The Republican journal., 1916-06-29
St. Johns Sunday
Observed by Services for the Masonic Or
deYs at the Baptist Chsrch.


Phoenix and Timothy Chase Lodges,F. & A.
M, and Primrose Chapter, o, E. ST. were spec
ial guests at the Baptist church st. Johns
Sunday, June 18th, when a large number were
present in regalia. The decorations were
large jardineres of brakes The music was
By the regular church choir, Misses Katherine
E. Brie- and Bertha z. Hayes, Messrs. George
E. White and Eazl L. Talbot. with Florence M
Chaples, organst. The solo, Faith, Hope and
Love" by Miss Btier, was well received. Mem
bers Of the Orders present speak in the highest
terms of the sermon by the pastor, Rev. j.
WILDER Richardson, who is member Of the
order and loyal to its principles After a. de-
script;on of Solomcn's temple, and the wcnder-
fully beautiful forrs Of worship connected with
it, Mr., Richardson told how the great world
wide body of Free Masons are related to that
ancient history and It's work and rites. Then
speaking Of the moral and spiritual teachings
of the Order he said IA part:
The temple of FreeEsasonry serves to draw
true manhood nearer 20 God. THIS may sound
like strange doctrine 20 some, wao have Seen
taught TIC look upon the fraternity as Goddess
institution. But the principles Of the ord er
center in truth, But what kind of trath?
Freemassnry has never assumed the role of a
prophet and claimed to present to men newer
revelation. 1t takes the principles of truth,
which Jesus and the prophets taught and in its
own way seeks to apply them to the needs Of it's
craftsmen. Ereemasonry does teach fidelity to
religious duties. Some delinquent brothes may
fail in his duties, but not because Freemasonry
has been unfsithful in it's teaching. He who is
fol toh OF of all 81
ment is not a sample of that noble citi
Ienship which is the glory of America, So the
unworthy man who wears Masonic badge Is
not to be taken as pecsman o. treem2senry.
Out in the diamond feld of Gcleonda one
thinks OF picking up q stone and saying. "Look
at its b-ownness, look at its angularities; if
this be diamond, re iect it, He waits until
the stone has been polished and shaped, and
then ex2a;sns, "Beaptiful Let us seek az
other diamond. wait friends; allow the tools
of the c-a1t to shape some Of these diamonds
in the rough before you pass, Judgment. The
open palm the Sympathetic Aeart, tae loving
word. are the proofs of mans Masonry
These are the level and square, trying mans
character to see is it is worthy. The orna-
mental Veneerings Of mars reputation are
network. 81 frost Windows pane, it is gone
with the suns looking. So heart deeds, not
sentimental periaiality. will stand search
ing glance from the all-sesing eye. Freema-
sonry is a life, not a gjbberisb of empty
phrases> 1t is ret built Of hay and stubble.
neither of gold and silver, but of immortal
mind. It is a tample otNively stones neatly
| ioineGstog ether. Like the pyramids, unraoved
in silent majesty it looks down upon the pass
ing centuries. Go to these pyramids and test
the stones by the square and panmb and level,
and you shall learn that those monuments of
the past endure because of Masonic honesty in
the work. Sc. Freemasonry ahides, because of
the patient, conscientious work thai has CO.
a0
of an honest brotherhood. Its foundation of
truth, its piays of wisdom, strength and beauty,
its dome of eternal Brotherhood. its spires that
tcach the bright blue skies Of Immortality, re-
veal the skin Of the supreme Architect,to whom
be the gloGy forever. Masonry is practical in
It's work. Twill dare lift the veil for minute.
What do we see? Not goat-but there are re-
| yered claFgymen of many commanding sects
sitting chose together; there are the capitalist
and artisan farailiarly eonversiEe; there are
: those political opponents who. nave differed
I over tariff standing hand in land, and from
| the east we hear the magic word Brother"
Without asking any man to yield one iota of
his soul conNictions, it directly places before
| him common platform, upon which he and
| his Aeighbor may nAeet, and for while forget
their differ ences. The resalt of such teach
ing is to iEGpel M asons to seek to reduce to e
minimum that which brings diseord in the
outside world. No one enters lodge of Free
Masons as capitalist, or day-laborer, pro-
fessionaA man. each one, regardless of his &C.
cupatloa and social standing. enters only as a
man. We do not publish to the world our acts
of love. But our secret giving and doing are
censured, when the order deserves comraenda-
ton. Freemasonry does its work silently, but
it is the work Of deep river that silently
pushes on towards the ocean; and IN that
J silence Transforming the lowlands into car.
pets Of green tassellated with daisy and clover
in silence, turning the machinery of thou.
sand factories, until the hum of lathe and
spindle fills the air with the psalms of indus
try. Great forces that do good are generally
silent in their work. So Freemasonry, in the
great power of united brotherhood, gives
silently; with the force of deep current il
sustains true systematic benevolence. Free.
masonry draws the veil of secrecy. that the
wants Of the unfortunate may not be exposed
to the sneers of cynical world and that the
giver may be doubly blest in his silent giving
Masonic initiation and instruction are drama
Of human life. The construction of the tenn.
pie is only type of the building up of human
character. The cross and crown of the last
degree, and which. also surmouDting this tenn.
pie. is the last symbol reaching skyward. cor.
responds with the completion of worthy
Master Mason's life; and that beautiful sym.