Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1900-10-05

find that it is but the expression or the
issue of spiritual life H. the hearts of
men, and that the spirit of masonry is
one with the spirit that animates the |
great heart of the universe.
The achievements and ideals of civil |
cation may be classed as industrial, po-
litical, social, ethical and religious. The
progress, a race. from barbarism to
civilization is the story of every great
people. Industrial achievements are the
outward symbols of essential develop
ment. The difference between savagery
and civilization is marked 10y the differ
ence between the bark canoe and the
Atlantic Steamship, the frail wigwam
and the marble palace, the long house
of the tribe and the vauted halls of
legislation, the lonely trails in the for
est and the net work of vast railway
systems. Let one imagine a visitor from
another sphere looking upon America
when only the Red Men roamed the for
est and again visiting the old yet new
scenes, amid which he beholds the
mighty cities, the canals. the denuded
forests, the smiling fields, the wealth
pouring mines, the feats of engineering,
and he may behold what the brain and
heart of man have wrought.
Masonry has had its share in the
grand accomplishments of industry.
From the building of King Solomon's
Temple to the laying of the corner stone
of the latest masonic temple, masons
have been the master-huilders of the
world. In past ages great buildings
were erected and vast industrial enter
prises consummated exclusively by OPP
erative masons. Always the world $
builders have been largely of the masonic
fraternity. The trowel that forms a
society of brothers with the ties of af-
lection is a symbol of great truth. The
invisible trowel of the mason is the in
strument by which the great industrial
accomplishments have been effected.
Civilization is also characterized by
great political development. The tribe
| in t;n,a haonn,aS n ,,raat o,I a,1;rb+o,nl
nation of millions of citizens. Masonry
has always taught loyal and patriotic
citizenship. Like the Master, masonry
has held to the law. "Render to Caesar
the things that are Caesars" Masonic
charges abound in inspiring injunctions
to be true to ones country. But the
masonic institution has done more for
political development. Freedom, equal.
ity, union are the eternal principles of
God that constitute the foundation of IA
free people. These are also the great
masonic principles. Who can say that
these principles living and increasing
for centuries in the hearts of masens
have not been potent force in the pc.
litical evolutions of the race. The free.
mason, meeting on the level of equality
with his brother and united to him by a
fraternal bond has been the prototype
of the free citizen of the American re,
public. To masonry should be credited
a large share of the political progress OF
our race.
A third element in civilization is so
cial development. No great thing car
be accomplished except by the union and
cooperation of many individuals. Man
lives not unto himself alone. He is evel
a part of social body. For his owl
veal man must realize his social self
The evolution of modern society is the
greatest marvel of modern times. So
) cial ideas have long been the goal of oul
fraternity. Its essential spirit inspires
that noble ''emuation of who best cal
work and best agree" and its principl,
of life is the ''cement of brotherly low,
, and affection, which unites us into on,
sacred band or society of friends anc
brothers." Masonry has been a might,
factor in social development.
A fourth element in civilization is tn,
increase of the ethical idea and of ethica
life. Our conception of fraternity i,
but shadowing forth of the divine ide;
OF the Christ of a universal and infinite
brotherhood of man. To assist need,
brother, to guard his good name, to pro
tect his rights, to live life of servic,
are the fundamental laws of our institu
ton. These are the laws of Christ
Through the masonic institution a,
through other means God has been teach
ing men his laws of brotherly kindness,
and giving more of his life to men
God needs every institution founded
upon brotherly love aud good deeds