-t;
1'' ‘i
,5jj-
..j;'|;
!•l.:^L'M
. i- (Ji'gs
'B' !-^ai3
i‘"
’i I,IN ft
■ I'N.*;..
'■ I" *r j
I nl*.: 11 • : i- ■'(••> -»f
’ll
fi il . te'1;5
"Mi .
.. . -L,,.;rvf,iff,
1‘l'/ i*
*1 irr#ii
THE MASONIC J 0 U K N A L
The Ideal of Freemasonry.
, ruen-tis of intellectual,
man. They are i
! moral and social progress, and belong to
It has been well observed that every
event or movement in the history of hu*
inanity is a new apocalypse of man, or Na
ture, or God This thought is eminently
true. There is not a movement in the
material world, norevent in the life ol
man or society, but is the relation qt eter
nal Truth —a new step of humanity in its
upward progress, All revelations in so-
..•i«ty—the great questions which agitate
nations—the mighty ideais which burn
in the bosom ot all laboring to realize
themselves in the various philanthropic
enterprises and benevolent associations of
the^e, have a deep and solemn signih-
■jjnee—are attached to thedivinest sen
timents of the .soul —are expressive of the
souls’ aspiratio’is—responses to the great
needs of humanity. Ihey mark the vic-
:.,)i ies ot man over ignorance and selfish
ness, and are pledges of an ever growing
pei'fection. For white man labois he
thrives; while sociely struggles, and is in
conflict, it advances. All the phenomena
of life, all institutions or movements in
society, devised by human genius, have
been so many attempts ot man to tathom
the mystery of hi,s being—so many strug
gles to rush and embrace an iileal beauty
of excellence which glimmered in the im
measurable heights above bun. Hence
all the .novements are of momentous im-
poj-t—are provhSentially devised; and
are worthy ol a profound stuiy and in-
vestiganou, and will bt studied by those
who reverence virtue, and cherish a geni
al love and large hope for man.
Among the providential institutions
which should arre.st the attention of
thinking men, are the mysteries, as they
were formerly called, or secret societies
as they are now denominated. In the
earliest periods of the world, tbs wisest
and best of men withdrew from the im
perfections ol the exreiior society, and in
their secret temples sought to sound the
mvsteriou.s deeps ot Gid, N iture and the
spul and to live out this idea of a true
life. The mysteries of Egypt, of Eleusis,
of the Gabiri, and those of India and the
north of Europe, had a widely “xtendod
influence; and so important were they
that an investigation of them is necessary
if we would have an accurate view- ot the
theology, philosophy, science and ethics
of the pa.st time.
The singular tendency to secret associ
ations in all ages, and the remarkable
progress and prevalence of these societies
at the present time, m spite of the selflsh
ness and materialism of the age, indicate
moat clearly a providential origin and a
providential design. When the condi
tions and circumstances attending them,
and the position they have occupied and
do still occupy—the countless thousands
of earnest and intelligsiu men who have
worshipped and do worship every day at
their altars a''e considered—who will say
that these institutions which have, in all
periods of the world, commanded the ad
miration and reverence and service of the
best and wisest of our race, have not ex
ercised a powerful influrnce on the life o(
the past,.and are not de.stined to aocom
pli.sh mighty results in this present age,
and wield a prodigious influence over all
its thought and life ? What have been
those results, and what may we expect
them to be in future ? What has been,
and what i.s destined to be their influence
on, and their relati-ons with the progres
siva development of man ?
It is a part of the mission of the uVasoii-
io societies in general to elevate the tone
■of oublio and private morals, and to re
alize in all the arrangements of life, a di
viner sentiment of justice, a truer ideal of
charity, and more enlightened notions re-
sar.ding man's relations with hU fellow.
I the great category of divine instrumen
talities, ordained by Providence for the
advancement ol the human lace.
This remark is eminently correct as it
regards the ancient mysteries. They
were the sources of moral 1 le thefoun
tains of theology, pliilosophy, ethics, sci
ence and politics—the ministers ot pro-
gr(;sg—1,1 a word, the mother of civiliza
tion. In the Egyptian, Grecian and In
dian mysteries, and the Druidical institu
tions of the north of Europe, were nour
ished aid developed those moral pnnci
pies and sentiments, ainl those social
ideas, which afterward entered into the
life of thf. people, Aad became actual I’l
tUeir social torais.
And *liis is the t.iivine method ot humau
progre,ss. Men, in the mass, do not and
cannot rise at once lo th« comprehension
of absolute tnilh ; nor is it possilue tor
Ihem to ap|N-eciale it in itr tuliness. nor,
unaided, to ajiply it lo any pracr.cal re-
.sull. Neither do tlit-y advance, either
itidiviilually or socmiiy, by v rtueollbeir
own eiiergv but leoeive tiie elemenls ot
progre.s.s, growtii and expansion trom tiie
spiritu-al word—tliat is to .sap. trom Hod.
'vVtien 11- w elements ot iite are to lie sent
fortlt from tile iiosom ol the Deity tor the
revivitieal-ion ot tiie nations, or new ulea.-
are to be promulgated lo tiirll.er their ad-
vaiiceiiifiit toward-i more peifect oivi,:
zatioii.a tew earnest and t-tr-seeingspinls
are lirat agitaied by them—to them the
i-evelauon 1 • tir.-.t ma,le I'liey inroke
ihese new ide.al.s, and labor to bring them
down from i.le,.\en to earl li, ami make
tliem .n mg ami acluai in tile wnrid s
life. Dm a ide sea ot ages soiiieMines
roi .s be’.vveen tiierieal anti itu a--rnai —
iietw’een tiie tiiscoverv ot a ,-rinci[ile an'i
Its Inti amt (lerfeet application to tile;
vet ciierished b.v ' i.e enliglitrned few, il
lustrated 111 their m.vsUc circle, il grows
expands, gams influence, ami at lengili
olemls with t-tie ^ ■ ople s iite, a"d modiiies
a!l the mstirmioiis „fs.a-iet_\.
Do, 1.1 .uodeni time.-, -w'e hive seen a
certain social mea—tiie idea of equality
of tiie worth ol man as man, and liis nglit
to elect Ills own superior as chief—pass
tlirough several ph.ises, till it attained to
a perfect incarnation iri liberal political
insniulioiis. Thi.s idea, liorn in one of
the laoim'cbiai orders ol the Roman
Otiurcli -tlnil I'tiuf-.li of strange constasts,
where democratl adli « ntime ts flour
isiie 1 undow ;ue .-luadow ul lue mo.'-t un
mitigated despotism, realized m ttie inter
nal arraiigemems of tlie secret Orders of
the middle ages, liecame fully developied
ami detined m the Frat rnil v of Freema
sons, and with that association tlirough
every country in llie uiuml lie sphere.
But as yet it had not clianged the po-
iitical aspect ofaocieiy. It was only an
i i-leal of a new state, tke consolation and
j hop* of those earnest men, who, looking
I witli longing toward the fiuuie, sought
i refuge from the w itlienng arraiiginents of
; tiie outward life in tiie fraternal em-
■ braces of their sacred institution. It
j was a type of an order of things yet lo be
; created. But as every thought finds its
appropriate w >rd, so, sooner or later, will
every idea find an expression in some of
! the forms of life. Tluis the locial idea
I wliich had been laboring for ages in the
liearts of tile good md wise, which in
lliese secret associations liad been wor-
sliiped for centuries, and which the Ma.
sonic Brotherhood adopted as the lead
ing thought, found an utteranc* and em
bodiment in the institutions ol the coun
tries where freedom exists.
From what has been said it follows that
the mysteries are not only useful but
necessary. There is always the need ol
an institution where a higher ideal of
life shall be worshipped and sought after.
Ther* is yet to be found realized in the
existing political org nizations an in
stitution which will recombine the icat-
tered elements of society, arm itself
against the selfish tendencies of the race,
give men faith in virtue and conknence
in each other, and reveal to Hie world e
diviner ideal to be actualized in its life.
If our theory be correct, these societies
are precisely the institutions which the
world needs at this particular crisis, and
which are demanded by all the "'ants of
man. Society needs an ideal of a high
er and better state to which it may aspiie.
The Masonic association, or institution:
reveals tlmt ideal, and gives it an actua.
being in its own particular forms, it
presents to the world the future ot a n.w
order of life, a new social iirrangement
far above, ami in advance of the most per
fpot of political compacts. Men need faith
in virtue and confidence in each other, tor
without these there can be no stability in
business nor improvement :n individual
or public moraiity. They create this
faith and virtue, ami insure this mutual
oonfiJeiice. They strengthen public mor-
News
i alitv, promote peace and good will be-
; tween man and man, and see; to apply,
! alw ys an.l everywhere, the Ileaven-borii
: iuea of union and love, as they are rev»al-
ed ill the commaml : “Bear one a-iotber s
biiraens.’’—Gaiuiacf/ari Masonic News.
As it is not only the Maslei’s privi
lege, but also ins duty to rule the Lodge,
none are peuuitted to enter it as visitors
but by ills permission, since he is respon
sible for tiie conduct of tiie assembly. At
a communication of the United Grand
Lodge of Englaml, lield near the close ot
the year 1850, this .siiltject was discussed,
and the resolution ur.anim.'usly passed,
was—"'i'liat it is tiie opinion of this
Grand Loiige, that it is in the power of
tiie W. M. and Wardens of uiy private
Lodge to reluse admi.ssioii to any visit.or
of known bad character. ’ But ;rre.'>pec
tivelv of character, whoever claims to be
present at a Masonic meeting, must if a
Mason, be pirfectly aware that lie is
boiiml to .saii.sfy tiie Master and Biethren
as to lii.s (p.ialitications, Tiie investiga
tion into tliem cannot be too strict, ami
il shoiilil never lie entrusted i.iit to a sa-
gacio.is. as well as competent examiner.
1 he Master lias the right to demand all
tile evidences of the visitoi's right to ad
mission—the production of his certificate
—the |iroofof lii.s being what lie asserts
tiiiirselt to be, and any oti.e.‘ list that he
can (ievise. It is ol course disagreeable
to reject i,,'' one professing to be a Broth
er ; but it is bettei tliat many true Ma
sons sliould go away disapointed fiom our
doors, tluui ll.-al one tiiiautliorized jierson
shonhl gain -dduiittance there.—Dalton
JLnicrprisc.
Secrets of Freemasonry.
0-d Zacliary Wiieeler was quite a
cliaracter in liis time, being a olevei,
i rasv-going. cmili.ling man, wliomaiiag«d
lo let evervbodv cheat iiiiu of bis iiiiierited
I estates. .Iimt a iiis farm wa.s about to
' slip out of liis liamls, he succeeded in
I raising I lie money to lift the mortgage.
1 .Aaron Heeiuer, a pr aiiinent Ma.son ac-
I couipanied liim to tow'n. As tliey went
j riding along on horseback. Zack says to
.Aareii in a confiding tone:
“Now, Aa'on, as we are all alone, 1
want you to tell me tiie secret.s of Ma
sonry.”
I "I can t Zack ; tliey would kill me.”
i “Why, tliey wont know ; they will
never find it out."
“Yes. tiiey will, you'll speak of it,"
“No, I swear I won't."
“Wei , if you'd ride close alongside of
me, ami put voiii liand on my thigh, and
take tiie oatli. I'll tell you tiie secrets of
Masonry."
Zack was not slow to comply; ami a
most powerful iron-clad oath wai admin
istered and taken.
“Well,'’ said Aaron witli miicli solemn
ity and secrecy, ‘in the first place we
Masons combine together to clieat every
body a* much as we can. This is tli»
first grand secret.
“’i'he .second is like Hiito it. When we
can’t find anybody else to cheat, we cheat
each other—but as little as we can.’’
“Well,” e.tclai!ned Zack, with surprise,
“I swear I’ll join ; I wlsli 1 had done it
twenty years ago—I might hay* been
a richman afore now,”—Ex.
Ex-Mayor, A. Oakley Hall, m-i ,.
l-'yrA 'DlPslf.rtl NToyir V.^1 rs ^ ”
debut At Park Theatre, New York S,,
day night, in the drama called “Criicjl,”'
T.T — Ant’nisosyxolle* -1‘
"*n ’ . VI
He had an enthusiastic ovation
crowded house
If."
fro®j
Last September a Scotch sailor naup
Anderson performed one of tiie tnostiip
ilous feats on i ccord. He climbed toi( P
summit of the South Half Dome, in i),'
Yoseiuite Valiev, a distance oflSOOtee
bv means ol spikes ami ropes. J\[|(i
him a few other tourists reached thedia,
height.
It is said tliat a>'out . fifteen thomiyl
biinciies of violets are sold daily in Paii, ’
The aggregate sales^ foot up 500|ip
franc* a year. The violet is not so mad-
in favor now as it was during the eiapin
as it is now looked upon as an Inipeti,!:
flower.
A lump of .'Australian gold, wotii
about $35,000, is to be sent totheCenlf:.
nial at Pliiladelpbia. Very rich go!
fields have recently been discovered;
.AusI ralia, in another j'orlion of the isiiii
from that in wbicli the old gold lields !;■
located.
T he common oounci) of Afontrea! lir,v
made arrangements w,ih tlie contract:’-
oftlievar oiiH departments who liav,|
agreed to take a numliei of uier. at siii.
cents a day ; this, with a i.mnlier to 'l
emjiloved on mouniaiii work etc., ivi'!.;
is believed, give work to about ti;
tiiuusand men. Tiii.s will yet leave >ei
eral tliousaml men in a atai viiig conditi:.
and “the *mi is not yet.’
Difficulties liave arisen in feeding ;T
large Indian liamadrvad {Opitiopkp'
elaps) in the London Zoulogi.-al b”rie:t'i
gardens in ooiiaeqtienoe ot his rei'isa; ::
all otlier food except living snakes n'lr-
ill tlie winter time is not ea.-y to proc;ir'l
in that country. .A siipplv. however,b|
been received from tlie Continent, nr.
tlie Ophiophagus l.asjust made a Ire.
meal. Tlie monster tiaa devoured i.:.: -
two of ilia weaker bretlireii since insarr.-
val in England in Marcli.
G't.kRLESTON, S. C., Great eXfUfUE
prevails here in consequem-c ol llit r.i
lion, liy tlie Legislature ol eigat Ciru::
Judges and one Associate Jusii-e ul
Supreme Court M riglit, colored, was.-:..-
sen to ibe l.ittei lo-iiioii. in il»|
Gliarleslon Circuit, Jmlge Heed, a ni-rl-
erate riipublican, is replaced by Wliipp:
whom Governor Ghamberlaiii pu
denounces as utterly iiicapatde a.'i ' :-
riipu. Cliarlestoii is the most uui.-x.*.
cirm it in the State. Ex. Governorf.
Moses, Jr., is elected in the Thinl
and the other circuits tiave lieeii lita-Ai'
tlie eijctioii of piersons less iiotonoiis,t".
objeclioualdc to tlie tax payers.
The first imblic statute of OliverlToa
well erected in England wes unveiitJB
til* 1st of Decemiier HI Manoheslsi. p'
statute is of * bronze, and iugell‘'T
tlie piedestal, an tinliew-n iiiook of f’ -
Was tlie gift of Mis .-kbel Hey wood to...«-
city. The figure was constnu ten t' -'
ble the English sculptor, Cio>awe...i
repiresented as slamli.ig ui-on
ground near a broken ireestiiuip- ef
sliown in tlie we.l knovt n coslmae, «;
ped boots, lieavy spurs, Isatliergaur'-n'
and a leather coat cross-sword
the gro'Uid, and lii» riglit liann ”1“''
hilt. Tlie liead i.s bare. Tlie lioiinut:'
said to be a taithiul one.
AVisdoin oonsisteth not in knowing
many things, nor even in knowing tliem
thoroughly, but in choosing and in follow
ing what conduces the most certainly to
our lasting happines.« and true glory."
The Mosel to Have Been Suni^
in Mid-Ocean-
IjOndon, Dec. 15.
Thomas.«en, lli* man who has c ipigo
a pas-age to Southauijitoii by
er .Mosel and the owner ot tlie oareit
namito wliich caused the terilde ’-j’'**.
at Bremerhaven, has conffises..
intended to destroy the vessel wiie“
mid-ocean. . j-.i, ’
In relating some of the dttailso '
fiendisii plan to tue authorities ,
ed that lie had accomplices at No"
who, it IS presumed, e.xpect*d .j,
the plunder derived irom Hu e.'it'*-
insurance w-hich tiiey had eflecte . .
It is generally hoped
will recover, or at least be f
stored so that full particulars of . , -
maybe o'nia ned, » .d
0U3 affair may be traced m ai ^ , j,
ficalions to every man oonnecte.*
directly or indirectly.