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

York, 1857; aud in West Virginia. the Lodges
were under Virginia, until onr own Grand
Lodge in 1863. We witness now in every
State and Territory of the Union, Lodges OF
onr Fraternity firmly established and well
pstronized.
our highly esteemed Brother, w = Isaacs,
Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Vir-
gtuia, has kindly sent me some facts very in-
Ieresting 20 us in connection with our home
Lodge. He Informs me that the MasonS Of
Charles Town We're granted their first Charter
ON the 10th of January, 1889, under tbs name
and title OF Livingston Lodge No. c5. with
John j. Straith. ". Master; Hugh L. Gala
her, S. wardeni and w. b. North, j. War
den.
Livingston Lodge becoming extinct in 1917,
chartered Masonry was revived in this town,
by the institution of Malta Lodge No so, on
tue l5th OF December, 1917. the first officers of
our Lodge being John L. \. Redman, w.
Master; Geo. w. Sappington, S. Warden; and
ThoS. A. Moore, j. NOrdeu.
The grandeur and pcrmanency of our Order
is fittingly pictured in the address of the Ma
sonic Convention OF lS4S: ''The fair fabric of
Masonic spieador was planned, and reared.
and flushed for durability. 1t has withstood
the shocks of time. The revolutions of ages,
sions of hostile cOntending nations. While
everything unsolid iu nature falls, while
Kings and kingdoms are lost In the vortex of
revolutions; aud thrones crumblc into ruin,
and tutter and fall from their basis, Masonry
towering above all and mistaken by all that
is awful and rufnable in natures realm, stands
unmoved us the mountain rock. She has
passed safely through the dark ages of super
stttion and higotry, when war and Comno-
tions convul$cd the world TO its centre. and
when Change seemed to sway sceptre of un-
iIerBal empire"
With its fifteen hundred ycars of historical
existence and its ages of traditional renown
and deeds of moral and social virtues. Mason
ry may be eaid To be part of all Nations uud
u source of benefit to every form of mans gov
ernInent. Existing in the four O q~uTters of the
IrlOhp. with n TnpntNprsifl fnF
lions Free and Accepted MUSonS. brother of
the Craft will find in every Cline the grasp OF
friendly hnnd, and among all peoples the
safety Us u home.
"Our's the Spirit that, with wisest plan.
Brother to brother binds. and man to man"
Such ID the chronicled antiquity and uni-
versatility of Masonry. The rulers and leaders
OF men in all ages have gwen it, "GOd-speed'
IN its onward march to aid In the bettermcnt
and unliftiug of man unto true religion and
helpful civilization.
There have always been some who delight
to be the enemies of Masonry. The time has
never b en- when the g. cd, the true. the unr b.
tr!lsive aud the charitable were without enc
mics.
In this ''giady paced" utilitarian age. when
the s6epttcs and icOnOclasts are dGlviug uu-
fairly into the truths of history and even the
Sacred Scriptures, we cannot suppose that the
benevolent brotherhood of Masons would re
main untouched by the Vundul words Of false
criticism and fallible bgotry. But such criti-
cism falls more impoteut than misspent arr
row, and the sClf-proud efforts of bigotry in
fict upon us nothing more aerious Than the
shadow OF the Image of O palslcd hand. Their
looking for hurtfnl errors in true religion,
Masonry and Truth, reminds one of the fol-
lies of the old alchCnlists searching after the
secrets OF gold-lnakiug.
a poet hus aptly described the hullucina-
tions of the uubridlcd "hlghcr criticism" OF
so-called wise men,,
'.lf ifs and 'ards' were pots and pans,
Iherc'd be no need OF tiukerG."
OF course we cannot deny the allegation
that there have hecr alterations i'll the forms
and rituals of Masonry, adapting 1t TO modern
modes of expression and systems of govern
mcnt. But the changes have been in only
non-cssentials. The invisible spirit of Change
touches and Transforms, as with magic
wand, all the creations Of man, and all his Sc
lect plans of temporal and spiritual manitcsta-
tions.
There is not now the same ceremonies in
religious worship US prevailed iu tue days of
King Solomon. There arenearly half u thou
sand different systcms or crecds OF worship
called denominations. The changes and the
differences arc not vital, nor incompatible
with the faith under which man proposes ard
God disposes;" for God is in Heaven, and Truth
rcmuinS. So with Masonry: men have changed
uon-csscutial forms and rituois. but the tcnets'
the prccepts and eNnn'plcs oil tue truths oil re-
liancc on Deity, accountability and the irl-
mortality of the soul. and the Golden Rulc,
these remain, in Masonry, the heritage OF all
peoples.
Time ana social cOnQlilO0S nuNe lIOuSuI, III
in the various Nations, notifications of Ma
sonic ceremopials. without dctraCtiuy from Its
rules of faith and practice III symboltzing the
truths which purify the heart of mau aud tcst
his obedience to God notable illustration is
that of England, where the aristocratic enTi-
rouments of our Fraternity, (the Prince of
Wales being the Grand MRster,) cause almost
an exclusion of operative Masons, Rrd re dcr6
the Institution in that Kingdom society of
rather limited membership with no such
'.uniycrsalty" and injecting on tic level" as
we know in the United States. Aud every
communication of Lodge there concludes
with dinner within tlia titled Lodge, when
the members have 81 cial cUjoyncnts OF toasts,
speeches. aongs and rccitntiOns.
Masonry Is not selfish. for it cujOins strict
practice on the principal rounds of the Masonic
ladder which are Faith, Hope and Charity,
bused on alteration of God, immortality of the
Soul and Charity for all mankind. To say
nothing of our great charitable expenditures
in the United Statca. our English brethren
have spent within the past nine years, over
g. .O00, 900 for benevolent purposes.
Masonry is patriotic, tencbing the propriety
of filing in protection of two things, one 8
| country and ones home.
Ma onry ssis not religion, but Is Moral
Teacher. 1t does not claim to sauStify the
heart. nor to DC dispenser OF the sacrRments
1t docs profess, as willing hHudmaid, \ mis-
sion with the one diyit ely constituted society.
the Church of God. and treasures the Bible
upon the Altar OF the Lodge. US tho Great Rule
and Guide.
clesiastical organization. but tLGt it il relig-
ious in the sence of appealing to Iu1n TO Wor-
/ chip in love and obedience. the one Gcd Al
| mighty, as u duty paramount TO all obliga-
tiOns.
To this harmony with true religion the bind
ing limitations of MusOury point, and signify
that as without God there is nothing save dark
uess aud siu, so he is our illumination and per
| fcction.
To the o!s-repentcd question with reference
to the worthiness and benefit of our Fraternity.
whether it is a blessing or harmful to niau III
his relation to his business and the State, ]
confidently ask, how can there bc wrong aud
| Injurious tendencies in system of conTagc.
gentleness and affection; manly freedom,
| sympathy and gratitude?
| Among the exaggerated and pretended objec-
tious to Masonry, we briefly refer to the vague
aud uncertain notions in relations TO the inter
nal workings of our BTOtherhoOd.-the dOings
| Within the tiled reccsscs of the Lodge.-objec-
tious to the ceremonies of intuition. NJ oatsS,
and Tie secrecy.
We do not try to diyest the uninitiated OF
the impression fixed In their minds by bias and
| prejudice against Masonry; bnt every candi-
/ dale who has completed the course aud stood
I in the North East corner. can ATouch that
there is nothing frighfful nor nlonssFous IN the
/ ceremonies nor is the marvellous goat more
I dangerous or terrible than the Innocent
1 lamb" Nowhere does lie see ''gravey ards
| yawn." or "brcathe subterraucau hTes. or
| meet the MiitOnic
/ ..C5orgous aud Hydr1 2. and Chimeras dire.
The odtls are not the blaspllemous leyities
I which the Scriptures forbid, an oath Is iOr-
hidden only under It's restricted mean
Ia Tia ie n