The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1909-07-25


discoyerab1s past. but u II conclusive
that when population Increased and
mtgrations began. It was necessary
that sign language be Instituted %
that separating kinsmen. neighborl
and friends could, under adverse OR.
cumstances, be known to each other In
the dark ~ well as in the light. =.
OF the numerous pyramids. TO puho
one . hundred thousand men were con.
tinuousiy engaged for twenty years.
AZ the pyramids were partly tins
mausoieums Of kings and emperors and
numbered the earlier dynasties OF that
wonderful country. II Is q reasonable
presumption that through the centuries
OF erection millions Of men, with PICK
and axe. with gage and square. with
level. plumb and trowel, were employ
ed in quarry. at the kiln, on the walls
It II reasonable to suppose that de-
gree Of skill distinguished the appren-
tice from the wage learner and the mas
ter of the profession VINO got the high
est waEe.
Builling the Pyramid.
It IL reasonable to suppose that some
organization of the whole would De el-
fected to the exclusion Of men Of other
trades, with ritual with signs. with
grips, words for recognition. Tor pro-
lection, for aida labor union In the
remoteness Of the past.
As the pyramid was built for tne
ares. 40 an organization founded In
architecture. cemented In brotherhood
was effected for all the years OF time,
and hundreds and Thousands OF years
later, the organization, with It's three
Grand Masters, Its thirty-three hum
dred overseers. its eighty thousand TEL
low crafts and seventy thousand ap-
prentices, build the house OF the Loro
on Mt. Moriah. In the city OF Jerusa-
lem In the land Of Judea, ana the piie
in its finished glory was SO marvellous
in magnificence, beauty and perfection
that II seemed more the handiWork OF
God than OF man.
In mere Operative Masonry the
atheist can plan. the agn9stio build ana
the infidel adorn.
In Speculative Masonry this cannot
be.
We represent Speculative Masonry
and we come from Jerusalem.
BY Speculative Masonry we learn 20
subdue the passions, act upon the
square. keep a tongue of good report.
maintain secrecy and practice charity.
We are the sequence OF a Tragedy.
Cupidity, extending to violence cui-
minated in q horrible tragedy, wherein
fidelity was exalted. when the very
rubbish assumed Importance. wherein
In midnight obsequies. in the very acct
dent of ruf1anly prudence, the Acacia
became the symbol OF .mmor.an.s;;
wherein, q little later. In a mournful
pageant, the usual means to an emo
having failed. an appeal to Deity was
made, and In response, the Lion OF the
Tribe Of Judah entered our annals.
demonstrated the resurrection OF the
body, when we were impressively
taught the new duties of foot and knee
Of breast. of hand. of mouth.
Inspired into birth by the tragedy OF
Fidelity, we. retaining the ritual OF
the mother order. the working tools.
the implements. the signs. the words
and adding thereto the suggestions OF
the sorrowful drama, and implantinG
on each an emblem of virtue. incs sing
in each a symbol of good. 20. tnat In
each, from sharp instrumev 70 setting
maui. was LESSOR. "A rural. q sermon.
ness, of @ssenevolence, of Charity.
With Fidelity as our guiding star,
with our tenets of Brotherly Love, Re-
lief and Truth. we burst upon the
world, with the four cardinal virtues
of Temperance. Fortitude, Prudence and
Justice, teaching men their duty to
themselves. their neighbor, their coun-
try, and their God.
Holding our doors only against the
vicious and unworthy and requiring no
qualifications except free birth. law
full age, good character and faith in
God, we take the novitiate. teach him
the Importance Of prayer. teach him
with an emblem. the proper division OF
time, how to divest his heart and con-
science of the vices and superfiuities
of life and in impressive manner teach
him Charity and Relief.
Then, advancing, we teach him, by
symbols, to walk uprightly. do no man
upon the same level to that "undiscov-
travellers return"
servants of Intelligence and by appii-
knowledge and culture and refinement
in the liberal arts and sciences. fitting
him for every sphere in life. as bet
ter husband, a better father, better
citizen, a better man.
How To Die.
Advancing, having taught him how
to live, we teach him how to die, with
the assurance that Death is preferable
to dishonof and holding to his eyes
and mind the immortality OF the soul
and the resurrection of the body.
Taking him in the rough we polish
him with Righteousness. with Virtue,
with Truth, Till he is a living stone At
for the Masters use.
So, we came from Jerusalem, and
our origin is in the throes and horror
of tragedy.
When we stop and reflect and medi-