The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1907-10-17
CORNER Stone LAID At
. THE NEW COURT HOUSE
Continued from Page One

tablisheS first government and ruler
ship, with that comes religion, and
added to the two-the era which
marks the disappearance of the tent
and the erection of the house, the cas-
tie and the palace, which the mason
and the architect plan and build
These three forces have at many times
been joined and united, and have given
what seemed fOrcefuI and lasting
civilization. The most notable instance
of this kind is the ancient Egyptian
monarchy, where the chief ruler, the
hierarchy and the fraternity OF build
ers intermingled and became united as
one
But men do not only rise in mater
ial matters, they grow also in intel
lect, culture, nobility of thought and
higher aspirations. The savage is lost
when he passes from the tenti the
barbarian grows wiser and better as
he leaves the hut for the castle and
palace. 1t was the mission of Free
Masonry to unite with its efforts in
elevating man in the material part
of his living, the other and nobler
achievement of developing by various
gradations the art of thinking less of
self and more of our fellow men, for
in the rise and progress of humanity
We see three marked and distinct eras.
First, the time when men lived upon
men. Second, the time when men
lived and allowed other men to live
Third the time when men lived and
died for other men. In bringing about
this revolution and reformation Free
Masonry was one of the supreme
forces, and it is at this point that We
may unite the labor Of the architect
and builder of human habitations with
that of the moralist and philosopher,
who in subtle and various ways builds
up, refnes and cultures human minds
and emotions. 1t is here that ancient
Masonry clasped hands with the Free
and Accepted Brethren of the Craft.
l believe in Free Masonry because
of this fact. | would pay honor to any
organization Of men who aim to lessen
the consideration of self and to in
crease tndt OF C0elr fellows.
Not only has Masonry been ancient
beyond the ken of man: it has also
become universal in extent In the
farthermost point of the Antarctic
region to which men have penetrated,
where animal life has ceased to exist.
vegetation is unknown and nature
seems dead, where the flag of no ma
ton has yet sought a home, the mys-
FERROUS emblem of the Masonic fra
ternity is engraven. In the far north,
where the Lena casts her icy cur
rent into a frozen ocean, and beyond,
the same insignia has been borne by
its vOtaries. In every land, upon
every continent, and upon the islands
Of every sea, protesting religions, var
iOus and different in their character,
you will find the might and the power,
either open or secret, of this great
Brotherhood Of Men. 1t dwells alike
amid the roses of England and the Ill
les of France: it makes its home in
imperial Germany and far off Turkes-
tan. Its lodges exist in the very
SIduON vi lilt ' dllCdl. even dN JubN
do here near the summit Of the AL
leganies. Its fraters labor upon the
banks of the Orinoco and hive made
settlements in the wilderness of South
Africa. They have borne martyrdom
in mysterious China, as well as in de-
generate Spain and ignorant Mexico.
They have been honored in the North
and South, the East and West, not
only have they borne their honors, but
they have made universal history.
Four thousand years ago, when
Achilles dragged the dead body of
Hector around the walls of fated Troy
and Priam the aged father of the
slaughtered hero, stood in deepest
agony, when he knew that neither
force of arms nor deeds of valor could
give succor. made his appeal by the
clasp of the lions paw and the
Vengeance of Achilles was softened I'M
til it became transformed into SYM
patty for the bereaved father and, for
time at least, peace reigned, as both
joined together to lay away the mighty
warrior of-Troy.
Three thousand years ago, when on
the hills of ancient Jerusalem, Solo
mon, wisest Of Jews, and perhaps the
wisest Of men, in all the splendOr OF
his royalty, clasped the hand of Hiram
of Tyre-different in faith, race and
character but one in fraternal feel
ing, and the endeavCr to build to the
Supreme God Jehovah, whom Solomon
WOrshiped, the greatest and most
beautiful temple which the earth ever
saw. and joined with them stood a
third, not of royal blood, neither Jew
nor Tyrian, only the Widows son,
but genius and enthusiast who eked
out what his royal brothers lacked, for
he gave them the plans for this SUI
preme effort in architecture, this mag
nificent structure upon which more
than a hundred thousand men laborcd
and yet in its whole erection there
was not heard "the sound of axe OF
hammer"
Nearly twenty centuries have passed
since the Galilean fishermen gathered
about their Nazarene Master and gave
to the world a new religion which
commanded men to forego venge ancC
nd .IrNf