Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-06-15

SEBEC journal. FRID.
and perpetuats those twin agents of hama
progress, education and Masonry, ID truly
noble and glorious occasion
And now at the close of this time honore
service, the vital irreprersible question
comes to the lips from the thoughtful mind
namely: WHAT mean ye By this ceremo
NAL: What are the lessons of the day? Ar
these lessons to pass out of thought witt
the going down of this days sun? Shall
we gather no new strength for our dali
round of busy toni as we leave these un
usual scenes? Shall we draw no inspira
ton, no fresh courage from this symbolic
service? Has no gre alter ambition, n,
nobler aspiration enki ndled in our heart
by this days ritual? Nay, not so must w
leave this our work. To loftier purpose.
and higher ideal, are we summoned here.
A noble soul is never content to receir.
good: it reaches out with divine love ant
longing to commensurate. 1t is aglow will
earnest zeal to seek grander achievements
and will not rest until it can make some
hearts brighter and happier by its endeav
ors. 1t throbs with the pulsatious of desire
and sympathy to amehorate the misfortune:
and sorrows of its brother souls.
In earnest service for humanity, it seek
and gathers the sweetest, purest fruit
age of this earthly field. In emulation O.
kindred souls of the past, whose philan
thropic deeds are as fadeless as the blue Of
Heaven, and the memory of whose virtue.
fingers like sunlight hues when that bright
orb has set, it aspires to live.
"For the wrong that needs resistance,
For the right that needs assistance,
For the future in the distance,
For the good that it can do"
Well may we pause amid the worlds busy
busting activities and ask, each for him
self, two questions which carry weighty
import in their train of thought. As Ma
sons let US faithfully and sincerely Inquire
Whence come you? Whittier are you travel
ling? t..s.-.- .s,.=
Proudly and Loyalty we boast of the
antiquity CT our institution. In love
and gratitude we honor and venerate
our past history. As We take backward
glance through the'ages, since the seeds OF
Freemasonry were 5sown in Egyptian,
Greeian and Oriental soil, and refer,
shoG WV oAS ptk bdAtEs
in this =. succession of devoted 81 Ma.
sonic workers, well may we glory in our il
lustrious ancestry and rejoice in our rich
heritage. Down through the centuries has
floated to US the banner of Masonry. bear.
ing upon its folds those divine words
"Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth,
cheering the great heart of humanity, and
dissipating ike mist in the rays of the ris.
ing sun, selfishness, prejudice, oppression
injustice and dishonor.
Faithful and true craftsmen have borne
this banner aloft in every nation and cline
where humanity has yearned for relief
from its burden of suffering and want.
From every rank aud station have recruits
come to our standard.
Gwen kings, dukes and lords have laid
aside their crowns and title to tie on a
Masonic apron" In our own Columbia in
revolutionary history we read the record OF
Washington, Franklin, Lafayette, and a
long roll of heroes who not only asserted
their right to those inalenable possessions
sent to man from Goa himself, but who did
manful battle for freedoms richest fruit.
Not alone those of other lands and these
of our early history, brilliant soldiers in the
worlds conflict of right against wrong, lib,
erty against slavery, all for justice, truth
and human veal but later on we
find Dewitt Clinton and his COM
peers espousing and defending the work
of Masonry at time when it cost some
thing to be Mason: price of faithfulness
and courage not measured by silver or gold,
but by self-denial, obloquy and ostracism !;
we find these and such as these still uplift-
ing this ancient banner, and at length sill
encing all enemies of this noble cause.
These latter heroes were not won't to display
their masonic devotion by the emblems
which they wore, but by sincere word and
courageous deed they fought the good fight
of their: masonic faithy and with the bright
sword of truth and the eternal shield of
justice, they won glorious victory for us
their descendants and successors, which
time cannot efface, and whose brilliancy
can be dimmed only by selfshness and in
gratitude.
Patriots, statesmen, scholars, the untitled
and the crowned, heroes all, the Supreme
Architect hath wrought in and by them the
grand work of whose rich fruit we this day
eat.
"Ihe heritage they've left of their virtues. cour
age, might,
"Will survive in song and story while mankind re
veres the right,
"Untl hist'ry has recorded all the trumphs of TIN
just, 2tF.
It'll ages yet unborn have lived and their treas
ures turned to DIST" .r. 20.
And now, in the light and JOY of such a
let us ask the prophetic question,
''Whither are we travelling" Potent aud
weighty its answer. We cannot live upon
the bread of the past alone; we have in
herited grand ideal, but we must not be
content with dreams of the past. We must
awake to our sublime opportunities.
Our brother man is yearnipg for more
light and truth. Present conditions and
achievements do not Cor should mott satisfy
the conscience of living Masons. ....-
Darkness, prejudice, selfishness, want,
misery and injustice are obscuring this day s
sun of hope and happiness, and humanity
dwells more or, less within these shadows,
longing for the brightness of eternal truth,
straining for glimpses and realities of
brighter skies, hungry souls all unsatisfied
with even the glories that are won and seen.
Then let us not like the miser stand guard
ing our present treasures. while our brother
man starves and shivers for lack of what we
enjoy. Let us not be content, for ourselves
even, to furl our glorious banner, and rest
satisfied with laurels won by other hands.
Masonry would not long survive such