Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-10-26
MASONIC AIMS
EXPLAINED BY
REV. DR.. PETERS
Sermon on Sooiety's Attitude
Toward Religion in Paramount
Baptist Church.

Rev. Madison C. Peters, d. D., the
stated supply of the Paramount Bap-
tist Church, on Paramount avenue,
delivered a special sermon to mem
bers of the Masonic order last night.
In the course OF his address he said.
"Masonry stands for the brother
hood of man, which selfshness has
led us to disregard, and It's MODEST
sentiments cluster about the things
that are dearest to the human heart.
Like the spirit of liberty enlighten-
ing the world, like fountains in the
desert watering the earth and
spreading fertility, like temple OF
truth, it stands up four-square TO ali
The world, its every acton, deeu,
principle and teaching in harmony
with the highest aims of human
thought and life.
'.Masonry is working hand in hand
with church and State in organizing
the conditions Of social progress, and
held up by the three pillars of the
social order-religion, law and NOR
ais. wisdom, strength and beauty-is
making for human perfection.
Law stands chiefly for and behind
the social order; Masonry Tor the
most part maintains and develops
the social order, so that, while it re-
minds us of our social duties and oil
f11e duties we owe our country as the
embodiment of social order, 1t IN
sists above and beyond all, upon our
duties to our neighbor ana TO dou,
through which alone the perfection
of the moral order may be attalneo'
prospecting every honest creed'
Masonry requires adherence 70 hohe'
II NEEDLES not with the religious be-
liefs of men; IL views men as pfolh-
ers of one common family
siTf il is the object of religion 10
hind us to the performance of duty
bv the obligations we owe to God, 10
point us to the hopes and eXpeeta-
items of another world, and to direct
our actions in this by standard 10
be applied to the future, then Ma
sorry so far is a religious lnstltu-
tion. 1t teaches as plainly as the
church the existence OF Goo, lne IN
mortality of the soul, the resurrec-
ton Of the body, and future rewards
and punishments.
Religious, Not Religion.
"Nasonry is religious, but not re-
ugion. in the sense that II selects Tor
no man the mode in which he must
worship. designates no particular
church in which he must offer up ms
devotions; directs no form or aluar
on which he must make mis- opla-
tions: Institutes no liturgy for his
form of prayer, but leaves each
member to choose the religious tenets
his own conscience dictates.
s"Masonry recognizes revealed re-
,ieion without entering into the
sr-eculations of dogmatic theology,
and leaves every member to deter
nina for himself his duty to his
God. his fellow men and hiInsel1 as
revealed in the great light OF Ma
aonrv. it's treasure and charter, the
Holy Bible. |
MASONRY does not draw men away
from Christianity, or deceive them IN
10 the idea that they need no other
church.
masonry instead of being sub
stitute for religion, is an humble fol-
lower of religion, daring, with humble
confidence to hope that it may thrive
Ia polish the golden links OF Fellow
ship and brotherly love.
"rhe Jew, the Christian, the Mo
hamuedan, all believers in the one
Father of men, enter our lodges under
The broad banner of brotherly love,
without any fear of theological CON
troversy.
"No man can become Mason and
not become better man, unless he is
dead to the most delicate and most
sacred feelings of life.
mo atheist can ever become Mo-
son. The very first step in becoming
a Mason the world over is that of
worshipful being. and everything
about him is pervaded with a lively
sense of mighty power on whose will
and pleasure he must always depend.
"As Plato banished all atheists
from his ideal republic, so Masonry
believes that the well-being of society
depends upon morality and on God,
and that therefore they who deny His
existence will be far from feeling that
sense of obligation which would make
them useful and worthy citizens.
What do the mans eyes behold the
moment after he enters the lodge
room. No matter whether in Manila
or New York, San Francisco or Ha-
Vana, Berlin or Hong Kong. London
on Calcutta, he beholds the Bible
an open Bible everywhere-and if the
lives of all Masons are not shaped
to its models. it is no more the fault
of Masonry than it is the fault of the
church that there are men I'm it who
do not live up TO their obligations"