Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Reviews.
" JBards and Authors of Cleveland and South Diwliam , " b y Bro . G . Markham Tweddle . Ten of the 12 parts of which this work is to consist are now published . Bro . Tweddle has also issued a reprint of the great American Masonic Poem
"King Solomo ? i ' s Temple . " Of this work the " American Freemason " says : — " This Poem was written b y Bro . Augustine J . H . Duncanne , of New York City , in I 860 , and published in the "American Freemason , " in the December No . of that year . Whether we consider its unusual length , the facility of
its expression , the fervent glow of its imagery , its flowing versification , or that grand poetical conception which bespeaks its author trul y a poet , it may be regarded , certainl }* , and without a fault , as the finest Masonic poem in the English language . "
Address.
ADDRESS .
Delivered by Pro . the Bev . B . S . Baines , Rector of Ghignall St . James , Prov . 67 . Chaplain , No . 270 , on the occasion of the consecration of Lodge St . Mary Boclcing , No . 1312 . " The happy occasion which has brought us together to-day has been deemed to afford me a not unfitting opportunity for saying a few words upon what oun-ht to hi the character of Masonsin other wordsthe true prin
, , - ciples of Masonry , which each should endeavour to carry out faithfully . Far be it from me , who am only yoimo- j n the Craft , to wish to speak in a spirit seemingly dictatorial , or to say anything new , or essay fli ghts of rhetoric , which may only terminate in my own discomfiture . I would consider it more congenial to your feelings , as I am sure it is to my own , briefly and simply to point out
to your notice the broad principles that bind men tO" -ether —principles which ought to be generally practised if the term 'Universal Brotherhood' is to be anything but a jest—an empty fiction . There are three great virtues which should shino in each man ' s breast—Sincerity , Truth , Brotherly Love , let us not fei gn friendships ' which have no cordiality , nor utter compliments and kind speeches which are destitute of meaning—the solemn charge given at our initiation should still ring in our oars , every holy symbol that speaks an old but universal
language should forcibly remind us that , despising all selfishness , we should live iu love , with hearts sincere ! in other words , live in tho truest , best sense , as brethren —as Masons . Masonic principles are tho true wealth of nations . What a different aspect would this world prosent were all man truly actuated by the princi ples of Masonry . no longer would our hearts sicken at the hor and miseries of
rors war ; peace , with her olive dawn would descend from Heaven , and the wilderness would blossom as the rose ; succour would come to tho distressed ; comfort to the afflicted ; everywhere would bo tho voice of joy and gladness ; no complaining in our streets . AVhat are the jewels ancl ornaments that sparkle on your breasts but the emblems of those virtues which should dwell within
, like the medals of the soldier which tell of noble and heroic deeds ? Small may be there intrinsic value ; great , indeed , aro the truths they symbolise . We must contradict by our lives the statements of those who would assert that trifles are the objects of our ambition , and that our meetings aro onl y an excuse for conviviality , even excess . God teaches usand
, wo are reminded by Masonry that we came into this world poor and penniless : under the fostering care of the Great Architect ot the Universe we have passed through the dangers of childhood and have arrived at man ' s estate
on further , and by regular steps , across the chequered flooring of the world , fraught with good and ill , learning . lessons as we stand , looking from nature up to nature's God ; and in the third degree yet more knowledge , as we behold the emblems of mortality everywhere , and the Star in the East above , whose bright light pierces through
the darkness of the tomb . Thus in every stage of Masonry great lessons are inculcated , and the best of all instruction given—how man must live on earth—how die-—how i * est in Heaven , when he has ascended to those
immortal mansions , from whence all goodness emanates . King Solomon , when he raised to Heaven that building which was in itself an emblem of man ' s greatest good , embodied in every part of the solemn superstructure the moral qualities God required from every child of Israelthe stately pillars , adorned with network , lilies , ancl pomegranates , spoke of unity , peace , and plenty ; the veil of
the Temple , of blue , purple , and crimson , and fine linen , a representation of the illuminated canopy of heaven ; every ornament declared some solemn message—the eye was to rest upon stony foliage ancl symbols . There was a text in the skull and the cross-bones , the plumb-rule , the gunge , and the chisel , and great truths were taught that reached the mind directly through the eye ; but
as it has been tho prevailing tendency of nearly every system in all times to attend to mere external forms and ceremonies , to the partial or entire neglect of spiritual teaching , let us , as Masons , while we refuse to deviate from the ancient landmark of our Order , remember that our symbols are only useful while they inculcate and keep in view some truesome vitalprincilethus known b
, , p , y our upright lives and well-squared actions , and following the dictates of Temperance , Fortitude , Prudence , Justice ,, and Charity , wo shall be prepared to pass from labour torefreshment , from Earth to Heaven , from the Outer Court to the glorious and celestial Lodge-Room above . Wo arc to-day engaged in rearing a new lodge ; its prosperity will depend upon the conduct of its Officers and
Members ; those who are not fit to rule must practice and learn obedience , ancl aid and assist those above them with a ready mind ; all jealousies and differences must be put aside , and brother ] v love flourish and abound . The
Rulers of the Craft , also , must be careful how they exercise their offices— to them is committed the order and regularity of one part of the great body of Masonry . Pure in heart , of the most unblemished character , of kind manners , but firm aucl unbending in the right , they are bound to be able to render a good account of themselves and of the manner in which ' they performed their trust ,,
and their subjects are bound to strengthen their hands , and to yield them obedience in all things lawful . All are ever to recollect thai God has declared of His Lodge as He did of the Temple— 'I have hallowed this honse ^ o put my name there for ever , and mine eyes and mineheart shall be there perpetually . ' We have ceased to be operative , and have now become speculative Masons , ancl
giving to Freemasonry a wider range , we keep another and nobler object in view— the cultivation of the mind , ancl tho most enlarged charity and good will to all—and while professing to be the servants of the Great Architectof the Universe , wo lay tho foundation of our Society on tho basis of Keli gion . Having no further use for our Avorking toolswe carry tho emblems of them into real
, life ; and from the square , learn morality ; from the level , equality ; ancl from the plumb-line , justice and upri ghtness o ' life . As we pass over tho Mosaic pavement , so emblematic of human life , we are to raise our eyes from the indented border and see the blazing star ; we are to turn from the rough to tho perfect Ashlar , and mark the lines of the spiritual tracing boardand learn from them
, the pure religion that bids us comfort the fatherless and widows in their affliction , and keep ourselves unspotted from the world . The system of the ancients is but religion by another name— " morality , veiled in allegory , and illustrated by symbols . '
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Reviews.
" JBards and Authors of Cleveland and South Diwliam , " b y Bro . G . Markham Tweddle . Ten of the 12 parts of which this work is to consist are now published . Bro . Tweddle has also issued a reprint of the great American Masonic Poem
"King Solomo ? i ' s Temple . " Of this work the " American Freemason " says : — " This Poem was written b y Bro . Augustine J . H . Duncanne , of New York City , in I 860 , and published in the "American Freemason , " in the December No . of that year . Whether we consider its unusual length , the facility of
its expression , the fervent glow of its imagery , its flowing versification , or that grand poetical conception which bespeaks its author trul y a poet , it may be regarded , certainl }* , and without a fault , as the finest Masonic poem in the English language . "
Address.
ADDRESS .
Delivered by Pro . the Bev . B . S . Baines , Rector of Ghignall St . James , Prov . 67 . Chaplain , No . 270 , on the occasion of the consecration of Lodge St . Mary Boclcing , No . 1312 . " The happy occasion which has brought us together to-day has been deemed to afford me a not unfitting opportunity for saying a few words upon what oun-ht to hi the character of Masonsin other wordsthe true prin
, , - ciples of Masonry , which each should endeavour to carry out faithfully . Far be it from me , who am only yoimo- j n the Craft , to wish to speak in a spirit seemingly dictatorial , or to say anything new , or essay fli ghts of rhetoric , which may only terminate in my own discomfiture . I would consider it more congenial to your feelings , as I am sure it is to my own , briefly and simply to point out
to your notice the broad principles that bind men tO" -ether —principles which ought to be generally practised if the term 'Universal Brotherhood' is to be anything but a jest—an empty fiction . There are three great virtues which should shino in each man ' s breast—Sincerity , Truth , Brotherly Love , let us not fei gn friendships ' which have no cordiality , nor utter compliments and kind speeches which are destitute of meaning—the solemn charge given at our initiation should still ring in our oars , every holy symbol that speaks an old but universal
language should forcibly remind us that , despising all selfishness , we should live iu love , with hearts sincere ! in other words , live in tho truest , best sense , as brethren —as Masons . Masonic principles are tho true wealth of nations . What a different aspect would this world prosent were all man truly actuated by the princi ples of Masonry . no longer would our hearts sicken at the hor and miseries of
rors war ; peace , with her olive dawn would descend from Heaven , and the wilderness would blossom as the rose ; succour would come to tho distressed ; comfort to the afflicted ; everywhere would bo tho voice of joy and gladness ; no complaining in our streets . AVhat are the jewels ancl ornaments that sparkle on your breasts but the emblems of those virtues which should dwell within
, like the medals of the soldier which tell of noble and heroic deeds ? Small may be there intrinsic value ; great , indeed , aro the truths they symbolise . We must contradict by our lives the statements of those who would assert that trifles are the objects of our ambition , and that our meetings aro onl y an excuse for conviviality , even excess . God teaches usand
, wo are reminded by Masonry that we came into this world poor and penniless : under the fostering care of the Great Architect ot the Universe we have passed through the dangers of childhood and have arrived at man ' s estate
on further , and by regular steps , across the chequered flooring of the world , fraught with good and ill , learning . lessons as we stand , looking from nature up to nature's God ; and in the third degree yet more knowledge , as we behold the emblems of mortality everywhere , and the Star in the East above , whose bright light pierces through
the darkness of the tomb . Thus in every stage of Masonry great lessons are inculcated , and the best of all instruction given—how man must live on earth—how die-—how i * est in Heaven , when he has ascended to those
immortal mansions , from whence all goodness emanates . King Solomon , when he raised to Heaven that building which was in itself an emblem of man ' s greatest good , embodied in every part of the solemn superstructure the moral qualities God required from every child of Israelthe stately pillars , adorned with network , lilies , ancl pomegranates , spoke of unity , peace , and plenty ; the veil of
the Temple , of blue , purple , and crimson , and fine linen , a representation of the illuminated canopy of heaven ; every ornament declared some solemn message—the eye was to rest upon stony foliage ancl symbols . There was a text in the skull and the cross-bones , the plumb-rule , the gunge , and the chisel , and great truths were taught that reached the mind directly through the eye ; but
as it has been tho prevailing tendency of nearly every system in all times to attend to mere external forms and ceremonies , to the partial or entire neglect of spiritual teaching , let us , as Masons , while we refuse to deviate from the ancient landmark of our Order , remember that our symbols are only useful while they inculcate and keep in view some truesome vitalprincilethus known b
, , p , y our upright lives and well-squared actions , and following the dictates of Temperance , Fortitude , Prudence , Justice ,, and Charity , wo shall be prepared to pass from labour torefreshment , from Earth to Heaven , from the Outer Court to the glorious and celestial Lodge-Room above . Wo arc to-day engaged in rearing a new lodge ; its prosperity will depend upon the conduct of its Officers and
Members ; those who are not fit to rule must practice and learn obedience , ancl aid and assist those above them with a ready mind ; all jealousies and differences must be put aside , and brother ] v love flourish and abound . The
Rulers of the Craft , also , must be careful how they exercise their offices— to them is committed the order and regularity of one part of the great body of Masonry . Pure in heart , of the most unblemished character , of kind manners , but firm aucl unbending in the right , they are bound to be able to render a good account of themselves and of the manner in which ' they performed their trust ,,
and their subjects are bound to strengthen their hands , and to yield them obedience in all things lawful . All are ever to recollect thai God has declared of His Lodge as He did of the Temple— 'I have hallowed this honse ^ o put my name there for ever , and mine eyes and mineheart shall be there perpetually . ' We have ceased to be operative , and have now become speculative Masons , ancl
giving to Freemasonry a wider range , we keep another and nobler object in view— the cultivation of the mind , ancl tho most enlarged charity and good will to all—and while professing to be the servants of the Great Architectof the Universe , wo lay tho foundation of our Society on tho basis of Keli gion . Having no further use for our Avorking toolswe carry tho emblems of them into real
, life ; and from the square , learn morality ; from the level , equality ; ancl from the plumb-line , justice and upri ghtness o ' life . As we pass over tho Mosaic pavement , so emblematic of human life , we are to raise our eyes from the indented border and see the blazing star ; we are to turn from the rough to tho perfect Ashlar , and mark the lines of the spiritual tracing boardand learn from them
, the pure religion that bids us comfort the fatherless and widows in their affliction , and keep ourselves unspotted from the world . The system of the ancients is but religion by another name— " morality , veiled in allegory , and illustrated by symbols . '