Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1896-11-29
MASONIC CHARITY

MASONIC CHARITY.
Where else than III a Masonic Lodge
among all the irnumerable associations
which human ingenuity has suggested,
or wisdom cOntrived, can we look for
a more rational, uuselhsh and higher
development of principle which dis
tineuishes civilized man, elevates him
above the lower orders of creation in
the scale Of existence, and makes him
what God intended him to be-a social
being? Masonry lifts men from the
sway of petty differences and sharp
disputes, and brings them upon the
level Of those faculties and emotions
which makes the world akin. It's true
mission is to make true friends. In
what order or among what particular
sect known in our great land is charity
more effectually doing her perfect
work than the great fraternity OF Ma
sons? Charity, broad and compre-
hensive-that charity which suiIeretn
Ions and is kind; that envieth not;
vaunteth not itself; is not pulled up;
does net behave itself unseemly; seek
eth not her own; is not easily pro-
yoked: thinketh not evil; rejoiceth not
i'm iniOuity. but TejOiceth in truth;
bearing all things; hopeth all things;
endureth all things that charity
which feeds the hungry, clothes the
naked and binds up the wounds Of the
adiicted-Masonic chaTity.-the char
iJy of pure and indebted heart Whlch
our Creator embodied in man.
Brethren, if there be any law in Ma
sonny that should he recognized as
Golden" it is the law of love; that
which cheers the brother by acts OF
kindness and with words Of encoW-
agement and sympathy when bending
under Che burdens, cares and anNieties
of life. and when struggling to bear up
under misiortunes and trials that he
has been called upon to endure, as well
as to touch hand and heart with
brother who has grown weary Of life
through disbursements, has yielded
to the strong influence OF the tempter,
and fallen in dispair. Brethren, leu
not the growing tendency seen IN many
of the fraternal societies detract us
from our duties to those who may need
our fraternal love (aud to pass them
on the opposite sideD when want and
distress are by them seen, but 80 at
once to their aid, for by the love shown
TO them YOU may not only be the IN
stwment I'm Gods hands Of saving the
man. but more likely his soul, and by
doing those acts of charity and brother
Nv love YOU will be known TO the world
as the sons of Light There was
time when it meant everything to be
named as above, and az the fruits OF
there
nor need to-day that We call loudly for
n return to the old path? Then, again,
do we not often sin in casting the man
tie of charity above those who contin-
ue in evil to their own destruction?
Fraternal obligations are twofold IN
character. and no one who passed
through the ceremonies of Masonry
can become truly one Of the great
brotherhood unless he does assent TO
them. and then ever after live accord
ING TO their requirements. The first
relates Specifically to perfect union
Of organization. and the second to
laws embodied In the Great Light
and governing through which we have
connections with the lodge. One is in
entire harmony with the other, and
.contemplates our highest welfare. con-
seouertlv all departures from the
standard of action is to set at wilful
defiance the rposes and interests OF
the organizations Of Freemasonry.
There are a class of people in this
world who i0olsniy imagine that be-
cause they DO not make a profession"
that. therefore. they are free from all
responsibility; but God has commend
cd an men everywhere to respect, and
The man that can boast OF his freedom
IN do evil because amendable to no
human or divine institution is equally
accountable with the one who is con-
scicus of duty TO God, his neighbor and
himself. So long as Masonry insists
on on elevation of man as the stand
ard Of life. we must keep within its
bounda~les. e,se submit 90 inc hIuil-
istion of being classed with those in
s-itDti0rs which have discarded their
principles and outlined their useful
ness.
efnDIv ~ organization to enter pass,
~, ~ofre Nasons. The Masonic insti-
+ution is one OF the s.cet moral forces
of civilization. It is more wonderful
tbon any edifce which the operative