The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1893-01-20


higher and safer level. Here the great
and sacred Name will meet with rever-
ence; at this altar man will be taught
that he is his brothers keeper and as such
not only give him good counsel. but cover
his frail,ies with the mantle of Brotherly
love and Charity.
The ceremonies you have witnessed
this day are not unmeanlng rites, nor
the amusing pageanls OF an idle hour,
but they have a solemn and instructive
import. They are to some extent an imi-
taton Of the ceremony performed centu-
ries ago upon the com pletion OF that tenl.
pie in Jerusalem which all masonic
halls are supposed symbolically TO rep
resent, and while We cannot look for Il
visible divine approval such as followed
the dedication Of that temple. we can
hope that our endeavors and our lives
may merit the approval OF him who
judges al. our actions.
| The temple at Jerusalem was the pride
Of the world, it took Z years to build it.
It stood All years and was destroyed.
The true masonic temple is still being
built, its foundations we're laid back in
the dim ages, but it is being builded
year by year higher and broader. The
great temple crumbled away and is only
known 10 history. But our temple is eX
panding as time lengtLens and when all
other structures have decayed it will
stand in that city whose streets are gold
through all eternal years.
This hall, designed and furnished by
wisdom, supported by strength and
adorned in beauty, We are first TO conse-
crate in the name Of the Great Jehovah,
which teaches US in all our works begun
and finished to acknowledge, ADORE and
magnify Him, and every one who enters
its doors is reminded toput his trust in
hin. Let then its altar be devoted to his
service and its walls resound with his
praise. May the eye which seeth in
secret witness here the sincere and un-
affected piety which withdraWs from the
engagements of the world 10 silence and
privacy, that it may be exercised with
less interruption and less ostentatiOn.
Our march around the lodge reminds us
OF the travel OF human lite, In which ma
sonry is an enlightened, a safe and a
pleasant path. IIsis hall is also dedi-
Gated to virtue; this appropriation will
always be duly regarded, while the
moral duties which our sublime lectures
nculca,e with affecting and impressive
| pertinancy, are cherished in our hearts
| and illustrated in our lives. As free
masonry aims 10 enliyen the spirit OF
philanthropy, and promote the cause OF
charity, so we dedicate this hall to
universal benevolence. in the assurance
that every brother will DEDICATE his affec-
tions and his abilities to the same gener
Gus purpose; that while he displays a
warm and cordial affection for those
IL. C 81, u
his benevolent regards and goods wishes
To the whole family OF man. Such my
friends is the significant meaning Of the
solemn rites We have just performed, be
cause such are the peculiar duties OF
every lodge.
Upon this floor social distinctions arc
unrecognized. No mans wealth or social
position in life entities him to any pecu-
liar privileges; no mans poverty debars
him from attaining the highest rank, we
only ask that the man who would Join Us
shall be II good, true man, prepared 10
practice the principles and teachings OF
brotherly love, reliet and truth. By the
exercise of brotherly love we are taught
to regard the whole human species as
one family-the high and low, the rich
and poor, who as created by one almighty
UdItilts are JOuIU W. dl0, pIO
tect each other. To relieve the dis
tressed is = duty incumbent on all me1 +;
but moro particularly on Masons, who
are linked together by an indissoluble
chain of sincere affection. To soothe the
unhappy, to sympa,hize WITH their mis-
fortunes, to compassionate their miserles
and 10 restore peace to their troubled
minds, is the grand aim we have in view.
aff
foundation Of every virtue. to be good
men and true, is the first lesson we are
taught ir Masonry. On this theme We
contemplate and by lis dictates endeavor
to regulate our conduct. There is les
son taught by every masonic emblem
the croWning one of which teaches that
there is an immortal part within us bear
ing affinity TO that supreme intelligence
which prevails all nature and which can
never die. Masonry leads up to sublime
and .oble height by paths hewn careful
ly in tie rock MORALITY. 1t bids US
from an altitude high and pure. behold
the streams of life wind gracefully anC
beautifully from source to mouth through
fields made green by noble deeds anc
unselfish actions.
The rock upon which the superstruc-
ture Of masonry IS founded, is Deity
from the first 10 the last the obligation L
obey God and to love mankind is the
teaching Of our art; she places this
command as the keystone Of he1
arch and binds it as 40 oath upon the
lips Of every one who enters the various
portals Of her temple. Need we wonder
then that Notwithstanding her days O
persecution she was sustained. and wher
the mists cleared away was discovered sit
ting ike a queen upon her throne, un
snllied and resplendent in the glory Q
conscious rectifllda and divine annroha