The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1899-12-20

" 90 SNASAN 4iihA's 40 ~ " 81
will ever be. Its essence consists il
the fundamental faith IN the unity OF
man under the guidance OF God and
Its mission of achieving tie univer-
sal brotherhood must be worked out
on the lines of a perfection modelled
on our conception Of the infinite des-
tiny.
No one human being can place
himself above this level. lie can
conceive it as possibility; he can
carry it INTO his life work as fact
in the perception of mlsslo0 and
duty, but he cannot be independent
of it or superior to it.
1t Is a favorite theme with me to
say what | think the Masonic idea
of human lite has done towards the
emancipation.
Free Masonry is the republic Of
equality aud toleratlon. 1t attacks
no living institution, questions no
faith, nOncerns itself with no forms
of government but teaches respect Of
all, and obedience to THAI to which
we belong. But outside and above
these conditions OF human society
itsrests on a moral structure wherein
are combiued to harmonious action
those loftier qualities Of man which
are eternal and universal which are
the theme of that worship which IN
the name of the one living God pro
claims the brotherhood Of man.
This philosophy at once invests
the man with dignity which in the
physical and material world is not
accorded to him. 1t strips the
mighty oftheir power the privileged
of their superiority the distinguish
ed OF their distinction and lays them
all equal on the level of their com
mon humanity.
But the established order ofthings
must not be disturbed by rude con-
tention. Free Masonry teaches
these high ideals as rules aud prmcl-
pIes for ludIvldual calture and ex-
pressly abstains from any lnterfer-
ence In the affairs of religion or gov
erment.
It's immediate aim is to elevate
and make perfect the individual man
and thus create IN the external world
an agency which IN the name of the
right and truth consecrate itself to
progress and the welfare of nations
and of mankind. This Is what Eph-
rain Lessirg, a Free Mason, a man
of this clearest and most penetrating
meant, when a century and
a half ago answering the self-pro-
posed question" -"What are the deeds
Of Free Masonry he wrote But
this | will say; the real deeds of
Free Masonry are SO great that cen
turies may pass ere one can say, this
has 1t accomplished; and yet 1t has
worked on all the good that is IN the
world. and it will continue to labor
on and for the good that ever will
exist in the world"
1t does It's good work through the
good which it implants IN the hu-
man heart; 1t accompishes its great
mission by he magic of new con.
sclousness of freedom, dignity and
tolerance. with which 1t enclrcles
the brow of its votarles.
1 will not dstaln you by drawing
the picture of that gradual, that suf-
fering TOLL that perpetual strug-
gle of tha human race running all
down the centuries which at laat
fixed tie record Of the new epoch,
in the declaration Of mans equality
and the assertion of his inherent
right: some day historian will
come candid and brave enough to
say that from the Masonic Lodge
spread out that philosophy of life
which levels all ranks end like
death 1t self lays the shepherds
crook beside the sceptre."
This fundamental truth in the
plan OF creation constituting the
very foundation of the body Of
Free Masonry has in all times, since
there are any records, held many Of
the best and greatest of mankind to
the bonds of the ORDER More thau
halfof the slgners Of the Declaration