Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1903-09-28

worthy men with our venerable Institution
is the be t refutation to charges against its
righteous design and tendency. Only
when civilization has sunk to barbarism,
only when the belief in Diety has been
lost to the consciousness of the race, only
when men have forgotten brotherly kind
ness, then only may the charge of infidel-
ity, blasphemy and evil be sustained
against Masonry.
Misjudgments of Masonic teaching are
due to failure to understand their mean
ing or to discover the truth hidden there
in. A man, not Mason, once said to me
in ridicule: "You Masons are absurd at
times. You claim that your lamb-skln is
more ancient than the Golden Fleece or
Rmoan Eagle; more honorable than the
Star and Garter, or any other Order that
can be conferred upon you by King. Prince,
Potentate or any other person, except he
be Mason" And yet the statement, as l
replied, is true. Who will deny that he
who bears in his heart the badge of innoc-
ency, as symbolized by the lamb-skin, has
decoration more honorab BILE than the Ro-
man Eagle or any order conferred by man?
Let him who would ridicule Masonic rites
or symbols or teaching first seek for their
truth.
More misconceptions attach perhaps to
Masonic practice than to ideals. Mans
conduct is ever below his ideals. Thought
seems to have fewer limitations than act
ion and life. The aims or ideals of an in
stitution may be Swallowed forth in the
lives of its votaries, but the lives of un-
| taken alone to evidence its
purposes. The teachings of Masonry, it
must be admitted, differ widely from the
conduct of some Masons; and are even
above the lives of the best Masons. And
yet kindly, charitable, unselfsh, devoted
and efficient Masons have established the
institution in honor by their characters
and lives. There need be no misjudgment
regarding the worthiness of Masonic
teaching. All the truths of Masonry are
Gods truths. All the principles of our in
stitution are the thoughts of God, con-
ceived by thought or realized by heart in
the consciousness of the Masonic fratern-
| ity. Masons humbly acknowledge the
truth, that the true life, the power of good
in Masonry, is the life of God breathed
into human hearts by his Holy Spirit.
The true Mason believes that an ideal
brotherhood of men can exist only through
the common fatherhood of God. If any,
one thinks that he knows of an unworthy
precept, charge, or principle of Masonry,
let him rest assured that it is not Mason
| ic.
Ii anyone is inclined to judge Masonry
by the lives of its votaries 1 will raise no
objection. By their fruits We shall know
| them. But | will ask such an one. when
empasizing the conduct of weaker
brother, to take the Masonic view. 1t is q
fine thing to throw the mantle of charity
over fallen brother, to restore an erring
one in the spirit of meekness, and to re-
i've and hold such fast in brotherly af
lection, judging not harshly. That is the
Masonic way. Let that be judged along
with the error that calls forth divine
charity.
Let Masonry, then, be judged by the
lives and achievements of its devotees: fol-
our revered institution, with all its males
ty and power, is only the organized good
of individual lives. Masonry's unseer
temple is but the structure of good ant
pure lives cemented by brotherly love. AL
that is not true and good and beautiful
shall be buried beneath the Temples rub
, bish. And when there shall have been in
wrought into this newer temple, designe'
by infinite wisdom, every kindly deed
every noble achievement and every frater
nal service of Masonry's myriad votaries
then shall indeed appear the invisible an
infinite structure, symbolized by the mag
|, nificent Temple of King Solomon. n
Mason need be ashamed of the temple Q
good deeds growing in extent and beaut
under the workmanship of the Craft, a
the years roll by.
|. The Masonic Institution is not merel
O an organization of men for mutual aid G
e social ends. Its ceremonies are not tn
il product of a single inventive mind, de
e signed to interest for a moment. its sign
o and symbols are not merely to prove men
: bership. Its truths are not the creed {
some philosopher of an olden age. Lik
s higher civilization, in every part of who's
: story are enwreathed its own annals, Ma
: sonry is the fruition of the life of the rae
r Its truth is the product of what men hay
e thought, believed, lived. Its power is til
e power of countless human lives inspire
by the fraternal spirit.
IS Though no longer classed as an industr
N al organization, much of the vast increa:
i in the industrial power of the race has bee
1t contributed by Masonic life. Without tt
n habits of prudence, temperance, patienc
IS fortitude, industry, honesty, without fait
l. in man and God, without brotherly loy
is and cooperation, the great works of al
u cient and modern times could not ha'
IL been accomplished. These essential qua
y ifications have been taught in Masonic a
l. semblies and practiced by Masons for age
IL And it may be true that Masonry, by
Is truth and fraternal spirit, shall solve Il
he DrOblem of antapOuiSm hetw cen la hor n