Durango semi-weekly herald., 1904-06-30
of man.

Iuuue " iHlS tNieut, DuA NHll' "a H'T1
not possess any elaborate formulae,
while 1t Is not doematic, Willie 1t does
not compel any particular system Of
religions thought, it has as It's ioun-
dation belief In one God to whom We
owe reverence. II has q system OF liy-
ing that meets the approval of think
ing minds II has It's hopes in the iu-
ture. with it's rewards.
A system of moral doctrine. OF cor
rect living. Is sometimes best taught
by forms and symbols. Not that these
things are essential to all men or oven
to many men. but they are helps.
There is. believe, no church that does
not TO some extent employ them, aud
some. nj least, that are olmost wholly
given over 10 them. In this we fnd
a requirement OF human nature thus
masonry is system of symbols
teaching by, forms and ceremoniea-
sort of kindergarten where we are
taught by objects that awaken the
mind and touch tho better impulses OF
our common nature. 1t ls unfortunate
that The Impressions are NOT always
lasting. but so II is After all, what a
strange thing Is this what we call hu-
man nature. What glorious melody
comes from It at times. nnd then what
harsh discord What gods and demons
we are. Its kindlness and all-emDrac'
Ing sympathy melt u.s. Ito hardness
and sclfishness destroy us, Through
1t all We are fashioned. 1t has been
said that the surprising thing Is that
we are as good as we are. ] do not
know but that that is true. Consider
the tumult in each human soul. Wild
passions at times hold sway. The
storm is on and We are bnffeted about.
and then the calm the serene Sky.
The ancienis had beautiful way
to express these things, where every
passion of good or bad had Its per
5unalityits being Along with the
forces uf nature without is sculptur-
I'd The feelings and impulses within
IA strong way of teaching these
things SO necessary TO learn.
In measure Masonry follows the
DID way. We see the good and the
bad In concrete form Not entirely
Ideally, but practically. We are made
10 know and feel the thing necessary
for MS to do and to avoid.
| suppose any Institution that Is not
for good is hardly worth while, nor
IAN it long endure That Masonry is
and has been is evidence that it is
worth while. but in what respect is
t worth while? II 1t were merely
hing of forms and rituals it would be
Iii
soes In company with every other ben
sficent force In society. 1t is worth
while. We speak of the battle OF life.
IL is a battle. and must be fought or
We so down And we may 90 down
oven while we meet yallantly the en-
amy But the fight is the thing. Vie
ury and defeat are but comparative
crms. they do not measure the effort,
nor do they disclose The condition.
Ne are too much concerned in our
Dwn affairs to accurately measure our
fellow or ourselves The survival OF
he fittest is a hard law, perhaps not
! Just or kindly one. Against this nm
indly law society is striving Justice
md mercy are elements that must en-
er nt last in the solution. To know
Myself is difficult possibly in the full
sense. but to know thy neghbor is
,qually as hard, although perhaps II
$ more easily attempted. We look
more forgivingly on our own defects
han our neighbors. What efforts are
made by humanity to restrain its evil
ondenciosl How we strive to breed
nut the tiger and breed in the humane!
L is slow process, and at times 1t
leems hopeless Men and communi-
les are aroused and the tiger takes
possession The forces are almost
infinite that war against this impulse
nto this confused mixture OF good and
vii comes the effort of good men aud
women to save From the beginning
he religious hopes aud fears Of men
ave been the most powerful. As we
arise to fuller conception of the one
eternal we arise also to a better con
eption OF our fellow, Among these
prces Tor betterment, and, | think,
of the greatest, is Free Masonry
care but little for the forms that are
oemed so essential by some. care
much for the heart of these forms that
caches brotherly love and charity. ]
.now that form or an oath may not
nut kindness into an uniindly soul,
nut it may in time develop ldndliness
fou may fertilize barren field, and
jou may and probably will get weeds
There ought to be seed sown, and
,ome cultivation We find this some
hing in Masonry. We need not fiat
or ourselves that every entered ap
Prentice will develop the qualities that
will make him a wise or good Master
Mason. II does not always follow
hat you viii receive masters wages.
Many of Ms may travel in foreign cOuu'
rles; that is. we may wonder afar on,
mt the wages we sometimes receive
these wanderings are not masters
wages The temple at. Jerusalem is
he picture. the symbol, not The real
emple. The temple Of Masonry is
within ourselves, and the purpose of
4 Mason is to become master and
cceive masters wages, II is the tenn
ile not made with hands-eternal. 1t
the perfect ashlar-a pure and Il
,lameless life, That We are able 10
)uid at all is the miracle when we
= IL. d 49,