The Columbus commercial. (Columbus, Miss.) 1893-1922, 1902-07-01

beautiful ceremonies, but 1t aim
to teach the purest moral lesson
by the use Of these materia
forms of beauty. The bee hiv,
stands for industry, and tht
hour glass for mortality
In the first place Masonry is {
social organization. 1t recog.
nizes the power of cooperative
effort or against the weakness
of independent personal effort,
that dozen men united iogeth-
er, and working harmoniousIy
to attain an object will accom-
plish infinitely more than the
same number moving on inde-
pendent lines.
The social nature of man has
led to the establishment of the
home, the building of cities and
the organization of social insti-
tutions for mans Improvement.
His social nature is a gift from
God and is designed for mans
good.
Masonry believes in the exist
ence of a personal God, and in
man as the offspring Of God.
No man who does not believe in
a Supreme Being can enter the
sacred portals of a Masonic
lodge, or kneel at its holy affairs,
or be instructed in its venerable
secrets. This belief is the great
life artery Of Masonry, and runs
through its whole anatomy from
the entered apprentice who first
learns how to wear his apron, to
the Sir Knight with helmet and
plume and sword. Masonry rec
ognizes man as a fallen being,
but capable of restoration We
sometimes forget that deep down
in the rubbish of mans fallen
estate we may find the symbol |
of spiritual greatness, that stone |
which the builders rejected, |
which must yet become the head |
of the corner.
Again, Masonry is a charita-
BILE organization, 1t is the old
est and most widely known or
ganization of it's kind in the
world. More ancient than Chris
-ianity, it flourished along the
banks of the flowing Jores.a and
on the vine clad hiifsidee 51 Ju-
lea before Rome was ever
known, while Athens was yet
len of robbers, and the Teutonic
ace was still in its infancy. It's
spirit Of charity has alleviated
he woes of the world, and gone
IS q protection to man wherever
le has wandered. Believing
hat the virtue Of a good deed is
ost by publicity it ever seeks to !
dispense a helpful charity with
is right hand, while its left re-
Mains in blissful ignorance Of
What is done.
Though opposed to ostenta-
ious giving, a few of its secrets
ave slipped out, and the world T
as been thrilled by its deeds Of +
indness. When the plague of >
Is spread its yellow wings over !
ur fair land and our own be- :
oved Mississippi was stricken, :
nat knightly soul, Col. J. L. :
'ower, whose record is on high,
a Masonic charity that 4
TIRED the nation. He employed =
urses to care for the sick; he .
ent undertakers to bury the =
cad; he gave substantial assist :,
nee to relieve the destitute :
-idows and he placed the help i
,ss orphans in school. =
Every true Mason must be a y
'ue man, socially, charitable y
nd knightly. A technical v
nowledge Of Masonic learning =
not enough to make a man a :;
ood Mason. He must be good !,
t heart or he is no Mason. His II
haracter must be founded upon n
le pure granite of truth; its n
,ructurs must be of the best
laterial Of friendship, and its q
apstone must be brotherly love. I'll
very true Mason is the friend ly
nd protector of woman. He t
ust be man, every incn of =
i'm. =
Let me caution you against 81
lie abuses of Masonry Being p
4rairv n ~ aroro 4;01 IaCs~naI