Masonry's Teachings.

MASONRY'S TEACHINGS .

ALTHOUGH tho dark waves of ignorance , bigotry , aud hate , have for ages dashed against the rock of eternal truth upon which Masonry rests , yet there she stands to-day , heedless of their fury , and complacently

smiling upon all the world around , her outstretched hand glistening with tears that she has wiped from the cheek of sorrow , and her fair brows garlanded with the blessings of thousands of hearts that have been touched by her sceptre of Love and Peace .

Freemasonry has been defined to be a beautiful system of morality , veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols , devised for the purpose of explaining and inculcating the great principles of Morality , Science , and Religion . In accordance with this design we find Ancient Craft Masonry

divided into three departments or degrees , composing a system of regular gradation , by which we advance , step by step , upon the rounds of our theological ladder—Faith ,

Hope and Charity—until we emerge into that full blaze of spiritual light which illuminates the soul , pnd shines out in the acts of every Craftsman who is worthy to be called one of the " Sons of Light . "

In the first degree , morality or virtue is beautifully inculcated by our peculiar system of ceremonies , emblems , and types , whose impressive lessons cannot fail to sink deep into the mind and prepare it for a regular advancement in the principles of moral philosophy and science .

Here , through the veil of our mysteries , the mind is directed to the great quarry of our fallen nature . The blocks , rude and unshapen , lie imbedded in darkness , reason , unaided from on high , like an unskilled " cowan , " turnB from the scene , unable to fit them for their intended

uses . The dim light of nature fails to penetrate the clouds of moral darkness that wrap their thick foldings about the nnenlightened mind , the chaotic confusion sways her sceptre over the dark and dismal waste . In vain does the

benighted soul scan the clouded horizon of ignorance and superstition to catch one ray of that spiritual light which emanates from the Allwise Master Builder of the universe , and imparts the knowledge of His goodness , love and mercy to His creatures .

But here , upon the very threshold of our outer courts , we find , ever burning upon our altars , that Great Light of Masonry , whose pure and heavenly rays dispel the moral darkness and teach us to have faith iu God , hope in immortality , and charity to all mankind . By the aid of

this Great Light we are taught to labour in fitting our minds as living stones for that spiritual building , that house not made with hands , eternal in the heavens . Kindled by the hand of the Almi ghty , it is the life and soul , tbe foundation and capstone of our institution .

Extinguish it , and Masonry falls and dies without a struggle . She can no more exist without it than can we without the light and heat from the sun . Pat out the

Great Light of Masonry aud Religion , and life will become a desert without one bright oasis , and eternal despair will spread her funeral pall over the ruins of lost humanity .

But the pillars of heaven may fall ; the twinkling stars may be dashed from the blue arch of night ; the created universe may sink into eternal oblivion—yet the eternal

truth of God will never die ; this Great Light will never dim . In time it will burn upon our altars and in the hearts of the true Sons of Light , " and in the realms of eternity it will blaze for ever near the throne of God .

The Entered Apprentice Mason , standing just within the portals of our Masonic Temple , is greeted by Virtue in all her purity and loveliness , while Faith , Hope and Charity beckon him to higher mysteries and additional light . He hears of brotherly love , relief , and truth . He sees , in our

ceremonies and emblems , fountains of moral teachings that send their pure streams far out to fertilize the wide desert of our degenerate nature ; and if be practically studies tbe great moral truths here presented , he will be well qualified to pass the portals of our middle chamber .

In the second degree , as the candidate advances in tho knowledge of our mysteries and the virtues they inculcate , he is also taught that to make daily progress in knowledge and virtue is bis privilege and duty . The Almighty h « s

made man a progressive being . His intellectual faculties are capable of constant expansion , and the higher his attainments in knowledge , the greater is his capacity for enjoyment . It is no new theory that a search after

Masonry's Teachings.

wisdom and the study of science will form a part of the employment of the redeemed upon the plains of eternal bliss . For ever diving deeper into the mysteries of the Supreme Grand Architect , and the wonders of the works of His hands , and constantly being rewarded with

discoveries of priceless jewels of wisdom , will as constantly increase their love and their happiness . For ever progressing towards God and perfection—for ever advanceing in degrees of wisdom , strength and beauty—for ever attaining to more of the light of God ' s power and goodness

and for ever drinking deeper of the fountain that makes glad the city of the living God ; the immortal " Sons of Light " will there be able to fully comprehend and enjoy those hidden glories which mortal " eye hath not seen , nor ear heard , neither have they entered into the heart of man . "

Freemasonry is wisely adapted to the intellectual wants of our progressive nature ; and as the candidate advances in our mysteries , he discovers that ono sublime truth mastered is but a stepping-stone to another yet more sublime . Ho finds the entrance to the middle chamber

blazing with the light of science and philosophy , and while his mind delves after the richest gems of truth and reason , he realizes that the highest law of our being is labour , and its results are progress and excellence . In the third degree are taught the cardinal principles of

religion . Not the particular dogmas of any religious sect or creed , for then our house would be divided against itself , and confusion among the workmen would ensue , while chaos and darkness would hold their sway where harmony and brotherly love now triumphantly reign .

Then the fiend of discord would rush into our temples , overthrow our altars , put out our lights , destroy our implements of labour , and hide our jewels for ever in the rubbish of prejudice and bigotry . And here , let me ask , who can help bub admire and

wonder at the great wisdom manifest in the design by which our glorious institution was framed ? I have often , while contemplating the wisdom and excellence of this design , lost myself in the vain effort to arrive at a satisfactory conclusion as to whether the great Master

Builder , who hold the compass aud the square , was human or divine—whether tho etchings upon tbe trestle-board wero executed by a divine or human hand . With faultless symmetry and with glorious proportions we behold our

moral and Masonic temple towering high above all sects ; aud while its golden dome and flashing pinnacles point upward to the heavens as tbe dwelling-place of the great I AM , the Christian , tho Jew and the Mohammedan may enter its portals and kneel at its altars .

Here , in the inner temple , we are taught tho cardinal principles of that religion in which all men agree . Free from everything like bigotry , yet pointing man to his responsibility to God and to his eternal destiny . Who that has entered into the most secret recess of our temple ,

and there witnessed its solemn and sublime ceremonio ? , can leave that place without being deeply impressed with the lessons there taught ? Who that has passed through those ceremonies , and travelled that road which wo as Masons have all travelled , can fail to comprehend the

teachings that he beneath the surface , although veiled iti symbolisms and allegories ? Here is reflected that li ° ht whose divine rays dart athwart the dark valley and shadow of doath , penetrate the gloom of the grave , and burst forth in unseen splendour in the realms of immortality and eternal life .

Did Masonry reflect only the dim light of nature aud look only to the present life—did her teachings begin at the cradle and end at the grave , looking no further backward nor forward than the short span of human existence —our moral and Masonic temple would have been

incomplete , and its unfinished walls would have fallen long ago ; even its heap of ruins would not remain to mark its former site or tell that it ever existed . But to our most excellent master builders were given wisdom and strength , not only to finish but to adorn it , so as to challenge the

admiration of all who gaze upon it with unprejudiced eyes . With its designs drawn from that great spiritual moral and Masonic tracing-board , given to man by the Supreme Architflct of the Universe , with its foundation stone of

Truth laid deep in that faith which heaven has implanted in the human breast ; with its blocks squared by the square of virtue , laid to the plumb-line of morality , and cemented in brotherly love j with its noble arch crowned with the keystone of charity ; with the incense of its altars ascend-