Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1906-12-20

Behold how good and how pleasa mt il
is for brethren to dwell together in unity
Psalm 1873 l.
nlgts See saett the ft r6gs of tie forest mass
ing together for self protection. At a
later period hear the slogan calling the
clans together from the glens, from the
hill-sides not for peace, but for war
"In our own day the din and Glamour
may still be heard, but the race is not for
military triumph, or honor, or power; it
is rather struggle for financial success,
a struggle to outwit ones neighbor in the
race for wealth. Ard in their haste to
procure it, men are rushing over the clos
ing grave for the spoils of the dead
"When we come to the Sanctum Sane
forum, however, these discordant notes
are hushed, the Glamour is silenced, for
we are in the presence of the Supreme
Architect Of the Universe, and realize that
we are linked to our feilowmen by the
strongest ties, and the most sincere affec-
ton. AS hand is ciasped in hand we say
with the Psalmist of old Behold how
good and how pleasant it is for brethren
to dwell together in unity"
ut is not my intention, however, at
this time to speak Of the ennobling and
endearing ties that bind Masons together,
but rather do desire to speak of Free
Masonry itself, in its rise its growth, its
progress in this land, as in all lands"
cat the outset of my lecture tonight, l
may remark that not few Masons of the
present day, whose zeal may somewhat
outrun their knowledge, take delight in
tracing the origin of Free Masonry to the
Roman Empire, the Pharaohs, the Temple
of Solomon, or even to the times of the
Tower of Babel, and the Ark of Noah. -
The Noachida of France have still warm
affection for Noah and his Ark, and it
seems that their faith has been well-found-
ed, when we consider the fact that the Ark
was safely waited over the tempestuous
pillows that surged around it, and at last
moored its inmates in peaceful harbor.
Some of the devotees of Masonry have
even gone beyond this date, and would
fain claim that amid the beauties of the
Garden of Eden an ideal Worshipful Mas
ter was to be found in the person Of Adam,
the head of our noble and distinguished
craft"
"When Free Masonry, however, first
actually saw the light, am not prepared
it first travelled from the East toward the
antiquity to that glorious morning when
God said Let there be light, then it's on
ward march has been quiet, nay almost
silent; for not until the Middle Ages do
we find it growing in Importance and in
fuence beyond that Of all known societies
throughout the world. Even special marks
of favor were shown the Craft on various
occasions. They were exempted by sew
eral Papal bulls from the laws which reg
ulated common laborers, and were exon
Grated from various burdens thrown on
the working classes at large both in Eng
land and on the Continent. Being thus eX-
empted the epithet Gree" was applied,
and even to this day is still retained"
IF the light Of Masonry shone but dim
ly in the earliest centuries, as it travelled
on the levelof time through Egypt, Greece
and Rome, yet better and more glo-
rious day was dawning, when it reached
the shores of England and Scotland. In
Scotland the principles of Free Masonry
were not only received, but were ever at
forwards retained and guarded with jeal-
GUS care, long after they had been extin-
guished in continental Kingdoms"
From Scotland these principles again
issued, to spread over not only the CONT
nent, but over all portions of the civilized
world. Free Masonry was early introduced
into Great Britain. The Lodges of Scot
land profess to trace their origin to the
foreign Masons who came to Scotland in
115O to build Kilwinning Abbey; those of
England go still further back, to an as
semblage of Masons held by St. Alban,
the proto-martyr, at York, in 1926; and
the mother lodges of York and Kilwin-
ming We're, with insignificant exceptions,