The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-03-19
MORE LIGHT IL FKgENAsoSxY.

For the Eagle
On Wednesday evening the 22d, the Rev.
Samuel f, Busser Of Dodge City, kaIssas.
will deliver his lecture on masonry. at the
First Presbyterian church in this city, TO
| the members OF the fraternity, and all who
desire TO hear good discourse on the sub
iect. And ON the 18th 70 10Th OF April
another Reunion viii be held in this city,
at the Cathedral OF the A. and a. Scottish
Rite Masous. The great activity mani
tested IL this branch OF the order. is an ev-
idenee of its value to the intelligent
brethren OF the craft God said Let there
be light: and there was light" This was
the first decree that greeted the early cres-
ton of this world; and without which this
material universe would be valley and
shadow OF death. Light is the source or
beauty aud knowledge, and is always the
! same. absolutely pure and unadulterat-
ed agent or force OF all created agencies.
God is Light; but light is not God. II
We were to regard light as God, we would
be PantbeIsts; such as WAS Zoroaster and
and the Parsees Light, TO the intelligent
Mason, is regarded by MIN only as sym
Dol and reflection of the Divine being. He
is around and about US, and in every part
OF this great universe, com posed OF the sun
aad the starry heavens. We cannot, by
searching. find Him out; neither can we
define fully what light is. Yer, it Is one
of the most familiar objects OF our daily
observation, and is com posed OF an essence
and nature OF which We are as ignorant as
we are of the ,nyriads OF worlds that shine
IN the star-dec1ed canopy. A panoramic
contemplation Of the starry heavens will
convince ne most skepticaI minded in
dividual that the heavens declare the
glo-y OF God; and the hrmsmeut shows
his handiwork." Masonry adopts light as
one of its symbols, in order 10 teach a
great truth that lies hidden III that sym
Dol. Light is he only perfectly pure and
unconi animated thing IN this world. No
one can a,iuitsrate the light Of a sun beam.
it is always the sans in purity as ID the
morning of its creation, When the morn
ing stars sang together. and all the Sous
Of God shouted for JOY" Ligut
the holiness OF God-the source
of knowledge, and the medicine
through and by which we grasp the beau
ties of nature all around Us. Darkness Is
the symbol OF ignorance, and the parent
Of injustice, arrogance aud supercillous
usurpation. This is fully illustrated by
the historical records of many OF the
Oriental nations, who were PantheisJs
they adored aud worshipped the symbol
instead of the object sym bolized.
Free Masonry draws aside the veil and
looks beyond the mere symbol up to the
author and source of all things. Many of
the symbols OF the wise became the Idols
OF the Vulgar and ignorant multitude.
Mankind has ou:grown the myths and
fabulous imaginatiors OF the youthful age
of our world.
Tne thirst after knowledge has been so
intense that the great school of thinking
scientists, after truth, has revealed many
truths that have Lain silent for centuries
in the dark recesses OF idolatrous temples
The higher degrees OF Freemasonry reveal
many OF the fabulous myths; as enignas,
once delivered to credulous and uncul-
tured multitude.
Truth beareth the victory-"wha. Is
TRUTH" was profound question, the most
suggestive one ever put TO mau- Every
school OF philosophers and scientists 10
the history or man has endeavored to solve
this momentous problem.
Philemon, the Greek poet, $50 years b.
c., wrote: There is an eye of of justice
which sees all things. Even in hades there
are two paths, one OF which is for the just
and the other for the unjust" Epictetus
confessed that we philosophers talk well
but act ILL.," These wise sayings may often
be applied 20 some of those of our number
who have passed through our impressive
ceremonies
Every action in life has a corresponding
result. Nature teaches that every viola
tion o. its laws Is followed, sooner or later,
with the penalty: aud reason teaches that
Cots moral law must also have penalties
attached To their violation. Nothing
comes by chance. There is an adequate
cause for every hing that exists.
Science changes, but the great light Of
Masonry, the Holy Bible, changes not.
The primary principles, truths aud dogmas
of Free Masonry are formulated compil-
alton of the precept5 and teachings OF the
old and new testamentS.
Thus Israelite and Christian meet
around the same altar, and acknowledge
the same God. each leaving to the other
his right to his religious tenets; for Mason
~ is but beautiful system of morality"
and not dogma Of any system OF faith
and worship.
There is an old legend that says: AN
Israelite entered Psrsee temple
aud beheld the sacred fire. What!
said he to the priest. do Jon worship
the fire. How do you designate the SUI
preme Being~ asked the Darson. Wecau
him Jehovah Adouai. the Lord who is,
who Was, anu who VIII be, answered the
Israelite. A christian then drew nigh and
said, we call him Our Father!" HIRE
WAS at ouce an image aud d reality; it Is a
word of the heart. Therefore, they all
I'd sed their eyes TO Heaven, aud said. with
reverence AMI love Our Father" aud
they took each other by the hand and all
three called one another "brother" This
was fraternity and such is free masonry a
recognition OF the decalogus OF Moses, and
the decalogue OF Jesus Christ; she funda-
me- tai morality aud practical ethics OF our
luminous precepts; the cardinal tenetS the
most perfect and absolute equal OF the
right OF free opinion, in matters of faith
aud creed II.