Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1896-11-22
THE SECRET ORDERS.
MASONRY.

uuLll Asc8L COullu uulCdllOu.
On Wednesday evening, Charity
Chapter Rose CroiX held monthly meet
ing with a very full attendance Of its
members present. Bro. John N. Birch,
Wise Master, presided in the east, and
with the assistance of his corps of off,
GERS, and the brethren, the degrees
from fifteenth to eighteenth inclusive,
were conferred upon class OF candi-
dates in an impressive and creditable
manner, after which the customary
banquet was had and enjoyed by all.
On Thursday evening, Wheeling
Lodge No. met, and there were rea-
sonable number of brethren present.
Work was fully expected on this occa-
sion in the Second Degree, on a num-
Der of aspirants, but as they did not
appear at a seasonable hour, the same
was deferred until next meeting.
The meetings for the coming week
will be: Wheeling Commandery No. l,
on Monday evening; only routine bus
mess will then be transacted. On Tues
day, Bates Lodge meets, and Worship
ful Master Peabody expects a large at
tendance of brethren to assist him in
comforting more than one degree. On
Wednesday evening, Albert Pike Pre-
ceptory, knights Kadosh, will meet,
and the degrees of the Preceptory Will
be conferred upon a large number Of
postulents, and Sir McCahon, Precep-
tor, expects to have the assistance OF
the knights.
On Tuesday evening, Nelson Lodge
No. 80 will hold monthly communlca-
ton, and there will be good attend
ance of brethren TO assist in any work
that may be presented at that time.
The Masonic chronicle in its last
number has the following interesting
article, entitled Masonry and Relig-
IONS" which it copied from the Chris
tian CD Cynosure, of Chicago, and
which that journal thinks, by it, has
put another spike into the coffin Of Ma
sonry. Our readers Can judge as to that
after reading it.
The alarming system of Freemason-
ry is that it is not only a system OF
false religion, but system thoroughly
organized and one to which its MEM
bers are bound by fearful penalties. 1t
is intensely selfish and more sectarian
than any religious denomination. AS
an Illustration of this, we have only to
note that the Masons Of Western Penn
sylvania propose to raise 100000 to
build and equip q Masonic university
in Beaver, by asking every Mason IN
the country TO subscribe $40. 1t is eX-
pected that most Masons would send
their sons to enc university, while the
children of the dead Masons, who could
not afford to pay, would be educated in
it free of charge. Beaver is said to be
the center of the Masonic population
Of the United States, and the Masons
Of that place will give the proposed in
stitution a site of eighty acres"
Wouldn't it be terrible, indeed, if the
Freemasons OF America should estab-
lish not an $500, 600 school for their
children, but an 100000 university!
What hypocrites are found in this
world. and when shall the good men
and true of our land mot only those
who are Masons, but Of every religious
sect who takes for its guide and faith
the holy Bible) be free from the lepers
that are to be found in America, and
who do deserve q less fate, than did
Judas. What has TIE establishing
and endowing Of place Of learning to
90 with sectarianism? None but
weaL-minded man would think or write
such slUsh.
Freemasonry needs not opinions Of
one-sided men. for she exists not by
the power Of the sword, but by those
imperishable virtues which eminate
directly from God-Charity and Bro
therly Love. She not only builds
schools. colleges and universities for
the education of the children Of her
members. but she visits the lowly cot,
and lordly couch to relieve the dis
tressed and unhappy; she soothes the
vrinkled brow of age, whispers conso-
lation into the ears of the unfortunate,
provides for the widow, the orphan,
the friendless, and inspires mankind
with higher and nobler aspirations.
She knows no creed or religion, save
an unfeigned belief in the one living
and true God. and welcomes to her bos-
ON the children of every faith who
adore the great name, thereby eXem-
plifying the brotherhood OF man IN the
universally of Masonry. And yet, as
we know her to-day, she emerges from
the mists Of antiquity under the shad-
ows of a Christian church, for it was at
the cornerstone laying Of the Abbey
of St. Adams that, with ritual and writ
ten rules, the first public assembly OF
our craft was held.
There are also others Of Gods crea-
lures on his footstool, who have pecu-
liar ideas Of things. One sect desires to
raise Jacobs ladder upside down, so
that when the aspirant would mount
it. the rounds would be Charity, Hope
and Fai,l, and they say we Ma
sons are wrong in our teachings of 1t.
But what would a Masonic Lodge be
without faith. Why, it would not eX-
list for it is the first and essential viz
the upon which all others subsist.
Faith is the starting point of every one
seeking admission to Masonic ac-
ouaintance. BY experience every bro
ther knows that the moment he signed
his Detition. until he beheld light and
the word Of God, he was accepted, and
walked by faith and not by sight. Is 1t
not only faith also of the worthiness
of = Detitioner that the door Of a lodge
is onened to the aspirant, and is ad-
mitted? Every Mason had the same
faith as his companion when he jour
neved to the light of Masonry. How
absurd it is for any one, especially
members of the craft, to rest on Charts
instead of Faith-building a pyramid
nm it's Doint. But it is not a surprise in
these DAYS Of cranks to find men in
America who cannot see beyond tie
mercenary line. In conclusion we say
that 10 live without faith in God, and
in the examples and precepts, and prac-
tice of the holy writings-the Bible is
bnt a blind infatuation, to die without
it. eternal ruin. Faith in God! not
only in his goodness. but in his JUS