Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1896-12-11

'i,ible sunlight, in which the mind
may wander and contemplate trui !;
it Is that sunwarinth which fills a, d
pervades all human hearts, causing
them to beat in love and unison; it
is the sentiment of mutually sympa
thizing mines, for
MAN is one,
And he hath one great heart. 1t is
thus we feel,
With gigantic throb athwart Il g
sea;
Each others righ's and wrongs, thus
are we men"
| This free. all embracing spirit has,
nevertheless visible body. an ex
ternai phasis, namely, the Masonic
symbols, ceremonies aud forms.
Freemasoury is no mere super fetal
visionary idea, no Utopinn scheme or
feeting shadow, no misty phantom
OF the brain, it assumes a positive
form and shape, and enters into the
outward world visihlv ard oudib!v.
actively and effectively. LIS symbols
are mostly borrowed from II, chi &C
ture, which scierce teaches us n
strict obedience to the rules ard
laws of morality, rs sure end relia
BILE, as it is embracing of The world
and humanity. 1t is distiugu:s h
ing popularity of Freemasonry, that
reaches its doctrines in symbols aud
ceremonies, and not in words, The
Eails OF Masonry are halls of limoges
into which the Mason oan enter, con
tampla'ing aud rejecting upon the
objects which meet his view. The
ceremonies, usagcs aud custcms of
Masonry are so many living images
which likewise invite contemplation
and It Election The visible embodi
nent of the spirit of Masonry las
the great advantage that the spirit
presents to our comprehension rot
IN barren ideas Or words. bat in. liv.
ing shapes. O., particular impor
tauce are our Masou:c cercinoui, $.
our living symbols, because til, v
require not only con!e mplatiop, but
also action and imporiapce-th,,
lay claim to the whole man, rruuir
irg of him deeds and actions. The
symbolic forms and ceremonies ne.
cessarily reqnir" place whcie they
can be p"rform' d ard pi; iced; no
less do they REQUIRE inflated nd pts
Who understand the symbols, who
rellsctingly contemplate them, who
c'n teach their 'rue meaning aud
perform the ceremonies Tie con.
secrul'd place for the s,mb .lical
repres ntation Of the split of Ma
sorry is i'll The lodge liele 10
members of the fraternity unite in
love, striving it, noble emulaton to
fulfill the duties of love toward the
Mnsohic AIT, aid ;owmd The Lreth
fer, The bre'hcn unit in lodge,
axe u symrol cf the fratcrni,y bound
i'll Freedom nId in love The lodge
is The living union Of he body ard
soul Of fieemsonrv. II Mn>orry
was doctrine Taught ouly ia wmks.
then any could read, stidy and
think for himself at lis home; bat
being II doctrine e symbols, it. lie
qnires place whera ihoae symbols
may be presented and where the
symbolic ceremonies and usages may
be practiccd The members of
lodge have therefore double duty
lmpoaed on them; first to practice
the Masonic art, that is, the symbol.
ic representation OF the spirit of
Masonry; secondly, practically to
perform among themselves the du-
ties taught by the Masonic doctrines.
No real, jealous Freemason will
shrink from this double activity; he
will rather be an Industrious atten
dant at the lodge meetings, aud
cheerfully assist in promoting the
fraternal social life. 1t is certainly
true that one can be Mason with
ont being visitor or even a menb
of lodge. but only in the sense
that he cherishes within himself the
spirit OF Masonry. The fundamen.
tai ideas and principles of Masonry
can entirely exist without lodge
not so Freemasonryi for this re
uuiras Masonic ,,rant;oa of tho ,.+