Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-03-28


new lodges could only be formed by war
rants from the Grand Lodge.
MASONRY THE PIONEER OF CIVIL
ZATION.
In III the Grand Lodge of England was
restored the Grand Lodge of France fol-
lowed in 1929, in Holland in 1884, in Ger
many in 1883, in Italy in 1875, and in 1873
1t came to America, where tolerance gave
religious societies an opportunity TO set up
their affairs, and indulge in that inherant
desire born in the hearts of men TO pay
their homage to Diety, which constitutes
al once their duty and happiness and with
out which liberty, no heart is fully salts
fled. Then Masonry took up the staff of
the pioneer. they blazed the trees of the
painless forests thus mutely guiding the
missionary to new fields of spiritual labor.
They bridged the foaming cataracts, that
the settlers might carry his household
with him and enjoy i'm the heart of new
word that fruition Of personal liberty.
which the enemies of Freemasonry would
deny to the children of men; they built
their highways for commerce. and on
mountain top of progress set up their al
tars. and with open Bible, invited the ma
lions Of the earth to join them in building
up the tempel Of moral kingdom that
should be dedicated to the Almighty God,
and free to all mankind.
once only did they falter in their onward
course and that was when a weed sprang
up in their way, which poison weed with
its bitter investives and senseless on
slaught, fired the heart Of bigotry till.
like an epidemic, it poisoned the blood Of
a whole nation; many yet live who can re-
member the result; when lodge doors were
closed and the Masters gavel no longer
called the faithful from refreshment 10
labor, the tide of immigration ceased to
flow, and civilization in America was
more than n quarter of a century in re-
covering from the shock. For more than
twenty-five years Masonry stood like
lofty mountain peak. lifting it's grand out
line heavenward, and viewing with silent
composure the clouds and storm, which
fret and veXed the valley below. Rivers
change their course habitations are swept
away and mangled humanity lies hidden
among the debris of natures workshop.
At length Aeolus withdraws the wind to
his caves: Jove brushes aside the clouds
and grasps with mighty hands the bolts
and shafts that have carried terror and
destruction in their path. The birds sing
in the valley; the sun lights up the
mountain top and weaves an aurora from
its kindly brow that no eloquence can des-
cTibe or artist transfer to canvas. Storms
may come and go; the foundations of
mountains are laid too deep to be dis
turbed by the ordinary commissions of ma
ture. Thus Freemasonry stands amilst
social storms and political commissions. 1t
has no explanations to make, no pardon
TO crave. The clouds of distrust in no way
tax it's Endurance; the poisoned arrows of
malice. at envy's command. can find no
weak place in the armor of truth and the
words OF calamity disturb not its compos-
ure. Proudly conscious of the rectitude
of its teachings. it can wait TIL the rage
of persecution is past. and the sunlight of
craftsmanship Of n Washington and di-
reason shows to the profane world the
grandeur Of her mission and the beauty of
her teachings.
The influence of Freemasonry upon the
growth of civilization cannot be measured
y '
aware of the influence it exerted in the
early days of our country's history, and
a still less number appreciate it. But that
noble band of brothers who freely gave
the best years OF their early manhood or
the course! &C their riper years 10 the
protection of society and the advancement
of every lawful interest in this country.
should receive the profound gratitude of
ever citizen Of our beautiful free land.
Their courage was of a type akin to that
of n Washington. and their self-denial
would have honored the early martyrs
The treacherous red men of the prairie
and forests formed a gauntlet of death.
through which relief must come. and
through whose fiery wall they must dash,
did they seek protection of the honorable
law. or did their weary hearts desire to
bask in the sunlight of homes. To men
thus situated. self preservation said, Pro
feet yourselves" To obey such natural
command may seem TO us an ordinary af-
fair hut TO them it was fraught with
grave RESPONSIBILITIES. 1t required the
plomacy Of a Richelieu to guide our frail
bark Of civil government through the tu-
multuous breakers OF lawlessness which
surrounded II. Never in the history OF
America had there gathered together such
a Heterogeneous mass Of humanity. Here
met the loyal citizen and the outlaw; the
criminal and natures noblemsn; uncom-
promising honor and unblushng villiany;
southern chva,ry and Northern valor;
infjde! and Christian; men Of all climates
and complexion: and among them all
aistrust born Of mixed society and trouble
some times. A country differed by road
c-on.s and directed by foot-Dads, organic