The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1909-07-02

T,let Keystone. msses some ot-efva
tloas that sfe veil ~ofib the pcfassl
NJ the entire ffstefsssy. ~ veli a. the
pfofane. ~ho msy he Interested
enough to correct ~,mc erroneous
Opinions on the subject sefy ffe
auentIy heard expressed The sfttrIe
wss brought fofth by letter alleged
a. have bccn addressed ~ President
Taft, s y Nason intcfcedins fof
Charles W Morse, the wilhulm lee
king. who Ia said tosbc Mason, hut
Il quite lengthy and only extracts
from N can he given We all know
that under the present day methods
of rapid.nre degrees, Mason Is made
and turned out on the world with
very little idea of the real ties he has
assumed and with almost no oppor.
tunity TO familIarIze himself with the
strength or weakness of the new re-.
latlons he may bear 10 his fellow
Masons. Hence, Brother Norcombc's
(who Is vetefanl view Of what Ma.
sonry stands for sof peculiar value 10
the new members OF whom President
TAFT is one. IL IL as follows:
"For what does Masonry stand?
Not for the conformation OF guilt,
whether OF public or private offense;
not for the removal OF penalty, I'm
posed by law after fair and impartial
trial, not for anything which will give
to Masons, simply because Of mCmber.
ship In the fraternity, an advantage
over other citizens. The institution
makes no claim and exerts no effort
to save men from the consequences Of
their own wrongdoing. Any appeal
to courts or to authorities having
power OF pardon, for leniency, II
based upon Masonic membership,
brings the society into disrepute and
justifles the ISLANDERS Of enemies. 1t
Is rather to the purpose and interest
| OF Masonry that one, having had
benefit OF its restraining and elevat-
ing influences, and In despite thereof
going to the extreme of law breaking,
should suffer the penalty even beyond
Those less fortunately conditioned
PalIiatiou, excuse and condonatioI
can only have the result Of attracting
to the fraternity men who would
fortify themselves by any meant
against the consequences OF wrongfu
actions.
| "For what does Masonry stand?-
For the highest ideals Of manhood
and citizenship. For Il broad ant
tolerant attitude, where breath ant
tolerance can be safely applied to the
conditions Of our complex life. For
rigid morality, in things public ant
private, knowing that laxity and To-
difference are dangerous to the bod.
polite. For lives that will stand ou
sharp and well-deHned above the rucl
OF villianies and corruption, settinl
forth that a Mason is q man 10 all hi
relations. 1t may not, now or ever
be possible to combine Masons 10 an,
party to combat public evils. Indeed
such PARTISAN combination nigh
likely defeat the aims OF Its own fol
nation by giving play and oppoI
tunity to selashness, intrigue an
place seeking, to destruction OF hal
! mony and brotherly love. But surel
Masons can stand united 10 mind an
). principle against all evil tendencies {
Q the time, and being thus united thei
words and actions will not folio
' widely divergent paths.
Isl "For what does Masonry stand?-
For loviog kindness and truth; fc
:, justice tempered with mercy. wheI
e no interests Of society are imperille'
Il and where one gone astray can
J, such tempered justice be brougl
: back to rectitude and duty. Masonl
q stands for the protection Of eve
man within his rights that so he mi
70 nat be overcome by any opposing !
Q. terest until impartial justice has 81
10 ken. 1t. stands for kindly dealil
with the weak and errine, who ha
lie not brought themselves into disI
be pute nor made their lives a scandal
be the fraternity. The whispered wo
of counsel, Of warning, Of enc0uraI
-, ment or OF stern reproof--thsse N
N sonry can and should speak, seeki
TO stay and save a brother from
weakness Of bis own soul and body.
- "But Masonry has no roleof med
- tor to save men from an Offended Ia
The man who makes appeal TO Pre-
dent Taft has weak case and G.
a not expect the desired response. I
M details OF this mans wrongdoiug
re, immaterial. 1t Is sufficient that
, courts have carefully and fairly "
,ry | his cause and the Justice Of the 90
pi- try has adludged him guilty.
; parted company with Masonry wi
be passed into the devious ways
lifs guilt, thus forfciting all claims to
ont regards, and the mere retention Of
.sk name upon the books Of : lodge {
' mt give him credit or standing v
the Institution"
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