Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-06-26
AUGUSTA MASONIC i.
LODGES OBSERVE ST.
JOHNS DAY SUNDAY
With a Special Service at the
Winthrop Street Baptist
Church-Serimon by Rev. E.
S. Philbrook, Pastor of the
Church

Sunday in a special service at 1880
Sunday forenoon at the Winthrop
street Baptist churcr. The sermon was
preached by Rev. Eugene s. Philbrook.
who is Master Mason. the topic be-
ing The Eternal Building. or the Ma
sorry of Character"
The church auditorium was prettily
decorated with wild flowers, cut how-
ers and ferns for the occasion. The
members of the two lodges marched
into the church, filed to the right and
left and occupied seats in the front
of the church.
Rev. Mr.. Philbrook spoke In part as
follows:
Man is essentially religious be-
ing. There is no instinct planted in
his soul which is stronger and mono
which more powerfully influences his
life. than the religious instinct. II We
could conceive of a visitor from an
other planet appearing among us. he
could not fail to be deeply interested
in the great buildings which he would
notice at every turn in our cities
churches, temples and Cathedrals, fire.
quented at regular intervals, by crowds
of people He would find that wherever
men dwell together. even in small
groups, they erected these buildings
and that similar institutions had been
a characteristic feature Of human life
as far back as history extends. Thus
from the earliest times the religious
instinct of mankind and the impulse
to worship have found expression In
temples made with hands," But it
was reserved for the Hebrew nation
to produce the ideal sanctuary. OF all
structures reared for the worship oI
Deity. Solomons Temple was the most
famed and appropriate. enduring for
400 years as the worlds central and
most famous shrine. It's material was
the richest. which earth could pro-
duce. and its workmanship was the
most skilful known to the ancient
world. From this renowned fabric and
the circumstances connected with it's
erection. sprang Free Masonry. deriv-
ing many types and symbols from the
implements and principles of architec-
ture involved
Now it is not divulging any Of the
secrets of the order to say that Ma
sonry may be considered under two
denomnat tons, namely. operative and
speculative. The former concerns it.
self with the outward and material
things and practical principles: the
latter. with types, symbols and moral
and spiritual applications. Thus. while
Masonry views the temple Of wood
and stone, it also points to a better
sanctuary, a house not made with
hands. even the temple of moral and
spiritual manhood. This eternal build.
u.
Isaiah, who quotes Jehovah as asking
the question. Where is the house that
We build unto Me. and where is the
place Of MY rest?" and answering To
TINS man will look. even to him that
is poor and of a contrite spirit and
trembleth at My word" II was tina
same sanctuary of Cody character
which Stephen, the first Christian
martyr. had in mind when, before the
Jewish Sanhedrin. no gave impa ssion-
ed utterance to similar words, CRYING:
Heaven is my throne and earth is my
footstool: what manner of house will
we build me? sayeth the Lord, or what
IS the place of my rest?"
The question is more explicitly answered
by the great apostle: What! know We
not that your body is the temple Of the
Holy Ghost? Ye are the temple of God,
he writes. IF any man defile the temple
of God, him will God destroy, for the tenn.
pie of God is holy, which temple We ara.
The truth. then, is evident that the great
God, In the person of His Spirit. Is pleas
ed to dwell in the human soul. II We pre.
pare for Him house here. He will pre-
pare for us a mansion hereafter. We
build for eternity
In the masonry Of godfy character IL II
we'll to remember that every noble build
ing requires a perfect plan, a firm foun-
dation and a suitable superstructure. Ev-
cry house exists first on paper. Before
stone is broken, a brick laid or a nail
driven. there must be plan or draft OF
great importance also the eternal, spirit
ual structure of character is the life
plan. Many have complete outline Of
their work in this world. but no definite
purpose or specification for their immor-
tai souls. The Bible which is the word OF
God. furnishes the only perfect pattern
for the eternal building. Its instructions
are exact in every detail. This book has
been the working draft Of great and use
full lives from Kind David to Woodrow
Wilson and Charles Evans Hughes The
next President of the United States.
whether Democrat or Republican, was
born in humble parsonage. the son Of
minister of the gospel. and his life has
been fashioned after the pattern Of the
Bible
The Importance Of firm foundation
for life's building cannot be overestimat-
ed. 1t both determines and preserves the
whole edifce. The house that In built
upon the sand will surely fall before the
storm; while the house that is built upon
a rock will stand. "Other foundation can
no man lay than that is laid which 10
Jesus Christ
The superstructure OF character must
be true and symmetrical. OF sound mate.
rial and erected for God and for eter-
nifty. The frequent use OF the square the
level and the plumb-line Is necessary.
Nor should the hand-saw be neglected.
Let there be no protruding joist Of pas
sion and no rough, projecting boards Of
profanity. intemperance and religious in
difference and neglect. We are building
our own house, and the only house we are
to have eternally. The poet walked by
the seashore, and upon the sandy beach
he found the shell Of the pearly nautilus.
Seeing its enlarging chambers he sang: