The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1914-01-06

dIC SOliC.
Of all lodges and orders of
which / know, ours is the one of
all others that cannot exist, and
should never try to do so, with
out a tolerably fair conception of
the Fundamental Truths of the
Holy Book, being we'll learned.
In no other way can we be wor-
thy members of our most mag
unanimous order, and true Knights
of the Cross!
To my mind one of the great
est lessons that Masonry teaches
is the putting of first things first.
AS you know, we take upon our
selves, some very serious, solemn
and weighty obligations, and
bind ourselves to their sacred
observance, by invoking upon
ourselves the most terrible penal
ties, should we fail to keep and
perform everyone of these. /
doubt if more serious obligations
have ever been assumed by men.
The obligations of Masonry are
never forgotten when once as
Sumed! Yet we are taught those
should never interfere with or
set aside our duty to God, our
families, our fellowman, or our
selves, these duties are inviolate
and must never be set aside
or encroached upon by our lodge.
This is the Zenith of the teaching
of Masonry!
Those who rail at our order,
saying its members love the
lodge more than they love the
church, and neglect their families
and fellowmen for the lodge,
speak unadvisedly with their lips.
Whenever there is any truth in
such statements, it is a sure indi-
cation that a man guilty of these
things is not a good and true
Mason, whatever else he may or
may not be. He has utterly fail
ed to learn the first and funda-
mental lesson of Masonry.
The attraction and inspiration
of Masonry are to be found in it's
true fellowship of all worthy men.
Its most vivid and forceful teach
ing of sub ime truth, the most
elegant and beau iful diction of
its Ritual. The world contains
no more eloquent and beautiful
expression of the highest thought
of man than is found in the due
and ancient forms of the work of
our craft; once learned they charm
for all time Its ideal of charac-
ter is high and lifted up, there is
a charm in its practical benefi-
cence!
| Masonry is justly entitled to
have her secrets from the outside
world, and to keep them sacred
within herself; in this lies a good
portion of our strength, and out
of it goes a good lesson for all
the world. Sacred things never
win by being Haunted on the
breeze and made open to public
!. and careless gaze and comment.
"By their fruits We shall know
them" Masonry gives no invita-
ton, makes no plea, enters into
no urgent persuasion for mem
bers, yet she circles the globe,
and touches human life in every
cline!
Sir Knights! | callfto your at
tention once again the Ascension
of Jesus Christ, passing as he
: does from sight, may we not
! realize that he did not go SO fan
| away; just beyond our sight he
awaits our coming clothed in a
| bodily form like unto our own
The lessons learned in the five
2 libations; your solemn pledge to
draw your sword in defense O
and for the supremacy of the
] Christian Religion, and beg to re
| mind you, that in order to be
good soldier, we must know anG
), love that for which we are fight
? ing. A love for dress parade, o.
e a desire for wages never make
S real good soldiers; knowled sc OF
S love for and devotion to, mus
&c L -