Norwich bulletin., 1922-06-19
METHODIST PASTOR BREACHES TO
 MASONs FOR ST. JOHNS DAY SERVICE

together for the onward and upward
 growth and development of human na-
 ture and character; and the only vloia-
 tion of reason with regard to religion
 is the insanity of neglecting to Ioilo" it's precepts
 Religion, then leaves mans
 self-respect higher than it found
 1t. This is an essential factor in any
 strong character Not only this put
 God Himself respects the man wno mas courage enough to do the right, even
 more than He respects the natural dlg-
 nity He has conferred on man. God
 never asks person to degrade himself. or sacrifice any single gift or grace or
 nature, any endowment or dignity which he has bestowed He respects the pow | CTS given, the honors conferred, the dignity imparted and He says to you
 as to Ezekiel, Stand upon thy feet and
 will speak to thee" Be man, erect
 manly, strong, no cringing, crawling slave, but free man standing straight with purity in his heart, power m his life, nobleness in his bearing and the 1 light of heaven on bis face. Stand thus 1 brothers, and God will speak to you as to others, the secrets He tells only to 1 His saints.
 Brothers, the times call for men of | this type, they call for you. God chal- lenges you to stand upon your feet and march abreast against the evils and to meet the neef of our time, The chal- 1enge is to men of brotherly love, men of liberal charity, men who prize truth above all possessions, and will not let 1t fail Men who hold their lives within the parallel lines of righteous dealings with their fellows, and reverent obedi- ence to God In order to do this brother Masons, you will need all the fortitude you can summon, all the pru-
 dence you can develop through assidu-
 ous practice, all the self-control you can
 command; and all these you will need
 to use in strict conformity with. and
 due regard to, that other Masonic vir-
 tue and standard called justice, which
 asks that we render to every man his due and to God the worship and obedi- ence which he justly claims as Creator
 and Father of us all.
 God is not looking for little men who cover at His feet, but strong men who stand at attention ready for service l under His leadership He does not de- 5 sire men with the muck rake and bent 5 back and foul employment. He is no more satisfied with the mere money grubber with head and heart bowed be- ' for Mammon, He wants the man who 2 stands straight sun-crowned and God l crowned-a man and king. God seeks : the man whom He can respect as well f as love, trust as well as train, help Him g as we'll as be helped-a fearless, sturdy ) stalwart knight wearing forever the : white flower of blameless life. 9 Men and Masons the new age calls tc $ you to help face and solve its problems r the laws of the land, broken and ignor- . ed, call to you to help uphold the maj : esty of the law; the church calls to you y to lift her sacred standard and help 1T S her vast undertakings for the better : ment of men; the broken and bewilder : ed world calls to you, the burdened anC q helpless in our land and every lant d calls to you. Every cry of distress i! o for you, every human need is a chal J, lenge to you You need to be upstand
 ing men to accept the challenge, anC n make good in the gracious crusade. e There probably never was a tim s when men of ideals become men of ac d tion more than now. Never a tim, f when church, lodge, school, college-al j. institutions having great ideals ant 1t princip1es-should stand together that t these ideals and principles be set t l. work through human hands and hu y man hearts in ministry to mankind IT o men, what we might do if we woul d only work together We could hay s. the cleanest city in the country. W j. could make vice and lawlessness craw l. into their slimy holes in oblivion wher s they belong. We cold make brotherl, d love, beneYolence and truth-the grea d trinity of virtues-the rulers and say v iors of our social and industrial life. W al could make this Rose of New Englan is bloom with such beauty that the Ian " would be filled with it's fragrance. W .e could, we could-shall we try 1t?
 The trumpet has blown, the call ha le come. Look to the east, the banner i is aloft The lion of the tribe of Juda .n leads. In his name I challenge you t " the task men and Masons Follow you h. leader into the crusade and He wi It cause you to conquer that you may | al counted worthy to be numbered anon or that sublime company of
 od
 "Men that have built our faith in man be And lit the ages as they ran" he St John for whom this service to named was one of them. shall we maj ee ourselves worthy to stand by his side at He accepted Gods challenge earned H at respect and left his name living in u nd memory of men. He lived and died f, " this faith for which we stand. We @ lis do no better than to emulate this patrc se sain. See that you do not fail nk