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Article THE LADIES* ← Page 2 of 2
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The Ladies*
Wheeler , late Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of North Carolina , says : ' As in operative Masonry , their fair hands are not made to wield tlie trowel , or heavy gavel , so in speculative Masonry , they need no gavel to divest their hearts of the common vices of life , and no pass-word is necessary to call forth the charities of their benevolent natures . The famous traveller , Ledyard , leaves this memorable testimony in favour of that he has passed through quarter of the
lobewomen;— every g through frozen Russia , inhospitable Norway , and savage Finland , and in all his travels , he never met a woman and addressed her in language of respect , from whom he did not receive a respectful answer;—if he was hungry , she gave him meat ; if thirsty , she gave him drink . With
man , it was oiten otherwise . " It seems to me , that , after so lofty and truthful a panegyric , the response should be , from every female heart present , Let the landmark stand for ever and be respected . But I proceed with my quotation : If the exclusion of women were a just ground for complaint , why do we not admit them into our congress or state legislature , why not allow them to command our navies , or lead our armies ? It is not her element . To her , ' the pomp and circumstance of g lorious war , ' have no charms ; and she desires not' the applause of listening senates to command . ' She has no delight
" On the tented field , Where column after column wheel . Where cannons roar , aud chargers reel . Amid destruction ' s revelry . '' " No ! the element of woman is at home , by the domestic fireside , heightening every joy , soothing every care , administering every comfort . Truly does Lord Bacon tell us , that in childhood , you are our nurses ; in youth , our mistresses ; in middle age , our companions ; in all ages ,
our friends . " To the female sex , Freemasonry is a constant friend . When expiring humanity is about to bid adieu to the scenes of earthly trial , when the silver cord of life is to be loosed , and the wheel is broken at the cistern , to the departing spirit of our nature what consolation can be more solid than that his disconsolate widow will be cheered by the kindness of fraternal affection ? Have there been no cases of this kind in the recollection of many here ? Will not a thousand arms be raised
and ready to avenge the least insult to a Masons wife or a iviasons daughter ? Then if this objection exists with any , dismiss it , as unworthy of a name . It is unjust . Masonry is woman ' s best friendher constant benefactor , and her abiding protector . "If Masonry possessed no other excellent feature , this one alone is sufficient to commend it to the favourable consideration of the ladiesthat it is every Mason ' s duty to respect them in prosperity , and to protect and defend them in adversity . Should affliction in its most
blighting form assail you , in the true and honest Mason , you will find the good Samaritan , who will pour the oil of consolation into your wounded heart , and shield you from your dependence upon the mock charities ofa friendless world . ' '
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Ladies*
Wheeler , late Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of North Carolina , says : ' As in operative Masonry , their fair hands are not made to wield tlie trowel , or heavy gavel , so in speculative Masonry , they need no gavel to divest their hearts of the common vices of life , and no pass-word is necessary to call forth the charities of their benevolent natures . The famous traveller , Ledyard , leaves this memorable testimony in favour of that he has passed through quarter of the
lobewomen;— every g through frozen Russia , inhospitable Norway , and savage Finland , and in all his travels , he never met a woman and addressed her in language of respect , from whom he did not receive a respectful answer;—if he was hungry , she gave him meat ; if thirsty , she gave him drink . With
man , it was oiten otherwise . " It seems to me , that , after so lofty and truthful a panegyric , the response should be , from every female heart present , Let the landmark stand for ever and be respected . But I proceed with my quotation : If the exclusion of women were a just ground for complaint , why do we not admit them into our congress or state legislature , why not allow them to command our navies , or lead our armies ? It is not her element . To her , ' the pomp and circumstance of g lorious war , ' have no charms ; and she desires not' the applause of listening senates to command . ' She has no delight
" On the tented field , Where column after column wheel . Where cannons roar , aud chargers reel . Amid destruction ' s revelry . '' " No ! the element of woman is at home , by the domestic fireside , heightening every joy , soothing every care , administering every comfort . Truly does Lord Bacon tell us , that in childhood , you are our nurses ; in youth , our mistresses ; in middle age , our companions ; in all ages ,
our friends . " To the female sex , Freemasonry is a constant friend . When expiring humanity is about to bid adieu to the scenes of earthly trial , when the silver cord of life is to be loosed , and the wheel is broken at the cistern , to the departing spirit of our nature what consolation can be more solid than that his disconsolate widow will be cheered by the kindness of fraternal affection ? Have there been no cases of this kind in the recollection of many here ? Will not a thousand arms be raised
and ready to avenge the least insult to a Masons wife or a iviasons daughter ? Then if this objection exists with any , dismiss it , as unworthy of a name . It is unjust . Masonry is woman ' s best friendher constant benefactor , and her abiding protector . "If Masonry possessed no other excellent feature , this one alone is sufficient to commend it to the favourable consideration of the ladiesthat it is every Mason ' s duty to respect them in prosperity , and to protect and defend them in adversity . Should affliction in its most
blighting form assail you , in the true and honest Mason , you will find the good Samaritan , who will pour the oil of consolation into your wounded heart , and shield you from your dependence upon the mock charities ofa friendless world . ' '