The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-07-04
PRINCIPLES OF MASONRY.
An Address by II. W.. RIount, w. NJ,
Roper, n. q. Lodge.

Roper Lodge. No. 443. met at their hall
Monday night, June 29th. In special COM
munication for the purpose of Installing
their newly elected officers for the en:u-
ing term. After the usual form of open
Ing, the lodge repaired to Blounts Hall
for public installation, where they were
met by their families and friends.
After the installation by Brother j.
LII. Savage. acting grand master. which
by the way was beautifully rendered.
the friends and families of the MaSons
spent pleasant time in feasting on the
bounteous hospitality of the lodge in
the way of Ice cream and cake.
w. NJ. Il. w. Blount delivered in his
most pleasing manner a splendid and
eloquent address. :
Roper Lodge, it seems. has for it's
theme the oxford Orphan Asylum. AS
their offering on st. Johns Day they
sent the little ones check for $50.
The newly inEtalled officers of Roper
Lodge. No. d43, for the"ensuing term are
Mr.. Il. w. Blount, w. NJ; Mr.. e. L.
Harrington. 5. W.; Mr.. George w. Free
man. }. W.. Mr.. j. Il Savage Secretary,
and Mr.. T. G. Roper, Treasurer
We feel confident that this friendly
gathering OF Masons and their friends
will work together for good to the COM
munity and furtherins the cause of the
Supreme Grand Master of the universe
The following is the address OF Mr.
Blount
Brother Masons. Ladies and Gentlemen:
Some one has said that if a man could
write the songs of a people. he need not
care who made their LAWS. 1t might be
said with equal force thntiif man could
arrange the feas,ts of a people 1T is not
important who ruled them.
All nations and all religions OF what
ever name or cline have had their fes-
tive occasions. And so strong was their
influence over the people of heather
countries with whom the first mission
aries came into contact. and so 10th
Were they to give up the festivals of
their gods that the good Bishop Gre
cory was constrained to arrange the
feasts of the Christian Church early in
the third century to offset their influence
3.nd to supply something to take their
place
Thus the followers of the meek and
lowly NaZarene celebrate the feast of
his nativity, with JOY and good cheer.
The feast of the resurrection with offer
ings Of music. flowers. and songs of
triumphs; Masonry following the exam
pie of the Church. has adopted certain
feast days upon which she bids her
followers to meet together and engage in
such exercises as may seem best suited
TO the cultivation of the fraternal affec-
tons which should be the chief virtue
of every true Mason.
The stern integrity of st. John the
Baptist. which induced him to forego
every minor consideration in discharg-
ing the obligations he owed to God; the
unshaken iirmness with which he met
mariyrdom rather than betray his tiust
to his master; his stern reproof of vice.
and his continued preaching of repent
ance and virtue, mark him as a fit pa
iron of the Masonic institution, and
thus we celebrate June 2ith, the festival
of st. John the Baptist. On December
27th we celebrate the feast of st. John
the evangelist. the disciple whom Je-
sus loved" To these two, iepresenting
virtue, fidelity, and brotherly love,
we dedicate our lodges.
F'reemasonry is not religion. II has
been described as beautiful system OF
morality yelled in aliegory and illus
trated by symbols. 1t is the science OF
good. combining the accepted truths OF
religion, theology and philosophy.
1t stands for something more than a
simple oath-bound secret so1ciety. whose
chief business it is 10 spirit away would
be violate:s of its secrets, or the rescuins
of criminals from the hangman's rope
1T is true that the great Wellington wa
Mason, and so was the famous Marshal
Ney, and it may be also true as claimed
that thirty years after Ney was shot
in Paris. by order OF the Powers he wa
teaching school in our beloved State
North Carolina. Yet Ney was simply
q political prisoner. had committed no
crime. lie was simply ordered to be ey-
ecuted to end an unholy ambition.
Masonry. as now organized. saws
Judge Clark, is much older than the old
est government of any civilized world
to-day, and when we think of the vas,
changes which have been wrought in
human Institutions and human society
since the beginning OF the Christian era
we are apt TO wonder what vital prin-
ciple controls the spirit of Masonry and
keeps il alive
There is. my friends. n divine principle
inspiring Missionary. 1t is the sans
spirit which made the stars to sing to-
gether on the morning OF creations
dawn. that caused myriad angels. when
the Babe OF Bethlehem was laid in tho
manger. to shout the glad acclaim
GLORY to God i'm the Highest. Peace
stood out with divine power and beauty
when the meek and lowly Nazavene sus-
pended OH the rugged cross, cried out
Father Forgive them, they know moi
what they do"
We see it in the mighty sweep of the
oceans roll and the placid bosom of the
silent brook in the gentle raindrop tina
brings lift to dormant seed. and nour-
ishes II into a thing Of beauty. And we
trace 1t in the gentle zephyr that kisses
the maiden's cheek and paints there
the rosy hues of lfe's young dawn
Missionary, catching the inspiration
cries out to all the world, God is love
and all men are brothers..
Yes, the fatherhood OF God and the