Year: 1877

At the installation Of the officers OF
Crusade CommanderY No. %, in
this place, on Friday night last, S.
NJ. Edwards, the e. c. elect, deliv-
cred the following appropriate re-
marks to the members, which, at the
request of the Sir knights, we pub
lish:


SIR KNIGHTS II takethis occasion
to return to you my thanks for the
high honor you have conferred upon
me by making me your chief officer.
In view of the solemn pledge / have
this night made in your presence,
am not insensible of the high respon-
sibilities it imposes-responsi5ilities
which 1 would most gladly avoid
were l free to do so.


1t may appear paradoxical, for a
Free Mason to say he is not free and
yet if free, it is only to a limited ex-
tent. He is free to do good and not
evil; he is free to love justice and to
learn to temper that justice with mer-
cy; free to practice charity; free to
put on every qualification that goes
to make up the upright and perfect
man and espouse every virtue that
will tend to beautify and adorn that
character-and yet, Mason is ever
slave to duty.


Does charity demand aims of a
Mason? Then a Mason is bound to
give aims. Is counsel and advice
sought in some sore trial or difficulty !?
Then he is bound to respond, and he
should do so with a clear head and
heart free from all deceit. Is his
sword required? Then, having no
fear but the fear of injustice, dishon-
/ or and oppression, he must flash it in
his brothers cause. And soft called
to fill any position in the Order, be it
ever SO humble or servile, or exalted
and burdensome, he has no discretion
but to obey.


Believing, then, as do, that Ma
son should shirk no duty however on
orous, that he should shun no respon-
sibility however grave; that he should
fear no evil, however threatening, il
it interferes with his obligations,
have accepted this position, trusting
for strength to perform its solemn
and important duties, not in my owr
skill or ability, nor yet iii your fra
ternal aid and sympathy, but in Hin
who is the beginning and the end o.
every Mason's hope.


Ii may succeed in accomplishing
for this Commandery what has beer
done by your late presiding officer,
shall be satisfied; and it is but just
to him to say that during his entire
term of service, not, to my knowi-
edge, has the fraternal feeling beer
marred in a solitary case. In nc
known instance has there been cause
for discipline-no member has beer
guilty of conduct unbecoming 6
Knight and a gentleman.


The weary pilgrim travelling from
afar, has ever received a kind, cordial,
courteous greeting, and has gone
from us with his burden of sorrows
made lighter-gone with lesson Of
love and kindness to cheer him on his
way. Certainly we may congratulate
ourselves, that all is well.


Now, my companions, in order that
this unity and peace, this prosperity
and efficiency of the Commandery
may be maintained in the future, ]
shall expect, as think | certainly
may, that every member shall walk
as becomes his profession. This is nc
light demand, but one which l must
enforce. Your engagement as fem
plar is no idle pastime; your warfare
as a Knight is no holiday excursion
You know this; you knew when yor
laid aside the staff and took up Che
sword that you had to fight a great
fight; you knew you had to fight moi
only the lying vanities and dcceits o1
this life, but the evil appetites and
passions and inclinations of your owr
heart. Yes, it is a fight for everiast
ing life. and light, and joys untold
beyond the grave.


If the gewgaws, the plumes and the
pageantry is all that you see in thi:
sublime and magnanimous Order
then, in truth, have you ''labored il
vain and spent your strength fOI
naught." If You see nothing in it:
interesting symbols and solemn rite:
to impress you with the ''force ant
importance of truth" or the ''beauty
of holiness,' then is your last estat,


worse than the first. If your worlc


life is not living example of ou


teachings, then you are not Lahore
worthy of his hire. If you can lay


aside your obligations to the craft, t,
society, to humanity, as you lay aside
your uniform, then you are q chea
= and fraud, whom it were compli
ment to call base.


Sir. Knights, l do not wish to b'
understood as urging Free Masonr,


as Substitute for the Christian reli


gion, and yet he who conforms his lif
to its beautiful precepts, exhibits


life very like the Christians liz


which is worthy of imitation. Mus
, not that life conform to a plumb line
, Must not his actions fill the square o


truth and virtue?


A Mason should be man to whor
the "hurdened heart mey pour out it
sorrows, and to whom distress ma
protfer its suit He should be ma
I whose car is ever open and alive t
, the cry of the needy; a man who's


hand is guided by justice and who's
heart is expanded and ennobled b
l charity.


F, Can Mason be immoral? Can
8 Mason indulge in any of the nsmer
Gus habits and practices which sham
. his manhood and degrade the dignit
= of his profession?


e A Mason! and q profane swearer
4 Does he remember Row an ancien
+ people, with not tithe of the Chris
tan light and civilization of to-day
: would not even pronounce the ineffa
9 BILE name of Jehovah, except wit
solemn ceremonies, and then only
a spirit OF devotion; and remember
ino this will he hfasOheme his God