The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1913-08-20

hammer that puts them into the wall.
Gods hammer of disappointments, of
sickness and poverty often falls on
us with awful severity, and before
our corner stone and temple will be
perfect we must be able to say to the
Grand Architect of the universe "Thy
will be done, not mine."
Our government may be likened to
this building. It's corner stone is the
home. And our home may be likened
to this building. It's corner stone is
always our character. The building
of the foundation then Is character. 1t
is a truthful building. There is no
room in truthful building for lies,
hate, deceit, SANDER and evil thoughts
If We build temple of character,
then We are assured of eternal life.
But, Masons, what of the day? What
of the day when active temptation is
all around US? This is an age of
great haste. The disposition on the
part of many is to bring the Holy
Bible up to date. In such a time as
this, as Masons, we must meet the de-
mard of the day and stand firm. Half
and half Masons won't do. Thousands
CT steam printing presses are running
night and day turning out countless
thousands of pages of awful litera-
ture, messages of sin seeking admis-
sion into our home; the night air of
our cities is polluted with vice, and
pitfalls of sin and fires of death are
all about US. Masons, we are to for
get that the home is the corner stone
upon which this government is build
ed. In such time as this it is i'm
portant that we live true to our Ma
sonic teachings, standing firmly upon
the corner stone of perfect character.
am not one who believe in look
ing upon the dark side of things or in
hunting for imaginary evils to com.
plain about. There are just as good
homes, just as good parents and just
as good people in the world as ever.
There is more love than hate, there is
more good than evil, there is more
Kindness than cruelty and more smiles
than tears. Notwithstanding all this
can see the danger signal. Ameri-
cas- greatest danger is the present
tendency toward extravaganza, debt
and disobedience. All these tempta-
lions and vices are encroaching upon
the American home. Where any one
| OF them is, the devil is sure to be
found, and when the devil gets into
your home you may just as we'll pre-
pare to move out. The whole trend
OF the times seems to be towards eX-
travagance and disobedience. They
call it personal liberty; they call it
doing things-and the modern college
is setting the pace. 1t is not uncOm-
mon for the returning graduate to
announce to his dear old Christian
father that no one now believes in the
Bible but old fogies. To correct these
evils the clamor is for more law more
law! Ministers of the gospel are step
ping down from the pulpit to petition
congress and the legislature 10 pass
laws to govern the moral conduct of
our people. The evils cannot be cured
by law. | have no confidence in the
law-made man or the law-made wo-
man. 1t is in vain that we pass laws
to make morals. Precept and ex-
ample in our homes will take care of
our morals.
There is growing tendency to
conflict liberty with license. Liberty
elevates and ennobles; license drags
down and opens wide the door to folly
and disobedience. There is too great
q disposition to act without restraint.
1t is marching through the home, the
col md <I1 r1n 4
freedom|abuse or contempt of law
and decorum and you have it. The
cure for these growing evils must
come from the home, the corner stone
of our government. There lies the
remedy for these growing evils Let
us turn back to common sense ways
and common sense living; back to
the home where parents do not pro
woke their children to wrath, but
where obedience is taught and en-
forced; back to the old school mode
OF morals and manners; back to the
home. of music with song and tune;
back to the home of praise and prayer;
back to the family altar and the
simple prayer. Nov l lay me down to
Sleep" back to the ten command
ments, back to the proper observance
of the Sabbath day; back to the God |
fearing homeland the foundation
stone, the corner stone of our gov
will be perfect, and our fu-
ture assured.
Therefore, my brethren, let the les
son taught here today be one that
gives assurance to each and all of us
that the corner stone of our temple,
the temple of our hearts, be one of
perfect love.
Behold, lay in Zion for founda-
lion tried stone, a precious corner
1ro c,ro