The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-04-03
KNIGHTS HI TEMPLAR
Ofthc two Local Communicates,
Wheeling and Cyrenc, Hear
SERMON BY REV. OLlpHANI.
Tho Members OF the Communicates
Attended the Evening Service attic
First Christian Church in u Rody.
An Eloquent and Thoughtful Dis.
courc by Sir Knight olipIant.
WhataIasonry Stands for. sas

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Last night, at the First Christian
church, special Knights Templar Eas-
ter services were held by the pastor,
Rev. c. N. Oliphant who Is sir knight.
The members Of Wheeling No. and
Cyrene No. Z Communicates, OF this
city, attended the church In a, body.
occupying seats that had been reserved
for them. There was large turn
out Of the membership Of both COM
manderies. and they made striking
appearance as, they marched into the
auditorium.
The Sermon by Mr.. oliphant. was on
the. toplc::s knight Templarlsm and
Character" and was from the text, I
Cor; 8; 1O-1l. Said the speaker in
part: 800
Sir knights, we greet you and bid you
welcome to our spiritual asylum, Gods
house, where, In the atmosphere OF
worship, we all can glory in the Cross
of our blessed Savio.. and "ever remcm-
Der the hallowed sacrifice on Calvary"
out Of which came all our spiritual
blessings.
I;wish to speak to you of Knigh.
Tempfarism and character. 4H
Character Is OF great value. II Is
power, and creates confidence in men in
all stations Of life. All else may fail,
yet with character-"that inbred loyal
ty unto virtue than can serve her with
out livery a man can stand upon
u 4i-yo. ,,slnt oh, tptll he,
ress. A mans characte: is spoken OF
under the figure of 4 building. and the
highest type of character is built upon
Christ.
Masonry. a high form of which is
knight TemplariSm, is q symbol OF
character-bpildipg. 1t is the Oldest fra
ternal organization in the world. 1t
began In its primary form at the build
Ing, Of King Solomon's temple, and is
being perfected now under the reign OF
Christianity. 1t has stood all these
centuries, and prospered under perse-
cutions and shed its light on the earth,
Other fraternities have been made pos
sible. by its success.
Modern architecture has not produced
more magnificent structure than
King Solomon's temple, which was sup
ported by LASS columns and 1900 pill
asters. all hewn from the finest Parian
marble.
Employed in its building were three
grand masters, 5000 masters, or over
seers, $4,000 fellow crafts and 10000 en-
tered apprentices. The three grand
masters represent in the Christian sys-
tenn the Father. Son and Holy Ghost,
ever present TO aid US In erecting our
spiritual structure. The martez, or
ovarseers, represent those in charge Of
tho building Of the holy temple of char
acter. such as evangelists. pastors and
teachers. The fellow crafts and entered
apprentices represent the vast army of
skilled laborers and burden bearers
everywhere. who are shaping materials
for the. edidce that shall stand agains,
sins attacks, and reflect the glories OF
the Divine upon the great heart Of hu-
manity, that throbs with q desire to
approach the God of the universe.
On the porch In front OF the temple
We're two massive pillars of brass. one
on the left and on the right. These
commemorate the deliverance OF the Is
raeliles from Egyptian bondage. So at
the very threshold Of our spiritual tenn
ple-the church-there stands two pill
lars. monuments OF mans dcliverance
from sin and deatlI-the cross and the
empty tomb Of Iesus-the one telling
OF ransom paid and the other of victory
and Immortality.
At the building OF III: templ> the
workmen knew the nature of the tools
and how they We're to be handled. So,
in character-buildlRg. we have tools.
Let US know these. The Bible Is the
chief instrument OF the builder. 1t Is
his square and compass. BY 1t his life
is to be squared toward God ana man,
and by 1t he Is to circumscrlbe his de-
slres. and keep his passions within the
bounds Of reason and impulses, noble
and generous. The Bible is the great
light Of Masonry. 1t is also the light
whose healing and effulgent beams are
to reflect the sun Of righteousness upon
the pathway OF man.
Prayer is the level OF him who would
build Alright. The brotherhood OF man
Is .nowhere SO perfectly revealed as at
the mercy seat. Here we learn that
we are descended from the same stock,
partake from the same nature anC
share alike conflicts and hopes. We are
brothers. Communism with God will
bring to our aid Divine help in equaliz-
ing all the elements OF our being, and
conforming the life and that of Him
who would teach us TINT time. with ali
distinctions, save that of goodness, shall
cease at death.
The tongue Is our trowe.. With this
we are to spread the cement of BROTH
erly love. which is 10 unite us into one
common family, into which no conten-
ton shall exist, save that noble contcn-
ton as TO who can best work and best
agree.
Materials are to be used Owning q
kit of tools does not make man q
mechanic. He must use them.
Chisellng Is necessary process, and
In character building is needed By all
OF us before we can takc on the pol
ish. BY chlseiiES we are fashioned
and shaped into the image of our pat
tcrn-the' Christ
81 think that hurnnn Hives
Must bear the chisGi keen.
il the spirit ycarhS and strives
For the better lie unseen;
For VIC are rude blocks 1T best
It's The chssiiRS brings cut all the rest"
The material must be OF good quality.
soapstonc Is easily cut. and takes good
polish, but Is not safe Tor building pur-
poses Our work viii be inspected by
the Grand Master, Christ. Shall the
material be gold. oliver and precious
stones?
The material IL being now prepared.
Some In the Lebanon forest. some in
Jerusalem: All 10 be SHAPED and pol
ished according to the designs furnished
by our Grand Master.
The building or character will some
day be complete. go perfect win be
the work that each part will fit IN its
place. and the whale structure will rise
In form and beauty, without tho sound
OF hammer or any tool Of Iron. So, Sir
knights. and all, we are workmcn upon
the great spiritual temple that Is to
.adorn the New Jerusalem, which Is TO
be the habitation Tor King ChrIst-our
Grand Master, who has left designs up-
on the trestle board by which all are
TO build.
Rough rafters, rough logs, from quar-