> © c • ® 0 , \ VS ^rm ^0 A 2^1/0 VVV '.T-^Vtrh* ij vT.vss ' 'S---;V ^-- // s&srecT’a;:?^"'' i-v^l ~2 VOL. 1. The True Mason's Duty.—Whut cmu l^e more .living fl,an the mor:,l pm;ept« of Masonry? Wh.t more anhlime than Chanty -the soul ami essence of Masonry'’ To love your neighbor a« votirself; to love your Creator without ' reserve i to love even voureneriiies; to forget inju ries ; panion oifenR.,s ; conquor evil with goo I : to be joyful with tiiose who are happy ; to weep with those in affliction ; to enlighten those who are in ffarkness :' to reclaim those who have straye.l ; to jmlgo not rashly lest ve hejn Iga.I ; anff to assist the nnfor tiinate, are ainoiug the duties we are nailed upon to fulfill l,v the action of our M isonin vows. We are not to measure the riches nor talents of our I neighbor, but to rlisnense onr gifts to I those who lack-them. Not to a.ivance | our own interests, hut rather to sacrifii'e ' the.m to the general good of humanity. We Me to be good, true, coriq.a.s.siomite, ttffihle, generous, merciful and clement, lo be a f.iiiliful subject in the country whe-e voii live, respect the laws, a con stant friend, a worthy luisbaiid, a goori father, a tembr. respeirtful ami snbmis- sive .sot , a careful ami vigilant master, full jf charity toward all, and favor aii'l ■nountenanco all honest intentions, Sliow me a wot id of true Masons and I will point you lo the peaceful abode of inno cence and happiness.—Cowtavt GUELVSHORO, N. C., FRIDAY, march 3],TstG NO 29. Happiness Consists in Love. As the affections a.’e the nol'ilest ingr-^ dienta in human nature, so the elevation and happiness ot a human being mainly deiiemi on tiie right bestowmeni ami am ple exerci.se of t liese affections To be self-sufiicient and self seeking—that is to keep all the affections to one's self—is the meanest and most miseraule predica meat a creature can be in. The home stead of a fine spiiit — much more tlie j desolate chamber of a sinful heart—r|oe.s I not contain re.source.s enough for its own | ble.ssedness. The sou. must go out from i itself, if it would find materials of jov. And just as its happiness dejienils on go ing out from l.self, .so its elevation de pends on Its going up—deperids on its setting its affections upon .someliiing high er than itself, sometliing nobler or holier or more engaging. The main part of a true religion ts the right btstowment of the afiections. When they are set on the ■things above they are set as high as a seraph can set his. They are set so high that tliey cannot fail to lift the character ' along with them, and make him a pecu liar cliaracter whose end.s in Jiving are so lofty.—James Hamilton. Stumbling Biocks. Under this head may be classed no in ooncidcrable portion of th Fraternity who are Mason.s iiut in name and profession, not in fact and by the keeping of the ! law of Masonry. All such, of whatever rank and condition, who are without um- ' erstanding of, or respect for, the obli Rations they have aesumod, are stumbling blo'-ks in the way of Masonic advance- meet and pru-periiv. Itrasonrv pre-ents certain prim-iple.s that are intende.l to he the rule and guide for the cendubtof its raemher.s. Let these prineiple.s cease to be respectp.l and have weight,—let them be habiiiiallv violate.l in word and in deed and the result will he tint the ine stifntirm is wounded in the house of its fnemls and .suffers under the very worst hindrance to anv true progress. The worst foes with which Masonry has to conten-l at this time, are not the critics and npposers. who .stand on the outsuie am! make their weak aftaers on the character and pnrposes of 1 he nrganiza tion, Imf rather those i'’o-tilied with ihe Graft, wh-sp eves and ears are holden that they .lo not discern the real mean, irig of the Masonic svsiem, ami who are pra.-fically neglecrrnl of its primary ob ^ ligations. It occurs to us to mention I fhr.-e classes of sii h stumbling bloi-ks- j 1 The dsanirtfous Monim The I grace of courtesy is commoiilv ranked : among the minor virtues vet it lias its j |ilace among ihe esseniials to true and I wor'hv living. TLi.s gentle virtue isps- i pPcially set forth and recoiuiiK-mled by I the whole spirit^ami tenor of the Ma.sonic I sy.stem, which na.s regard, not alone to j the plai ting ot the sierdiig qiialiiie.s of' ; I'ltegnlv in the moral iiatiire, but like. I wise to the a[.plying of the finishing graces anl adoriiment.s of hiim.initv The first iutv of every M.is,„i is to be a genilemar. in 'he broad full meaning of the wor.l; an-l if he will but keep the unwritten law of the Craft in this respect he williie most likely to'be a means of help, and not -a i.indrance. to the pro gre.ss and p.-o.sperity of ; he Listitution But tile (liscoiirteoii.s Mason is a constant reproach to the Fraternity. His inter cour.se with his bretliren takes on the cliaracter of a gruff' liarsh demeanor ; he IS wholly without consideration for the feeling,s of other people, ami there is nothii g gentle nor affable in liis treat uient of his frienils and assoesattas. 'J'lie m in who is rough and bearish in his Wiiy.s, who lie.spises or neglects the amen itiesand courteous attentions which liave such blessed efficacy to sweeten the cup of human e.xi.steiice, can har.ilv fail to bring some re[iroach on die Instiiiitior, with which he is connected, no mitter liow honest he may be in purpose and real life. 2. The uncharitahle Mason. Charity is one of the grand watchwords of the Masonic Instiiution; a charity whicli means kindiuiessot heart, lieiievolence of pnrpo.se, and the rendering of help with a free open haiul to those who may be in need. The te idlings and tradi'ions of the Craft point in thi,s direction most nn mistakahly. Line upon line, and pre.s cent upon precept are given, to impress ufion the novitiate his obligation a,s a Mason to be generous, kind hearted and benevolent, not only in bis relations with his Brethren but in the broader relations of human intercourse and society. When tlierefore, we see, a« i.s .sometimes j maie.sfic hei ff,t -,mi .vp..i,j„.:, brandies the case a member of the Fraternity who | that „ a le it. one may almoat’.sav. an ob- I. mean an. .stingy, hard and exacting in | ject nfreiigions reverence. To the Jews a h.s dealings wilt, l„s fpH,„v ,„p„, we | the Cedar of Lebanon was a portent a say at once he ys a stumbling block in the grand ami awful work , f God. The epi wav. A Ma.son wlio ignores the duty of ! thet.s they apidied to it wete • ■■The tree lienevolencfi is an anomaiv. A Mason , who alwav.s turns a deaf ear to tlie call of diantv, has never been biptiz..d into the sriirit of the lostitiiti-ui.no nialle.' how far lie lias [.rogres-ed in its iin sieries, nr : how manv of it.- Imrior.- and titles liave j iioen heape.l npot. Id- head. If his neigii- ' hors and the world sav of him. "hp i.s •selfish and mean," such an one brings teproadi upon the Praft, itiasmncli as his life is at variaiii e w it h I lie tenets of his prnfes,sion. ff The profane Mason. Profanity is a vice that prevails t . a Fearl'nl extent i i all rank,sand da-.ies ol societv, \et it is a haliit which ought riot to attaidi to the true gentleman—or t|,e line Mason. Profanity offends the feelingsof others, is a Useless practice, liesides lidng a vio bit on o! the law of God, SureL' liiireare sufficient t rouiid.s fur its cooiiemnation. I When we meet a foul mon'hed Mason, unr,sing and swearing at every breath, we are .sure that we encounter a sli.mli ling biock that is of no slight conse quence Ttvillsnidy i-nnt as some thing -against the progress of Musonrv if, beginning and ending with God as it does It vet fails lo impose ”pon jts tuemhersliiji anv sort of decent re.-pe.-f or reveretu-e lor the great and .sacred name. We have heard irreverent speech and profane nt- terance even within the Lo.lge room, ari'l have h.eard devout lessotis of grand est import reheaised in the iiseofllie ritual by those who in their daily .-on- versation were aceustor e.l to use the most irreverent S|-ercli. Does not, Ma- sonrv suffer fnm 'he eoinliict of su.-h as llies..? .Are ihev not sa.l stumbling 'doi.-ks to its best and higliest fu-osperilv ^ As has been sail! : "when profane swear ing becomes consistent witii the teachings of Masonry, let ns cea.se to idoihe onr selves wdth the lamlnskin, let ns l.reak j the pot of incen.se and ipiencli its flame : iet vis remove the .A 11 seeing E\e, and the 01 th.,* Lor.l ; the ce.lar.s which he had planre.l; who.se light is like the cedar, with fair bran.*hes ; with a shadowing shroinl ; ol an high stature; Iins top among the thi.ik l,o..gl,s ; his highest ex- alte.l .above all the trees of the field; his boMglns multiplie.!; I.fs oranches long; lair in his greatness ; in the length of bis lira..che.s," etc. etc It is sai.l that the clergy of (he Greek Church .siil| offer „p mass iin.ler the .■e.i..r tree and that the Arabs .-all it (he Tree of God.-.6W avd I'ahshvc -The Mi,ssissif ;,i ,-iv,*r has again oveiHowe.i its bank,-, and rhrealen.sgreat danger to farming an.I other inleiests. — A .hsj.al. il from CoInmbi-a, Tenn.. annonnees the ilealh of Hon .A. 0 P Fi.'liolson chi.f Jnsiice of the State. 'I'he deceased had bee', prominentiv i,i public hie lor many years, ;u,,] „as U. S, Senator in 1840. — Gohimbiip, Ga., claims the position of the L(,well .filie .Sooih yp,, j,, "inning SaOCOsj.ind es ami l,(jOO looms, be.-i ies ,Many iron and other in.iu.sfrial Pnteii.rKses The city wa.s .le.sfroyed in IS(if), and all these liave been replaced since with Southern money. -English s-hipl.iiilders have just com ■ pletp.i several ironclad gnnboais for the Argentine Republic They aie of the mo-t povverful cla.ss, ,)i;aw eight feet of 'vuler, are title,1 wtih twin screws, and have aspee.l ot about ten knots an boiir. Lachcan-ies a 2b| ton 11 inch rifle,i gun. Which is loaded by bydraiiiio ma* ‘Riinerv. During tlie anii-Masonic excitement while onr energetic Brother LorenzoDow was on l.is Way to ibe Lo.lge room, one .c.oovc seeing JMP, ami tfie "as on i,,s way to the Lo.lge room, one Book of the law from the Lo.lge ; let ns "vening, he wa.s followed by a lot of anti- L* n • » MM t f ft ti fVtn rwFj t *.« r.f « U « . ■>. o 1. _ ... - , . kno.'k out the foumiatioiia of the Mason ic edifii>e,H-.d sutfer it to fall to the grouml, a ra..ss of ruins.'’ Rea.ier lio you belong to one or the j other of these cla.sses we have name.l 'f If so, for your own sake, a.s well a.s for tlie sake of the Institution which, perliap.*, you sincerely love, suffer the won! ofex- t.ortalion th-at yoil change your course ami be no longer a cause of offence or stiuubling to any.—Freeviason s JReposi tory. The Cedars of the Temple, masons, who were reviling him. Just ‘mfore l.e .-.scemle,! thestej-a he turneC I'ouml to tliem and very quaintly obserT- e.i wliitber I go ye cannot come.” — It is a singular fact that the first writer on the subject of Freemasonry who ventiire.i to bint at the e.xistence of a his torical connectien between the Frateinity of Freemasons a..d that of St.onemasonJ, Was the Abbe Grandier, who was not y. Mason. While engaged in preparing his History of the Gatbcdra! of Strassburg (published in 1782), he had occasion to examine the archives of the Catheilra], .and various manuscripts therein pre- It is indisputable that all the cedar.s, which wero so .freely used in the erection , va..u..a manuscripts Uiercin pr.: ; of the Temple, were brought from Mount j served, and the study of these led him t Lebanon, some one hundred miles north | assert th.e iilentity of the elder Stone of Jenisaiom. It was the very remote-| masons with the later Frocmason.s.- nuss of this noble tree, combined ■with its i Keystone. 1 I S Mi f! iti- IS

Page Text

This is the computer-generated OCR text representation of this newspaper page. It may be empty, if no text could be automatically recognized. This data is also available in Plain Text and XML formats.

Return to page view