Year: 1868

Dehold now good and how pleasant 1t is for brethren to dwell together in unityl It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard; that went down to the skirts of his garments: as the dew of Herman, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion; for there the Lord commanded the blessing, EVEN life forevermore.

 Thus the first lesson taught is the necessity of fraternal union. The cxxxIIr Psalm is parallel to passage in the New Testament that constitutes the test of true piety. "We know," says the apostle, "that we have passed

 from death unto life because we love the brethren" He who attaches him. self to the church, and yet loves not the

 brethren, may be satisfied that he is not an heir of God. He has no '.lot nor part in the matter;" but is an Annanias

 "a sort of semi-hypocrite attempting to deceive not only himself, but that

 Great Being who knows the thoughts in the darkest recesses of the human

 heart. 'Thou fool! It were better a mill stone were hanged about thy neck and cast into the depths of the sea-"

 Likewise when the applicant for the privileges and benefits of masonry en- ters the lodge--if his feelings are not

 in sympathy with the great objects to be achieved by the Order-if he docs notsfeel he is entering the precinct of band of brothers working together ill peace and harmony-if he is impelled

 to the step by merccnary motives-or if he is under the impression that this institution can be prostituted to the base purposes of ambition, we say unto him ''take thy money and go home." For as Simon the sorcerer could not purchase the gift of the Holy Ghost with money, neither canst thou buy the spirit of Free Masonry. If thou canst not dwell with the brethren in unity without any base purpose in view, be assured thou art not and canst not be a true mason in thy heart. It will not be denied that there are unworthy men among us. There are those who have not protited by the teachings inculcat- ed in tho several dcgrces-who are perfectly destitute of all those virtues which the Order illustrates with such striking and sublime cercmonics-and who are hypocrites at heart; but such characters by some unaccountablc ma neuver have crcpt into every associa- ton that ever existed. Masons ire quently find men in their lodges of notorious immortality, and how such ob- tained admission is standing wonder. But let that institution which is not distinguished by this particular feature cast the first stone, and then we will purify our Order and exhibit frater- nifty without spot or blemish. Until that shall be done lot the Pharisec on the outside world no longer curl the lip in naughty sclf-rightcousness, point the finger of scorn, and greet our pub lie processions with q thank God l am not such as you masons are."

 Masonry teaches another lesson of most vital importance. The outside world doubtless imagines that if chris tianity were abolished men would be left to gropc in darkness relying upon human reason to solve the problem of eternal destiny. But not so; for our Order teaches that there is Il God whose blessing it is highly necessary to invoke before entering upon any important or enterprise. This prin- ciplc constitutes the cornerstone of the masonic cdificc. Without if the of the Order would be sapped, and the whole structure would be as corpse cold, decaying and loath- some.

 Political bodies may frequently rise up amid commotions, and with all the power of civil and military authority decree 'therc is no God.' Thus did the French once when they assembled in legal capacity and in impious attempted to dethrone Deity, and erect the throne of reason upon the ruin of christianity and placed those words of blind folly and madness at the entrance of every graye-yard- ''Death is an Eternal Sleep" But such enactmcnts affect not the of masonry. For the of the Order like the laws of the Mcdcs and Pcrsians are nn- and changelcss. It might possibly be destroyed but to erase a landmark, especially that which relates to Deity can never be done. Upon this rock the whole superstructure stands in beautiful symmetry. Once remove the foundation and the institu- tion lies in ruins. "So whatever the tongue of slander may urge against us it can never prefer the charge of Athe- ism. No voltaire's, nor Humc's, nor Paine's are in our midst to profane the name of the Most High and contend for the worship of a golden calf or the ancient gods of Greece and Rome. We are taught to adore the great l AM and bow in His presence with reverence and humility; and we are taught in a way that no mason ever forgets if we are true to ourselves, true to the tenets of the Order and act up to the faith handed down by the Saints John,

 ''That when we drop this dying flesh

 We'll rise above the sky

 Blessed hope of Immortalityr So