The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-13

During the twenty years of my Masonic
life have witnessed vast bodies OF the
brethren on many occasions but the sight
II at presented itself last Wednesday sur
passed by far any similar gathering | ever
saw. The place was worthy OF the scene scene;
The great hall of William Rufus AFFORDED
no greater cause for pride than did the mag
nficent Scottish Rite Temple of the valley
of Indianapolis at the recent convocation
of Masons in our city. A class of seventy
five received the secret teaching during
three days and nights of hard labor, and
banquet took place. AS l have not yet for
maily affiliated with any OF the Masonic
bodies OF this city, | may without without contra,
praise thee. and not thine own mouth-say
something of the glory of that banquet and
OF the nigh and lofty teaching OF the order,
and that. too, without being false to my
Masonic pledge Through the courtesy OF
Sovereign Master Hutchinson | sat at the
upon more than eight hundred men-the
Drawn, brain, muscle the commercial, pro-
the State of Indiana, gathered there for no
narrow or political purpose, but for the OBJ
ject of promoting love among the brethren
and the patriotic spirit. The toast OF well
come was responded to by ]. b. Cockrum.
whose eloquent presentation on the blessed
fraternity of Masonry held eight hundred
the part which Col. n. r. Ruckle has taken
in the Masonic work of this State the APP
plause was uncomfortable, and the worthy
colonel was. metaphorically buried under a
bed of roses When Brother Cockrum,
thrilling with eloQuence. took his seat al
most dropping into the lap of brother, we
were reminded of the great Sheridan, who,
having detained to an almost GREATNESS
audience for many hours fell back into the
arms of Burke, who Rugged him with the
energy of admiration Judge Elliotts ad-
dress on Patriotism was clean cut as steel
and warm as the breath of summer. The
lofty sentiments flung out by this devoted
son of Masonry would have put to confu-
sion those ignorant men who claim that
Masonry Is an arti1ce of the devil TO carry
men to hell. The only thing that prevented
me from hugging Judge Elliott when he had
finished was that the feast table stood be-
This great gathering in our city has ac-
centuated again the power and function OF
Freemasonry. 1t is ancient beyond all
other human societies. Its roots are visible
half a thousand years before Christ, and
are lost in antiquity. Ever since the Coun-
Gil of Vienna, in 1907. when the Knights
Templar dared to assert and fight for their
rights as against the Pope that branch of
the church has been bitter against every
form of Freemasonry, A few years ago
there was printed in Paris, under the pa
tronage of His Holiness, a priest being the
author, a superbly Illustrated set of books
on Masonry. These books are in the Scot
fish Rite Cathedral library in Washington
City, where | examined them last year.
Dante's Inferno" does not deserve to be
mentioned in the same breath with the
writings of this author, who consigns all
Masons to the lowest hell. The book con-
Masons in the United States, and the re-
igious artist has cunningly managed to put
the marx OF the ucNll on all OF Iten.
THE Masonic creed is based on unfalter-
ing trust in God. and no one can consist
emily take the Knights Templar degrees
without accepting Christ as the redeemer
of men. The morality of Masonry is pure
and uplifting the order neither apes re-
ligion nor usurps its place. No Mason ever
believes and declares that his order takes
the place of the church. He knows that
Masonry will not admit his wife, his child,
his mother, his sister, a young man in his
homage or an old man III his dotage, and.
therefore, on account of its narrowness If
for no other reason, cannot take the place
of the church, which is for all sorts and
conditions of men and women. Masonry is
for a special class.
Love of brethren and love of country,
hatred of ignorance and hatred of tyranny,
are the four great marks of it's creed. 1t
contains no secret which the pureSt woman
could not hear without blushing, and which
the most innocent child could not learn and
follow without injury. We believe that the
order exists under the guidance of the
great ruler of the universe and as it has
stood nobly for freedom of body and free
dom of thought in ages past so again,
should necessity arise, it's strong arm will
be found on the side of freedom and justice.
and successfully opposed to narrowness and