Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-06-23
ST. JOHNS DAY.
Masonic Lodges Of Augusta
Annual Observance.
Divine Services Held at the Univer
salist Church.
Eloquent Sermon Delivered by, Rev
c. A. Hayden.

Bethlehem and Augusta Lodges, F
and A. NJ, of this city, observed st
Johns day, yesterday. At 3.15 the TIVE
bodies gathered at their lodge room il
Masonic Temple. A large number
turned out and the company marched
to the Universalist church to attend
the services. which began at o'clock
The pulpit of the church was very
beautifully decorated. There was 6
profusion of spring wild flowers and
others which came from the green
! houses Of w. II. Gannett. The work OF
decorating was very artistically done
by the Young Peoples Religious Union
of the church.
A musical program was rendered
previous to the sermon. This part OF
| the service was in the hands of the
| Universalist quartet and those artists
handled it very finely. This quartet is
| composed of Miss Sara L. Miller, Miss
| Georgia NJ. Clark, j. f. Dyer and J. w.
| Beck. Miss Elida e. Higgins presided
at the organ. Two anthems, "Rejoice
| in the Lord, o Ye Righteous by Page
| and Schnecker'S Love Divine" were
sung. During the rendition of these two
selections all the singers were called
upon to give solo parts and acquitted
| themselves most creditably.
| Mr.. Hayden's sermon was pronounced
to be one of the finest of its kind given
| before n local fraternal body. 1t was
| certainly a choice production. 1t was
| listened to with rapt attention through
out its entire delivery. His subject was
Temple Building" and his text was
eye are the temples of God" Mr.. Hay
den said in part:
David committed to his son, Solomon,
the work OF building the temple. David.
an old man, had dreamed ana planned
to erect house unto the Lord that
should be the glory of Israel. He says:
L had in mine heart to build an house
of rest for the ark of the government Of
the Lord. But it was not permitted hin.
to enter upon that work. He committed
the work unto his son Solomon, ana
turned over TO him all the material he had
gathered, of silver and brass and gold.
and enjoinei on him in the most solemn
manner the great work of building q tenn
pie for the living God.
when we come down to the New Tes-
lament and to the Apostle to the Gentilcs
who gave the words of my text to the
Corinthians, 'Ye are the temple of God,
he transferred the old liberalism into
spiritual significance. and used the work
ing tools as symbols for the spiritual tenn
pie wherein man himself is a worker to-
gether with God, making his own soul
the dwelling place Of the most high.
.All the degrees of Masonry We're once
the practcals workings of architects and
artifcers. Now it is as a moral science
that we use it 10 build men into the moral
symmetry of perfect character. Most
striking and beautiful was the porch OF
King Solomon's temple, worthy in itself
of Il journey to Jerusalem to behold. Sup
pose q stranger had come to Jerusalem
after the completion of the temple on pur-
pose to behold it and yet after seeing
its beauty had turned on his feet ami
left without seeking to enter into the
wonderous building and looking on its in
terror beauty. What should we think IF
his Free Masonry? Such an one might
be denomnatcd intellectually blind. NOR
brethren do we not see these blind. lame
and dumb Free Masons abroad among us.
today? Those who are familiar with thu
porch outside, but ignorant of the mean
ing and beauty of the inside? None OF
these things should be.
Every Free Mason is entitled to enter
not only the porch of the mystic temple
Of the craft. but to penetrate into its holy
place. No Masonic secret is lawfully dc
MED him. What a rich reward does the
fraternity bestOw upon every initiate,
who seeks to know the entire mystcry.
We would that it were in our power to
make this SO clear that every brother
might comprehend its truth and force"
Here the speaker dwelt on the praCti-
cal application of the truths of the fra
ternity in building n man into the noblest
character. The principles of our order
will endure through all time" he sail.
Truth. virtue. brotherly kindness and
charity are IN the very heart of the race
and cannot die. Our purposes will endure
Age cannot, nor custom stale its infinite
Variety
Let us strive to build the house "where-
in the God may dwell, beautiful, entire
and clean"