New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-21
TPJBrTE TO MASONRY.

n,,.sor-v unecathed by the hand OF time, has en-
,.,ed though Government after Government has
10, suhvcrtcd II has existed. though wars have
from, time to time spread their devasta,ions over
tho earth II HAS existed. though superstition and
,rooraDce and error. during the Dark Ages Of the
uor,1 held the minds o: the masses of the human
700 Z, bondage And it still exists and nourshes.
Masonry IS old but the members OF the mystic
40 are now more numerous than ever; ana ia
every land in which a knowledge of the true God
exists there its light shines with a gentle. yet
steady luStre.
Masonry is OLD. bu, the hand of the innovator has
not taken single stone from the temple, and
the fair fabric Of Masonry still proudly rears it,
summit toward the heavens in all its original and
Just proportions and with all its pristine splendor
Masonry is old. but the rites and usages
which were adopted by Masons in their assemblies
at the time Of the organization Of the institution
are yet sacrcdy preserved among them the same
teneis the same irreVOcabo laws are the rule Of
their government ard action. Masons now meet as
did King Solomon Hiram Of Eyre ana Hiram the
Builder. ThCy act upon IL" same tenets and part
with the same ceremonies. SO may Masons ever
meet, so act and par.
There are some persons in the present day whD
decry antiquity and who imagine that the moIorns
are IN the posscssicc of all learning and every vir-
tue. These persons frequently ask the question
Why is it that Masous prize themselves upon the
antiquity Of their order: Whenever an institution
IS very ancient, the presumption is fair that il
not be founded in error II ii Is true that antiquity
cannot consecrate erro: it is no, less true that II
the tenets which Mas"rs held sacred at the or
ganizaton OF Masonry were then true they will
ever remain So If they were founded in error
time. which discovers all things would have dis
covered these errors ana the institution would long
since have fallen. that it has not so fallen though
centuries have elapsed. is proof that II is founded
on the principles of eternal truth. which are the
same Yesterday. to-day and forever"
uquty, yet 1t Is not confined 10 The wisdom OF the
itself all the learning Of the moderIis and while it
NcUlcatts among iiS vOtarics the practice OF every
-, a. 'S "a ne unt II encourages them IN the
CI!uNdtloh OF al! the HDeral arts and sciences
But here some one of the uninitiatcd may say:
society? Why meet in secTecy? Wiz have pS svm
DoIs and emDlems and adorn yourselves with in
sBala. tTst, then We are a distinct society be-
cause we believe Ne can more encctually carry out
our objects In unison than separately. We meet in
screened from the wicked. the noisy ana the vul-
gar, We can securely. unnerruptedy and calmly
mediate upon great truths. ana humbly listen To
those lessons OF virtue which are contained in and
Illustrated by the ceremonies the traditions ana the
himself IN the bottom of deep abyss can even in
the daytime see the fixed stars twinkling in the
The surface Of the bright earth so to the secluded
and humhlv medi,ative arc revoa led many things
live constantly amidst the noisy thr0ng. and sur
use symbols and emblems, and tnesc are the
been poetically defined 10 be "a Beautiful system Of
morality yelled in ailegory and illustrated by SYM
bo!s, and again IL has been defined 10 be the
science of symbolism" This science teaches by
me AID OF emblems, The whole duty Of man IN
every situation IN life IL wnicn ne may be placed,
ana not In dry ddactic manner but so as -
Iencer the task OF instruction delight both TO the
teacher and 10 the hearcr. As he who reads the
may walks of rich pa-,erre can admire the beau
tes OF nature made more lovely by the hand OF arr,
and at The same time nhale sweet odors and Gull
choice flowers by the way. the aspirant after
Masonic knowledge has new. attractive fields OF
thought laid open before him, and while ia his
progress alter truth he admres the wisdom which
inspired the great institution he also apprOprate-
many gems Of knowledge Of 'purcst ray serene
which are as cffectuay hidden from the world as
are those natural gems which THE dark Unfath-
oI-eQ caves Of ocean bear"