The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1909-10-08

ors and serfs, potentates and labor.
ers, all meet on a dead level Tie
lalOne is more highly hOnOred by has
brethren who lives most closely 90
| the virtues which our order teaches.
/ Masonry does not publish her good
deeds to the world, and hence / can
not tell this audience Of the mighty
work for good that she has accom-
plished for all mankind and espe
/ cially for the Masonic household. We
are content to make up our record IN
silence and leave the revelation for
! the great day when the G.. \. .. 7. L.
shall proclaim it for us to the gener-
al assembly of the world Until that
time shall come we are content 90 60
| on wiping away the widows tears.
hushing the orphans cry and going
in silence to the relief Of the distress
ed brother not letting our left hand
know what our right hand is doing
Virtue has her own reward and time
at last will bring all things even!
But, l hear the world-wOrn query
Why is it, if Masonry inculcates such
noble principles that We find so many
members of the order leading lives
| in violation of them? My answer Is.
that it is un-Masonic in me TO find
| fault with mankind, and more espe-
cially of the brethren. l am taught
| by Masonry to remember the good
which l see in my fellow men, and
let the evil be inferred with their
bones. But you may answer the ques-
ton for yourselves by rejecting that
there are many hayward children
reared in pious families, and that
have been telling you what Masonry
| teaches-her object-nOt how her
| teachings are obeyed by her children.
Like the church, we have the world
for our field of labor. Unlike the
church, all nations and creeds meet
around our common altar. Belief IN
God as the Great Creator and the res
direction unto eternal life being the
only common articles Of faith 20
which all who enter our portals must
subscribe. On this there is unity.
On this foundation We build, and Il
| is ample in height and depth, IN
length and breadth, to successfully
work out the problem of this life and
the next. No room for dissentions
among us, and around our altar Is
beautifully illustrated the scripture:
Behold, how good and pleasant il is
for brethren to dwell together in uni
| ty."
Many other societies and orders OF
modern origin have sprung up in the
world, in feeble imitation Of Mason
ry, but like all other bodies that shine
with reflected light, they pale into
comparative insignifcance in the
presence of the blazing star" of Ma
sonry! The locks of none of the 9th
ers are shining with the snow which
has fallen since the year of light"
None have in their ceremonies. teach
ings and symbols the wisdom of Sol
omOn-the gift Of God!
10 other has the promise Of living
until hope ends in fruition and until
the rough ashlers Of this world are
wrought into perfection in the temple
not made with hands. eternal in the
heavens,
Then, brethren, all hail Masonry
divine! Let the fire on her affairs grow
brighter day by day. You have been
brought from darkness into Masonic
light. Then let that light shine forth
in fulfillment Of your high mission.
Go out into the world and teach all
men by your lives how to live and
how to die. Let brotherIy love con
tinue. Let every moral and social !
virtue cement us, and let us daily in |
crease in Faith, Hope and Charity. |
but more especially in that charity |
which is the bond of peace and the !
perfection Of every virtue.