The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-10-16
THE MASONS HEAR
REV, v. D. HUBBARD
He Preached On Sunday 10
the Lodges.
THE SERMON CRITICISED
II Had Rather Leave MY Child to the
Masons Than the Church "
THE SER Won CRITICISED
he BlUsaEs FOR THE CHURCH
He Says That Masonry Saved the Bible During
the Dark Ages When the Church Had
Utmost GyenitUp. Mosony
Not Above Church.

The seating capacity of the Tabernacle
Sunday to accommodate the congregation
that assembled to hear Rev. w. d. Hub
bards sermon to the Masons Of the city.
The different Masonic lodges of the city
were present in a body and sat directly
in front of the pulpit. The sc--ion dealt
with the various phases of Masonry and
gave a sketch of it's rise, the principles
upon which it rests, and the object for
which it labors While the sermon was
peculiarly edifying and strengthening to
the Masons present, it also appealed to
those not Masons, to achieve goodness,
and do those things calculated to make
the world happy and better. Mr.. Hubbard
delivered the sermon in an earnest, SYM
pathetic manner, and held the attention
yTof his hearers from start to finish. He
Us daily growing in favor with the peo-
pie, both as pastor and preacher.
In the course of the sermon Mr.. Hub
bard stated that the principles of Ma
sonary were found in the Bible and that
Missionary had saved the Bible during the
dark ages when the church had almost
given it up. He closed his discourse by
declaring that he had rather leave his
child to Masons than to the church. These
remarks, especially the last one, have
aroused considerable comment, and no
little criticism among the people who
heard them.
He chose for his text Sunday, James
1:27: True religion and undefled before
God and the Father is this to visit the
fatherless and widows in their afflicton,
to keep himself unspotted- from the
world. "
Mr. Hubbard said that among his ear
lest rec0llections was that of hearing his
father speak Of Masonry, that for several
generations back his ancestors were Ma
sons. He had been thrilled in childhood
at. hearing of the noble benefactions done
by this noble order. That his mother
had saved her property from coniscation
and destruction during the war by max
ing known in the way peculiar to Ma
sons, who she was. And that four years
ago, be had passed through the initiate,
and the true splendor and significance and
glory of the meaning and spirit of Ma
sonry had burst upon him. He under
stood what it all meant.
''You never hear Mason argue about
Masonry" he said. at would be too
much like defending virtue. Masons have
no fears for the future of Masonry. 1t
makes me glad when I think how long
it has lasted and how long it will last"
"And when I consider the building of
that temple, built so noiselessly, so sure
w and accurately, at which our craft was
founded l have to turn to that other
grander temple and consider it's plans
and the glorious principles upon which
it rests.
THE text" said Mr.. Hubbard, consists
of a figure OF speech, where the part was
put for the whole. When James said
visit the fatherless and widows he
meant also to supply their necessities.
Here he told of many instances where
want and suffering had been relieved by
Masors, and said the spirit that prompt
ed such acts was the essence of Masonry.
He then spoke of how Masonry had en-
dured persecution and had thriven and
grown to be strong and powerful.
''Masons,' said Mr.. Hubbard, "are
charitable. They do not talk against
their fellow man The churches some
times furnish very ugly sights. dis
scntion arises and the different members
say hard and ugly things about the peo-
pie who do not agree with them The
Mascns never The Masons do not talk
unchar itably about the man who has gone
astray. They have as little patience with
wrong doing as any one. but they cover
brothers deeds with charity, and when