Mexico weekly ledger., 1908-11-12

cJfAf ouu VIC 04NtcI EAlhc iunlno tude
there are CERTAIN moral ingredients
which are essential to true manhood,
as every Mason present can testify.
"The symbols, secrets and teaching
Of Masons were all originally suggest
ed by the practical builders who opeI.
ated In Masonry, but we OF the pres
ent day, as speculative Masons USE
them as illustrations, symbolical u
those great truths which enter into
the noblest manhood.
"For | was endangered, and We gave
me meat,
| was thirsty and ye gave me drink;
| vas a stranger, and ye took me in;
| was sick, and ye visited me;
Naked, and ye clothed ne.n
"These truths are as true to-day ss
the day they we're first uttered, and
are fostered, ~inculcated and exempli-
fed as fully 10 Masonry as they are 10
the Church itself.
"If Masonry were no more than mere
forms OF ritualistic ceremonies, or So
cial clubs where men might gather to
spend a few pleasant hours, the lnsti-
tuition would be little more than
sounding brass and tinkling symbols
and the world at large would be as we'll
OF we're there no such Institution.
"But Masonry is far more thar
form and ceremony. 1t teaches ev-
cry q TO relieve the suffering; H.
support q falling brother; 10 alleviate
tue distress OF the widows and or.
phans; to build up Individual charac-
ter and 70 practice charity everywhere
and at all times.
Speculative Masonry was originally
fostered By the Chnrch, but ID was
never designed that Masonry should
supplant the Church. While Masonry
Is essentially religious, II Is not a re-
ligion, and Masonry is misused ano
misunderstood whenever anyone at
tempts TO substitute IL for the
Church, or for religion.
Masonry aud the Church alike ad.
administer to the physical wants and
social instincts OF humanity. The
"olderfui success OF Masonry is due
TO the fact that 1t satisfies the heart
hunger OF every human being for fra
ternity. Man Is by instinct a social
and fraternal creature and Masonry
binds and seals men into q f~raterual
brotherhood, among whom no conten.
tlon should exist. And again, In this
respect, : asonry Is closely akin TO the
Church, which advocates a brother
hood founded on the teachings OF
Christ himself that are all brothers to
each Utner. FIR has He not said,
"As you did it to the least Of mine, SO
have you done 1t unto Me-" This
spirit OF hrotherly love and relief We
inculcate In all our work and teach
ings, and let me add that the flower
Of Masonry is the universal Chart,
which pervades the entire Institution,
l want you, as Church members, to
realize that we are the greatest fac
tors az work In Society to-day tc help
you. And we feel that you realize
this fact, because you have invited u.
TO be present and participate In u
Otiicial capacity at the laying Of this
corner stone to-day.
Let us ~reiuice In the fact there ia NO
conflict or strife, discord UT envy be.
tween the Church and Masonry. This
is due to the fact that the grea,
thinkers Of both institutions have
long ago realized that while neither
Is a substitute for the other, that
each 10 its separate sphere strives to
accomplish much In common, and
that each is the handmade Of tb,
other, both working for the uplifting
OF the human race. Both the Church
and Masonry are bottoned on th.
idea OF the fatherhood OF Good ano
the common brotherhood Of man, and
! both realize that no one can live unit.
himself in any sphere Of life because
our social natures demand that help.
which comes lonly from union With
others who have the same ideals.
Both Masonry and the Church
strive to teach man how to live, ano
long ago the world realized tnat ia
teaching man how to live, 1t also
taught him how to die.