Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1894-01-23


any ono In Church or State to antasou;sfn.
Its secrecy Is only the scclusion necdful Tor
acquiring wisdom, strengthening chnra ctcr
aud perfecting the Noblcst and sublimest
works What NrOald the world aud nantIind
be unless protected by the golden fruits of ST.
lepce and secrecys Would there he 9uy safety
with all gosSiFs, siauderers, betFayerS Rnd
traitors? Character. sclf-control, charity pa
tienec, can grow IN silence only. In al public
matters, the army, tho navy. the duties ot for
cign ambassadors. the business aud profess
sioual relations of life, tile best success aud
protection. II not Selt.dUienBe. Is predicated
ing and despicablc than tho betTayals of trnsts
and secrets of business aud private affairs or of
the trusts and condolences OF the heart and Of
the soul?
History makes manifest that thcre never
was q more strict discipline of secrecy respcct-
Ing mysteries, than the secrecy observed by
the Christians during ;ho Srd Century, to adj
vance their faith and TO protect themselves
from the hres OF prosecutions AS Tcrtulian
says, ~ faithful cOnceaiment is due to all
mysteries from their very nature and conStitu-
tion."
So with Masonry. Its secrecy obtains only
to advance universal bcneVolcLcc, strengthen
ing the great bond OF common brotherhood
among men, 6y use of symbols and ceroMan-
les. books, lectures. charges. aud thorough
organization. Thus ever our greatest secret
is the lesson of hon To be good, and noble AMI
true before God and man.
Such. my Brethren, is q brief analysis of the
leading Masonic teachings which are I'm
pressed upon the mind aud heart by tho un.
folding of its esotcric character and mysteries
with the eniblems of sYnlboiizcd Divine direc-
tiOn and inspiration.
The greatest and best men have been support
ers OF our Fraternity. We mention here only
Wren, Warren, Franklin, Putnam, Lafayette,
Madison, Monroe. Livingston. Clay. Locke, Well
ington, jackson, aud Garfield, aud the great
est of best men, the best of greatcst men. tho
Immortal Washington.
The great patriot aud bright Mason Gov.
Dewitt Clinton graphically pictured the priu-
clples and tcnets of our Order,
I'VE can confidently say that it is tho most
ancient society in the World, aud are
squally certain that It's principles are based on
pure morality, that its ethics are tho ethics of
Christianity its doctrines, the doctrines patTi-
lam and brOthcrly love and its sentiments,
the sentiments of exalted bencvolence Upon
these points there can lie no doubt All that
is good, aud Kind aud charitshe, it encouy-
ages; all that is vicious, aud cruel, and OPP
prcssivc, II reprobatcs."
In everything did Washington most epicn-
didly Illustrate the sacredness OF the Spirit of
Liberty and the perfection OF patriotism. His
lave and vcncration for the Masonic Frater-
nifty are recorded among his behcsts to his
Country. just one hundred ~ aud 10 one years
ago, he wrote In january. 1893, "Tho grand
object OF Masonry is to promote the happiness
Of the human race "fhc principles nre
founded in the immortal laws OF Truth and
Justice"
Life ever stands us u true exponent of be-
lefs. II Is the fc men live which gives value
to their wishes, wortS, and doctrines. The
best wish man can beeioW upon his brother
man. is Il life of peace, health aud happiness.
The Father of his Country, in life and action,
in belief and rructicc, bestowed his best wish
upon all his countrymCn.
Such are the principles, tcnrts, und tcacll-
/ IS of our beloved Institution, with It's jew
els of cardinal virtues: Temperance, the spirit
which stops and refuses rightly; Foitltude,
the spirit which persists and endnres rightly;
Prudence. the spirit which discer.s and
nlDDtS rightly: md Justice. the fniril which
rules and divides rightly.
When we regllRtu our lives by the prlnci-
pies uud beliefs here only tentatively sliGtched,
we have Masonry IN the heart.
As long ms worship OF God, Oud love aud
sympathy for fellow-mnn preserve tho virtues
among mankind, there will bc no humau In
stitutiOn that will remain 'spRUkllug Gs II gem
on the out-siretchcd furcGugcr OF all time."
with more brilliancy aud lustre than the Ma
sonic FIR ,terniiy,-thoSc master-bnilders of
structures in earthly grandeur and mqgnin.
cence, aud teachers of symhollsins ut spiritual
purity and holiness. And whether the tri-
umphaut progrcss and bcncfcGnt fruits Of our
Brothcrhood under the FatierhOOd OF God be
depicted In broad outline In the language OF o
neophyte like myself or lie elaborated IN the
chaEte and polished periods OF u Mickey. n
. Norris or nn Oliver. the moral influences
and tendencies of the hnllowcd doctrines OF
Frcctnnsonry will continue to extend from the
Lodge 10 the family, and from the family to
society and woTk-n.day policies. making So
ciety better, homes more sacred. periudiccs
and scCtaTiun hate easier dissolved or driven
away, with beneyoence, charity, aud fratcr-
nal fellowship uplifting man above and be-
Iond inhumaniiy. oppression aud enniity.
Recognizing that there is vastly more in
Masonry than grips. signs. and passwords,
let us strive to rise on those mere stepping
stones to the higher, purcr aud more exalted
practices of tho affections OF the soul inter-
tWincd in the sacred chOiu Of obligations and
limitations appealing for permanerce aud
usefulness, to what is best aud nObicst in our
nature
lessons, duties, pointing upward to the paths
the Martyr trod;
Love of Virtue, Love of Country, Lore OF
Home, Love of God"