Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1894-06-29
MHSONS.
Celebrate St. Johns Day In an
appropriate Manner.

Sunday, Saint John the Bap-
fists Day, was appropriately OBJ
served by the Masonic fraternity Of
this city. The members OF the order
to the number Of fifty met at the
hall in the Tanner block and at 1890
marched to the court house. The
court room had been handsomely de-
corated for the occasion and flowers
were in prOfusiOn. -
The sermon was preached by Rev.
A: A. Joss. of the church Of Our
Savior, and the service of that
church was used. The service for
that occasion. in the form Of leaflets,
having been distributed among
those present. :..
The MasOns were met at the door
by Rev. A. A. Joss and the choir,
composed of eight gentlemen, who
preceded them to the altar, where
the members of the order occupied
ats provided for them to the left of
the altar and within the railing.
The court room was we'll filled,
and hardly a seat was vacant.
After the reading of the service of the
Episcopal church and singing 10y the
choir, Rev. Joss took for his text the
words found in Saint John, 3: 30,
HE must increase, but I must de-
crease
A very interesting discourse was
delivered in which he paid a high
tribute to John the Baptist, his
purity of heart and the long and
careful preparation he made before
entering upon his life's work. He
compared the preparation Of John
with the action of men nowadays
ard said, "No man can be great and
influence the ages who is forever
looking for the almighty dollar or
political preferment-for that which
wasteth away with the using. In
all past history you cannot put
your finger ON one great man who
di not commune with e ty and
his SOUL" John was thirty years in
preparing for work which he &C
complished in a few brief months.
'Men in this age do not realize
how much the dicipline of soul has
to do with the work Of church OF
state.''
He then referred tn the words Of
John in the text "Christ shall in.
ccease, but shall decrease "We
should grow mentally, morally and
spiritually. The man or woman
who is full Of self shall not increase
This is the law of nature. What q
paradox; John is beheaded, HerOd
sits upon the throne; Christ is cruel
fed, a Nero reighns; a Lincoln is as
| sassinated and an Arnold and Burr
live long years and die natura
deaths. Oh, the irony of fate, the
flight of time. 1t is all wrong, but il
all right. AS one has said, Life is
| UeAln anu uett Ill is lie.
Saint John the Baptist is the pat
ron saint the order worships today
Masonry is established upoh moral
ity and character. Just as John tn,
Baptist pointed to one who was
better, SO does Masonry point t.
one that is greater. I have NJ
quarrel with those who attack o.
oppose secret societies as Il menace
to church and state. Every mar
must believe for himself, but in :
lodge where a man is prayed for an<
required to pray for himself is {
handmaiden for the church. That i,
what this order is. and by it's equal
friendship and morality, i
may yet be called upon to supper
shurch and state.
This order is an aristocracy, no
Of wealth, not Of position, but al
aristOcracy of character. Characte
is something which all men can pc
sess. We revere character in fellow
men. If man has character, YOU
revere that which resembles TIL
Deity. Character commands respect
If you carry anything with you t,
the life bevond it will be the soul
! character-which Christ came to di
for.
M