The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1908-07-03
OBSERVE ST. JOHNS DAY
MASTER MASoNs ATTEND SER.
VICES IN A BODY.
DIR. C. w. RAY DELIVERS SERMON

| 81. johns DAY, the first day In the
Masonic calendar, was observed Sun
day by the members of Mosaic lodge
attending service at the Methodist
church, where DR.. C. w. Ray de.
livered a special sermon. The Master
Masons, clad in the regala of their
order, marched to the church in a
body.
DR.. Rays subject was "The Circle
of Great Friends" He said in part:
II am glad to welcome you as
members of the order of the Ancient
Free and Accepted Masons here for
this service in observing st. Johns
day. / hope this subject will be Of
help and inspiration to every one in
worshiping and serving God hereafter.
There are some people who are
forever making friends and forever
losing them. | consider the making Of
friend a great achievement, for It
| is an eternal and everlasting inheri-
lance. 1t is greater to make a friend
than was the battle of Waterloo or
| Gettysburg for these were conquests
| of one enemy against another but this
| is the linking of two souls in one
great bond.
True friends look out from human
nature, the blue sky and beyond the
starry sky to happy meeting as ex-
pressed in the sacrifice of Ion, the
death devoted Greek. When about to
yield his life as an offering to fate his
beloved Clemanthe asked II they
should not meet again and he ans
wered, Il have asked that dreadful
question of the hills that look eternal,
of the streams that flow forever of
the stars among whose fields of azure
my raised spirit walked in glory; all
were dumb. Yet while | gaze upon
thy face there is love that nantes
then its beauty that cannot wholly
perish. We shall meet again, Glenn
anthe'
Thousands are looking for true
friends today; those who will not sell
out, betray or forsake when they are
needed but who will be true, strong,
mighty and Cody. How much such
day as leaders in clubs, societies,
lodges and churches.
Here is the secret of great
friendship: And there went with him
band of men whose hearts God had
touched Friendship with the dis
honest, impure, tickle and unchaste
Will fail you in the hour of great need.
II there are people in a club, lodge or
church who are enemies to each other,
these always cause trouble sooner or
later.
Il believe friendships are made in
heaven.
1T is great thing to have a coun-
try for friend and carry a passport
with you in a country like Turkey or
Russia and know that your country
demands for you protection and
safety. | know the value Of this my
self for | saw people denied the rights
enjoyed in Turkey last year be-
cause | had passport and they had
none.
so it is when you have God as your
friend-when your soul passes out
into eternity it will be beset by many
evil spirits but if you are Gods friend
then all the hosts of haven will be
sent to protect you. That your circle
OF friends be complete you must admit
God, the father, and Christ, the son.
And If you Masons do this you have
the promise of Gods eternal blessings.
What are the conditions to this?
First, we are to accept the divine
truths of God as a part of our daily
practice. 1t must be the foundation
or the building crumbles and falls
away.
Then there is fortitude, for often
we must endure and suffer for our
friends. 1t is God-like so to do.
Then there is that love which
reaches out and considers the human
race one great family and which be-
lives that we owe a duty to each
member of it, to support and help, to
try to make each life better and hap
pier.
We must be temperate; the con-
duct must be controlled by the spirit
Va NoN' MANY a Lldu anu woman nave
gone down to shame and disgrace
through intemperance. We must be
temperate in all affairs.
There is the virtue of prudence:
the performance of right relations
with all people and the full discharge
OF every Christian duty. We must
ever remember that justice hangs
over us. that every deed and act of
ours tips the balanced scales either
towards good or bad.
AS you look at the hour glass and
see the sands dropping through. you
are reminded that life is dropping
into eternity. For the three stages
soon pass and youth, manhood and
old age is the ever repeated story of
human life.
AS Masons you owe a duty to God,
your neighbors and yourselves; so
then be brave and loyal to perform
YOUR dutipS &C Cod hoe rauooIol .Ao..