Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1908-12-29
is A SYSTEM OF
MORAL ETHICS
Rev. BdSCOm Anthony
breaches on Masonry.

Seldom, if ever, has there been a
larger or more representative con-
gregation in Americus than that
which gathered at the Methodist
Church on Sunday night to hear Rev.
Bascom Anthony's address to the
Masonic fraternity.
1t was notable occasion in the
fact that~the sermon was one of the
most eloquent and effectively appro-
PIRATE that has ever been delivered to
a public gathering of Masons in this
section of the State.
The pastor, thoroughly appreciatiye
OF the true teachings of Masonry. of
the lessons that it seeks to inculcate,
and the mission it has in its relations
to the lives OF its followers, did not
hesitate to express his approval of
the beautiful ritual of the order, of
the purpose it has in it's secret work.
and of the benefits that accrue to it's
members from its teachings, while
atsame time carefully pointing out that
in no sense does Masonry pose as a
religion or seek to in anyway sup
plant the Church To the contrary
it distinctly disavows any such inten-
ton, and acts instead as the hand
maiden of religion, serving to fur
ther impress upon its devotees the
truths of morality, Of brotherly love,
of conservation to humanity, of de-
pendence upon an Infinite power, of
the inability of man to rise from a
condition of degradation without the
uplifting assistance of God, and of
the final resurrection.
Sunday was ST Johns day. Mr.
Anthony made brief allusion to the
fact that all Masonic lodges are erect
ed to God and dedicated to ST. John,
in Europe to the Saints John, in this
country to St. John the Evangelist
doubtless because of his dwelling on
love and his teaching by symbolism.
Masonry, he pointed out, teaches by
symbolism. 1t is not religion,
makes no professions as such, but is
an ethical code, moral philosophy,
minute and far reaching in its ap-
plication to life This moral philos-
ophy, he continued. rests on the only
basis morals can rest on, the two
great fundamental facts, the exis-
tence of God and the Immortality of
the soul Through these it appeals
to man. No infidel can accordingly
unite with a Masonic lodge It's sym
bolism is a beautiful expression of
its belief in these two basic princi-
pies of religion, and through it Mas
onry obtains a grip upon the con-
sciences of men.
Masonry, Mr. Anthony emphasized,
requires a man to be man in order
to become associated with it. To
unite with a Lodge the applicant
must come under the tongue of good
report among men, he must have
character Masonry acknowledges
that it stands helpless in the pres
ance Of acknowledged moral deprav-
ity In its ritual it in effect declares
that among all it's grips there is no
grip by which it can raise man from
the dead level of sin to the living
perpendicular of righteousness. In
such an emergency it is necessary to
resort to prayer and to call upon the
uplifting Hand from above. The en-
tire symbolism of the order points
to this higher power, to mans utter
dependence upon it, and to the evil
that ensues from his failure or refusal
TO keep in touch with it.
Masonry, said Mr.. Anthony in
closing his impressive address,
teaches it's members the utter hope
Iessness of relying upon any human
agency for the resurrection of moral
ly depraved nature God alone, its
rites show, is equal to such a task,
to Him man must turn, and by the
inculcation of such lessons Masonry
becomes the hand maiden of religion