The Republican journal., 1892-03-17

While Masonic rules forbid PROSECUTING,
it's members being forbidden to even soil
cit applications for membership, Free Ma
onry is not exclusive. The portals of it's
Lodges stand wide open for the reception
of petitions for admission to the order.
He who of his own free will and accord
desires to be a participation in its myster-
les and its benefits may freely apply. He
is not required to submit to any test from
which an honest man should shrink; he
will be obliged to subscribe to no articles
of faith to profess no creed. to avow no
political bias. Neither wealth nor fame,
nor titles, nor ancestry are tests OF eliGi-
bility The poor and the rich, the peas
ant and the prince, the weak and the
strong meet on the level at the doorway of
Masonry In this manner acting of their
own free will, relying, each upon his own
merits as a man. have the 100, 900 Master
Masons of the United States now living
approached and entered masonic lodges;
! thus must every man. who shall hereafter
! become a Mason, approach and enter.
| To be sure, not every man who applies
for admission is accepted. His merits are
subject to examination. If he is weighed
and found wanting. he must be content
/ to remain outside the outer door. Har-
mony is the strength and support of all
societies: more especially is it SO in Ma
! sonny, and i'll order thai perfect harmony
may prevail a candidate can be permitted
to enter Il Lodge only by the unanimous
/ consent OF its members TO the extent
! therefore, and to that extent only that it
exercises the right to pass Judgment up
on the merits of those who desire to be
admitted into the order-a right which
every society and organization Of men
must of necessity reserve to itself, is Ma
sonny exclusive. ReServing to itself this
privilege, it extends welcome hand to all
applicants.
Free Masonry is truly cosmopolitan.
! Its lodges exist i'll every land: its cere-
monies are performed in every tongue
its teachings are communicated in all Ian
guages. Though of all races and nation
alities of men, it's members profess the
same principles, recognize the same truths,
| practice the same virtues, submit to the
same rules, are bound to the performance
of the same duties believe in one God.
| have thus briefly and imperfectly out
lined some Of the characteristics and pur
poses of Masonry. | am fully aware that
all | have said and all that I am able to
say, can convey to those who are not Ma
sons a very slight comprehension of the
real nature, the inmost principles of this
fraternity. Were | permitted to lift the
veil of the sanctury in which lie the mys
teries OF the order, and unfold all that is
therein, even then should | fail to reveal
the strength of the fraternal cord which
binds together all Masons in friendship
and brotherly love. BY those only who
have been permitted to pass within that
veil can be fully known the wisdom.
strength, power. beauty and majesty OF
this magnificent editice dedicated. from
its deepest foundation stone to its Hottest
pinnacle top, to God and to the cause of
humanity.
OF this great fraternity has Phoenix
| Lodge for seventy-tive years been a com
ponent part. Full we'll has it performed
its part during all these years. That it
has guarded we'll its outer door is attest
ed by the many worthy men whose names
appear on its roll of membership: that its
members have been taken without dis
tinction from all the sections Of life from
men of all classes, creeds and opinions
the brethren here present bear witness;
that it has practised in good faith and
sincerity the duties and virtues which are
required by the rules of its order let its
history tell. OF it cannot be said Il asked
you for bread and ye gave me a stone
Its charity has never failed. Its benefac-
| tons have been constantly bestowed. fall
ing oftimes as quietly and silently as the
fall of the snow fake, but always with
full hands and from generous hearts As
this Lodge has been in the past, SO is it TO-
| day. Its usefulness has not passed; its
charities have not ceased its influence is
unimpaired. TO whom shall its mem
bers to-day in time of sickness and
want in trouble and distress. turn for
succor but to their brethren? to whom
should an appeal for any charitable cause
be made sooner han to this good LODGE
1t is we'll at this point, which marks the
beginning OF the last quarter Of its first
century. to pause and review the history
OF this Lodge to recall the lines of the
good men and true who have guided its
course through the years that have pass
ed. The retrospect should stimulate us,
brethren, who now fill the places left va
cant by those who have gone before, to
the faithful performance of every duty,
to continue the good work which they be
gan: to excel them, if possible, in deeds
of charity and humanity
Marine Miscellany.