The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1904-10-05


short time G. Mortimer s. Co., are
the soc importers of the guano for
this country.
PROGRESS OF FREEMas9NRY.
The Order Has Ever Been Attended
by Faith, Hope and Charity.
Freemasonry, says the Atlanta
Journal, like every other good thing,
had a small beginning. 1t may be
compared to the mustard seed which
is the least OF all seeds but when 1t
attains it's growth it becomes a great
tree in whose branches the fowls OF
the air may lodge. Not fowls but the
nightiest men OF cen uries have
''loaged'' in the tree Of Masonry.
The origin of NJ, sonry is hid in the
remote depths Of antiquity. Some
say it began IN Egypt, the cradle OF
civilization.
Deep in those solitary woods,
Where oft the genii of the floods
Danced round the cradle OF their Nile.
And hailed the newborn giant smile. :"
Others say it began in ancient
Greece, and from there was carried by
emigrants into Asia Minor.
Certain it is there were Free Ma
sors in ancient Tyre at the time Of
the building Of Solomon'S temple, the
Widows son being the grand master
who went to Jerusalem and aided
King Solomon in the building Of that
most sublime structure ever dedicated
to religion. This was operative Ma
,onry, sort of ancient labor union
which enabled the workmen to jour
oey from place to place and be recog-
nized by signs, thus obtaining protec-
tion and receiving better pay Tor the
support Of their families. Many OF
the finest buildings in the orient and
also in Europe were built by these
union workers." the ancient Free
Masons, so called because the craft
was exempt from certain tines and
penalties and other restrictions placed
on the non organized workmen.
Many individuals Of highest prom
inence, among them Henry the
Sixth, and also Henry the Seventh,
Joined the order, WHO were not re-
euired to labor, but were sort OF
honorary members. Speculative Ma
sorry may be said to have begun in
1914 by Elias Ashmole, in London,
and tat is the form OF Masonry
which exists at this day, operative
Masonry being a thing of the past,
speculative Masonry an organization
kept up by signs ard symbols teach.
ing the most exalted principles known
to the ages, has gone into almost al
lands until there are in the world to.
Cay about fifteen thousand lodges,
and one million, FIVE hundred thous
and members.
When it is remembered that these
are all picked men, there being ne
women OF children, no young men ir
their homage, Eor old men in theil
dotage, knaves, or fools, it will be seer
what q splendid body Of men the Ma,
sons are. And they have achieved
their wonderful progress not by self.
praise, electionearing OF play lrg be-
fore the grand stand OF the country
but by the secret, quiet but powerful
exhibition Of their principles in the
hearts and lives Of their members.
Masonry may be compared to a ma
jestic river-broad and deep-uoise
less, but mighty, enriching and re
freshing whatever it touches, and re
csiving its tributaries from the volun
tary actions of those who wished t.
enjoy its privileges and rest upon lts
tosom.
Masonry has ever Teen attended
by the graces of faith, hope and charl.
ty, these three, while the greatest o!
these is charity, for faith may b:
lost in sight, hore ends IN fraition
but charity extends beyond the grave
into the boundless realm of eternity .
But this charity does not consist
merely in giving money to the poor.
While it does not necessarily en-
brace that love to God which is essen
tial to the salvation Of the soul, it
insists en- many duties that 60 tano
in hand with those commended to US
in the Bible. 1t teaches ina eSpecia.
and beautiful sense the brotherhood
Of men. 1t bids US to be kind and
generous to all, and especially to those
banded together ia this order. II
does not conflict with our duties to
ourselves, our family or our God. 1t
does not take tie place OF religion, a,
so many affirm. l have never met
Mason who thought he could be saved
by merely connecting himself with
this venerable brotherhood. Many
OF the best Christians l have ever
known have been MaSons and the true
Mason ever honors and revers the
name OF God.
There was time il Europe when
Masonry became unpopular, because
it was charged that Mascns plotted
secretly against the government.
Wretched, nonarchial and oppressive
as the governments were, that was
not strange. But the Masons today
submit themselves to the p5wers that
be, and never band together for politi-
cal and seditious purposes.
Neither does Masonry seek, as some
have maintained, to injure the
church, but is rather an ally to that
most sacred Of all the institutions Of
the earth. Masonry, like Christianity,
teaches the essential equality Of all
men; not the social or political eQuali
ly which is heresy Of the Declaration
OF Independence, but that all are er-
titled to life, liberty and the pursuit
of happiness.
Mascnary teaches that whatever
may be the adventitious circumstan-
ces surrounding men there are two
n'aceS whore they are equal, the lodge