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

ed IN Great briIalii oil" 'liio"s'A GA
"The wear 1850 is that assigned for the
revision of the York Constitution under
Edward III. On June "a, 1901, it lays the
foundation of Henry VII S Chapelin West
Minister Abbey. Thirty years after was
accused of bringing schisms into the church
and sedition among the people, and OF aid
ing the reform of Luther"
HAfter the lapse of years, and with the
glory and the liberty of the Reformation
Still shining around us, most OF US here
tonight will accept the accusation, with
good grace, and with profound gratitude.
This accusation, however, induced our an
cient brethren to draw up formal decia-
ration of principles since Known as the
Charter of Cologne" :,
"In 1861 Queen Elizabeth sent an armed
detachment to break up the annual meet
ing at York. The officers sent in COM
mand. however, made so favorable re-
port of the institution that the Queen be-
came protectress of the fraternity.
'In the reign of James1, Masonry -four
ished and men eminent for learning, know
ledge, or position were admitted as honor
ary members of the body under the deslg-
nation of accepted brethren; hence the
origin of the title Free and Accepted Ma
sons. Elias Ashmole, the great antigua
nv, was 80 accepted, and took upon him.
self the task of recomposing the rituals OF
the Order. These were accepted IN Lon
don, and are now used, with slight chang
es, in Great Britain, America, and in fact
wherever Masonry is known.
$50 far then we have seen that tnere
are but two main branches of Masonry
the York Rite and the Scottish Rite, diff
erng in minor details, but one in holding
to the original landmarks and fundamcnt-
al principles of the Order. And wherein
we find differences in different countries,
or changes of form and ceremony IN the
different States of our own country, we
will find that all these changes have arls-
en- because of departures from the orlgl-
nal, from the most ancient. and from the
most approved landmarks :,
eve are glad to note that since the
Middle Ages, and through later centuries,
Masonry has become mighty force and
power in every land. Travel where you
will, Grand Lodges are to be found, not
onlv in the most enlightened nations, but
even in lands where the inhabitants have
not vet enjoyed the meridian splendor of
modern civilization and enlightenment
Even Lodges in connection with European
grand bodies exist in India, Africa. China,
Polynesia, Turkey, Palestine, the West In
dies, Australia and New Zealand. Free
Masonry is prohibited in Austria, Poland,
Russia, Spain, and by the Pope. tits still
to be hoped, however, that all these will
some day emerge from the Northeast
corner, from their place of darkness, that
they will yet hail "the light" andwalk in
it. Had they done SO years ago, we had
probably been saved today from reading
of horrors, carnage and internal warfare
going on day by day and hour by hour in
those benighted lands. Masonry breaks
all shackies, all letters and all bonds; 1t
brings men into the REALM of Truth, Char
ity, Brotherhood. Circumscribed by the
higher and more ennobling virtues, men
and nations cannot materially err. Hav-
ing once embraced the Light, it is not
likely that mankind will ever afterwards
prefer the darkness.
$50 far, then, ] have considered Free
Masonry in its historicalaspects, and shall
now pass on to speak of it under its two
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS and Specula-
tive. Masonry as Operative may be dig
nified by the name of building, measuring,
or the science of geometry. Away, far
back in primeval history, see men living
in caves and holes in rocks; a little later,
see them telling the trees of the forest,
and preparing to build dwelling place to
protect themselves from the vicissitudes
spa ncI tflg ST tbs fsAfaafe, afeRe
hut of the denizens of the forest. At
more advanced period pass through F.
gypt and there behold the Pyramids lift
ing their proud SUBMITS toward the dome
of blue. In Greece behold the Doric, the
Ionic and COrinthian pillars, exact in pro-
portion, chaste in design andunsurpassed
in ornamentation, winning the admiration
of architects in all lands and in all after
ages. Amid the noble structures of Rome
behold the Tuscan pillar, strong and sta
bic, and beautiful even in its simplicity,
and also the richer Composite, vieing with
the Corinthian in beauty, in symmetry, in
design"
81 leave behind the columns, the monu-
ments, the pillars and architectural de-
signs and trophies of the hoary East, and
pass over continents toward the purpling
West. Through central Europe, follow
the track of civilization, and as | do so,
what abbeys, what cathedrals, what pal
atial homes, all inspired by the love of
art |"
around us in the newerand more mod
ern world, what noble buildings have been
reared in the interests of science, of art,
Of religion. Towers, and turrets, and
minarets cleaning everywhere in the
monday sun surely there must have been
wisdom to contrive, strength to support,
and beauty to adorn all these great, and
vast, and noble undertakings.
"And from whom have all these noble
ideas originated, by whom designed, by
whom executed? Surely by none other
than the members Of our illustrious Or
der to which we so proudly belong tonight.
And yet the day is fastening on when
foundations seemingly strong as adamant
will crumble into dust !; towers and turrets
will fall into thousand fragments valua-
BILE monuments of antiquity, on which the
utmost exertions of human genius have
been employed, the ravages Of time may
yet lay in ruins. The devastations of war
have destroyed many a stately palace, and
many fair city has swaycd, and reeled,
and crumbled, leaving no trace behind
Fortunately for us tonight our foun-
dation is deeper and broader and stronger
than stone or marble, for God is our guide,
the Bible our chart, the Rock of Ages our
foundation, and surely sustained and
upheld by these, we may go forward fear
ing no danger, moving with courage over
the pillows of life, till at last we shall be
safely moored in that peaceful harbor,
where the wicked cease from troubling,
and where the weary shall find rest"
'But pass on now to speak OF spccu-
lative Masonry, by which we learn to
subdue the passions, by which we learn
to control the lowest man, and by which
we are enabled to embark upon the great
ocean of charity whose waves widen and
expand till they touch the ripping shores
IF otarpiiy