The herald., 1896-03-04
MASONIC PRINCIPLES
c. E. j. White writes concerning Wash
ington and his masonic principles as fol-

Ss IIs Os WulV0 WHITES CONCERNING WdSh-
ington and his masonic principles as fol-
lows:
Material man and his material work are
alike finite and short-lived. Neither can
obtain more than a transitory visible dura-
ton, and neither can expect more than a
brief existence upon the earth g surface.
But virtuous principles and mind are infin-
ite and indestructible, direct emanations
from Almighty God, wherever they are
found, however worthless and fragile the
casket that contains them, may appear.
They carry with them ever and under all
circumstances irrefragible evidence of
their divine origin. and by the controlling
influence they exercise upon humanity,
ages after the dissolution OF the matter
that once enshrined them. they prove that
as the power of the Creator is boundless.
that the might of man-even the mightiest
is as nothing.
Washington is but name-the ashes of
that form that once bore that title have
been reclaimed by their kindred dust, and
the spirit that animated it has returned to
Him who gave it. yet, though but name,
how talismanic in its Influence! How
widely extended its authority How i'm
peachable its credit! How mighty its
sway! A name SO suggestive of everything
pure, holy, disnterested and true that
wherever the magic sound of Washington
strikes upon the ear of civilized man, it is
recognized but as the synonym of all that
is great; of all that is good; of all that is
brave. patriotic and just. Even to this day
that single name, and the remembrance of
the example of him who once honored it,
exercises more controlling and salutary
influence upon mankind than does the
speech, word and deed of any living man
of whom our country now can boast.
In doing reverence to his memory, there
fore, as men, we exalt the noblest part of
hxox hi
preciate the sublime attributes which dis
tinguished him whose example it should be
our effort to emulate. As Masons we
honor the craft and ourselves by paying
all honor and becoming respectful to the
memory of "a brother who, entrusted with
the highest position Comfortable by SYM
bolic lodge, not only fully redeemed that
trust, but reflected additional luster aud
dignity upon the fraternity, by the conspic-
uous manner in which he demonstrated by
his actions, the purity, the efficacy and
beauty of the principles inculcated within
our tyled temple.
AS citizens of the most favored land upon
which the sun shines, we would De recreant
to every sentiment of gratitude, unworthy
the blessings we enjoy, did we not embrace
every fitting occasion to testify our heart
felt remembrance of the countless obliga-
tions we owe to Washington. under heaven,
our nations savior, our sagest stateman,
our country s Iatner.
Perfection and morality are incompati-
BILE; and, as the whole cannot exceed in
purity the constitutional elements of its
parts, the works of man, real and ideal,
his marble palaces, his high arched domes,
and his lofty monuments, or his most bene-
VIOLENT institutions, his most wisely consider
ed laws, and his most dazzling mental pro-
ductions, all beautiful as they are, durable
as they seem, exceling the efforts of all
former races as they may, yet bear i'm
pressed upon them, in characters inefface-
able, rough toolmarks of the faulty hand
that executed-omlssons OF detail by the
throbbing head that conceived them.
This fact is theoretically known, and
verbally assented to, by every man and
woman who has the slightest claim to in
telligence. or who has received the most
superficial education. Yet, in practice, it
is no unusual thing to find those whom we
have been taught to regard as ''if they were
beyond their generation. act as ii the
reverse of the proposition was true. In
criticising their fellows, either singly or
collectively, instead of guaging them by a
standard they are able to appreciate, they
apply 20 the undulating surface exposed to
their gaze, the straight plumb line of per-
fection; and, thus tried, thus measured,
how sadly and wofully and hopelessly de-
mans control, that is within the ken of
mental eyes or within the scope of usual
vision.
Contented then must we remain with the
omniscient Creators ordinations, and be
satisfied to feel that in this beautiful and
teeming sphere, covered with vines and
shrubs and trees, with buds and flowers
and fruits, thronging with life, joyous with
insects, birds and beasts-that we, crea-
tons lords, and our works are the only
imperfect things existing. Had Gods
mercy never blessed us with the invalu-
able treasures of his revealed word, should
not this conclusion-forced upon us
involuntarity by natures voice
constrain us all, whether saint or
sinner. Mason or ant-Mason, to prac-
tice that charity which would make lis
band of brothers, swift-footed to aid each
other in our weakness. anxious to help
each other in our trials. solicitous and
ready to soothe each other i'll our sorrows.