The age-herald., 1900-12-29
A FITTING FINALE TO
 THE MASONIC REUNION
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Continued From First Page) brate its one hundreth anniversary at Washington, and on that occasion a statue of Gen. Albert Pike, poet and philosopher, who filled the office of Grand Commander foe many years would be unveiled. The speaker paid a warm tribute to James D. Richardson, the present Acting Grand Con- mander. He mentioned many illustrious Americans whose names had been on the rolls of the Supreme Council, and of the great men who are today active Scottish Rite Masons he pointed to President Diaz of Mexico, the Grand Commander of the Rite in our sister Republic. MT. Moore continued:
 Masonic Teachings.
 Having defined Freemasonry and given an epitome of it's government. let us briefly consider it's teacheings:
 What of religious truths does 1t teach? Its creed is simple It declares it's belief in the fatherhood of God and in the brother hood of the wise and good among men. It holds that the human soul is eternal and immortal.
 ''It declares it's abhorrence of religious bigotry and intolerance, no matter when or by whom it is promoted.
 'The Moslem, the Jew the Christian, the BIdnlllu, lu6 buuuulSlt hllSSl lOSStASi around it's altars and declare their faith and trust in the one God, whose children We are and in whose presence all our petty distinctions and rlvaries are insignificant. IL teaches the lesson of federation for every faith.
 ''rhere is a beautiful story told by a Ma son which illustrates its religious teachings Saladin, the great Moslem Sultan sent for Nathan, the wise Jew, and commanded him to declare which was the true faith-the Mo- hammedan, the Christian sor the Jewish. The sage said there was certain man in the East who was the father of three sons He loved them all so well that he could not decide which one of them should become his heir and successor. He pos sessed a ring with opal setting that shot an eYer-changing ray. It had the virtue to render it's possessor beloved of God and man who wore it with that purpose. It was known that he to whom this ring de- seconded would be the heir and successor. The time came when the father was about to die, and he still found himself unable to decide to which son he would give the precious ring He sent the ring to a jeweler and had him make three rings so exactly like the original that no one could detect any difference among them. He then gave to each of his three sons one of the rings. After his death quarrels and contention and strife arose among the sons to who pos sessed the true and genuine ring of their father. The question was brought before a great judge. He asked If they still trusted their father. Each replied that his faith in him WIS unshaken. Then said the judge: II may be possible that your father hay ing tired of the one-ring tyranny has therefore left you to discover the true ring. Let him who has the true ring evince 1t by showing the virtues of it. This Is the test and after a thousand years you will appear again before this judgment seat and a wiser judge will then be here, who will decide this question among you "
 Masonry, the speaker said, did not decide questions of religious faith, leaving those questions to the individual.
 Teaches Patriotism.
 ''What does Scottish Masonry teach as to our duties to our country?
 Patriotism Is earnestly inculated. If you have seen the programme of our re- union just closed you have doubtless ob- served that the flag of our country has one entire page devoted to it.
 ''It cannot be too often repeated that we believe in Liberty Equality and Fra ternity.' Liberty rebulated by just laws. Equality which preserves sacred regard for the rights of others, and Fraternity which subsists in subordination to right full authority
 we who have inherited through the blood and sufferings of our ancestors the right of free government and the right to worship God according to the dictates of our own consciences can not appreciate
 
 lands have made and are making to main- tain and promulgate these ideas of hu- man advancement and progress"
 MT. Moore then spoke of philosophic truth, and closed with eloquent eXhor- tatIon to the Masons to be faithful to their vows and live by the principles and pre- cepts that had been unfolded to them.
 After the address, which was listened to with rapt attention, the choir sang Bull lard's hymn-anthem. New Every Morn- ing is the Love-"
 The Banquet.
 Private trolley cars were waiting at the Temple and under the marshalship of MT. Klotz the Masons and their ladies were conveyed to the Metropolitan Hotel in Twentieth street. where a splendid ban quet was served under the direction of Paul Giardoni The great dining room pre- sented brilliant scene. The menu was an illuminated souvenir In booklet form.
 The responses to toasts were rnle full of pith and delicious phrases and the reunion will long be remembered as one of the happiest social events and the most representative Masonic gathering in the history of Birmingham.