The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1921-12-02
Address at the Dedication of Masonic
Temple at EdgertOn, Wisconsin,
Saturday, Oct. Is, 1921.
BY CHARLES E. wHALEN, MADISON

through the medium of Free Masonry.
But this dedication of the building shall
be but an empty ceremony, if there does
not come with it a dedication of the
individual Mason, in his heart, to the
principles declared by the institution
as its creed, and by you and me ac-
cepted as the guiding rules of our lives.
Upon yonder altar lies the Holy Bible,
our Book of the Law, containing the
plans and specifications of moral life.
What manner of builder would he be
who had in his possession the blue
prints of the architect and yet went on
with the construction without frequent
consultation of them? What near ap-
proach to the vision of the architect
could be had unless the builder caught
the conception? And yet how often
do we protest that this Book IS the rule
and guide of our faith, and yet never
turn its leaves to discover whether we
are in line with the design therein con-
tanned
| beg of you, my brethren, that with
all the earneStneSS of our profession we
here resolve that from now on we shall
go to its pages with greater frequency
in order to harmonic our thought and
action with the purpose of the Al
mighty. Thus and thus only can we be
dedicated to the cause of God and hui
mainly and make this house the true
habitation of the spirit of love to which
it has been dedicated
AS | turn the leaves of this book |
find a great Teacher in the halls of the
temple at Jerusalem, discussing the fun
damental truths of mans relationship
to God and to his fellow man. And
find this record:
Then one of them, which was
lawyer, asked him a question, tempting
him, and saying:
Master, which is the great COM
mandment in the law?'
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love
the Lord, thy God with all thy heart,
and with all thy soul, and with all thy
mind
This is the first and great command
ment.
"And the second is like unto it, Thou
shalt love thy neighbor as myself.
"On these two commandments hang
all the law and the prophets"
What a marvellous condensation of
that mighty Book into a declared enun-
citation of the doctrine which it con-
tains in all its many pages of the life
structure which we shall build and dedi-
cate as individuals What is it but
the teaching of the doctrine of the
Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood
of Man! Upon this doctrine is the in
stitution Of Masonry founded and to
it is it dedicated. With this as Our
declared faith have we laid the foun-
dation, built and dedicated this struc-
ture.
This temple has now become a part
of the important structures in the COM
munity held out to the people of your
city as a place from which shall flow
a stream of influence for the better
ment of mankind. 1t were wiser that
it had never been built, if that stream
does not flow; if the community is not
richer in love of humanity and glori-
fcation of God because of it. But this
I would have you remember, my breth-
rem This building can only speak
through you. 1t can only reach out
its force as the individual member shall
out into the world This, then, is why
to dedicate your lives to the principles
erected.
Milton, in that wonderful poem of
mis-, ComuS, saws:
HE that hath the light within his own
clear breast
May sit in the center and enjoy bright
day;
But he that hides a dark soul and foul
thoughts,
Benighted walks beneath the MONDAY
sun;
Himself is his own dungeon"
In Masonry you have been brought
to light symbolically. In other words
you now claim its possession, the light
of truth, honor and Justice; the light
of brotherly love; the light of rev.
erence to Deity and of worship of Him.
This light should now be within your
own clear breast Be where you may,
within this temple participating in the
ceremonies which belong therein, or out
in the world in contract with the prob
lens of life, this light should shine
within your own clear breast. Let its
radiance so glow that through you
Masonry may help to guide the feet
of those walking along the highway in
the darkness of ignorance, misery or
misfortune, whether they be part of
this institution or not, until they shall
find their path to the goal of faith in
God and hope of immortality.
By your lives the world shall judge
Masonry. But why, you ask, shall the
judgment of the world as to Masonry
be measured by my speech and con-
duct? You do not Judge the church by
the conduct of its members as indivi-
dua1s, but by the teachings which the
church gives forth, you say. You must
remember, my brethren, that the belief
and the teachings of the church are
published broadcast. The world can
Judge between the professed belief and
the conduct of the individual and de-
termine whether the individual is meas
uring up to the standard as set forth
in the creed and confession of faith
The teachings of Masonry are given
within tyled doors The world can only
know with any degree of ful1ness the
intent and purpose of the institution
and its influence on the individual, as