Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1911-06-02

exist, and so this edifce must sometime |
crumble in decay; but the spirit which
ictuated those who erected it will always
be an inspiration to those who come after
them The peculiar forms and cere-
monies to which King Solomon's Temple
was dedicated, like other customs of man,
have in the course of time, become
changed, or ceased to exist altogether.
We have dedicated this hail to Free
The forms and ceremonies, the
signs and symbols now peculiar to our
society, may likewise become altered in
the course of time; but the fundamental
to which all our efforts not
only as Masons, but as men, should be
dedicated, can never change Virtue"
and universal benevolence" are two at
tributes which will continue to be es-
sential to the happiness of man through
out all time.
We as Masons, recognize each other
by certain signs, tokens and words, and
although they are traditional with us, and
according to our laws, cannot be
yet these attributes are mere
forms customs of men, and are by no
means essential; for after all it Is what
n man thinks, not the means by which
he expresses his thoughts, that estab-
fishes his correct position in society, Ma
sonrv strives to teach men the necessary
attributes to good citizenship and to in
spre them to live according to her
teachings All true Masons are therefore
good citizens. In this respect we are
not peculiar, we do not claim to be dis
tinct Our theory of right living is no
different from that of other honest men
and organizations
We profess to have Charity for all and
malice toward none" Do we live &C
cordng to the tenets of our profession?
1t is well that we should remember at
this time that, like the material ediflce
,trr1,N
the ritualistic ceremonies which will be
performed within these walls, the ma
terial bodies of the men who erected it
and who will take part in those cere-
monies and of all the rest of us, here
and everywhere, will cease to exist, and
that in the course of probable events,
our dissolution will come earlier than
that of this building which we have
erected. We cannot be too often remind
ed that in the grave all fallaces are de-
tected, all distinctions done away: that
the God whom we as Masons reverence
and serve, the Supreme Architect of the
universe, will surely detect all defects
and that nothing but good work, true
work and square work" will find a place
in that house not made with hands,
eternal in the heavens"
Two short poems by Sam Walter Foss
illustrate more forcibly than can any
words of mine the lesson l am seeking to
impress.
In his coffin bed John Gear lay dead,
But John Gears ghost stood near;
And the clergyman talked at the fu-
neral,
And the Ghost bent low to hear:
The waiting ghost of the man who was
dead,
He fingered to hear what the clergyman
said;
So the clergymen spake and the people
wept,
And the Ghost looked on and the dead
man slept
And the dead man slept
THE man who is dead the clergyman
said,
WAS the true, true salt of the earth
Who shall guage the good of his we'll
spent life
And the measure of his worth?
For he was a man of the olden type,
OF the honest noble, sterling stripe"
Shame fell on the Ghost as he stood
nigh,
For he alone knew these words were a
lie
These words were a lie.
And the Ghost was afraid and was sore
AS he heard the words of praise;
And he thought % the wreck and the
wrang he had dYne
Through the stretch of the long gone
days;
And n woman's face that was blanched
Loomed up from the vast of the clamor-
ing years;
But the Ghost, while he heard all the
praise of the priest,
Felt burn on his forehead the mark OF
the Beast
The mark of the Beast.
And the priest preached on, but the
ghost of John
Heard naught but the woman's tears;
For the silent tears of her silent life
Were thunder in his ears.
And the priest still preached with his
words of praise,
And the Face doomed up from the long
gone days;
The priest still praised and the people
wept,
And the Ghost passed on and the dead
man slept
The dead man slept.
sleep, his ghost" will not be afraid or
ashamed to ..nger for the funeral. 1t is
| the natural, conscientious desire of every
man to live a good and helpful life. Let
us all strive for the good, and though,
being human, We cannot attain perfec-
| ton, we can always be charitable
towards the imperfections of others, and
therefore, be helpful
There are hermit souls that live with
drawn
| In the peace of their self-content;
| There are souls, like stars, that dwell
apart,
In a fellowless armament;
| There are pioneer souls that blaze their
paths
Where highways never ram
| But let me live by the side of the road
And be a friend to man.
| Let me live in a house by the side OF
the road,
Where the race of men go by
| The men who are good and the men who
are bad,
| AS good and as bad as l.
1 would not sit in the scorner's seat,
Or hurl the cynics BAN
Let me live in house by the side OF
the road
| And be a friend to man.
see from my house by the side of the
road,
BY the side of the highway Of life.
The men who press with the ardor OF
hope,
The men who faint with the strife.
But l turn not away from their smiles
nor their tears
Both parts of an infinite PLAN
| Let me live in my house by the side OF
the road
| And be friend to man.
I know there are brook gladdened mead
H..