The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-07-04

,SouI'iess scars received in as many
liaru iought battles for freedom and
right. But to-day she is lusty and
s s',.,s as young eagle ready for
ments.
on! for the eye of genius and the
mana OF an artist that might Gull from
.ne garden OF rhetoric it's choicest flow
eIs, weave OF them u chaplet of beauty
anu lay ut your feet tonight In honor
or Masonry.
But while it may not do this I know
mat SO rich Is the storehuuse of its
HISTORY Ill the treasure of accumulat ted
years and so fragrant its paths with
the deeds of It's heroes that il does not
need It's praises to be sung by men.
nasohry stands for Il prinCplc--a
ulfine principle-and us long us good
ana evil shall endure this modest hand
maiden of religion shall live. modest
and retiring
Yet as firm In its faith and as inficxi-
pie In Its fidelity as the grey buttresses
OF granite that prop the eternal hills
better, wiser and consequently happier
The first great lesson she imprcsscs
upon the mind of the novice Is the i'm
portance of u trust i'm God. Then she
places In his hand the gavel and bids
MN break off from his life and charac-
ter the rough incongruities of evil
haDits, and To prepare his heart as n
storm fer the builders use She gives
MN the Bage-nn emblem OF measure
ment-and directs him to divide his
time. so that he may have an equal
space Tor the service of God and n
brother, his usual occupation and for
rest, that he may return to the dis
charge of his duties with renewed vigor
She pledges him In the discharge OF
his duties the assistance and support OF
all his brothers. But lie must give
evidence of his sincerity by making
, an honest effort She places before him
the square and plumb and demands that
ne square his actions by the square Of
Virture and walk upright before God
ana man. She touches, him with the
compass and warns him To govern his
possessions and guard his1ongue. And
having prepared the material for the
building. she places in his hand the
trowel, instructs him In it's use, charg-
ing him to spread only the cement OF
brotherly love and friendship. Thus
uniting the various parts of n virtuous
Ire into one splendid temple of beauty
which should be alike pleasing to the
| master builder and to his fellow crafts
men.
She leads him down to the valley of
| the shadow of DEATH where he drinks
| or the dark water of the river. then
pointing to the bright star of hope shin
ming beyond she bids him pass over and
\ rear no danger. and when Mt last he
! comes to the end. and the working tools
| OF life drop forever from his grasp. she
Il
power of Judas lion. and he lays down
his body, believing that 1t shall be rails
| ed ana become part of that great
| temple not made with hands eternal in
the heavens. Nor does Missionary stop
here. The widow and the orphan. the
| distressed and the oppressed every
| where are it's children. and the wards
of its tenderest care. Every Mason
must assist the worthy members of n
brothers family. when called upon if in
his power to do so, and to the uttermost
extreme of his ability while there arc
| many instances OF their benevolence.
| there is one institution particularly to
| which 1t always aludes with pride--the
| oxford Orphan Asylum. Here the
| Masons of this grand Jurisdiction are
caring for and educating over 200
| sons and daughters OF the State. rescu-
| ing them in many instances from yawn-
ing chasms of shame and misery and
lifting them to the higher and nobier
life of the true citizen. I'm rs much as
We did it to one of the least OF these.
We did ii also unto Him."
! Brethren, when the last trumpet
| shall sound and the deeds of all men
| shall be weighed in the balance. the
| oxford Orphan Asylum will be the
| brightest jewel in the crown of North
| Carolina Masonry, and the sweetest
| music heard in heaven fyill be the
| angel voices of its children singing the
| praises of God and their benefactors