Masonry's Origin And Beauty.

inculcating the beautiful truths of morality , purity , integrity , and brotherly love , and beholds the beautiful symbols of the Lodge , each shadowing forth some divine precept—he cannot but think that the sublime truths that are appealing to his heart and his intellect , are the best

thoughts and highest sentiments of the holy men of those grand old days when the world was young and man communed with God . The words that fall on his ears aro the words that woro precious to patriarchs , prophets and sages , which they pronounced for tho instruction of their

brethren when they assembled under tbe starry canopy of heaven on the hills of . Tudea , and made tho whole world their symbolic Lodgo-room , or which strengthened their souls as they pondered them while watching their flocks on tho night-clad plains of Shinar . He cannot bub feel

himself in the presence or the illustrious men of ancient and modern times , who , while gazing on the beautiful symbols of the Lodge , have felt the inspiration of the sublime truths of Masonry , and have gone forth from the assembly of the brethren to make their daily life a shining example

of brotherly love . So it is that the associations of Masonry have a peculiar power in enforcing tho great truths of life and duty . Tho man who knocks at the door of the Lodge with a sincere purpose to learn and be made wiser and better , without any motive of vulgar curiosity , will be

solemnly impressed , before he has completed a single degree , by tho sacred association around him , and he will feel , aa ho never felt before , the significance of the words of the Lord to Moses on Mount Horeb : " Put off thy shoes from off thy feet , for the place whereon thou standest is

holy ground . On every hand he is reminded of some sacred association of those days when men ' s souls were near to God . The great central light of the Lodge shines upon him , and the all-seeing eyo beholds him wherever he turns . The great spirits of the past look down upon him

from the starry canopy , and he seems to be standing in the midst of patriarchs , prophets , and holy men , in some splendid apartment of the great temple , adorned by tho

architectural skill of the Grand Master , and hung with tho radiant symbols of truth and beauty . — Voice of Masonry .

Freemasonry And Christianity.

FREEMASONRY AND CHRISTIANITY .

Extracts from a sermon preached by Bro . Rev . C . J . Arnold , St . Peter ' s Church , Detroit , 27 th December 1891 . ,

THE doctrines of God ' s fatherhood , and tho resulting truth of man ' s brotherhood , were first distinctly enunciated by the Divine Master . Tbe Christian religion rests firmly on the truth that God is the Father of our spirits , of whom every family in heaven and earth is

named . The relationship of every soul to God is not a legal fiction , whereby man is adopted into God ' s family , but a real kinship growing out of man ' s every nature , his likeness spiritually to the great Father . So , too , is the brotherhood

of man nothing notional , sentimental or unreal , but natural , actual and real . Every man is my brother , because he and I partake of tho same spiritual nature , and own tho same spiritual paternity . At times teachers in

tho Church have forgotten this , the greatest of all truths , or have failed to give it that prominence which is its due . Sometimes the divine sovereignty , with all its insignia of authorit y and the awfulness of its majesty , has been

permitted to supersede the grander truth of the divine Paternity , and as men have lost the latter and advanced the former , religion has become sterner and less lovely , and much of its power to sweeten life and adorn character has been taken away .

Among the greatest of all human institutions that have cherished and advanced this truth of man ' s brotherhood , is the fraternity of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons . This is the ruling idea of this society , and since , as has

been said , the power and influence of any individual or institution is the ideal projected through and multi plied by the personalty or peritonei , the power for good of a fraternity , whose idea iu this sublime truth is might y indeed .

My friends and brethren , it is because I find so many noble principles in Masonry , so many precepts , which if laid to heart and manifested in daily life , would make mankind happier and nobler , that I take occasion , the day set apart to tho commemoration of St . John tho Evangelist , to speak

Freemasonry And Christianity.

to Masons and others upon an institution which I regard as the most sublime and august of all societies of human organisation . Those who are within the Order may gain something of inspiration for the more faithful performance of the duties enjoined , " and those without may be led to

approve and adopt many of the principles exemplified iu this ancient society . My Christian brethren , within and without tho Masonic Order , Jet ns all realize more folly as wo need to do , this fundamental truth , that we are brethren , children of ono common father . Another feature

of tho teachings of Masonry most strongly commending it to tho respect of Christians , is the veneration of the Word of God , and tho exaltation of tho Holy Scriptures to tho highest place among the great lights of Masonry . The Bible is regarded by Masons as the great heavenly

luminary , whose light brightens the pathway of life , casting its beams far into the future , dispelling the deep shadows of the tomb , and lost , at last , in brightness of that eternal g lory yet to be revealed to us . Masons raise no questions about the inspiration or authority of the Word of God .

Its exalted precepts afford a sure guidance upon life ' s pathway , and for this reason it is followed ; and its glorious promises sustains the hopes and satisfies the yearning of the human heart , therefore it is believed in . In this unquestioning acceptance of the Bible as of Divine authority ,

Masons set a worthy example to doubting Churchmen . The members of this Order put the Holy Scriptures to tho test of practice , and have not found it wanting . My friends I honour Masonry for its noble testimony to tho truth of God .

Again , the uniformity of teaching and principles in Masonry , and its perpetuation of its ancient forms and ceremonies , not suffering innovations , must most strongly commend itself to true and loyal Churchmen . The Master of every Lodge , when installed , is instructed not to permit

departure from tho ancient and accepted principles , teachings and ceremonies of the Order , and is charged to countenance no schismatic or heretic . Thus among all nations , through all times , where ignorance prevailed or the pride of intellect ruled , tho Masonic Order has

perpetuated its venerable and honourable principles and ceremonies , handing them down across the billowy centuries with their pristine truthfulness and beauty unimpaired as the heritage of generations yefc unborn . Something of this veneration of the ancient ways , something of this love of

tho old paths , to walk therein , would be a source of great blessing among Christians . Such a spirit of unity and uniformity as this Order presents would have prevented the rupture of the Christian Church , and could it now enter into all the fragments of Christ's kingdom , would obliterate

all lines of separation among brethren , and present to the unbelieving world that strength of unity which is irresistible , and that beauty of concord which is captivating . How could any thoughtful man fail to be impressed with

the uniformity of ceremonial which wide separation in time or space does not interrupt ? Recently coming from this city from the far South , I was especially impressed with tho almost exact identity in ceremonials in two sections of broad land . Another enforcement of this truth is to be

found in tho reminder given the Master at this ceremony of inauguration , that it is not in the power of any man or set of men to establish an Order of Masons . This is a token of fidelity to the trust confided to the successive Officers of the Lodge in the perpetuation of the true and

ancient principles of the Order . In this is recognised the fact that there is a Stewardship of truths and teachings for the good of mankind for ages yefc to come , which would be imperilled by suffering the Institution to be changed and revolutionised by the schemes of the ambitious

or the whims of tho ignorant . How long would the Masonic Order endure if every man , becoming dissatisfied with a certain regime , should be permitted to organise a substitute for the Ancient " Crafb , " which should bo recognised as of equal dignity and authority with the original Order ?

Such acts of disloyalty to the Divine Church have given rise to scores of denominations and sects of Christians , the latest laying claim to equal dignity and authority with the

ancient Church , tracing its existence through the light and dark ages of the Christian era . Thus is the body of Christ dismembered and set in antagouism , part against part .

These excellent principles set forth and emphasized in the teachings of Masonry , aro earnestly commended to thoughtful Christians . But while wo exalt this Order , and extol its teachings , we must speak a word of warning to