Masonic Oration

of membership in the Church occupy in regard to Christianity . Neither are " given of God , " both are ' "'' invented by men , ''' in order to indelibly impress the mind with a just appreciation of the importance and solemnity of the obligation entered

upon , and thus , by securing a continuance therein " to promote morals or religion . " Both are solemn , and right because of their purpose . Once more , in all things let ns remember , " the spirit quickeneth ; the body profiteth nothing ; " ancl ere

condemning let us candidly consider the motive of every work . And now ive come to the last objection—the explanation of all other objections—the secrecy of Masonry . It is claimed that families are

outraged and divided by swearing young husbands to conceal certain proceedings from their wives and children . This is puerile ! In the life of every business man there are constantly recurring incidents which he withholds from the knowledge

of his family . And the life of every professional man , worthy of the trust joined to his position , there are many confidences which he cannot impart to his wife and children . Is his family outraged or divided by his thus concealing from

his wife and children the proceedings of many days and nights of his professional life ? If the objects of Masonry are worthy , its results good , all practices not immoral , adopted with the object of securing the perpetuity of the Order are by that

object justified . Secrecy is one ofthe surest means of perpetuity . It begets confidence , and confidence establishes love . It renders possible the exclusion of the unworthy from participation , and thereby makes the Order sought after and adhered to . It

secures unity , and thereby efficacy . To ascertain whether the families of Masons are outraged and divided by Masonry , we will appeal rather to those families than to the enemies of Masonry , and we will abide their decision .

The review of these objections is now concluded . But ere closing this argument , I desire to call attention to one phase of the practical ivorkino-s and benefits of Masonry not yet touched upon . In every clime , in every nation , under every

combination of circumstances , a Mason in a Mason meets a brother and a helper . As an illustration , consider the workings of Masonry in our late civil war . Masons supplied the wants of their brethren everywhere ; but it was in the South particularly that the beneficence of the organisation was demonstrated . The terrible

proscription on account of loyalty there was not so bitter that Masonic aid could not be invoked and extended . There are testimonies from every source of lives saved , of desolations prevented , of necessities secured , of mercy exercised , courtesies

extended to loyalists and prisoners and armed enemies ; and one of the brightest rifts in the dark cloud of war and death which overhung- that land and time , was that caused by the ever conquering sunshine of Masonic charity . Christianity was

impotent , the ties of relationship were broken , the obligation of a common nationality disregarded , but the Masonic obligation still asserted its benign force , and rescued or aided the oppressed , and in the rift thus caused in the clouds and darkness was

seen the standard of brotherhood waving in triumph above the red ensign of war , typical of that time when over every nation shall be flung out the conquering banner of God's chang-eless and infinite love . Yet the history of the work of Masonry in this respect will ever remain unwritten . Incidents will be cherished and handed down for

a few generations among the descendants of those experiencing the efficacy of this defence , and then pass as an old man ' s story into the doubted region of tradition . But the testimony of Dr . Mackey and a host of others is not wanting to confirm

these statements . I have myself been told o instances ivhere the sign of Masonry turned aside the steel of war , and the hand of carnage was stayed as it was in the very act of immolating yet another victim upon its blood-stained altar . Tell

me , if there is but one instance in the annals of all time of such a result from such an agency , would not that one case of life preserved be a sufficient vindication ? But multiply that one case b y myriads , add the vast work accomplished in the

distribution of Masonic charity , think of the doors at which the wolf is kept at bay by this invisible but potent arm ; think of the truths of Masonry and its work , and then tell me , do we not well to be proud of it , to think of it as noble and glorious ?

My brothers , we have set up this standard ; how shall we fit ourselves worthily to bear it ? The strongest argument ivhich can be urged against Masonry is the unworthiness of many of those jirofessing to be its exemplars . We have

developed an ideal , representing truthfully the spirit and objects of Masonry . Who of us shall come np to its requirements ? We come to the ever recurring theme—our duty . What is it ?