Western Sun & General Advertiser, Volume 15, Number 48, Vincennes, Knox County, 15 January 1825 — Page 1

BY KLMU STOUT. V1NCENNES, (IND.) SATURDAY, JANUARY 15, 1825, Vol. 15. No. 48.

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an individual might still be a sufferer. For as each individual in society would be more attentive to the supply of his own wants, than of those of his fellows, it would unquestionably happen, that from some unforeseen accident, from chance,

or from misfortune', some member of so

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AN ORATION Delivered bv Brother JOHN LAW, on the festival ot St. J din, December 27th, 1824, and published at the request of Vincenucs Lodge, No. 1. Comianiona & Brothers WE are assembled once more to eclebra'e our sui.i -annual festival. The return of this day, de-

rV.tpa to our natron, has brought us a-

band of brethren Let

us then act as such. Let no feelings but

X those of love to God, & go"d will to man,

enter our hearts on the present occasion

T.pt a snirit of neace abide by, and letnam

and at all times that the

world may acknowledge the beneficial efforts of the principles which we advocate

-mrl nnt nniv acknowledge, but fcei the

C t ft v . . j - happy result arising from the exercise o them. Let the cords which bind us to

gether never be loosened. Let the bind of brotherly love never be broken, but mav we so feel, think and act, that man

shall be compelled to acknowledge, that the highest honors to which he can attain, is to be ranked as a Free and an Accep

ted Mason. . Rcsfiectcd Friends, to trace the origin, the rise, and the progress of Masumy, would be a task which the brightest, and

V most intelligent of our order would hardly attempt on the pr sent occasion ; and even did I feel qualified to perform to arduous a duty, I should not feel disputed to trespass on your patience, by. entering into what I have no doubt, you, with good reason micht conceive, an uninteresting

detail. Vhe history of operative Masoni v commences with the creation of man, J

and as the science is a prwgtcssive one, it has continued, and will continue to improve, until the works of creation shall be ended. The Supremo Aichitcrt of Heaven and Earth laid the foundation of it in the citation of the woild, and man, whom he had made "but little lower than the angels." has from the principles then established made an application of them to his own wants and weakness. The pi in ciplc of the science are, however, always the same, Sc whether viewed in th? rough and unpolished materials which served as a protection from heat 5c cold by the antkieluvians, or in the more splendid spe cimens of architecture as shewn in the temple of the Most High at Jciusalem. The same principle governed, k the same rule directed the building ol each But, my friends, it is not as operative Masons tha we, as a society, are to be considered, neither do I believe, nor is it so acknow

ledged or understood by the Fraternity, that our society is to be iraccd to an association of this kind. It it were so, I can assure you, that but few of us have made any improvement in the science, and the workmen at the temple were a far before us i:i point of architectural science, as we arc b'.foic them in regard to every other. It is as speculative Masons that we boast ot our order ; the application of mechanical morality, if 1 may be allowed the expression, to the improvement of our lives and conduct. AnJ it is in this point of view that I shall invite your attention, whi'c I endeavour to lay before you some of the benefits which have arisen lrom the establishment of our order. That man is a crcauirc dependant on society alone for the supply of his wants, is nn avi.im beyond the possibility of u mb: or cavil. To supply these wants, at (1 uiiitVord mutual av-istance. one loanohcr, was the original design of its creation. It is also no les u nc, that from a mere vh-ntarv c:iv:avr.ic!it oi this kind.

where he would be entirely dependant up

on the supply aflVdcd by the other members of the community, and if this assistance would not beViven, he must of necessity MiflVr, as mst also those who were dependant uponXhim. In oidci to make this compact mote strong then In ouler to feed the hnngiy, clothe the na

ked, and relieve the distressed In older to shew the immediate connexion between

man and his fedo.v man; to hind them

together in unity, nor society was institu

ted. Do vou douot i' ?

Ask the stop a recked mariner as he

dings to -the lat plank cl his wrecked

vessel, when driven on a t reign shove, vhosc friendly voice brought him to ihjit u.d lite, and introduced him to the cantoris of a home. He will tcii you a Masons. Ask the soldier while gasping io death from the los of blood, who applied, the bandage to his wound who i Awhile dv'mcr with thirst, that divided thft bt re mains of his nearly exhuusud atl' Vi.m

room. But it will be said, if these are the principles which govern you ; if these are the maxims inculcated ; if the gicat object of your society is to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and relieve the disturbed ; it lessons of biotherly love Sc charity are aione taught and practised by ou, wliy do you clothe youi selves in the garb ofmystciy; why arc your procctciincs

. . 1 ......... I .. vJ

i he very object tor winch ti c soctey was euvucu w mi u,e n;a:Ulc ot seciecy vl v

oiiginai.y instituicu would oc unenccieu, as man, instead of looking on his fellow man as a blether, would view him as an

enemy to his faith, and a foe to his prin

Masons we should our influence is' circumscribed by the confines of earth alone. Weie we to prescribe certain lulcs of faith, wheic should we begin, or where

should we end. Instead of Masonry being universal in its influence, it would be par

tial in its operation, confined to some particular sect, and the great principles of

the older would be entirely destroyed.

n.oie vesiorSt:t S.

him. a; d plaetil i itn in a situaiion v!;t re-

life and anitoat'o; was onrt ed he vviil tell yon the M

Ask the brave and g dlant Putnam who was it, that while the flame wan tapidiy approaching his vitals, while amost sulfocted with smoke, while the demoi s ol th.is world were exulting in the sailihte of an American, to gratify their hellish barbarity who was it lha' caused the burning faggots which surioiii did l.im to be scatteu d to the winds ol Heaven, and caused the upulted hand of the Indian, in the act of thw"u tr the lomhauk at his

ciples. vvriiusas .Masons, our concerns are entirely with the world. It is the promotion cf mans happiness here, that we look to his religious opinions ate mat

ters to be settled with his conscience and

his God. c cri juiic ol no man s teligious or pohiieul !Ynh we do not ask l.im to join us i-i id he do to, however, we expect him t ;. lievc in a great first cause, and to conduct himseli as a taithlul citizen in the government which pioteets him. But it will be baid, admitting all thU, y:t, that Christianity goes farther, fcc piepaies man not only for happiness here, but for a state ol happiness hereafter. Without, however, attempting to draw the line of distinction between the individual who lives up to all the ptcccpts ol our order, and him who in addition to it

h s the p.ospect of Heaven as he thinks

opened to his view ; 1 would simply ask

how far that n; an deviates iiom the great

purposes ol creation, and how tar he is a rtbel acrainst God, who honours him and

does to his nr io-hbor as he would have lu

neighbor do to him ? Now the principle ol our society inculcate these doctrines to

their tulles! extent we believe in them, and we endeavor to pi active them. Ours is entirely a religion of works, and he is the best Mason who petfosms the most

of them.

And my friends, one single remark

victim, to fall nerveless by his side who j more in i elation to this subject. Had the

was it while he could not understai d one word of our language, wxs not insensible to ihe mysiiek signal of the Widow N Son he vvill teil vou, a Ficnehm.m i.nd a brother. G.) to the cabbin of the widowed mo ther, and ask who it was that while deprived of food, atul covering her ncwoin infant with her scanty ie;s, Ins hiVmLht food and raiment to h.r needy lutwirv Ask the orphan deprived ol the guarxnan caieof his parents, who it was ihul Uiok Iv.m by ihe hand, rtared him with parental love and affection, and finally placed him ia a situation vvneie ease and competence might be o btained by his own inous,ry and talents, instead of beidg .Oi outcast up'oi ihe world and they will tell you that it was a Ma-sons care that provided for the first, a d a Masons patronage lha- protected the la.U;. but i. may be said these charities are

not extended, it is onlv to 'lumbers

your own society that this aid is aflbided. My friends it is not so True it is, we arc commanded to do good to all mankind, but mo;c especially should it be done to IhchouselKod ol the lailhlul i he acPyjd volume informs us, that he who pioi

dcth not lor his own housciioul, is wwis than an infi lei" and should any one ol those who weie aiued to you be in distress your own feelings would prompt y ou to afford it, before relieving a stranger so it is with us as Masons; the mcmbeisof cur own society certainly have the fust claim upon our services but oor charities us Masons, arc bounded by no sectarian feeling Jew or Gentile, mcmbeis or not, wc feel it our duty to relieve distress whereever vvc may find it ; and our ben

evolence like our laws, is unlimited. but it will be said, if such are the principles you adopt, and such the practice,

why not as men live up to all the pieccnis of icUe'ton, and as vou say that the greUt

principle of your society, is to love GmV

and do good to all mankind, why not also act in conformity with the whole system of Christianity ? My friends, as Masons wc are taught to do so, so far as the word of God is given to us as a syMem of morals, and for the very bett reason, because as a system of that kind we believe it to be the best that Ins ever been given to man for his instruction and edification But here tve xrofi ; vvc do not ask whe-

ther a man believes in one Uoa, in

three ; whether he believes in theVliCmi'.y

principles of our order bcendirTercnt from

what thev are, our society instead cf flourishing lor moie than two thousand years, would now; like the Druids of old, be rcmembeicd only in history for should religious or political feelings be once admitted among r.s, like the moneychangerat Jciusalem, they could not hut pollute the 1 cmplc of Masonry. It is by entirely abstaining from either, that older is preserved unviolatcd. but it will be urged, that although cur theory is excellent, although our system is calculated to do a great deal of good, although many of oiir works arc evincive

of that charity which we profess, yet that many individurds.vvho profess to be Masons, arc very far from living up to the principles we inculcate. My friends, no man was ever made worse by becoming a Masc n. That when he has become one, his conduct may not be in accordance with those rides which ate laid down for our government is sometimes unhappily too true. This is not however, owing to any defect in the system, bad men vvill sometimes insinuate themselves into the very best societies it is no argument agiinst the society itself. This reasoning

fioiii use to abuse, is just as applicable to the christian church, as to us. Who would dare to say, that because Judas betrayed his master, the eleven oilier apostles were hypocrites ; or that because Lucifer was hurled from Heaven, that the angelic choir who worship round the tluone of God are rebels against his will. Yet the same train of reasoning leads to this conclusion

The fact is, that no society in the world

not open the doors of your Lodge to the woild, and permit mankind to obsetvc your actions there, as well as elsew here. An answer has been so of tn given io questions ol this kind, that it would appear wholly unnecessary again io leply to them but, my friends, Uu you o lbi Lc induced to think that our fom s are but

mere empty ceremony. & that the essence:

of Masoniy consists merely in the: obsei-

vancc ot them, pciiv.it mc bi it fly to stale

a lew rcasc ns why we observe them, and

why it is ll at as a society, we keep cur pioceedings a secret from the woild. It can haully have escaped the observation ot the attentive observer ot mankind, that there is some paiticular mark which distinguishes one man,-or one set of men from another, and this distinguishing feature is r.ot to much a difference ot manncs at.d conduct, as it is a difference in their diess c outward deportment. Now of the various sects into which re ligion .s divided, there is no great diflicul'y in ascertaining to which an individual belongs lrorn his mere personal appearance ; m d were you to ask such a one why it was that he differed from the fashion of the world, he cou d give you no other reason than that it was in accordance with the custom of his brethien. but wc, as Masons, have a costume not only peculiar, and appropriate to us as such, but eveiy article of which fiom the white apron of an entered apprentice, to the splendid robe of the High Priest, conveys a lesson

to the craft ot wisdom and inMi uctivn. So it is with our ceremonies, thcic is nothing contained in them but what is ma tcr botli of profit and edification to the Mason.

of Jesu Christ or not ; or whethep-as-a

svstem of icligiou faith, he prefers the

Koran to the bible; o that he acknowVd

ges one God the maker of all, the gate of

tlt Masonic Temple is open to him and to us it is immaterial whether he he Jew or Gentile, Mahommetan or Christian ; and I would ask you my friends, why as

but I wruld ask, even admitting that there is no lesson of usefulness conveyed in our ceicmonies, why mankind should object to them. Was there ever yet a society, and I care not how insignificant, without them ; they must be observed in order for the society to exist for a single moment, and in proportion as they are solemn and important, so will be the character and lespectability of thote wto observe them. With the Ciaft their imnor-

tance is well understood. Lach las its moial, when you see them i.egiected by a Lodge, you may rest assured that it is rapidly failing to decay and ruin. but, my friends, I would ask why it is that you should object to our secrecy. ( an you lor a moment suppose that there is any thing wrong in a society whose known and acknowledged principles arc button ed upon charity and benevolence ; a charity ai.d benevolence illimitab'c in their e-Ycicise, and bounded only by ihe confines of earth itself. Does your opposition to the order on this account proceed from the real conviction of your own understandings, that it iswiong for any ociety of men to have certain signs by which they are to know each oil er as brethren, or from a weakness incident to human nature, because you yourselves are unacquainted with out Watch Words, irigns and Tokens ; believing as 1 n rst, that your objections arucs from the frst consideration, pcio.it mc briefly to icply to it Masonry in cider to answer the

great end of its citation mu be univer-

is better guaided in thin respect, "audit sal in its influence; confined as I before

may be averted in favor of Masonry, that ! remarked, to no sect, the Masonic family whatever imperfections may be found a- j is spread over the whole woild, its lanmong its professors, the institution coun- j guagc must of course beunivetsal contenanccs no deviation from the rules of; fined to no particular country, the moright and reason ; those w ho violate the j ment a bi other meets brother, the my slaws, or infringe en good order, aie kind- j tick signal is undei stood, he hails him as ly admonished by secret monitors, w here j such, and there is no distinction ordifferthesc means have not the intended effect, ence between lhcm ; should he be in public rcprchcnricn becomes necessaiy, ; want, an obligation tenfold stronger than and at last, when every mild endeavor to the common ties of humanity, induces effect reformation is cf no avail, they arc him to afford lelief and assistance ; is he expelled the lodge as ur.fit members of, hungiy, he feeds him; is he naked, he the society." i cloths him; is he sick and in prison, he I would ask the most captious mind if visits and relieves him. The biotherly y.ny thing more could be reuiied at our love of a Mason towaids a Mason is not a hands. I have said that no man ever w as legcrcd account, it is a feeling which made worse by becoming a Mason, and I springs waimfiom the he.Mt, selfishness repeat it. The morals of thousands, how - ; makes no part of it ; thcie is with him no ever, have been impiovcd, St the Master calculation of gain or interest about it of that Gtard Lodge " not ma-!e cf h&nds, sufficient is it for him to know that it is a eternal in the Heavens," alone can tell brother that makes the appeal, but how how many families have been saved from is this to be known in order to ascertain ruin, whose domestic peace and happiness w hether his claims are just upon cur bcwould have been forever destroyed, but r.evolcnce, in order to know whether l e for the salutary effect of those principles is a member cf the Masonic family, ai d which have been inculcated in a Lodge therefore more particularly descrvir cf