfect systeI
3 proven and fully tested by the wisdom of pal
Q ages, and acknowledged by the experience G
= the present. No experiment with its wor
should be attempted, or departure from II
ancient landmarks allowed. The essentii
principles Of our order should be kept col
srsntly before our minds. and its elevate
sentiments be ever guarded like the Parse'
sacred fire. And this worshipful master wit
e the help Of the wardens and bret
l. rem is your duty. See to It then that the graz
Il and essential principles of the order-fait
10 hope and charity. wisdom. strength and bea
q ty, brotherly love. relief and truth are ke
% constantly before the lodge. burning in fam
Ii OF love upon the altar Of each and every hea
IL during the year 1892, as grandiy and as glol
is ously as they burned under the mastership al
Z administration of your worthy predecessor du
ing the year 1891. And soon masonic light W
ie burst forth like the sun in it's course from b
II hind the pavilion of q storm cloud, and Il
lg silver lining of the craft will shine brig
ter and brighter unto the perfect day. II m
,e sonry fails in its grand mission the respon
n bility must fall upon the craft themselves, 81
ID not upon outside foes however fierce.
is brethren, the blood of the martyrs was said
s. be the seed Of the church, and so it 10 wi
hit any organization founded upon the enduri
C. principles of right. and thus founded, 1t W
grow and strengthen in the face OF all oLpo
MS ton as long as its practice is consistent with
d. teaching. And now may the blessing of t
in Great Grand Master of all, rest and abide wi
ne your little band here at Medicine Lodge. N
y, brotherly love prevail and when this wea
ny life march is DER and our work of faith a
tt, labor of love is all completed oh may we tn
lr- with all good and true masons at the sound
er the grand masters gavel be called from lat
er to refreshment. into the grand lodge abo'
lr- builded without hands, in that celestial CT
an whose foundation is eternal love, and WHIT
er builder and maker is God.
ry Gracious Father so mote 1t be. Amen.