Indiana American, Volume 7, Number 4, Brookville, Franklin County, 24 January 1868 — Page 1

."T. ': -' : .... ' ' ' ........ -j

TER MS OF AO V ERT16INQ.

! ' r . . ruuLisagp tviar iridatbt . C. II. BING II AM, rroprictor.

OSes In. th National Bank . Building:, (third s?ry.) .... ' . ' r. T TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTIQNiv ! $2,50 PERYEAU.ur ABTAscc. $3,00 ' If JtOt T AID I ADV AKCi. No postage on papers delivered within' thi Cogoty. ADDRESS OFREV.THOS. H. LYNCH D. D.f ' Utfort Harmony LoJjt No. 11, of l' t A. JA, on the Enning of Drrcmbrr 27, lSb'7. ." rUBLISHED BT OKDKH Or Til 2 LODGE.' ' t Oo this' thy, the anniversary of St. John the Evangelist, an ancient patron vjf our Order, it id well for us to assemble in our Hall to rebcarce the ever living principle of Masonic truth. To St. John .the Evangelist, in fellowship with St. J oh D the Uaptist, our ancient and honored inrtitution is dedicated throughout Christendom. The inspired writings of the first are his best record. Theso constantly rest upon our altar. This was the beloved disciple. Among the rnystio aymhol of our Order, there is a point within a circle representing these two ancient patron of Free Masonry. This point denotes the individual brother; the circle denotes the boundary lino of his dnty, beyond which a Mason is not to fuller hiraelf to bo betrayed either by passion or prejudice. It may be appropriate that this circlo. beautifully auggeatsd by the annual return of the festival of the Evaojrelirt, should be the subject of a brief reflection. I shall not attempt to go . back into the mists of tradition, nor to wander among the structures of Solomon, nor through the frsgrant g ives of Lebanon, in search of the beautiful or the strange, but will present you some practical views at the great circlo of Masonic duty. In the science of Geometry, the circlo has. in every age and couutry, engaged the attention of the most eminent mathe maticians, (Jenius has often tried to . tquare the circle, but Ins often failed, although invited to the ta.-k by the offer of the nio.it magnificent reward. Itesults, at first regarded s triutnphanr, have Icon proclaimed to the world; but no I'ythagorus has vet been able to announce, iu the joy of his heart, "A'fr fot." Not so in the great tuoral prollcin of our fraternity, lu circle aud its sjur are coeval one in tl.o beginning, they will so r:tuain until the end, in constant und unbroken uaion. - V.fiy Mason is instructed to apply tho trpme to tho circle of du ty, und beyond the parallel lines by which it is bordered, he i never to wander.- lie is tho poiut within the circlo. It is here alone that our principles tccoguue hiui. Iu its oriiriu, Tree Masonry was essentially practical iu its character. It was I fin tilt firil tiv tmii.r uridl'irnliiit' i.f thfl " " I ' J I 1 -II " " I rules of Archilectutc, by which a strut-J .Iure dorive its due proportion and justj xorrerpoinience in all Its parts. hile it is now denominated theoretical, it is still, iu u high moral seu.-e. practical, teaching ud enioreiog the observance of every mom! und social virtue. Although it may not r.ow, s in remote ages, employ thu inaterial - gavgn in ttio measurement uud laying out of woik, jet by a liuo as tiuo and Ubcrring it still icguUlca the vuiicd duties of the bruthcibood. It does not vitld the common gavel to break oiT and render manageable its rough material?; but by - means tdspitj to tlic purpoi-e. it Jkuotk.t oir the upeiiticH of tb-raoter, reMotes the iire.ulaiilics of Hie, separates wLat is unlm und tvil fithi that which is good, and u.alc tU uohlcrs, Loweur rude und sh.iptlc.'B iu their native tuarry, to be wuiLtd tip into a t cut. glo 'liouitand endaiin moial editicu Vilio j er IVction cotiM.'ia uf wi.doUi, treugth and beauty. When Maonry tlall tta.-o to ti.tt ii her moral character aa a svateu: tfjiracticil tetievtlcncc; when her beau lil'ul iorma and terciuoiiies, heu her imprcssive theories thall lore their vitality, and bccouio merely tho vport of the curious and the idle; when the spirit that now tjeals iu her rituals ahull to dead, and tho tuoral precept that tow quickens tho hudy shall no longer exert its power, then let Iclubod be written upon tho waits of the Mssonic Temple, for its glory will have departed; let her lights bo quenched in tho darkness of her sileut halls, and let tho furniture of tho LoJ-c tccomu tho web of the spider. ' To bo a good Mnson is to bo a good 'iron. The qualiQi-ations for admission to the privilege of Masonry, afford a firm foundation for the candidate's future moral and intellectual advancement. lie lunst bo free born, of mature age, of good report in comtnuuity, of respectable nat .Ural endowments, aud pot-sc the sen no of a msn. Ho inast have tomo visible . mean of upport. .Ho mast bo able so to work in ths craft as to lay up something abuvo his necessary wants and expou? for works of charity. The sluggard and the indolent drone need not knock at the Masonio door. If by any means an unworthy person gains admission among u, the well merited task devolves upon the ioMttation'of employing its authority in Adapting him, if possible, to its use; if ibe .effort be in vain, then he must bo cast out .AUlOlltf tliO ruLLlaL of the IfinrU i unfit! for the builder's use. The candidato is met at tho very vestibule of the temple twith tle prerequisites, and is conducted 'in suitable habiliments np to its tacrcd injitcriert. Ho is charged, as his foundation and chief corner stone, to bolievu firmly in tho existence of (Jod und tho authority of the Holy Scriptures, in which God is especially revealed. Masonry extends to him a toleration as free as its 'boundaries are extensive; it leaves him to j .the guide of that inward monitor, his: enlightened conscience, in tho adoption! and enjoyment of any religious creed not incompatible, with thoe requirements .The poison of bigotry does not corrodo, nor tho dia of politic.! strife hake tho p!atk cement which unites all in tho . bonds of a common brotherhood, among whott there should bo no contention, cxeept that noble emulation of "who can bct work or best agree?"' Masonry eharg,cs uj to bo pci.caiU and (juict cilixens, true to our government, just to ourcoun. try; to be concerned in no plotsorcon piracies; to couforut with chcetfulticss to the lawa of tha country where we reside, aal thus pruatatu tha hooor of tho fntcr-

' ' ..... I i ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' . , . II E U W I ON . THE. CONSTITUTION, AND THE ENPOI.CEMENT OF THELAWS." .... . , , : ; ' . Bom1 Ii-miii im Ii i - i ii i Si" an- )- ' , m m i I VOll vNO. U 15ROÖKVILLE, IND.. FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, m. : WHOLE NO. 317. - " ' . . t '

nity, which has ever flourished in times of peace, Brotherly love, relicf.'and truth, are thrco grand elements of a true Muion. He regards the human race as ono family; the high, the low, thu rich, the poor, are children of one co;otuon latent, and, as inhabitants of the same planet, arc to Blip port and protect each' other. On this organic law, men of every country, cot aud opinion are united in one bond of friend-, ship. To relieve the distressed, though a duty enjoined by a common humanity. ' Masonry especially enjoins. It aims to soothe tho unhappy, to -svnipathito with , their misfortunes, to compassionate their miseries; and to give peace to the troubled heart. It inculcates and illustrates, in a manner peculiar to itself, the cardinal vir tues of Temperance, Fortitude, Prudence and Justice. ' Temperance Is first named among the virtues, and is made the first point of entrance on which a candidate is received within ourdoors. Notwithstanding its impressivo sanction aud command, we are often pained to acknowledge it as an evil which, perhaps, more than any oilier, hns inflicted the most desolating scourge upon our Order. It is a parent vice; its progeny is legion. We are taught by the precepts of Masonry that is is not the external, bot the interna qualification!, that make the man. In tho exercioo of this beautiful sentiment with the principle of universal benevolence, which is its crowning glory, it ever seeks for the good aud the truo, us well amid the rubbish as on the high places of its growing temple. It recognizes the internal man wherever he may be, whatever bo the garb with which ho is clothed, or tho occupation iu whkh fortune may have concealed him. It believes, with Hums, one of its brilliant sons, in the philosophy f his poetry and in his views of lil'e. though, ulai! intemperance dimmed the Iubtie of his genius and his fame: "Tis rank is but tho giln'a tUuip) A iu sn's a wan fur a' luai." Ilrolhcrly Love m tho bond of union and the cement which unites Musong in one cuit, in on fraternity. Ii t here bo u melancholy fact announced iu tic couplet of Scotland's turd, that "Mao's luhuuisblty 1 1 man Mkua Cuuull Iuuj-uU tnouro," there is also chterlul truth in the atrains of Israel's son oi song, ''Dchold how good and how pleasant it is lor bteihrvii to dwell together iu unity." The obligation of fraternal regard arises from the tact of a couimm parentage. Tho beggur, iu bis rags, cati boutt of an unccstry us noble as any crowned head upoti the globe. Uy natural dccent, men iu all the wandering aud passing, generations of our race uro brethren, and Masons um tuch by special ties. Thero is also among us an existing equality in poiut of phjsicul structure, u to tho number of bodily members aud the active play of limbs. - W hether ihe human form be clad in furs, rudely covered with thu skins of bea.ts, or decked iu tho rpleudid robe of royuliy, it is tho amo, und all tho external trapping of gaudy equipage arc but tho badges of our truiliy and of our ptidu. We are uearly on a level us to intellect. Ual power. i'Muculion may have graduated the sculo of improvement by u thou sand -iflvMcul shaUcs, yet we all have h couiUJoii puttimuny iu consciuusticM, per cepliuu, imagination, memory, judgment, und in Uioial lecting. Tbei uro lat cut intellectual powers iu thu minds of luauy sons of toil, vhu uro doomed to wring from the curtli a scanty sub.-iotciue. which would, if they were evoked by education, shake Senates by the thunder of licit eloquence, or walk with Newton's genius amid tho grandeur of thu starry heavens. . . Again, we nro on a level as to our fallen nature. Whatever may be tho opinions of men as to the sources of moral evil, tho fact is obvious to all, that a moral disease has spread through the whole framework of human society. Not ono huumii being lias ever been found J reo liotn its taint or wasting power. From our common mis. fortune! aud woes a strong incentive springs to the rxerciso of fraternal love, under tho prompting of which. heuevolont action will be put forth for tho relief of the dependent and the sorrowful.We are all equal as to our common mortality. We meet nt lat-t in the grave. Tho ashes of tho mighty deud may bo urned iu sculptured marble; their tombs may bo adorned with lofty columns, and flattering Inscriptions may bo carved upon the silent tablet; yet the mouldering ruins of dcjsrtcd beauty and manly siicngth lie slumbering beneath the varnished Mausoleum. The eyes of tho gre it and !' tho opulent aro as dim in death us are ihoso of the poor and unknown to fame; their ears are alike inscnsiblo to the mag. io voice of earthly music. Theso facts present the broadest ground for fraternal love among all men. There is a striking analogy between love in tho moral world and the principles of attraction in tho natural world.' liovo gives birth to all tho moral phenomena, and attructiou gives birth to all tho physical wonders of tho universe. Uy tho force of attraction, tho inhabitants of the earth, their dwellings and their troasurrs, aro kept from Hying off into the immensity of p;ico. Uy thu sntuo wonderful power, towering mountains, the mighty Alps, the rugged Ands. cloud-covered, looking forth upon tho waves of the Pscilic, rest firmly upon their base of ever enduring rock. Jty ibis force rivers flow, and o-oits uro kept within their bounds. This principle binds together tho infinity of atoms which form tho globe a tremendous power pervading evory particle of matter that composes oil worlds and systems of worlds that journey continually uround the throne of tho Oiu nipotent üod of Nsturo. Tliut love unites together all intelligence in heaven aud earth. Its external uianifestution is mercy, sympathy, compassion, genemsity, justice. It impels to tho relief of tho distressed, the support of tho weak, the euhco of the dcjpotidinj., and

tho diffuMon of light through the dark places of th earth. j The virtues we hsva thus briefly sketch 1

ed, are tho grand eluructcristic.1 of our oucicnt frnteruity. In reflecting- upon Masonry in its organized fotm.the contemplative mind will be lorribly impressed with the antiquity of the Order. One will feel that an insti I tution which Lad its origin in tho dim! twilight of departed mges, amid tho most thrilling cveuts of tho world'a history, ntul that has withstood tho tornis, the evolutions and the fierce persecution of in uny long centuries, must have truth for its foundation. Whilq instability, forms a long, sad chapter on the rage of history, it is the glory of Masonry that she is now. in her distinctive character, what she was in the days of the ancient prophets, priests and kings. Masonry may bo conbidered iu a two fold aspect theoretical and practical; the one originating in tnun's physical wants, tho other in bis moral wants. In the Garden of KJcn mnn knew no painful hunger nor thirst; ho was not scorched by heat nor chilled by cold. In his pathway no thorns wcro found. No exhausting sweat broko fro. a his aching Lruw. Wheu, 'Hj bt (linbedlfiat, and -lbs fruit of IhofutbiJJpu tres," he forfeited his primeval homo of b'i.-s and purity, ho bade adieu to l'arudi-c and looked upon the wido world beforo him, black with the smoke of tho t-urt-c, and dark with the cloud of future woo. His descendants felt the orphnnsgo of their! couditiou. From the cold of winter they ! bought the caves of earth. From thoj beut of summer they nought tha lüde of ! some embowered grove In seeking an i urliüciiil shelter sdapti d uliko to shield from ibe beat aud from the cold und from the storm, man's iuventivo genius fiit conceived tho primitive tent, then thoj rude- cabin, afterwards the costly uian.-ion ! and the gilded palace. When tho postcri- j ly of Noah becume a tnitucrour' people,' they gradually extended over thu mouu tains, thu vuliics and plains of Armenia. Tho pairiuich ol the new world transmitted to bis cliilJreu a knowledge of Arcditeotmo, lie htieuce of which exited before iho Flood. At length, in tho d;is of l'Ug, fach branch of the family of Noah went to that part of thej curih to which it hud Ucu un.-ined by tho Almighty. Soon utter this, we read of ll cir building villages, towus and cilici. The ruins of muny uu undent city, the inos-eovercd column of many u dil.ipi. lutea temple, the fallen triumphal arch dug fiutu tho rubbioU of ages, fouud in oriental land-t, at teat to us of this day tho oxqtrsito skill and tado of tho ancient arclu.cct. When tho traveler visits tho deeerts of Kg)pl und gazes upon the" mighty 1'yratt.ids that stand before him in solemn, tücnt grandeur; wbeu he walks upon the bunks of thu Nile, and Wunders utiMitg tho ruins of cities onto proud und bu-y on its slmics wheu' bo visits thu moro ungniiiccnt ruins of classio Greece, cf 1't-rsb, and of lliu Holy Laud, with what dcc; interest does ho ask, Who weru the builders of, these mighty workt? lliatory informs us that, uncb.-ntly, wheu one nation triumphed in victory over another, tho vunq'iUhcd were reduced to u statu of sluvury; tbeir wealth and labor were applied to tho building of temples, pyramids, palaces and other monuments-, to gratity lliu national vanity of the victors. Hoticu aroso fpeculativo Masonry. Tino- fvr u. inomcnt of a euptivo people, toiling beneath the rays of u bumiog sun, tasked by unfeeling master, cut oil' Itiuu the mea us of instruction ; no way of teaching their children the hi.-tory of tho p-t, nor of inspiring hopu for lliu future. Such piivuiious led tbo more cnlighteneU t dovise some way by which to cseupc tho ''coin moil danger" and find u ' commuti safety.'' '1 hey devinud tin a-u re for mutual protection, foundud on tho principles ot brotherly love und charity. Tho moral lessons of thoro viitucs were obvious to all. Truth is moro torcibly impres.-cd upon tlio mind when illustrated by seuiole object; henco tliiMt lessons wcro cmblotuuticaliy taught and their obligation enforcod. At tho building cd' King Solomon's! Icmple, association for mutual relief ussuim-d motu compitctnc-H of form und bo en mo nioiu spt-cilied in purpose, lly tho wisdom d' tint king, it was directed that the working implements of tho craft should i be iidopii d us so many emblems id' virtue, j '1 he temple of Solomon exceeded all otlicis in cotliuesa and tuaguifi'.cnce. We u.ay ' infer its grciitnuxs Itom tho immcusu nuiti! I'll- ot pvisiMia engngfil in it trecllou. There were employed iu its building, thice (iruud Musters, throe tliou-und ovuisocis tr Master Masons, eighty thousand fellow Cialis und seventy thou-utid entered uppieuti.es. It requited suvou years to build this temple. When the buidtug was completed and dedicated to tho service of- (iod. the time came lor thot.0 who had worked so long together iu harmouy to separate. lUfore bidding adieu to the scones with which t hoy had been long famüiur, and which had been rendered dear to the id by many loud memories, they 'adopted, by mutual consent, ccrtuin wordi, signs uud symbols by which they might bo able to recognize each other by day or by night, wherever they might thereafter meet. This symbolic lungus.c has boon sacredly preserved and faithfully transmitted from age to age. Wo, as Masons, speak the sumo ttiytio lunguigu to day thut was spoken by our lathers iu tho diys when tho beauty of the tomple was thu glory of Mount Zioii. For example, tho troicrl was given to cpread the otnent of brotherly love; the Irvrl us a token of our equality before (lod; tho wirr as a test of virtue. It iscd upon such principles thus indicated, these associations wcro formed. They weie governed by laws enacted iu the free extreme of their enlightened judgment. The virtues of faith, hope, charity, wisdom, strength, beauty, order and harmony, gave spirit and influence to theso laws, lludor tho auspices of tbo fratcruity, cdu;atlou

was promoted, intelligence was diffused, and civilization whs advanced. As tho sun pours the blessing of his rays on all the earth, so wherever tbo Masonio -light was carried, its effect was seen in tho improved condition of mankind. The cities of Egypt and her mighty works of urt proclaimed the presence of the Master Mason. Persia, the iuheritstico of Cyrus, declared his skill; Habylon, the prison of the weeping hosts of Judah, boro amplo testimony in tho'grandeur of her palaces ond temples, that tho Master Mason was r workman that needeth not to bo ashamed. Nineveh, tho rival of her sister upon the Euphrates; Coriuth. ths mistress of (liciiati commerce; and AtLcns, renowned for her philosophic schools, stood forth the fcilent, vet loud-speaking witnesses of the scientific kill with which '.lair costly edifices had been elected. All that now remain of these great, thc.io tplendid works, are so many monuments of I he glory of former ages, and of the sad desolation which the wild passions of men have wrought upon the works of aucietTt genius und pc.icr.ti tlo ekill. . Tho noblo works ot the operative Maon have pu.-scd uway; the broken column, tho mosscovered arch, the heap of oiouldering ruins, tho de-cited palace, the crumbling wal's of fürsakeu temples, bear mournful cvideuce of the ruvages of time und the destructive fury of relentless war. .While such has been tho fate of the works of operative Masoury, tho principles of rqcculativo MuMtnry remain unhaken. Our moral tcmplu bus t-urvived tho ri.o und fall of many a proud moti ircli, of mlny an empire. Sho has withstood uwuy u fiery pot sec ut ion. She stand to day, in all Iho glory ol her virgin becutyjin all the grandeur of her fadcle-s garments. Her light has illumined thoj nioentuins, tho hills, thu valleys und the plain of every continent und every clime. 1 Her songs have enlivened iho solitudes of the desert, and checied the hearts of tho-o who dwell iu tho dark places of tho earth. Her voice t f love has been heard above the din of battle. Her hand ''has bound up thu wounds of many a fiiondli-os w anderer. lift us now moro particularly look itt; iho organic principles of Fice Masonry, and view the foundation u' n w hielr dip stund; the walls of her I moral temple,1 tho wini( tn, sticngth und . leauty with which sho is adorned. Tho great corner-stone of the Masonic edifice, is u firm belief in 'iho exiitencc aud providence of (jod as the Supreme Architect A the Universe.. We aro taught, u-i Masons, that the namo of Deity is never to bo uttered but with that reverence which is due fiom the crewture to the Creator; that wo are to imploio His aid iu all our laudable pursuits u J:lV; and !ut we aro to receive Him as our chief good. Kmblemuticulry presented to us by the allseeing eve, we ure taught thut His presence pervades ull space, und nil things ure knowu to Him. Hence uo atheist can bo u Ma-on; no profane swearer can be' a coiisisieut Mason. A member of the fraternity who openly profanes tho namo O' Cjo 1, violates one uf tho solemn principles of a Free und Accepted Mar on. Masonry recognizes tho liible as the incr-timablc gift, uf (jod to man. Tho Jlible is a part of "Ü o furnituTo of every well regulated hudgo. Its acrod pages lie open before the eyes of tho brethren. As Iho Masonic truvc.cr passes ou in icirih of light from ono degree to another, ho is taught to rest ut stated intervula und hear soinu sacred lc.soti from tho book of lifo. Tht-'truth thus read to him is so impressed upon his mind by appropriate and beautiful illustrations, that not util'requently tho benighted pilgrim bus b,-cn brought to a sight of Him who is able to hare, to lejoice in the provisions of the evcrluM lug covenant. Willi the shepherd iug his heart has been lira do glad with the melody cf inspired song; with the patient man hu has been led to embrace a living liedcumcr; und with tho cnrupture l sccr ho has beheld I lit gladucis of th wilderness, uud has inhaled tho sweet Ira.rsnco of the blooming divert rose. The Christian Muou sees new beauties in th Word of (Jod; the nun pmles-or feel that there ure bights und depths of knowledge to which ho may aspire, suited to his moral uud spiritual want. Thco truths afford u p'utlortu upon which nil miy meet, as brothers, iu the cuu.o of a common Immunity, without any sacrifice of the principle of laith us to the modd id' the existence of tiod or of the peculiar manner in which He may be pleased to manifest His will t.j ruuLiud. Hcnco Masonry embraces in its uruu thu humane in every land, of every naiiuii, ol erery sect. Mu-or.ry inculcates a pure morality. While it grand oljuct is to dispense charity to suffering humanity, it teaches that charity is a moral virtue, und thut its fruits, like itself, should bo pure aud good.

ihe white apron, the square, tho compass, thu plummet, ull speak to man's moral reuse, teaching him tho let-suits of up. righiucss und truth. How deeply impressive is tl.o Mosuio pavement, emblem utio of human life, checkered with good and evil. It remind us of the uncertainty of our state ou earth. To day our feet travel in prosperity; tomorrow we totter on the uneven p-tths of weakness, temptation und adversity. Thus wo might enutnerato all the emblem (if tho craft, which point out some truth to embrace, some duty to perform. Our charity i not confined to the circlo of thu M isouiu family ulone; it extends to ull mtiikiii 1. It looks upon the world us one (Iruud Lodge, and recognizes (Jod us the tirund Muster presiding over ull. The building of Solomon's Temple present a lively illustration of true charity which is the bond of pel footlies, and true harmony which is the streugth of ull institutions. In tho creation of that building, the great urmy of artificers, consisting of moro than a hundred und fifty thousaud men, lived and labored together upon terms of peace aud harmony tor aeveti years, beating each others' burthens, aud exteuding relief to a brother io duuc. We are taught by

Masonio charity to visit without ostentalion tho abodes of the wretched, to feed tho hungry, to clothe the naked, to ayra-j

pttbtze with the afiheted, to speak words ot kindness to thoso who err, to encour ago the desponding, to cheer the dying j with words ot comfort from tho book from tho book of life. Our charity is not to bo expressed by words alone, nor by tears alone, but by good works and noble deeds. It may perhaps bo asked does not the Christian religion tcaih all tho virtues here enumerated? Wo answer, yes. Where, then, is tho necessity for tho Masonio Order? Wo answer, that Masonry is only a mode of carrying into practical effect the great precepts taught in the Word of Cod. Masonry docs not seek to supersede Chris tianity, nor to

take the place of theied us solemn as a heurae: she said sepul-

Chureh of (Jod. She allows the Greek, ' chrally, "How can you laugh? I should the Christian, the Jew and the man of j have died with mortification." And the Chit.a to nnite their hearts and hands with i more solemn she looked the o.ore I la ui. liber in giving practical effect to the duties led. and 1 haven't done laughing yet, allaiddcwn in the divine charter of our though it was three days ago. 1 am at holy religion. While t-ho does not oppose, present looking for the finale, viz: my but rather rejoices in the good accomplish- jpicturo in tho Rogue's Uallery as an ac ed by sectarian effort, alio allows all to j cotnplished female shoplifter. 1 may have unite with her in one common brother-j stolen other things; but, upon my word, hood, moved by one common principlo of this is tho first time I ever Hole a muff. good will to man, without regard to pecu- j It was so comical, that if a station house

liarity ot nation, of religion, of sect, or of external condition; to unite with her in doing good to all mankind. Masonry is not a body without fpirituality. ' She ha emblems her forms, her ceremonies. These sj-cak not only to man's moral nature, but also to his spiritual scn-e. No Master Mason can ever forget the hour when he was raised to that fublimo degree. He will never forget the lessons then impressed upon his mind, of illustrated courage, truth, fidelity. He will never forget the solemn thoughts of death, the silent slumber of the grave. He will never forget the evergreen, emblem of immortality, planted at the head of the grave to mark the spot where sleeps the quiet dead. Ho will never forget tho twilight of nature, nor tho increased light of tho typical age. Above ull. he will ever remember the power of the Lion of the tril'O if Judah, whoso voice ulone can break the silence of the shades of death, and whose strength can rain'; the corrupti bio body from the grave to be clothed with the garments of immortul beauty, and to chine forever us the brightness of the firmament. .As this address wns dclivcrcJ in a Lodge of Master Masons, Mr? Lynch omitted, for- the present, any remarks on tho higher degrees ol'Uoyil Aich Masonry and tho orders of Knighthood Some persons object to Free Masonry because of its iccret character. True, wo have our secrets, aud they are kept with sacred fidelity by every true Mason. Uut no ono has ever been injured by our secresy. Has not a nun a right to keep his nereis to himself! Havo 1 a right to go into the family of my neighbor and demand that he reveal to me the secrets of bis own hou.-c? Have not all corporate bodies their own secret business transactions? Does not the Senate of tho United States holds its secret sessions? Secresy is u divine attribute. Cod has His secret purposes, which in duo timo He untolds to the minds of men, as they aro prepared to receive them, fco Masonry reveals ber secrets to thoso who arc pr-paied and aro worthy t.o rcceivo them Whatever may bo the secrets of Freo Masonry, they are auch as meditate no evil to society, but rather tend to promoto the welfare and happinc-s of muu. An objection to our Order is fometimes urged, that persons aro fouud umong us whose tnoruls uro a discredit to the institution. This may bo true; but tie fault is not in the institution itself, but is found iu tho fact thut too much indulgence has been allowed in admitting unproper persons to membership in tho Lodge. Unworthy persons are found in every community. Even thu Church of Christ hns hud to bear thin reproach, liut shall we condemn and reject an institution, good in itself, because soino of its members are bud? Surely not. Otherwise tho Chris tiati Church might long have been destroyed. Let us guard with vigilance tho do ir of entrance to our Lodges; let us be true to ourselves, to our cause, to our Cud; then soon will this reproach betaken away. Dicthrcn, let us ull seek to know tho jreut object aud duties of life; let us pruotico tho precepts of our Order; let us luv laith iu CoJ, lovu to our fellow men, hope in immortality. And when tho curtains of time shall be drawn aside, aud the luture be revealed, may it be to us the revelation of eternal life in the Celestial Lodge, umid the pjoicing of tho redeemed of ull nations. 'Tor others Lo ths w rrloi's plume, For tin-m tlis trumpet's Llust; He ours the Uurtl tbt .ball l.loota lu lovr, wbllu Ilms .ball Ut." My First Theft. I had bought a new mull'; that is uoth. ing surprising in u city where women trim their dresses with diamonds. Hut there is a story to that muff. With a wholesome horror of j mule shoplifters, I bud uttuehed to it a silk cord, which I could puM over my nttk ; thus placing beyond their n n'.h ihn temptation to appropriate it, should I lay it down tcmpoiunly ou borne counter, whilu shopping. Thus armed, I went forth, having fortified myself us well against them, as against a shocking itbout miiidcdness, which is my daily und hourly torment, and which leuds mo not only to forget where I place my things, but ulso to slue vueantly into the faces of my best friends, when I meet them in the street, und woro yet, to bow recklo-sly und spasmodically to people whom I don't know from Adam. Well, us I say, thus urmed, I went out to buy some little matters needed in my household. After paying for them, 1 look a muff from tho counter before me, placed my hands in it, and pursued my journey. 1 had not proceeded moro than a block, before a bareheaded clerk emtio rushing after me, jostling: the crowd ou either side. and pLciug Lis haudj as I thought very

familiarly on my muff, took it (torn me, 'remarking as be did o, "Ity your leave, Madam," and disappeared with it, in-

stanter. 1 looked about lor a policeman, when just then my ha ad became cotan gled in the string around my neck. (Jo od heavens I I bad then taken some other lady's mulf from tho counter! I had walked out with two muffs. One about my neck, one in uiy hand, t did not pursuo my search for that policeman. I wus seized with such a violent fit of laughter at the ludicrousness and novelty of my position, that I was quite incapable of locomotion. Jut then I m:t a lady friend, to whom I told the story as well as my ftcquent bursts of merriment permitted, She look i had teen my portion I know I should have laughed all the same: besides. I always wanted to sco a station bouse. I might possibly have preferred riding there in a carri'ign, if the policeman in attendance had uo objection, or if the walking was bad, or it atormed ! Fanny FtUN. For ths American. When I Am Gone. BT 1.111. When I am gone and toy ptacs Is bo more, Will the lird sing sweetly a now? Wbto lift with It cares and suffering Is o'sr, Will ths esdsre at gracrull bow? Wlisn I am gons aaJ my j!so li no more, And frlond bar forgotten to weep,. Will ths tturui and the tctnrt't rage oa at before, And bowl o'er ths itot where I leej.? When I am gone and my lo I no more, Will ths fl..weri lluoin fragrant as now, And ths iu I 111 tui uf people that bead sad adore, To mercy's init-1 ecrptcr ilill bowT When I am gons and ny place Is no mors, Will the imecti that float iu ths breeie. Their mirthful euiplt.) meet forever giro o'er, And rest 'neaih lbs shads of tho trees? When I am gone and my plaeS ie no more, Will ths ilrory rolces I bear, And the kiuilei of affection forever bo o'er, And all that in lifo I held dcai? When I am gone and my place Is no more, bright bo pee eball to oibert be given. And Ktturo her eosr-e Hall roll oa as before, And pltaiures bo Isetitg lu Heaven. MiLBttT, Uesu Co., Iso. DEMOCRATIC STATE PLATFORM. 1. AVt-om, That language is inadequatojo express our abhorence and condemnation of the radical reconstruction policy of t'ongrcsg a policy condemned by every conxiderutioo of jusitoe aud con stitutional obligationa policy fiaught with tho most alarming apprehension cf evil to ten States of the Union, and destruction to the Union itself a policy thst largely increases taxation a policy thut requires a large standing army, whiih adds nearly ono hundred milliousof dollars annually to 'the expenses of the government, while it beggars the people a policy, tho avowed object of which is to continue in power the most venal and corrupt political party that ever dishonor cd any civilized nation a policy vindictively enacted, and mcruilessly prosecuted, with tho unconstitutional purpose of centralizing and perpetuating all political power of the Government iu the domiuant rudicil parly in .Congress; and a policy which, if not early arretted by the American people, will sooner or later overwhelm our national tiovcrumont iu one commou und appalling ruin . '2. Th'it we deuiuud ti e unconditionalpeal of tho ucts of Congress, conferring exclusive rights or privileges upon any elans or classes of citixeu ut the expense of other cIusm's, 3. That tho national bank system organized iu Iho interest of the bondholders, ought to bo abolithcd, and the Coiled titutea notes substituted in lieu of the national bank currency, thus saving to the people, iu interest ulone, more than eighteen millions ol' dollars annually; and until such system of bunks shll bo ubolihcd, w'e diiitiud that Iho shares of such biuks in (tidiau i shall be suhjeut to the S'.tuo taxation, :ato and municipal, as other property of the Suto. 4. That the bonds utol other secuiitiea of the United Slates, with every other desciiptioii of property, should heir its t-tUal proportion of luxation lor the State, county aud municipal purposu; and to that end the bonds und other securities of the United States ought to be taxed by Congress for nutioual purjores iu uu amount substantially eUal to the tax imposed ou property in the several State lor local purposes. ,r. That we aie in favor of the payment of tJoverumcnt b )tids in treasury notes, commonly called "greenbacks" (except wheiu expressly mad payable in gold by law,) ut the curliest practicable period. Ü. That the unjust aud iniquitous tariff laws now in l'oreo ought to bo repealed, and a tariff adopted looking to the revcuut only. 7. Thut the monstrous extravagance of the llepublicau leaders iu the aJinitiiitrutiou of tho government, at all times und in all places, has been protligito to an estent unexampled iu history; and for the bundieds of millions of dollars expended by them rince the leriuiuation of tho wit r, they have nothing to show save severed JStutcs, military despotism, oppressive laws, usurped power, aud a mutilated constitution. The burden of luxation, too greviou to be borne, demands thuir removal from all places of trust, and a thorough touisi of rctrcochuici.t uud reform.

TBASSIIXT. Das square, (It jMii) 0 oMrtW--..-l.l Jnesqoare, two Bwl..tf .... . 1 .te I'ikm., three l..rtU. -. X All eubnett.nt Ineertieae, per square .......... M 7IABLY. One column, ehaageahu rtr1y T Tkree-qasriers or a ewluta , a tft Oas-bslf of a eolsaB....... ,. gj n Ono-qnsrter of a eoleian . o Oue-eif bin of a column it as

Trsmient advertUetneaU skoals' la all eases le paid for la adt aaee. Ualest a psrtlcalartlns Is ipsrlf d when kssd. od In, edterti.euienti will bo published as til er dt red oat and charted aoevrdiagtjr. 8. That we are opposed to conferring the right of suffrage upon the negro; and we dct.y the right of lie (jent-ral (iuvtinaucbt to iutetfere with the tUfliiii of suffrage iu unv of the States of the Union. 1. That it is the duty or the UuiieJ States to piotett all titizcna, .whether native burn or naturalixed, iu every tigbr, at home or abload. without tct'srd to tLe) pieteucrd claim of loieign uatiousto jcrpetual allegiance. IU. That the attempt to regulate the moral ideas aud appetites ol the tuple by legi-lutiou, is uuwue and despotic; and we are opposed to that class of legislation which seeks to prohibit Iho j-ewple tioiu the enjoyment ot all proper appetites and amusement. 11. That we shall ever hold in sacted recollection the dead who lieely sacrificed their lives in the defense of our once glorious Uuioii, that the preeut and luluie generations might enjoy the rich inheritauce of a loiiu of government that eeiutre uu equality of rights and privileges tu all the aureus thereot. 1 hat the nation owes to the surviving soldiers and aailors uf the Union, the highest meed of praise and gratitude for the gleet sacrifices they made iu the late wur. and tbwse dUablcd iu the service of the Union, and the widows and orpluu children of those who fell iu bat lie r died cf woui.de, or iu the military service of the Union, auch pensionary aid us will enable them to ei joy the tubetau tial ueceaserie of lite. I'l. That we recogniio in the restoration uiessuies of Andrew Johnson, i'iesi. dent ot the United States, a policy which would have p.iveu pei.ee, atcuiity and prosperity to the State, uud dispelled the dark clouds caut-ed by lie vindictive measures of tho ludical Congtcs. 'J be adoption of the I'rosidetit's policy would, iu our opinion, have saved the haliou the expenditure of untold millions of tit aeure, lessened the burthens cf taxation, secured peace to lue South and prosperity to the) Union. 13. That Mijor General Hancock, ly his orJere at Near Orleans, restoring tbi civil law, and dethroning military despotism, manifested the highest respect for constitutional liberty, for which he deserves the commendation of all friends of constitutional government and all who revere the noble profession of arms. Like the great uud good Washington, this gallant soldier hud learned to icspcct the civil rights of all good citizens, and to de clare that in lime of peace, military tribunals should have no place iu our jurisprudence. Eternal honor to the soldier who refused to rise above the laws. 14. That we congratulate the Democracy of our sister Mate of Ohio, on the gallant political campaign, closed on the bth day of October. lbo7 a campaign marked by the highest order of devotion, ability aud tfforl ; aud that prominent and close in association in the minds of our fellow citizens of Indiana, stands the name of the lion, (jeorge II. l'endleton. Identified with the vital measures upon which our party enters the cauvass for 1808, together with hii ability aa a ataiesmai, and bis high pcieuii-l qualities nil these entitle him to the commendation of this Convention, as a due and consisteut Dem ocrat, nud one who has our enliie confidence aud pufeicnce. Josh Billings on Oed Buge. I nevurseo anuybody yit but what !! pieed bed buggs. They aie the meanest of awl crawling, creeping, hoping and biting things. Thay das-ont tackle a man by dsylite, but steal in after iatk aud chaw him a Lilt he is asleep. A muskcto will fite you a trosd dslite at short range, and give you a chance la knock iu bis sides. The flea, is a ejatne bugg, aud will make a dash at yew even in ilroadwuy; but the bed bufrg ix a gsiroier, who watts til you atrip, and tbeu picks out a melier spot to cat yew. If I wuzevvurin the habit of swelling, I shouldn't hesitate to Usui m bed bugg rite to his (see, lied bvggs are uncommon smart in a small way; one puie uv them will lock e, inatuass in weeks with tuggs enuff to lust a small family a whole year. It d n't do eiiny good to pray when bed buggs are iu the season; ihe only way to get rid of 't in i iu bill up the whole bed in uipuafortis, and lieu heave it awa and buy a new one. Hcd buggs, when ibry htv grown awl they iuttiiit tu, are about the size of a bh'u ja's eye, and bvv a btowu compltxahun, and wheu they start out to paiiote are about as thin as a gieuse spot, but when ihuy get thro' guiioting are swelled up like ii l.lr.trr. It k- tl.etu ihicu J.ie Io gel the swelling awl out ov tbeui. It bed bticgs Lev eiiliy destiny Io full fit it must bo their rtummuks; but it seems tu mo they iuukI hcv been inuid by uxsident, same ux tlivvurs lu stick iutu some body. If they wus got np for some wUe pur pose, thty must lev iskrn lie wrong shutc, for tharo t uu't be tuny wisdom iu chawing a man awl i.ite long, and tuising a family to toiler tho sumo trude. If that is tuny wisdom iu awl this, I hope the bugge will thaw them folks as can see it, and leave me alone, Lccauce I am ono of the heiclic.s. The author of "1'iou.etheus In Atlantis" mskts the follow ii g tfler, which it ia to bo boptd t u e one will attept: "To any putlichtr, or other person, who will uy u c a itaruiiallc abd ploptr price lor Hum, I wtli tend a mice v( mathematical dtinonstistions proving that New ion's ibcory T ihe muiions of li e heavenly bodies is ful-e, that the Copcrnican sysieui is ouly u patently Hue, and that anoti ir and new ryrtt m I absolutely truo." Tis sli xi client woild that vc live in, To lend, io tjtitl, or t give in; Hut to boiiow, 1 1 big, or gel a man's own, 'Til Just the woist world that evrr ws tbown. . .