New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-09-26
ylsOyPY THE CREED or THE FUTURE.


religious congress IS TO be held al the
worlds Fair in Paris in 1900, and the oo)ec's ol
this parliament or congress are stated 10 I've
those "O) To affirm the educational Naiue az"
io, ,o1ver NJ religion for the realization Of the
human ideal: (2) to proclaim religious liberty
.no, tho conscience Of every man is entitled to
tolerance and respect and to protest against al
.o,o,,cisr, Of race or religion CD 10 seek in de-
faut Of doctrinal unity the fraternal union OF all
mon only as being religious. and TO raise above
the differences OF sects the principles III WIN"
they are all united"
Let this congress advocate Masonry Masonic
,onets and Masonic thoughts and teaching. ard
tts object is at once accomplished for Masonry
has for centuries taught just this: First. TO af-
firm the educational value and social power OF
religion. while Masonry is in no sense religion.
# is emphaticaly and mos, decidedly religious.
No man is permitted 20 enter It's portals without
first announcing and declaring his belief in
Supreme Being. and no man is permitted TO take
a step within the lodgeroom without first invok-
ing the aid Of the Deity. And second. ITO pro-
claim religious liberty. that the conscience OF
every man is entitled 70 tolerance and respect"
etc Foremost of all agencies in the world. Ma
sonry has maintained this principle for many
centuries: ii allows its members 10 worship their
God in their own fashion whether in synagogue,
cathedral. church or Westinghouse or whether
under heavens blue dome or In the silent depth
OF the forest Masonry respects the conscience
of all men. and its members may call upon God.
Jehovah or Allah for aid and comfort. long
as they bow 10 the directing power Of an AL
mighty, OF 2 Supreme and Guiding Being And.
finally TO seek. in default OF doctrna unity,
the fraternal union OF all men" Here is Ma
sOnry pure and simple. To unite all men in fra
ternal union is the main. the great object Of
Masonry. Around the sacred altar in our lodges
all good men may gather but the king leaves
his sceptre. the beggar his staff. outside the
lodgerOon: the banker and the mechanic. the
scholar, the learned and the nterate-all
alike when gathered around the sacred altar OF
Masonry known to each other only as brothers,
respecting each other as Mesons, not for their
wealth or station. but for their worth
and Masons The internal not the external.
qualifications make the Mason.
THIS congress fCreshadOws the creed and relig-
Ton Of the future as il pvOClaims the principles
prevalent now and in the past among the frater-
nifty Of NasOns. The underlying idea OF Masonry
then IS the religion Of the future 20 unite all men
in fraternal union, 10 iHstill tolerance and to
rssTect the opinion Of others. In The outer world
IN the world Of commerce and in the affairs OF
life men are thrown together without regard 10
their afiinities and preferences. The old and the
you?g the gay and the sober. the frugal and
The tnrftleSS. the selfish ard the generous the
poor and The rich. the high and the low. all dis
positions all pursuits all sides OF beliefs OF all
SORTS. secular and religious: knowledge and ig
l'ItH'fs al are constantly thrown t'SctH"I !HtO
that vas, compound called human society. and
of necessity. CT a. a result OF human nature.
there is a constant friction which disappears
within he lodgeroOm. because here meet
upon the level and act upon the square. The
lodge is the maven Of res. the quietinS spot for
the turbulent spirits q the outer world; here
the mind IL at rest while mingl!ns with our fell
low-man. with our brothers. BY all means let
this religious parliament join the Masonic fra
ternitv and its aims and objects will be fully
accomplished. The millennium may not yet be
at hard hut the teachings Of craft point
toward a better. a higher. state Of social condi-
tons. and Masonry has done much toward in
spring and disseminating the liberal ideas Of
the present century.