Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1896-05-06

| tribute 10 ner lie, loeItg Ot Pulouih Va
happiness" she shall demand admis-
sion to our Craft, we will be able to reply,
although you can ride bicycle, you can't
ride our goat and while we gladly recog-
nize all of your rights, including the right
to sing bass, we esteem you too highly to let
you subject yourself to the ceremonies Of in
itiatiOa to our Fraternity" The ladies who
have contributed TO this occasion by their
haudiwork and taste have given proof of
their friendly interest in our Order. While,
by the love we lavish upon our mothers, sis
ters, wives, daughters and sweethearts, we
show our unbounded affection for their sex.
1t is hoped, that if to-day they learn any
thing more of Masonry, what they may hear
will not abate their interest in and their re-
gard for the Institution we so highly prize.
venture to affirm that amongst all the
institutions of mans devising there never
has been Que more remarkable and unique
than Freemasonry. Wherever a Masonic
Lodge has been established, whether in the
centers of civilization and refinement, or
upon the border land of barbarism, the
great truth has been proclaimed Of the Fa
therhood of God and the Brotherhood of
man. People of all Nationalities and climes
and tongues and creeds have recognized the
catholicity of our fraternity, and the sim
plicity and purity of our faith These two
fundamental principles Of our Institution
epitomize all of mans duties to his Creator
and to his fellow man. Our Divine Master,
himself, has said that con these two hang
all of the law and the prophets" For
Brotherhood implies unstinted charity, af-
fectionate solitude, and unsefsh devotion
while Fatherhood evokes the hearts purest
emotions of grateful love and ilial reyer-
ence. As the State is but an aggregation Of
individuals, he who is faithful to his neigh
Dor and to his God cannot be other than
true and loyal citizen. 1t may not be un-
profitable to elucidate this thought.
The universally of our Order is one Of
the great boasts of Freemasons. tits not
limited to any cline or creed or nationality.
It Aourishes alike in the frigid North and
under the sunshine of the South. While it
It is entirely free from all sectarianism, re-
ligion is the corner stone of its superb edi-
fee. 1t teaches no dogma of government,
but impresses upon its members the duty of
faithful allegiance to constituted authority.
1t gives free reign to individual thought
but draws a stiff curb upon the passions and
holds rod over the fractions and the vicious.
While Freemasonry detests tyranny and
oppression, there is no room in its ranks for
the anarchist; nor for sediton against a
Government which secures all the natural
rights of man.
Amongst the first lessons taught the iui
tiatc, is the absolute equality of all men,
Yet at the same time he learns that he must
implicitly obey the very person who in
structs him in the elementary principles of
human rights Herein is the germ of social
organization aud happiness. The rich and
the poor, the Prince and the peasant meet
upon a common level, but all must alike
bow before the majesty of the law
Right and Duty are twin born, and are
united by inseparable ligaments. Strike
down Right, and the call of Duty falls upon
dull, dead ears. Individual freedom and
social order-Liberty and Law-sit togeth
er on one throne, and i.her can receive
homage which the other does not share
Freemasonry is always and everywhere the
bulwark of good government; because it
teaches that no right can be enjoyed or
claimed without the recognition Of the reel
procal obligations Of duty.
Show me a catalogue OF patriotic virtues,
and will show you that the Masonic Lodge
is the school room in which each Of them is
incucated. The State needs Prudence in
Council, Fortitude in Action, Justice to all
men, and Truth in all things. The impor-
tance of these qualities is impressed upon
every one who crosses the Threshold of our
OIucI. DtuldeO tl93 hyNI'tA S''f"""'i
must be counteracted by unselfsh wisdom
which looks only to the public good. This
means no sickly prudence which quails be
fore opposition, and degenerates into weak
timidity but a deliberate, honest judgment,
untainted by passion and uninAuenced by
prejudice. The Fortitude which We incul
cate is not ignorant obstiuacy, not spasmod-
ic impulse; it is not stubborn bigotry, nor
ephemeral bolduess; it is not a blind and
stupid resistance to the inevitable, nor
fiery zeal for the unaltanable. But Is a
courage, cool, determined and unialtering,
no matter how many difficulties oppose, nor
how many dangers threaten. It is stead
fast adherence to the right no matter how
many. nor how powerful its assaianls may
be. Thus sustained By Prudence and For
titude, Justice sits, serene, upon her throne,
and holds her scales with unwayering haud,
while oae side is weighed down with riches
aud social influence and political power
while in the other there is nothing but pow
ertv. weakness and friendlessness. We be
lieye in Justice that will not be blinded by
the glitter of gold, nor unduly Influenced by
sympathetic emotions. In Mythology lhe
Goddess of Justice is represented with