Comes Out Conqueror.

COMES OUT CONQUEROR .

An Oration by Bro . (' . C . fltmby , Grand Orator , before tlie Grand Lodge F . rind A . M . of Arkansas . JXlh November IW * . ' HISTORY informs us Unit it has boon tbo custom images untold , not only of civilised and hnlf-oiviiisod men , bnt nlso of tho wild sons of tho forest to annually meet and recount the deeds of themselves and their

ancestors . And it is now the settled practice not only of this Grand Jurisdiction , but of all others witb whom we correspond , to have an oration or address delivered at each

Grand Communication . Whether or uot the object of these addresses is obtained , tho intention is a good one . By reviewing tho history and recounting the deeds of our noble Institution we revive and rekindle an active interest

in and enthusiasm for our Order . Were I to begin now to give you a history of Masonry , to-morrow ' s sun would find mo scarcely started ou the gigantic task , though I talked rapidly and kept at it all night . Her deeds are as the sands of tho sea , and although

her disciples for ages met and worked in secret , and no record of their proceedings wero kept , yet since superstition gave way to reason , she has done enough to fill thousands of pages . A perfect history of Masonry will never , in my opinion , be written , from the simple fact that her actions aro of that kind that do not attract the curious

and adventuresome . Hers is now and always has been a mission of peace , and histories of peace are scarcely written . You may take up the history of our country , or of any other , and for every page devoted to peace , I will show you ton devoted to war , strife and insurrection .

Her deeds you will find strewn down along tho course of time , but yon will never read of her actions being heralded by bagle , drum or roaring artillery . Her victories are victories of peace , and no bloody fields or dying victims are left in her march and conflicts for humanity . But like

that small voice that spako to Moses after the whirlwind had passed , hors is , may I repeat , a mission of peace whose progress is greatest in time of peace and whose march is only checked by war and pestilence , when for the time being she halts in the capacity of the good Samaritan .

Beyond tho building of King Solomon s Temple I find no positive or direct history of our Order . Antedating that great gathering our history is gleaned from signs and symbols . All is conjecture . True , there is no doubt that many of the ancient monuments and now mouldering

edifices were built by Operative Masons , yet there is no direct documentary evidence of the fact , but with Masons signs and symbols aro often as good if not better evidence than the record . No reasonable man will deny that there were expert Masons before the building of that beautiful

temple . For at the very beginning the workmen were divided into classes corresponding with their experience and knowledge of the art . As to whether our means of recognition were agreed npon at the building of this temple I care bnt little . 1 am no stickler for age anyway . What

care we for the age of an institution if age is the only thing to recommend it ? If to-night you could offer me no other inducement to remain a member of this Order than that it had its origin back at the dawn of creationthat its hoary locks and ancestral form were all you could

produce to recommend it—I would not remain longer than it would take me to bid adieu . As to the existence of Masonry before the building of Solomon ' s Temple we havo no evidence save the impress of the implements of our operative brethren , and to-night , instead of consuming

your time repeating what yon have often heard , by telling of the numerous places where the imprint of the square and compasses have been found on stone and ancient monuments , I wonld rather talk to you of the effect Masonry has had on mankind ; in other words I desire to

examine the history of Masonry as collected by and through tho action of her votaries . And in my judgment her only true history is to be fonnd in this way , for thonsands , nay , millions , of good deeds and acts , if the truth were known , sprang from the teachings of Masonry .

This history is a kind of reflection . You may see the effect , but the cause is hidden . You can see the immediate and direct effect of a military campaign , desolated homes , widows and orphans , subjugated people and disbanded government . How different with our institution ? Calmly and quietly

Comes Out Conqueror.

she instils her principles into the hearts of men , espousing the canse of no political party , siding with no particular church , but in a quiet way giving her support and strength to anything for the upbuilding of the human race . Arid while I shall not attempt to give you a synopsis of

the acts or effects of Masonry , yet for the purpose of illustrating my position I desire to cull yonr attention to a few of the most noted acts and the eilbcts of In-i * teachings , those deeds that are familiar to ail , and which can be traced direct to the teachings of Masonry . Tho

hrsfc and noblest act of Masonry , in my judgment , was tho keeping of tho Biblo for four hundred and seventy years , and this was the sagacity and foresight of hira who first trod the dark and rugged path . The blessings to mankind , regardless of his religious belief , arising from this

one act , aro as innumerable as the stars of the firmament . To-day this book is not only our guide , but the very foundation of our civil society and civil government . It is the life , light and guiding star of all progressive and intelligent nations . Not only that , it is the greatest friend

and protector the infidel , atheist , scoffer of Masonry and the vilest of criminals has or over had . The very spirit of this volume is engrafted iu our laws . The judges in onr criminal courts aro required to instruct the jury that , no

difference how strong the suspicion of guilt may be against the accused , they must be satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt of his guilt before they can convict , and in case of circumstantial evidence the guilt must be proven beyond every other reasonable hypothesis .

Again , the laws of all civilised nations adopt the golden rule . He that desires justice must first do justice . Come into court with clean hands . Do unto others aa you wonld have them do unto you . We claim the honour of preserving this book ; not only of providing it a safe

hidingplace , where it lay four hundred and seventy years after the destruction of the temple , but when the world was shrouded in darkness , when the fathers had gone back on the , faith and barbarism had overrun civilisation , and the dark ages set in , Masonry took to her sacred keeping and trust that holy volume .

However popular Masonry may have been down to tho completion of Solomon ' s Temple , and a short while thereafter , there was a time , and a long time , when it was not an honour to be a Mason . During that dark period , when all learning , science , and every institution for tho advancement of mankind took a back seat in the world's

drama , Masonry and her votaries were driven to the high hills , caves , and low valleys . The few faithful who clung to the sacred tenets of our Order during this long period would meet , and with muffled feet and subdued lights bow before the altar on which was ever to be found the first

great light in Masonry . And , in my humble judgment , should the time ever come that this government or the entire civilised world should turn back , retrace their steps , and sink back toward that dark period when ignorance aud

superstition took the place of learning and religion , I believe that in such a direful event , our Order would , as in the past , furnish a safe and sure resting-place for the book of books .

Another grand and glorious effect of Masonry is to be seen every day . It is this : We have no more persecutions for opinion ' s sake . Tbe Baptist may insist on immersion , the Methodist reason that sprinkling is just as good , the Eoman Catholic condemn secret societies , and different

political parties join issue in a long , heated and closelycontested campaign , yet thore will be no more thumbscrews , burning-racks or stakes . Masonry first taught tbe world that men conld meet , live and act as brothers , although they were of different religious and political faith .

I might stop here and say no more , for this is a milestone in her history , sufEcent to endear her to all fair-minded men , not in possession of her secrets , for all time to come .

In bringing this reconciliation among men she reared a monument in the heart of civilisation that will shine higher , brighter and longer than any monument or statne ever erected .

But while doing this she cut another niche in the rugged steps of time which is scarcely second to her first great act . She taught mankind that all are born free and equal , and that all distinctions are of hnman origin . Her

doctrines were so firmly implanted in tho breasts of onr forefathers that in order that the world might reap their benefits they risked their lives , their property , their all , when they published to the world that memorable document of July 1776 . They had learned in their Lodge-