Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-06-25

/ are as mucn lnSplreu dS Iue SoOAON ~,
! Well. then, who were the Essenes anu
| what did they teachl II must be confessed
! that but little is actually known concern
ing this mysterious fraternity. Tnelr
| very name denotes ''the silent" 1.-THE mys-
! terious," and it is not to be wondered
| therefore, that their tenets, their forms
and ceremonies have not been fully iald
bare and open TO the inspection OF tue
world. After the lapse OF two thou
sand years from the present time the
question who were the Freemasons OF the
| 18th century may be puzzle to the anu
| ouarians. Not that Masonry will cease to
| exists. or that there will not then be an
organized secret fraternity practicing the
| ceremonies and intoxicating the truths now
taught IN our Masonic Lodges Of the pres
ent dav, but names will have changed, the
| language will haye been transformed aud
new interpretations Of our symbols Will
have been introduced, just Bs In many i'm
portant instances, the explanations OF
symbols now in use in our
Lodges vary very WldeIy Irou
the meaning attached 10 tneih
in ancient times, and it may be matter
of some difficulty To trace very clearly
and couclusively the identity OF the Ma
sonic fraternity. called by some other
name in the year 1000 with that which we
know and love to-day. So it IS with the
history Of the the Essences. They are
commonly spoken of as sect OF the Jews,
but it appears upon investigation that
neither in their tenets nor their LOCALITY
were they exclusively Jewish. Their doc
trines were contained in certain mystical
interpretations of the Hebrew Scriptures,
received from ancient tradition handed
down from time immemorial by
oral transmission and preserved with
the most profound care and secrecy, while
in their discipline of life they were so near
lv like the teachings Of Pythagoras that
Hippolytus. who wrote about the year 25O
of the Christian era, SAYS OF them: "IneY |
were in Egypt in the time of Pythagoras, |
and most of his ideas were derived from |
them" So far were they from being mere, |
lv a narrow Jewish sect, that we are told |
by Philo, the learned Jewish historian, that |
although they were most numerous in |
Egvpt and Palestine, "they were dispersed |
through many parts Of the world, as they |
thought it requisite that both Greeks and |
barbarians should partake of so e1cellenta |
benefit"
The substance of nearly all that is known |
concerning their rules and ceremonies l
find in an interesting essay upon the HIS
tory OF the Lost World which is appended |
TO Forts recent admirable work on the |
Early History and Antiquities OF treema-
sorry.
1t is stated that in every city where they |
had a society there was president oy |
whom all their affairs were regulated. |
When any one desired initiation he was |
admitted on probation for year, |
receiving on his entrance a white |
apron or girdle and a small pick |
axe. At the end of this probation, II he
had given satisfaction, he was advanced |
TO higher degree. but still was not ad- |
-
second stage, he continued for two years |
longer, and, if then thought worthy, was
raised 10
FULL MEMBERSHIP.
We have here but bare outline Of the |
rules and tennets Of the Essences, but
meagre as il is, it presents points OF
resemblance to the Freemasonry OF the
present time, which no initiate can fail to
recognize. l am stongly inclined to the
opinion that the Essences in judah at least
were the Freemasons Of that early day.
There is abundant tradition that SAINT
John the Baptist was q member OF this
silent and MYSTERIOUS fraternity; that he
dwelt in seclusion with them Tor some
time before entering upon his public min
istrv, aud is it not posi- bic that the Heath
ern girdle," which is made so conspicuous
in the very brief mention of his attire and
appearance which is contained in the new
testament, may have been badge OF the
sect or fraternity to which he belonged"
Continuing, the speaker said he had
been treating Freemasonry as 1t has
been since the Christian era. He stated |
that it is not an exclusively Christian
organization, nor is 1t willing to admit
an origin as late as Saint John the Bap-
list. There is nothing sectarian that
can truly be called Masonic. The only
man excluded from the order is the
atheist.
He then took up the symbols OF the
order, and dwelt upon their origin and
significance. He closed with an elo-
ouent peroration. When the applause
which followed the address of Mr..
Long had subsidized, the next speaker
was introduced-Hon. G. Wesley At
kinsoD.
MR. ATKINsoN's REMARKS.
Mr.. Atkinson began by stating that he
did not come before them with an grafton,
but only intended to join with those who
had already spoken, in few fitting words
of congratulation upon the suspicious occa-
sion that had called the great crowd to-
getner. 1t is meet and right TO lay the cor
ner stone of a Masonic temple with the c.
ment OF Brotherly Love, and dedicate it to
Faith, Hope and Charity. He then liken-
ed the great Order OF Masonry to an edi.
fee in which good deeds had grown out OF
for centuries, and which would keep on |
dispensing for charity for ever. He dis
cussed man as q social being and showed |
how proper associations nodded his nature |
in the direction of useful life. The society |
of MasOns presents to the world brother |
which has not only withstood the test Of a |
81 NJ
varied natiOnalities, widely surrounded |
countries of adverse creeds, and has |
strengthened its ties and increased its |
membership, Notwithstanding the attacks |
of every kind that have oeen made upon it, !
and is stronger to-day than at any other |
period Of its long and varied history. II /
therefore deserves to live and prosper 1t |
is moral and patriotic in all OF its teach |
ngs, and il is libelous to charge that 1t |
teaches anything else.
He said three things develop true man
hood, viz: Right. Courage, Charity, and |
discussed them at some length, in very |
satisfactory manner to his many hearers
On the 81 of January, 1915, Ohio Lodge, |
No. l0l, was established in this city. He
sketched graphically the gr owth Of the or
der in West Virginia, aud in the entire
country as well, showing what Masonry |
had done for the moral elevation OF the |
people His period on the age OF Masonry |
was eloquent, as well, also, was his climax
on sympathy as one Of Masonry's founda-
ton principles He declared that while |
human sympathy endures. Free Masonry |
will last and be cherished by the people.
His peroration, embracing the thought |
that Masons, as men, should build for |
eternity, was the best part Of his attrac-
tive and eloquent Grafton, and was loudly |
applauded at the close. He received a
IL