Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1896-12-20
A VITAL QUESTION.

What guarantee can you give OF my
future? Such is the question that
should be uppermost in the minds OF
all profanes who pass through our
solemn ceremonies. There is a COM
menGable determination discernible to
those who read and study the question
to place Masonry upon a higher plane
of usefulness; for it can be observed
that Grand Masters and reviewers of
Masonic doings in the different juris-
dictions are CutspOken and fearless in
their denunciations of the vices of the
day. and emphatic in their demands for
a more careful inspection of the ma
terial entering into the mystic temple.
In the past emphasis has been placed
upon the belief in the existence Of one
Great Creator. while the cardinal vir-
tues have been left to take care of
themselves. 'Tis true, if men would
keen the First Commandment the OBJ
servance Of the other nine would give
no trouble. The Master presented this
truth with great force when he replied
to the question propounded to him by
the lawyer, as to which is the great
commandment in the law, when he said
Thou shalt love the Lord thy God
with all thy heart, and with all thy
soul. and with all thy mind" And this
is a Mason's duty to his God. He
never has. and never will accept an inn
perfect sacrifice or offering; and the
one that is not prepared in his heart
should never be brought to his altar in
our Masonic temple. We will not at
tempt a cOncealment of -FOUR apprehen-
sions on this point, with the indebted
ness incurred in temple building, as
we'll as with the insane spirit to ac-
cumulate wealth that characteriZes this
age. and. on the other hand, the ex-
trayaeance connected with modern So
ciability creates an over-anxioGs de-
sire to make Masons. Whenever this
temptation is yielded to it will lead to
consequences which every good and
true craftsman will have ample cause
TO deplore. II is Righteousness that
exalts Masonry. and the question,
GLOW did it die?" should be suppressed
ed bv How did it liye?" Only as we
will If can the future of Masonry he
made worthy of its past. The charac-
fer of the institution will be, and can
he. but the total resultant of the lives
and characters of its individual men,
hers. As we enter upon trust be-
oueathed to us by preceding genera
tion the question gets itself asked Of
each other. what guarantee can you
give of my future?
Good and true Masonry is the love of
ones neighbor. or in other fitting
words. fraternal love is of course the
d. basic principle of Freemasonry, and
for MS to acknowledge this IS we leave
the lodge room and attempt to apply
the principles of Masonry is but to say
that we go out with a determination to
amply the Golden Rule to the transac-
lions of our every day life that as we
meet our followers and extend to them
The hand Of fellowship we do il with q
sincere intention of being ever ready
10 assist others in whatsoever direction
we would expect assistance ourselves
under like circumstances. Let lis ap-
nlv our Masonry to our own acts our
selves. doing what we know and feel
that others should do, living the life
which we would wish our brothers to
live: making of ourselves that which
we would wish others TO he. Let us
aDplv it to our own words. for no more
n0isonous arrow is shot from the bow
Of mans daily actions than that which
is tipped with the venom of SANDER
Gus tongue. Again, let us apply our