The farmer and mechanic., 1910-01-18

to sense Of unity among all men ,I
Sonoe yaar or more ago I was in WASH
ington and had the honor OF an Inter
view with our Masonic brother, Iheo-
dore Roosevelt, then President. We
were discussing this principle or our
nstitution-the democracy OF Nd
sonry. and he illustrated 1t by statiiiS
that in his lodge in Massachusetts, me-
the President. sat among the men
hers under the presiding OF his Car
dener. 2 Scotclman, who was Master
Of the lodge. Masonrys universal
basic principle is fraternity. Not 10
1eyeling the high to an unworthy
Standing. but to permitting all men
to attain to the same worthy standard
Of citizenship The first government
to be founded on this universal pflh-
ciple. was the American republic. It's
founders were Masons. With its forfn-
alton here. Masonry took deeper root
the world over, and our universal
principles have steadily become the
Inheritance Of society. To help the
HELPLESS to raise the fallen, to gave TO
every human being an equal chance IN
life to instruct the ignorant and espe-
cially to train up children and to pro-
vide for the orphan, the aged the
widow, are cardinal principles OF our
institution. They are practiced alike
in that lodge in London which claims
q king as it's Master, and in the tent
of the Bedoin on Arabian plain the
coming together of whose dusky
brothers at stated times, forms q
lodge For centuries these principles
were limited in their applica ton. To-
day, their excellence and ability COM
mend them to the appreciation and ac-
ceptance of mankind. 1t is now q we'll
recognized function of government to
do these things. The deaf and dumb,
the blind and weak-minded. and even
the insane are given opportunity to
labor with their bodies and employ
their minds in honorable and i'm
proving thought That is Masonry.
The orphan child is placed upon the
level with the heir Of millions. This
is the teaching of the Nazerene. Ma
sOnry first gave it practice and taught
the world its sublime duty and esti-
mable utility. And today in imitation
of Masonry, the world stands eager
70 do some good deed. Amid the
clash of sahres, the neighine of steeds
the boom Of cannon, the shrek OF the
wounded, the white tent is pitched
upon the field Of carnage, with the
hlood-red cross upon its side This is
Masonry. Under the guiding hand Of
Masonry, the world is rapidly moving
to its destined perfection.
In the commencement of the world
we have this princinle of Masonry.
Ever since symmetry began and har-
mony displayed her charms, our insti-
all ages and in all countries it has
flourished. In the dark periods of
antiquity when literature was in q low
state and the rude manners Of our
forefathers withheld from them that
knowledge we now so amply share.
IT Is science confined to no country,
limited to no free born people BY
its sacred and invisible signs Masonry
is the only universal language The
distant Chinese, the wild Arab, the
American say. ge. the costly dwellers
in mansions of marble and gold by it's
sign language speak to each other the
word of brotherhood.
Brethren, if / were permitted to
write sentiment above the entrance
to your splendid temple / would place
there in golden letters these words.
so descriptive of our institution
May every soul that touches
wine. be it the slightest contact.
Get theretrom some gcod, some little
grace,
One kindly thought, one inspiration
yet unfelt,
One bit of courage for the darkeninp
sky,
one gieam Of faith to brave the threat
ening ills of life,
One glimpse Of brigher skies beyond
the gathering mists
10 make TINS life worth while and
heaven sure heritage
Be this your creed:
L would be true, for there arc tboeo
who trust me
would be pure, for there are those
who care.
would be strong. for tbere ,s a.,
to suffer.
L would be brave, for there is mucb
to dare
would be friend Of alI-the foa tho
friendless. viz
T Mouio pe giving and forget the gift.
Weakness
would look up, and laugh and love
and lift.
RICHARD BEVERLY RANEy