Freemasonry Universal.

the Secretary to return the communication to the writer , with the information that he could not become a member of the Lodge Lataif , and that no member thereof could have Masonic conversation with or receive Masonic communications from a French made Mason . A stricter observance of the Divine landmark and true corner-stone of true Freemasonry could not be found in the most enlightened and Christian Lodge in Illinois than

that of our Arabic and Mohammedan Brethren of far-away Egypt , where Freemasonry , in my judgment , had its origin in the ages gone by . Notwithstanding this fact there are Grand Lodges which hesitate to recognise the grand body to which the Lodge Lataif owes its allegiance , when to do so would be to throw the arms of fraternal protection around it and thus shield the Brethren from the baneful influence of such atheistical bodies as the Grand Orient of France and the Grand Lodge of Peru .

A few words as to what the ancient charges have to say of loyalty to the country in which the Freemason lives and works : " A Mason is a peaceable subject to the civil powers wherever he resides or works , and is never to be concerned in plots and conspiracies against the peace and welfare of the nation , nor to behave himself undutifully to inferior magistrates ; for as

Masonry hath always been injured by war , bloodshed and confusion , so ancient kings and princes have been much disposed to encourage the Craftsmen because of their peaceableness and loyalty whereby they practically answered the cavils of their adversaries and promoted the honour of the Fraternity who ever flourished in times of peace . "

During my last visit to the famed mountains of Lebanon , in which tbe cedars were prepared to be carried on floats to Joppa , and thence to Jerusalem , for the great temple of King Solomon , I went with a native friend to pay my respects to the governor of the Lebanon . On my return to the sea coast atBeyrouilmefc . Colonel Eish Allah Bey ofthe Turkish army , whom I knew to be

a Freemason . After our salutations , the Colonel , addressing me , said : " General , I sorry you not here yesterday . I know you go see Governor of Lebanon , but I want you real bad . " On my asking him what service I could have rendered him he related the following story : •' A Brother Freemason having been charged before the proper magistrate with seditious language and

disrespect to the Sultan , was arrested and confined in the city prison . The Colonel visited the Brother and learned from him that he had been accused of disloyalty by an enemy ; that there was not a word of truth in the accusation , and that he desired some friend and Brother to see the Governor of Beyrout and assure him of his truthfulness . The Colonel said : ' 1 then

want you go with me to Governor and say what you say at home of Brother Kalil Eayess the other evening about'loyalty of Freemasons . You-not being here I go to Governor myself and say to him : General Smith you know , Governor , he called upon you the other day , and Governor says ' yes . ' ' Well , he say one evening at "house of Mr . Eayess , where many of us met him , that

were he the Sultan of Turkey , the Czar of Eussia or Shah of Persia , he encourage the making of Masonie Lodges under English Constitutions ; that Freemasonry teach loyalty to government and repect to rulers , and if he have somes Lodges he know he have some faithful and honest people about him in whom he can trust . This man what he be in prison is a Freemason , he say it not true he say anything bad about Sultan or the

government , and that he be his enemy what make him this trouble , and I believe he tell what true . ' The Governor him say : ' Did General Smith say that ? ' I say 'Yes , ' and the Governor he say , ' I release the prisoner right away , ' and he did . " Freemasons have ever been lovers of liberty as attested in a Washington and a Lafayette . They have also been lovers of good government , as recognised in a Wellington , a Jackson , a Wolseley and a Miles .

Of the Presidents of the United States from the first to the present , the most representative ones have been Freemasons , as many of the leaders of our armies have been . I need not mention George B . McClellan , Winfield Scott Hancock or John F . Hartranft , and of our own beloved Illinois , J . A . McClernand , John M . Palmer , John A . Eawlins and John A . Logan . To

these , and many like them , we are indebted for the formation and preservation of this government of ours , and to all such Freemasonry is indebted for devotion to our principles and fidelity to their country . Great as has been this devotion to principle , at no time has it ever dimmed the glory of their faith in God and love of their fellowman .

Brethren of the Grand Lodge of Illinois , has the cost of constitutional government ever been considered by you ? Have you ever thought of how much Freemasonry has done to establish government throughout the world ? How many lives have been given , and how much precious blood has been shed to preserve the " Jewel of Liberty " to the human race ?

In the forefront of civilisation Freemasonry has ever kept place , and to no one class in the community are we more deeply indebted for our liberties than to the Masonic Fraternity . It would be impossible at this day to number the Freemasons whose

Freemasonry Universal.

names are inscribed on the muster rolls of the defenders of this government in the late Civil War , and whose blood bedewed the land during that memorable struggle , nor' can we name the many who have borne our flag to victory in the late war with Spain . Our own Illinois , though not the oldest of the states of the

Union , nor yet containing the largest population , gave to the Nation some thirteen general officers , and five of them were from my own mother Lodge of but fifty members , Miners , No . 273 , of Galena . Three became Past Masters , two Grand Orators , and one Grand Master of this Grand Lodge .

Pennsylvania , the Grand Keystone of the Federal Arch , as it is of Masonry , leads all the states in the number of its Freemason soldiers , of whom there were forty or more general officers , the trio whose names I have before spoken , McClellan , Hancock and Hartranft , leading all the rest . Of the other states I could give all whose names have been recovered , but the lists are so imperfect that I would not do them the injustice to name the incorrect number .

If in the precious time you have given me from the exacting labours in this Grand Lodge and your duties to your fellow members I have said anything to increase your love for our Fraternity , I shall be grateful . And if in this address I have impressed you with the fact that we are an Order worshipping one God , believers in the Brotherhood of man , in the life which is yet to come ' , and teachers of loyalty to country , I shall be more than

content . If my words shall have gone farther and brought to you that belief which I from practical experience as well as studied knowledge do firmly believe and know , that Freemasonry is a Brotherhood or Fraternity coming to us from unnumbered ages , embracing all peoples who believe in GOD THE FATHEE of all men , I shall be more than repaid , and I shall thank that God that there is a Brotherhood of man , and that Freemasonry is Universal .

To insure perpetuity and maintain this universality , it becomes essential that every Craftsman bear constantly in mind the injunction so recently given the Freemasons of England by His Eoyal Highness the Prince of Wales Most Worshipful Grand Master , in which he well says : " So long as religion remains

engrafted in the hearts of the Craft , the Craft is certain to flourish ; and be assured of this , that when religion in it ceases , the Craft will lose its stability and power . " To this sentiment all true Craftsmen will respond Amen , Amen , Amen 1—" Kansas Freemason . "

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