New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-08-01
THE CONSERVING POWER AND Nff' hN' '
or FREEUASONRY.

Great forces are silent ones. The most peter.
influences are not those th9t cone at forces are
commission and urhe ,ys Influences are rot oa5
awful i'm their results. hut iney coIinfo ~ c~r
heralded by rumnet i3ngues 10y ,ber work Of ruiz
Yn1 how much greater the silent forces % l'' S,
that unnoiced by the common hrng . 4isseines
sianily b,ating upo' TN" ear'h pr''s'"N W
TO al thAt frn are more speedy in heir op""
oticns man Constructive o. conserving t;',. 80
The eant Of the forest IN" Er0wtn OF % ,;,
Y"t = prratcv force is manifested In me grow" :"
the tree han in its destruction, % 80. IA
uol'r ~, III NAV bs shattered or swept away by
sinsl. torn Of unbeief. Yet faith IS ngh''. INA"
Amns ,ho great conserving Influences that haze
operated among mrn dG,inE - n ofitE ,.or,; has
been silent and unseen hy ihc pr"tahr hr oT ,i
ing OF the Tempe r"pre5enis A. ,c strictnro
rose 10 sound If q workman's hammer was nearh
yneTtIo ,rurht o,t the skiiful design OF the
Master. and then each stone VS. HlcsTe' .h "'s
same cayerns en- be seen the chipping on ,he
floor the marks where great stones "rre , moTn
from tire living rock. the sn'oke stains 'ns wo'h
mems torches LET, upon ne walls al eng Oh
The work y so,mon's builder. ..o o,... g., ,noso
The mul'itGdc that throngei me cfy II ,i%n
golden days sea- the structure rise IN siollq"s
of Him whose designs we're daily drawn '.pon one
rcseb9ard nor did hey see Nd ,es wo dSs S and
The dwelcrs in Jerusalem saw only the result
tho processes ID. %hicn mat result NfsN
for me designs Of the Master and he worS in the
rsen ~ no The ioy and pride Of the people for so
many years. a many splendid life stands forth
with adnrirng qasc. Knowing Of the forces that
resGG1 W. So by whCh such
suits have been wrought out. For many centuries
Masonry has been ciyillzing cosssrHing, pn%er
n Dc nG so@' n n sYsfssT MOI ne ERs
iarC 4 z u discipline
ing Of the lodge? The qualities which fl men to
.eIoned here in marked degree. What higher
-rihue could be Paid our organizing and conserving
Of high and low degree have borrowed from us. l
wns struck with this fact even before was made
The great conserving influence Of Masonry is seen
ais, in tho influence 1t exerts In sofiening the as
6e ee&, Of rcT Sonc, ,ec,9rIa nra zeal P"s
cia questions. all tend 20 separate men and en-
bitter them one against another Such influences
common bro,herhood. softens these ssperfles and
Masonry teaches the hrotherhood Of man in a
ray tnai conserves society. The ,communistc
aeement in our order We teacn the brotherhood
OF man. but not in tha, sxasseTa,ed way that
The Master Of the lodge is no fgrrehesd; He Is
clothed win authority not & so h to himself m tn
authority. caref lily end thoroughly taught In
the FACT that Masons are generay to be found on
the side OF law and order. When passion RACES
like flood when outbreaks agains. authority are
frequent and alarming. Masons among the first
10 rise with determined courage In support Of au-
thority end right.
Every lodge is "a protection to The community in
which Il Is situated.
That Masonry has not only endured through the
ages but has also beer; conserving lower is In
part owing to its irtrirgr nu'urc. because II is
Masonry II has stood firm. our ancient brethren
were not workers in wood that the fire could cor
sumo. or tho tooth OF time soon destroy. but out
OF the ever-during rock they wrought square work.
true work massive and enduring.
The .xartneaS of expression OF sign and move
ment 81. ,crd develop those traits OF character
which make men strong and true.
But tho great reason Of the oerpetuity and con-
lion principle. No matter how goodly the building.
II rarnnt endure unless built upon solid founda-
ton. Trio Temple built upon the living rock.
and Masonry H. built upon the rock OF ages-the
living sod. Faith In God IS the fundamental priIl-
clnle ~ cur oTder. 800 -,
oar an,!er; brethren built wisely in settling this
% tho foundation stone OF the edihce they were
rearing
This faith s 20, a cold philosophical abstraction
not A dreamy, hazy thought that perchance some
where there may he n mysterious Bclng. unknown
and unknouA hle-but II T. livng faith IN per
sonal God whose experimenting providence We
recognize In such n God have In the most
solemn manner ayowed our trust. This faith Is The
foundation OF every edihcc IA which man can Sc
Cioyernmcnt and law business social order phi
losophy and religion, all rest upon this as funda.
mental principle. God Is the ground or right. ana
IN Him all moral distinctions take their rise.
Built upon this living rock. Masonry Will endure
the storms Of sges-(Rev. Brother L. II. Briggs.