New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-08-08
MlJJCJOTS DEGRADATION.

81 will speak and act toward brother when
absent as though he were present Is sviiosism
in Masonry that covers as an arch the hoheHci".
IRE of its moral structure-the beginning ana emu
ing of the individuality Of the vows expressed or
involved As a part of his obligations to support
brother and defend his reputation and character
from dispersion when unable to defend hiinsen from
the tainted breath of defamation. lhere Is 10
place in Masonry to hide the skeleton OF the 'a'-
,,r m detail reports derogatory to the reputation
Of n brother which, when once wounded, ten 'hou-
sand words in vindication will scarcely De sum
cient 70 repair the mischief tfat ten words nave
occasioned. ,.
Masonry is the impress and incubation, taught
in every schooroom. which has master 10 'eacm
his pupils. and, too, with an impression that WIN
be lasting the primary principles which u"ueIiIo
as In fine gold the social organiza tons that are
ever In constant fermentation ABOUT us' ""'
must be subsidized and sifted before the asSd90i 20"
give IL the stamp of his salvage at the mint WIZ.
good Masons are the bullion ana oehoH'i'"0'
tho sterling metal that not inaptly represents 'he
character Of "Tiram the Builder" and the cooe
Of all who have followed him in their lineage anu
adopted rites until now, for PERIOD OF t"o M
sand years. SANDER is not the s"oiu "a 49,
and will never be used by an inteHlseht -""
who has a conscience 10 guide him wheh Tic 9p.".
or acts TO the prejudice of his pro'her ~
defamation and false public testimony are ann
asps that poison not only the lhuiNI"u"' '' "
body polite of freemasonry. t..
is common among us an" -
trail NAV be traced TO it's source TO many Vi 10 W."
should b,ush 10 own IT, af'er CONVICTION II ie",i'
Is not 4 very good practice. A Woru c"''o
coined 10 suitably express It's viiehess' Oi'o t,
class whether a citizen, a member Oh the .' -,
or n member of our venerable fraternity may u"
ture his property and be made TO make rep' 80, ~,
Mound his hody and the physician may near 'i
wound but II the purity OF his chai"c'.i ~ ~
sailed-wounded in a vital piace-ii III, So 60, ar
no taken away IL can never be returned ~ ',' '''
Al uF,ll
Information is always wicked; the ueia'"e' a.
Ia IN I've despised and Destroyed wheh ana
ybnrever he leaves the sting OF his diVlueu 'oe'
Where Is the qualification 10 an honest man " ="
noble mind 20 be found in practce 'i"' e"'''
universal contempt -, o.,toao ga,
o,,,, ora,iacation proceed from the practice OF
nrivate scandal at the cruel expense OF "lo'"0'
character? Does the habit OF Hihs apou' NV
brother or neighbor add to the siahoei', - .
Of mind or importance among MS ac9saih'"''.
-, ,,-nrod,ce a dignity or even a respect not to
be produced by other more innocent anu h"n's
na,hndsq Every upright and honest man or MASON
VII ans~Sr ~" and deGler OF the Masonic name HIS
deeds are baseY than those OF me 10 hi m
nortion as mans unsuied fame is dearer 10 mn ~
,San life The assassin kills the body perhaps tho 10
rob II of the money Of MS friend d h,, the SIAN
derer attacks the Immortal part Of man name a"' and
rics wound IN tne o bs safe where he ind. ad-
iaIIs with his cloven feet, 49,. ,aao ond
81 SedTs n: gsfG osgS NH dS
made up of fraud and ar,fui treachery ne o h,,,
moi hiring 10 bear the bold ana open accusa Io, uu'
f"cks and whispers death. To misconstrue MOVIES;
TO place trflng Incidents in conteinptDie pon,s VI
Vieww 70 nsinuate THAT more is meant than meets
The car are his Study and delight lhese cIat,s.
wan for evil become by force OF habit as necessary
as The food which affords them nonrshnsh az, anu
for no other purpose than the selnsn ann OF ospb
Ing il1er Tor his should say) acquaintance OF tna'
80 noation from which he can derive no prnri',
and which can scarcely be restored oy al me uiteu
@eo,,s which charity and beneyoicncc can DIihs
-, Taar ,,non H. for evil reports spread win uhac-
countable rapidly and exienc whein inc i he
Sanded down 10 posterity In all the decorations VI
unrefuted truth -, o .ra M, hound IN an.
maud The character or conduct OF Dau men hefe.,
tions OF brother betray baseness OF heart thougn
a. nav not be commendable 10 magnify ms vices
or fo make them a perpetual topic OF conversation
ya would he equally injudicious 10 praise MIN or
hear testimony TO virtues which ne does not pos
sess None but a good man. II he be Mason or
not desires 10 be loved or pra ised by any one ne
who saws Of a bad man, whom ne knows. ana no
,vhom IN that know him know 10 be bad man: ]
have reason 10 speak well OF him. for ne has been
kind 10 me- utters de,es' apr .a,heoo' anu "'
The course 70 be adopted under conditions IKE
these Is explicitly ebuncasd IN me course OF Iect-
ures which form tho subject Of discussion wherever
Masons are assembled. We shouId-should we no
a.ways?-speak Of a brother when absent as J, ~
was present and never suffer him 70 be detained
~ In your power to prevent H., ana " MS conmuc
10 so dishonorable that we cannot speak wen oi
him. let the Injunction OF silence De as sea- 10
our lips? ,, =, ,,.. :,
becomes a paramount duty to defend him IN me
face OF the world. II need be. He VINO STANDS bold