Year: 1873

and definitely known-is the growth
and child of that demand of COM
mon humanity. 1t seeks to engraft
in the general scheme for human
progress the comprehension of abso-
lutte Truth and the practice of the
| Christian Virtues. Its ideal reaches
after the sublime and is not of the
earth earthly, but lying hold of the
Great White Throne above, it seeks
to bring down to man those immor-
tai principles which were announced
to the wondering children of Israel
amid the thunderings of Mount Sinai,
as modified or regulated under the
new dispensation, and to make them
living and actual realities in the
worlds life. 1t struggles to reach
and embrace degree of excellence
and beauty that glimmers far upon the
nights above them, to elevate man,
to enlarge his capacity for pure en-.
joyment socially, mentally, morally.
In so doing it fully recognizes bis
humanity and constant danger of
falling into error, and bids him look
up and be strong. In word, our
law, as has been ably said by an
eminent writer, is 'sthe law of mutual
love, of intimate and abiding friend
ship, of inhexible probity, honor and
truth. And this law it is we'll for us,
whether Masons or not, to observe !;
this law is as wide as the universe,
deep as eternity, stern as fate in Its
demands, binding all men, in all
places and in all times-the past,
present and future-to the everlast-
ing duty of charity and woe to that
soul which seeks to escape from the
obligations it imposes" It's field
of labor is as broad as the globe is
habitable; as extended as the mis-
fortunes of mankind are multiplied.
Its mission is happily exempllfied in
the defense of the helpless orphan,
the innocent maiden, and the injured
and oppressed whenever and where.
ever found. By the bedside of the
sick and dying it's presence is known
and felt, not as filling the Offices of a
hireling and stranger, but the full
measure of brothers. kindness and
affection. And when the grim ty-
rant, Death, shall have accomplished
his work, and the spirit of a brother
shall have passed away, it admins.
ters such consolation as alone may
De given by members of the same
common band of brotherhood" to
sorrowing hearts. Embarked upon
such mission, who shall say that
the various Orders of Free Masonry
are not ;'meritorious and praise
worthy ?" Who upon "high moral
grounds'' could not be one among
US? And yet, as in times past there
were those who could see no good
issuing out of Nazareth, so now there
are those who are trembling lest
Masonry shall accomplish its s'fell''
purposes !! shall realize in any degree
its high and holy calling. 1t is,
however, the teacher and advocate
of true reform, and depends not for
success in attempts to catch the
popular breeze; but resting its cause
upon the broad basis of truth and
eternal justice, it is content in the
assurance that time and an honest
judgment will vindicate its claims
and justify its acts.


1t follows that while it is the friend
of true progress, and its handmade
and elder sister, yet it is conserva-
tive in its tendencies, holding in
check many of those wild and specu-
lative theories which, under the
name Of reformation-the result of a
hot-bed growth, crude and undigest-
ed, unsuited to the wants of society,
the harbinger of mischief and the
forerunner of intolerance at
tempted to be forced upon the peo-
pie. By a constant conflict with
such ideas, our principles become
scattered and diffused beyond the
limits of the lodge room, and in
some degree incorporated into the
general views and thoughts enter.
tanned by the people at large. BY
this means many of the rougher
features of society are removed, or
SO nicely concealed as to render that
inofensive and at times even pleas
ant which otherwise would be
scarcely endurable; and the hastily
formed impression is SO softened or
modified that the golden means is
more nearly attained.


From the necessities of the case
and the circumstances which call
together around a common altar the
members of "our time-honored in
stitution," our principles naturally
invite and cultivate spirit of neigh
borly, nay more, of brotherly kind
ness, which, in connection with the
social relations of mankind, can not
be overestimated, or possibly fully
appreciated, except by those who in
trial, suffering, and alone, have drank
at the fountain and experienced the
life giving qualities of its waters.


However pleasing a picture may
have attempted to draw you of our
aims and our hopes, | have intimat
ed that there are those who fail to
appreciate our efforts or to endorse
our method of effecting those objects.
1t is the nature of some to oppose
any attempt however laudable, ex.
cept it may have originated inside
of their own particular church, sect
or society, or squared itself to the
narrow and illiberal views which
they have just sufficient capacity to
embrace without the power of COM
pretending and enforcing. Such
persons would blot from existence
the halo of glory that surrounds the
head of crucified and dying Re-
deemer and annihilate Calvary's
cross itself, could it not be tortured
into self-vindication, or doing service
in their behalf, adding to their re-
nown and glory or ministering to the
qualification of self.conceit and per-
sonat Importance. They see evil,
and that continually, in any thug not
conceived by and presented through
them. This was Beelzebub's crime
in heaven and Martin Luther's mis-
take on earth. Such men are one.
sided, impracticable. They never
arrive at the full stature of manhood,
but dwarfed, impotent, and fee BILE,
they fill out their measure of exis
tence and pass to the great hereafter,
unacquainted with and unconscious
of the great problems of life, human-
ity, the world, or even of them
selves.