The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1895-12-06
q. A. R.--Our EmblemS--F. C.L.

AAS AOoiioOio vi Jul llkC IllOSI
other fraternal benevolent and educa-
| tlonal associations, followed the prin-
ciple enunciated by Solomon ages ago.
"a three-fold cord is lot easily brok-
en-" and selected 'Fraternitv, Charity,
and Loyalty" as the simple but ex-
! presslve emblems by which to greet
each other and shape our intercourse
with the world. They are designed to
express the relations we sustain to
each other, to humanity at large and
to our beloved country and also to
have an educational and beneficial in
fiuence upon our lives and actions.
To strengthen our friendship, soften
our asperities and infuse in us love
OF country and the principles for
which she stands.
The first in this trio of virtues
which bind US together is Fraternity.
With us it is no unmeaning sentiment.
1t means to have shared common
dangers, endured like sufferings and
borne common sorrows. Few of us
are living to-day who do not regard
the fact as little short of miraculous.
Few who cannot recall time when to
live or die was matter of indifference.
And perhaps no one who does not
number among the fallen ones. these
who were near and dear to him by the
ties of consanguinity and friendship.
Hunger and thirst, heat and cold,
weary marches by day and sleepless
vlglls by night, were our common lot
We devoured our homely fare under
the same adverse conditions, suffered
like defeats, rejoiced in the same vic
tories and hailed the return of peace
with the same joyous acclamations.
Having therefore been baptised in
common cause we have earned our
rights to the emblem of Fraternity.
But what right have we to the sac
red term Charity? We shall see. The
popular conception of the meaning of
the term Charity is benevolence-ben
efficence, doing good to the needy
administering to the necessities of the |
poor and unfortunate. The church or |
ecclesiastical definition in simply love.
This is somewhat defective also,
though love as we'll as benevolence |
may be an attribute to charity. But
love and charity are not Synonymous
terms.
Love is in some respects the higher
term, "God," we are told, "is love-"
That is, love is an attribute of God, the
same He is good, true, holy or just.
But it cannot be said God is Charity
because God is an infallible being.
And he who exercises Charity must
recognize in himself some imperfec-
tions. Hence while Charity embraces
the principles of benevolence and love,
it also includes that principle which
excuses the defects of others for the
reason that we are all fallible, erring
1t is the forgiving principle.
1t recognizes the fact that all men are
in measure the creatures OF their
And if some persons
do better than others it is because
they have been placed in more FORUM
ate circumstances or been endowed
with more talents. Hence in all our
dealings and intercourse with our fell
low creatures who may have gone
wrong or done wrong, we should rec
ognize the possibility that had we been
under the same influences we should
perhaps have done no better than they.
And though they have transgressed in
one line of action, we may have come
short in another.
Charity is that principle that for
gives and unites all in common bond
of sympathy 1t is the opposite OF
presumption and self
It's that principle that
reaches across the bloody chasm and
grasps the hand of his late antagonist
saying: "Come let us dwell together
in peace and unity"
I'm all the conceivable vicissitudes OF
life, prejudice, passion and self-inteiest
tend to array mankind into hostile
attitudes .animosities and conflicts
are the result. It is therefore necessary
that the nobler sentiment of Charity
be cultivated and practiced.
The last strand in the three-fold
cord is Loyalty. Fidelity to our gov
eminent and to the principles upon
which it is founded-liberty, equality
and Justice to all. These are the sa-
cred heritages conferred upon us by
former generations. The duty OF up
holding, preserving and transmitting
them unimpaired to future generations
devolved upon us. How well we have
discharged the sacred trust is matter
of history. We know not what trials
and tribulations are in store for our
country in the future. We do know