The Robesonian., 1917-02-22
By Rev. DR.. G. E. Moorehouse.


cred at an entertainment given bv
the Order of the Eastern Star in the
Masonic hall in Lumberton Wednesday
might of last week.)
Officers and members of the Or
der OF the Eastern Star, Ladies and
Gentlemen:
1t is a great pleasure to me to
be present on this occasion and l an
preclate the honor and the response
0ility OF having been asked to give
the address at this time, and for this
particular occasion. l am, therefore,
concerned to speak in such a strain
as may be interesting for the pres
ent and instructive and beneficial for
many days to come. There is one
word around which all Masonry, and
Of course this associated institution,
is centered, namely:
SYMPATHY.
and this will be my subject for this
evening. And again, may say with
out revealing any secrets of Free
masonry, that the very ideal is
anan's duty to himself, his family, his
neighbor, his country and to GOD.
Nv subject therefore will lead me
first of all about
THE HOME.
of all institutions that make up the
strength of a nation, the home stands
without a rival. And the first step
in civilizing a people is to CHRIS
TAME the Homes. The CHURCH
in any land depends upon it's homes
as the great means which Christ will
use in extending His Kingdom. Ma
tionally and personally its influence
is the most potent and lasting. A
nation must look to its homes as well
IS to its schools for its intellectual
condition. The ideas which shape the
life come to the child fro mthe faith
'er and mother. Many influences unite
to form the moral condition of a
country but the home is the primary
tone.
The home plays an equally i'm
portant part in the religious life of
a nation. The horrible religious
rites" of some heather nations, COM
pared with the sweet home influences
of the PURITANS will be illustration
enough of what is handed down from
father to son. If you study the great
inspired leaders of history you will
unusually find godly mother, and
often o household of faith. Thus up
on its home rests the present anc
future welfare of a country.
God in the beginning ordained 6
home in the garde nof Eden; later
He selected a family in tent to bs
an obpect lesson to all the world
Abraham. who became the father Of
Ghe faithful, and the beginning of {
theocratic nation. And in that ma
ton we have the grandest ideal in {
home in Nazareth in Galilee, where
q working man and his wife trained
in habits of industry and obedience
the BOY who for all ages is to be tn.
example for all men and in Whom
Gods great promise to Abraham i
fulfilled: "In thee shall all the ma
f-ions of the earth be blessed"
We must learn that there is no in
.stitution that can take the place o
the home. The schools may teac]
domestic science, but that is not do
mesticity. One thing we might wei
learn from our fathers, even in thes
days of supposed advancement; tn
Puritan theory maintai1ed that
was absolutely essential that ever
eone should be taught from early child
hood how to read and understand tn
Bible. So much instruction as thi
was assumed to be a sacred dut
which the community owed to ever
child within its jurisdiction. Thes
principles made our fathers stron,
It has become common for men
these days to sneer at the marrow
ness of the Puritan3 but let US T,
member that strength is the resu
of narrowing. The babbling brook
the summer sunshine is very poet
and pleasing, but as it spreads o.
over the pebbles and ripples in Il
sunshine it turns no wheels to gri1
the corn; but when narrowed into
flune, it becomes useful. There
room for poetry in life, but usefu
ness and strength Of character are
greater worth. Suely those old Pu1
tars were wiser in their generate
than at least one of our great Stat
in our day, where they have the rid
ulous arrangement that the boys a
girls may not be taught the TF
COMMANDMENTS in the pub
schools because the schools are su
ported by the State; but when the
saroc Ten Commandments have be
violated by some Of the boys and gi
trained in those some schools, a
they ere sent to the penitentiary th
are then supplied with Bible; a
yet the penitentiary is supported
the State. l have said this MI
because of what l want to draw VI
attention to, namely, that all Mas
ry, bat particularly that related
socation which is represented by
Order of the Eastern Star, revol
around RELIGION as it is taught
the BIBLE, and around the HON
Our very first introduction to
order imposes upon Us faith in G
Indeed this is essential to memE
ship III any Masonic or associa
society, and there is a certain SCI
ture which might well be quoted
all candidates for the order OF
Eastern Star, as in every degree
Masonry: "Tru3t in the Lord v
all thine heart, and lean not I
&bina own understanding. In all