The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-07-21

are spiritually discerned." Since the
secrets Of this Order must be spiritually
discerned, whoever would know them
must progress beyond the first degree.
The second degree, the Pastor ex-
planned, is conservation, which is i'm
mediately followed by spirit-begetting.
Those who have progressed thus far
have become New Creatures In Christ.
TO these, "old things have passed
away and all things have become new"
Thenceforth these should grow in
grace and In the knowledge of our
Lord Jesus Christ; and as they do so
they are privileged to advance to high
er degrees. In due time they may be-
come Knights Templars. This degree
Is very honorable; those who have at
tanned it have become leaders in the
Church of Christ. especial function
aries in any matter pertaining to the
interests Of the Temple. These know
most about the things Of the Temple.
AS these members of the Order pro-
gress from one degree to another, they
learn more and more about the Mys-
terry of Christ. Those who have taken
many degrees, therefore. know much
more than do those who have taken
but few degrees. The Apostle
all in the spiritual Temple to grow
in grace, in knowledge, In character
likeness to our Lord, the Grand Com
mander Of the Order, the High Priest
Of our Profession, the One who died
for us-who not only redeemed US and
gave US the opportunity of becoming
members of this high fraternity, but
who also set US an example how we
ought to walk. Those who attain the
highest degree shall be His associates
and joint-heirs in His Messianic King
dom. This highest degree. however,
is limited in number to $4,000 mem
bers, the Scriptures point out.
The Standard Of the Cross.
The Pastor then showed that the
members of the Free and Accepted Or
der Of the Lord Jesus Christ's Com
mandery have for their standard, not
the cross on the head Of the sword, but
the Cross Of Christ, with which they
must be marked day by day. One OF
the very highest Of this Order was ST.
Paul, who boosted in one Of his Epis.
ties that he bore in his body the marks
Of the Lord Jesus. These marks were
not such as the world could appreci,
ate, but were marks such as our Saw,
tor had, and such as all have who at,
tain the highest degrees bestowed by
this Order.
The Apostle elsewhere explains that
as Jesus bore the marks of having
been smitten, beaten, condemned and
crucihed, witnessing to His faithful
ness to God end righteousness, so he
was himself marked. Every order has
it's own marks, but only the Captain
Of our salvation knows the marks
borne by the soldiers of the Cross.
Whoever receives these marks In His
service will be rewarded abundantly-
more than he could ask or even think,
These light Affections, which are but
for a moment, will work for these
faithful soldiers q far more exceeding
and eternal weight Of glory-beyOnd
the veil, in the glorious Temple now II
process Of construction.
This Temple, the speaker declared
will be the greatest in existence. Al
other temples, all other societies, ar'
but shadows, pictures, figures. NJ
matter whence a candidate came, NJ
matter who he was before he entered
| 49,. 5~- - nyNn r NN1 Tnun5 Chriuk
after he has Joined this Order he has
right to the regalia and to all belong
ing to the Order. There is only one
way by which any n may become &
member. There is also only n way
by which one once in may be put out
and that is according to the arrange
ments made by the Lord; for there Il
a secret writing even Of the names ii
this Order. These names are writer
In Heaven. No human being know
who r the members.
Free and Accepted In Christ Jesus.
The members Of this Order, 1t wa
shown, are free from the domination
Of sin, free from the fear Of death, FREE
from that condition of alienation from
God In which they were by nature
when they were Children Of wratl
even as others" They are not free +
commit sin, however; in fact, the!
have no such inclination. Their yer.
desire to come into relationship witt
God indicates that they do not low
sin. The shackles Of sin have fallel
from them. IF the Son make vol
free, then are ye free indeed" Johl
$500 Every n thus made free b!
the Lord Jesus Christ, through tn
merit of the Redeemer'B sacrifice, ant
presenting his body a living sacri6c
and being accepted Of God, is receive'
into this Fraternity, this Royal Priest
hood.
Happy are all such; for the Spirit 0
glory and of God rests upon them
The more attentive each of these Is t
the rules of the Order, the o faith
full each one is in laying down his LIZ
In the service Of the brethren, the NOR
progress will he make and the highe
will be his station. He will rise from
one degree to another until he. shal
have attained the highest rank, an
shall have favor in the fullest sens
with the Grand Master of the Order.
In the typical language OF the Scrip
lures, the human nature of all Nev
Creatures in Christ is pictured in tn
goat. The Bible tells these New Cree
lures that the :'goat" which each on
rides" more or less daily is his ow'
LII L.. 4hn AunAnnl nnm Of AfOnI