The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-06-09


Bondarant will take plenty of time in
their work, and it is expected that good
laws will be drafted to be presented to
the next Legislature for enactment"
all have common purpose who dedicate
their lives and work to the right to jus.
tice, fair play, equity and Square deala
although they differ in method.
Speculative Masonry"
among the various institutions of
man, whose mission is to proclaim and
maintain the right, is speculative Mas
onry.' Operative Masonry deals with
the building of material things specu-
tuous principles and conduct, which form
individual and national character. 1t is
a builder of character. 1t is one of the
forces at warfare with the cupidity, self
ishness, ignorance and rascality of men,
and one of the constructive forces in the
interests of humanity in its rights, equi-
ties, privileges liberties, etc, and in the
education and enlightenment of man.
kind. 1t is a great natural. ethical and
moral science, which teach men their
relation TO God. to nature and to each
other, restraining them in the doing of
all things which would bring upon them
displeasure of God, the penalties of ma
ture and the punishments of men, and
encouraging them in the doing of all
things approved by God, rewarded by
nature and applauded by good men. The
foundation of Masonry is belief and faith
in Cod its creed the brotherhood of man;
its practice charity for all mankind; its
tents are 'brotherly love, relief and
truth its cardinal virtues temperance
prudence, fortitude and justice For the
individual liberty; for the social unit
equality in opportunity, protection and
benefit for the political unit equality In
sovereignty. 1t recognizes the inequali-
ties of men as potential units, both nat
ural and acquired in the Industrial.
moral and spiritual work of men, and
therefore inequality in rewards but adj
vocates equality of all in liberty. life
and the pursuit of happiness and to
equal protection and benefit under the
law.
1.-THE text book of Masonry Is the Holy
Bible, in which the Mason finds the
rules and guides to his faith: the great
book of nature, in which he reads the
glories and wonders of creation, and the
rules and guides that should content and
lead him in his relations to nature, ana
the books of human experience as writ
ten in history, philosophy and science
and art.
Review of Past.
..,ro he a good Mason is to be a good
man: to be a great Mason is to be a
great man. When we consider the prin-
ciples which Masonry represents. when
we review me part that it has taken In
the making of history, when we see the
influence that il exercises in the form
ing of the characters Of men, when we
once realize that it is great educa-
tional, moral, scientific and philosophic
institution, standing for ana WORKING LOT
the hetterment of mankind, we can form
some idea of the Importance Of the pres
ant occasion. The temple whose corner
stone we are now laying will be build
ing of great Importance to this commu-
nitv III Is not only token OF what this
community Is, but Is an omen OF what
n will he Within these wall there Will
meet the local membership OF vast broth
erhood. and in the lodges here conVen-
ing will be initiated into the various de-
grees of Masonry thousands OF the best
eit,zans of This city now living and who
are yet unborn. -,
..1iara is one spot where man will be
triad bv his merits before he can enter.
II is one place to which he must come
Voluntarily. 1t is one place Where ms
,,,,,,osa must be wholly altruistic. Mel
ther wealth. worldly honors, social status
nor influence can open the doors. Nor
does poverty. obscurity or want OF IN
f,,ence close them. Nor does religion
or nolitical belief open or close them
MORT and merit only, with a BELIEF In
tho existence of God, is the key to this
ta,nnle If any other should pass 1t be-
oa,,se like all human judgment, an error
,,as occurred. With such material Ma
so,sr,r builds its membership. Bringing
20 bear unon this capable rough asher
~ u,orLine tools of symbolic. capitular,
er,,rt,c' Templar and Scottish Right Ma
soor, with history, legend, charge,
scie,,ce art and philosophy as the text,
the Rib1e as the great light and sympoi-
isrn as the method, perfect asnier'
which under the blessings OIL God a
,,irt,,ons educational and personal en-
aaa,or will become IN important event
-, ,ha societv Of this great city In all OF
e. ra1ations and functions.
''s ~ sni,n,yine officers OF the grand lodge
Of Masons in Alabama conducten the cere-
monies of laying the cornerstone yester-
dav. Ben NJ. Jacobs, grand MASTER w.
w Ransom, deputy grand master; Dan
A Greene, senior grand warden limos
peevev. Junior grand warden; John cald-
-,,.I, Grand treasurer Lew Lazarus,
,r,.and secretary; the Rev DIR. Newfield.
erand chaplain; Louis V. Clark. grand
s,,arshal. coleman Black, senior grand
deacon. J. II. Edwards. Junior grand
seacon. Frank Hewitt, senior grand
stawart. charles Davis. junior grand
steward. william Brock, grand tyler
Articles Deposited In Stone.
THE following articles were deposited
liz