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THE ATLANTA GEORGIAN AND NEWS.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 1807.
FREEMASONRY OF YESTERDAY AND TODAY
MASONRY IN GEORGIA;
ITS PAST AND PRESENT
First Lodge of State
in Savannah in
1735.
eventful history
OF GREAT ORDER
How it Suffered apd Recov
ered to Grow to Mighty
Power.
By JUDGE JOHN R. WILKINSON.
Ibt record! of tbs Grand Lodge, F. and
i. II., were destroyed by Ore In 1520, and
so proceeding! were printed prior there-
to-and the proceeding! between 1S20 and
jiSO are out of print, and we know of
so exlttlng copies other than the yean 1813,
jS45 sod 1817. Wo must therefore depend
upon what historians (Ire us as facts.
At tbs meeting of the gnnd lodge of
England In 1733, the deputy grand master
“recommended the new colony of Georgia
Is .North America to the benevolence of
the particular lodge.” Itoger Lacey, Esq.,
ess grand steward of the grand lodge of
England at that time, and emigrated to
Uoorgla some time during that year .
Between April 17 and December 31, 1735,
Lord Weymouth, grand master of Masons
cl England, Issued a warrant, directed to
Boger Lacey. Esq., at Savannah. On,, to
open a now (partcular) lodge at that place,
and was by him faithfully executed, and
the ledge was known as King Solomon's
Ledge. Itoger Lacey was the llrst muster
of Solomon s Lodge and succeeded blusel:
until 1757, when Urey Elliott was appolntet
provincial grand master of Georgia by Lord
Aberdour, the then grand master of En
lud, and under that provincial warrant,
number of "particular" lodges were «
tabllibed throughout the province of Geer.
glo.
English Master Resigns,
to preslds over .
In the account of the formation of
grind lodge, 1787, It Is stated that ”1_.„
General Samuel Elbert was then the pro
vincial grand maater and resigned the
chair." Ills conduct bad bean so "generous
and Masonic,” that the grand lodge “pre-
■eaied him a past grand master's emblemat
ical jewel in testimony of tbelr respect and
brotherly affection.”
Brother John a. Davidson, past grand
master of Georgia, tells us In Gould's His
tory of Free Masonry, that "the convention
was held In Bavannah to December, 1787,
sad was composed of only two .lodges;
King Solomon's, chartered by the grand
lodge of England, and Hiram Lodge, char
tered by the Ancient Provincial Grant
Lodge of Pennsylvania; tba brotbern did
not understand that there was any dls-
the different lodges I
head, but tbo grant.
installed wars all members of tbs two
lodges.
Only In tha Cities.
Masonry as late as 1813 seemed to b«
conOned to the cities, for It Is reported
that at this time then were only ten active
lodges, three of which were In Savannah;
but la 1812 there were thirty lodges under
the jurisdiction of the grand lodge, and
tbo Institution was exceedingly pro
After tha great Are Id Savannah
when the records of tha grand lodgo were
burned, a new constitution waa adopted. It
provided for quarterly meetings of the
Jealousy ex-
uth<
C -and lodge, and to appease a . HHH
■ ln S between the northern and son.......
porta of the state, It provided that the
nrtt two meetings In each calendar year
should be held In Savannah, and tho other
*»o at MUIedgeville, the capital of the
sate. The flrat communication in the year
was tha annual meeting fo
irud officer*. The state
;nd the facilities for traveling so poor that
tha composition of the grand lodge at the
P[»M» was as different os If there were
22. distinct bodies. The grand officers,
tree, did not attend both, i '
ofOcera at the UUledgevllleVHiHI
*'* Pro tern otUcera. This ebon led
34 lodgo'^ad* two"aeti
one for the southern and one
•??. ’he northern meetlngB. In theory It
grand lodge at both places
tactically there were two grand lodges,
rev !*lng and repealing and thus sn-
" ul '"g the action of the other. Two eels
?! 'Sfonls were kept, bnt It was the duty
».“• secretary of etch to transmit-to
rmhiffl?*! f co,,Jr ot bis minutes; still etch
K-fd Its proceedings annually, and for
!W and 1828, Inclusive, and prob-
*y® P»mphlct8 were published,
tor /h r M Savannah and the other
lor tho Milledgevllla body.
Th. i. ,. D j»»«n»ions Aria#.™
Inevitable result followed: dissensions
bodies; criticism* were
mrJon D i ° b* r frond lodges; and at lta
EJ* 1 1°*,!n December, 183, tho MlUedgevlIle
whirh *l? 0 Pled the report of a committee
ttlmti 9eclnred that the existing constltu-
, Inadequate tc I
“raft and that Iti
™ °ot be remedied by the ordinary!
Is Hr?, Pteeetlbed In auch cases.” and that
I* B >; In the manner prescribed In the
tee ri? Uon ,0 J aatendlng lt Tho commit-
»« recommended.that the sense of tho
!SE* .J 1 * taken In relation to calllns- »
W» , lu Mllledgevlls In December,
tioni o? time pf the quarterly communlca-
srand VJ nmt V2®" constitution, and the
■3,, A® *° bettered. A committee was
IT 1 <° couot the vote, and If the re-J
toavsnUoa.* 11 tta » mrm »“ro 10 «» »*•
111 1 ' 1 .?!”"? I 04 !!,** Savannah, In March J
'!*> to this action, with the pro-
liZ ,,'. tbo new constitution should be
hat th'" 1 ,,*® the grand lodge for approval,
®et tblf by a
•ulrir, 1!, ? *,by tbsI Masons comprising the
or reilr, 1 ® Save tbe right to ratify
terms .a .**■• coustitutlon—or. In plain
• nurinrira convention, authorised by
hss tho’, y °* *be members of tbe lodges,
Iton- “n 1 . 1 " > 5 er . , ° tromo a new constltu-
ttmJSf w »» to declare that the
•'iKoli ™nstitatIon should not be
tba iS* *° the grand lodge for Its sc-
!»!aes found that seventeeu
•fsliut u ,wl i or * convention and one
tfue moiV. * n “ ‘bat. three hundred and
v»mio? a If r « voted In favor of tbe eon-
1 ‘«wtt’»h., The . r ff n,, o *“ announced In the
'‘He,! fhl‘ 1 *b* Say. and the committee
teeLi" convention, giving earh lodge
t,..l Ijt'wntatlven. Irhe convention waal
; h Yu.hi?,“
"fused to recognise the
Tt , elected graml offl-
lr»t t/I„ 'HJIwlgevtUe body met for the
irguw, „ "" December 3. 1K7. Each side
K&wSgws. «s»
to f "** clearly right, according
•a.-* I,,. ( 15* «■ heretofore held, and |
ssptlen , , wUhont perhaps a single ex-1
result, however, was as II-,
origin Z, '. b° w a >«oven>ent. Illegal Id Its
W suc?ri |iro jr«o-.becomes a revolution I
'*» and flul ratlBcatluu, scqnles-
JUDGE JOHN R. WILKINSON.
One of the two thirty-third degree Masons In Atlanta, and a promi
nent worker for the fraternity. Hii history of Masonry In Georgia la
considered an authority.
ATLANTA KNIGHTS TEMPLARS;
HER TWO COMMANDERIES
On May 14, 1859, a few Atlantans
applied to) William B. Hubbard, grand
maater of Knights Tcmplara of tho
United States, and a dispensation was
granted. ,
At the*'fourteenth triennial session
’ the grand encampment, held In the
-.oaonlc temple In Chicago, September
17, 1859, a charter was granted Coeur
DpLton commandery. It was signed
by B. B. French, grand mftoter; Wins
low Lewis, grand generalissimo, and
Samuel O. Risk, grand recorder.
The lodge numbers over 200 members
and among Its post eminent command
ers have been Julius L. Brown, L. D.
Carpenter, F. M. Freemont, John C.
Joiner, Porter King. James L. May-
son, Henry M. Robinson, Charles Tc
Watson, Park Woodward, L. P. Ste
phens and George W. Case.
The present officers of Coeur DeLton
commandery are:
A. H. Esterley, eminent commander;
C. H. Esslg. generalissimo: Henry Hoi.'
combe, captain general: Dr. Hape, pre
late; A. P. Tripod, recorder: A. L. Hoi-
brook, treasurer: Do Los L. Hill, senior
warden; Mose Holland, Junior warden;
Henry LeVert, warder; T. C. McDon
ald, standard bearer; T. B. Ferris,
sword bearer; J. M. Fuller, sentinel.
Tho Order of Knights Templars
grow so rapidly In Atlanta that in
May, 1893, application was made to
tho grand commandery of Georgia for
a charter for Atlanta commandery.
That application was made by H. C.
Stockdell, W. T. Crenshaw, Forrest
Ad&lr, T. E. Hardeman, M. B. Torbct,
T. C. Tupper, John R, Wilkinson, J.
W. Van Bibber, Zack Castleberry,
Thomas Egleston, W. F. Prloleau, S.
T. Tupper and Clark Howell, Sr.
Atlanta commandery has grown
steadily, and numbers among Its mem
bers some ot ths best known and mosk
prominent Atlantans. Forrest Adair
was the first eminent commnnder.
The present officers of Atlanta com
mandery are:
J. H. Barfield, eminent commander:
George E. Argard, generalissimo; W.
A. Sima, captain general: John R.
Dickey, excellent prelate; John R. Wil
kinson, treasurer; H. W. Dent, record
er; J. Q. Lester, senior warden; 8. E.
Smith, Junior warden; D. EL Ashby,
standard bearer; George W. Wilkins,
sword bearer; Fred W. Hadley, ward
er; J, M. Fuller, sentinel.
cence or submission of ell concerned. The
large majority of tho lodges adhered to
the MlUedgevlIle grand lodge, which pro
ceeded at once to declare the action cf the
Savannah body null and void. -
Renumering Lodges.
At Its next communication, one of tha
■—"■h lodges bad given In Its adhesion;
rteen lodges stood out. and the
spect and obey the
grand officers elected st Savannah. While
This state of thing* existed, the antl-Ma-
sonlc excitement retched Georgia and raged
with much violence. From thla combina
tion of cause*, the recusant lodges, with s
a nple exception, died out, among them
Union lodge
posed to bo
by tbo gran
rap I — _ —
C*,_No. », ^whlch hss lwen anjj-
In all probability, waa chartered by the
grand lodge of Georgia. Among them also
was Hiram lodge. No. 2, which had be
come dormant, and thro revived In 1328 os
No. 35. Nor were the MlUedgevlIle ledges
exempt from disaster.. They died out eo
practice of the grand lodge
Continued on Page Pour.
NEW TEMPLE
TO BE PRIDE
OF MASONRY
Most Beautiful in All
the South
land.
DEVOTED ENTIRELY
TO FREE MASONRY
Provision Made For Every
Branch of Ancient
Fraternity.
country, and certainly nono In tho
South that are os elaborate as to de
tail, beautiful ot design or spacious In
quarters, as will be the new structure
now being reared by the Masons of
Atlanta.
But one thought has been entertain
ed In planning this magnlflcent struc
ture—that of making an edlflce that
will be distinctly Mosonlo In Its de
signs and appointments. The thought
of commercialism has been the most
remote.
Morgan & Dillon, the Atlanta archi
tects who designed the building and
who are superintending Its construc
tion. studied the question long and well
before the plans were finally drawn.
For the same amount of money to bo
expended, a mammoth office building
could have been erected that commer
cially would have proven an excellent
Investment for the Masonic lodges that
will own the building, and still there
would have been room enough for the
use of the Masons.
But such an Idea was not entertain
ed. A building was decided upon that
would be at once an ornament to the
architectural beauty of Atlanta, and
also one that would stand Out among
the hundreds of magnificent structures
In Atlanta as one distinctly Masonic.
And this result has been attained by
the architects. But a glance Is suffl'
ORIGIN OF FREE MASONR Y;
THIRTY CENTURIES OLD
MAX MEYERHARDT.OF ROME.
Grand Master of Grand Lodge of Free Msiont of Georgia, who will
preside over the rituslistio work st laying of cornerstone.
SCOTTISH RITE MASONRY
AND KNIGHTS OF KADOSH
Hermes Lodge of Perfection, Scottish
Kite, was established In Atlanta Juna 17,
1832. Only Masona of the fourteenth de
gree, pere perfect elects, are entitled to
membership In this lodge. Sluce It wss ca
dent to acquaint tho most uninitiated tabllsbed, the growth of tho lodge has
with the alms and purposes of the been phenomenal, end Its membership now
building. And this, too, without the
ostentatious display of Masonic em
blems on the building. The Whole de
sign of the building speaks for Itself.
Soheme of Building.
The building will front on Peachtree
street 90 feet and run bock on Cain
140 feet While to the observer from
the outside the butldlng will only be
four stories In height. It will rise In the
air a distance equivalent to many of
the high office buildings. The reason
for this Is obvious when an Inspection
of the Interior hat been made. These
four stories aro very high, and so high
that tome parts of the building will
he seven stories high above the side
walk, while below the sidewalk there
will be a high basement and a sub-
bosement In addition. In other words,
there will be eeven etoriee above the
sidewalk In some parts of the building
and two stories below the sidewalk.
The exterior Is designed In a classic
motif and great skill has been shown
throughout In preserving a design
showing clearly the Intended purpose
of the building. The materiel will be
of cut stone, press brick and terra
cotta.
The principal entrance to the build
ing will be on Peachtree street through
a beautiful doonCay of cut stone Into
a marble vestibule and through a mar
ble entrance hall to the stairway and
elevntor lobby. The entrance on Cain
street will also lead through a marble
vestibule to the stairway and elevator
lobby.
The first floor of the building will
contain a large reception room, ladles'
parlor, cloak rooms, etc., while on the
second floor will be two lodge rooms,
with all the necessary lobbies, ante
rooms and hat and coat rooms.
One of these lodge rooms Is designed
In Corinthian style, while the other Is
In the Doric.
The Lodge Rooms.
On the third floor will be the lodge
room of the Scottish Rite of the Ma-
numbers about two hundred end fifty. The
present officers of Hermes lodge sre J. G.
Grerntlold, venerable master; W. II. Terrell,
senior warden; E. M. HSfer, -junior war
den; David Marx, orator; H, C. Stockdell,
treasurer: Paul llurkrrt, secretary; Forrest
Adair,' almoner; J. M. Wilson, mnster ot
ceremonies; John It. Dickey, expert; It. A.
Hondersou, assistant expert; C. A. Peek,
captain of the guard; J. 31. Puller, tyler;
John It. Wilkinson, trustee.
White Eagle Chapter.
Whlto Eagto chapter, Scottish Kite, Was
Chartered August 6, 1889. Only eighteenth
degree Mesons, Knights of tho Rose Croix,
are entitled to membership la this chap
ter. Tho chapter has something over one
hundred and fifty members, and Is In a
nourishing condition. Tbe present officers
ore E. 8. McCondless. wise master; David
Marx, senior warden; W. 11. Terrell, Junior
warden; A. 8. Ulchborg. orator; J. M. Wil
son, almoner; 8. P. Bnrkett, secretary;
II. C. Stockdell.. treasurer; L. H. Moss,
master of ceremonies; R. A. Henderson,
export; I„ J. Amsdon, assistant expert: G.
W. Wilkins, guard; J. M. Fuller, tjrler; John
R, Wilkinson, trustee.
Knights Kadoih.
Blnah council, Knights of Kadosh, Is tho
youngest of tho Scottish Rite lodges. It
was established December 20, 1»j9, and
now has something over one hundred and
Aft/ members, llcforo a Mason can become
n Knight of Kadosh ho must Itavn been
Initiated Into tbe mysteries of the thirtieth
degree. There sre only two councils In tbo
stutc. Tho other Is Gethscmano Preceptor/,
located at Savannah. The present officers
of tho conncll are Edwara Hnlmond Mc-
Candless, preceptor: Joseph C. Greenfield,
drat pub-preceptor; David Marx, aecond tub.
preenptor; Thomas Henry Jeffries, chancel
lor: Edward Morris Hafer, recorder; Royal
Daniel, orator; Jack Morton Wilson, si-
clnJ , g toc grtell. treasurer;
Max Zlslia Crist, draper; Lyman
den, llrst deacon; Robert Almeron Hen
derson, second deacon; John Gilmore, bear
er of benuseant; George William Wllklna,
bearer of second standard; Walter D. Waltt,
bearer of third standard: Hsrry W. Ander
son. lieutenant of guard; Jsmes Marshall
Fuller, sentinel.
OLDEST LODGE IN STATE;
PROBABLY IN AMERICA
PRESENT TEMPLE USED BY ATLANTA LODGES OF MASONS AT MITCHELL AND FORSYTH 3TREET8.
The distinction of being tho oldest
lodge In tho state of Georgia belongs
to Solomon's lodge, Free and Accepted
Masons, of Savannah. This lodge was
founded In 1735 by General James
Oglethorpe, the founder of tho colony
of Georgia, and Its charter was secured
from the grand lodge of England In
1715.
In addition to Its established claim
of being the oldest Masonic lodge In
Georgia this lodge also claims to be
the oldest lodge In the United States.
This claim Is contested by two other
lodges, the Charleston lodge, which Is
also known as Solomon's lodge, and
the Royal Exchange lodge, of Boston.
While exhaustive research and much
discussion of the question has failed
to establish the disputed point, a num
ber of writers have expressed the opin
ion that the Savannah lodgo. judged
from examinations of the records of
the mother lodge In England, Is more
nearly justified In the claim of being
the oldest lodge In the United States.
A Priceless Relic.
During the war of the Revolution
the minutes and the charter of Solo
mon's lodge were lost. A duplicated
copy of the charter was secured from
the grand lodge In England a few years
later, and It Is now prised as a priceless
relic by the present members of the
lodge.
In addition to the duplicated copy of
tho original charter, Solomon's lodgo
has a number of other Interesting relics
of colonial times which are prized most
highly.
Chief among them Is a worn and
faded Bible which was presented to
the lodge by General Oglethorpe In
1735. The name of the famous settler
and first governor of Georgia, may be
traced In faint and almost Indistin
guishable characters on the fly-leaf of
the book. The lodge has refused an
offer of 110,000 for this Bible and It can
not be bought at any price.
The deed showing the Aral real estate
purchased by a Masonic lodge In the
state of Georgia now hanrs on the
walls of the lodge at Savannah and at
tracts the attention ot all who enter
the meeting place of the lodgo.
Some Antique Aprons.
Ssveral Master Masonic aprons,
which were worn by the colonists In
early times, are also among the treas
ures of Solomon’s lodge. Chief among
them Is an apron worn by Benjamin
Sheftall, a past master In 1751.
The lodge also has the first banner
which was owned by the first lodge
ever established In the United States.
It was llrst unfolded to the breezes
over a century ago, and though
white silk of which It Is woven Is I
and split In places. It Is still In fairly
good shape, considering the length of
time It has been In existence.
Solomon’s lodge Is now In a flourish
ing condition and Is one of the most
prominent Masonic organisations In the
state.
Grand Master of Geor
gia Gives His
tory.
MAS MEYERHARDT’S
SPLENDID ADDRESS
Dates from Temple of King
Solomon in Old Jeru-
> salem.
Max Meyerhardt, of Rome, grand master
—* " gla, st
• . -jii.-n
bat It I
orglsn takes pleasure In reproducing
Masonry's Origin.
"Mnionry, Its origin. Its teaching!, Iti
deed!," ahull bo my theme. But ouly briefly
mny I touch on tny subject, for time falls
nnd patience would bo uxhanated should I
enlarge upon It
Some Mneonlc writer! have gravely Inilat-
cd that Masonry originated m the Garden
of Eden; that Adam was onr first grand
Ing sword was the
It 19 true.
they say, that Adam wore a scantier apron
than tha Masons of today; and It la also
true that the grand lodge must birrs been
mesgerly attended. Ho this as It may,
l averred that Eve was much dlasatla-
because Adam kept tho Masonla secrets
from her. for even lu that day it appears
that women were not admitted into tbe c
■ t and alter ho returned, aald
1 a lodge me*tin-
him a curtain-lecture which bo <
out 1st* si _■ ■
be had attended a lodgp mcetlng. Kve gov
sonic order and this will be of Egyp
tian design. In addition there Is a
small banquet room on this floor, de
signed In the same style.
One of tho most attractive deal
of the entire building will be the lo
room of the Knights Templars, on the
fourth floor. This room will be In
Gothic and Is a beautiful study of an
old English cathedral. It will be oraa.
mented with leaded glass of beautiful
color and design, and when shown off
by brilliant lights Inside will present
an exquisite work of art-
In the basement of tbe building,
which will be partly above the side
walk. will be the large banquet hall,
kitchen and serving rooms. Besides the
basement will contain the Hying quar
ters for the family of the custodian of
the building. It will be so arranged
that the kitchen for the banquet hall,
fitted with every modem convenience,
can be used by lbs custodian's quar
ters.
It has been the aim of r Architects
Morgan A Dillon throughout, apd the
aim has been a successful one, to have
the design ,of each lodge room sym
bolical of some period In the history of
the Masonic order. Each of the va
rious brahehes of the order will have
a room In which the style of archi
tecture and the decorations harmonise
with the particular work of that
branch.
The ceilings of each of these differ'
ent lodge rooms will be very high—eo
high that around the rooms the build
ing In some places will be two stories
high for the same distance.
Plenty of Room.
In the past the Masonic order hi
been greatly handicapped by the lack
of room In which to confer the various
degrees of the order. It has been nec
essary at times for one degree to be
conferred after another meeting con
ferring another degree had adjourned
and the regalia and paraphernalia hod
been removed.
In the new building this will not be
necessary. Various branches of the
ordJr may meet at the same time and
still there will be no conflict. Etch
branch will have Its quarters and may
meet Independently of the other, and
each room will have Its own particular
equipment and furnishings.
In fact, the description of ths build
ing might be summed up In the decla
ration that the structure will he conU
« In every detail, with nothing that
lern and skilled architects can
think of omitted. And again the build
ing will be distinctly Masonic In design
and equipment, with the Idea of com
mercialism as distinctly remote.
When completed the building will
have cost about 1300,000. and it Is
tanned to have It ready for .occupancy
y January 1, 1903.
. __ —. ASiw
. .one night, a little utmomlv
In his Knit—fortunately no latch key was
required—and his tonijiio was a little thick,
and he had an oda way of hiccoughing
between his words. And Evo vowed she
would stand It no longer. However, she
would forgive him If he would communlcnte
to her the secrets of Masonry, and would
giro him a bright, luscious apple besides.
I’oor Adam listened to the temptor, nto tho
-uple, gave Eve the password, and—well,
o wouldn't be hero now If Adam bad re*
was our nrat grand master, and some even
claim that Balaam was tho llrst Mason,
tml one day, when slono with his donkcv,
ho rehenrsed the degrees before that mil-
uinl, which so nstonlshed hlm-tho animal—
that ho. nctunlly opened his mouth nnd
■pnko. No doubt that was tho first donkey
that ever spoke, hut I am ready to say
that It was not tho list.
. However, I will leave these myths nnd
legends, these Jests that tho humorous Ma-
sonic antiquarian has prepared for nur en
tertainment, nnd will say, In nil serlotuneia,
that Masonry, In tha opinion of learned
and well-informed Masons, originated In
that golden age of Jewish history, when cii
tho throno of Israel sat .Solomon, tho wisest
of men, tha greatest of kings, who stood
at the head of the poets, orators, snges and
prophets of his sgt; when peace relpnci
throughout the lend sod proaperlty wl
Its borders, when every man dwelt,
Thirty Centuries of Masonry.
From the emblematic walls of every lodgo
room, thirty centuries of Masonic history
and .Masonic glory look down upon us. For
It was three thousand years ago that It
— 1 Into the heart of tho wise uml
. king to build a bouse to tha name
of the Lord. And so bo gathered together
153,000 willing craftsmen, skilled In archi
tecture, and for iaven long years, while
the sound of axa tnd hammer were on
board. tba work progressed under the di
rection of the great king.
And so It was ths wondrous Temple roae,
In silence and In grandeur, until Its goldeu
spear heads pierced tho skies. Its plllnrs
and Its porches ahono resplendent and benu-
i Ifni, and within Its holy of holies rested
heklnah of tho Uvlng Godl
How that bsaatlful fabric npgrows:
rom the heart of ths King, (Iks a voice
less prayer.
How It mounts. In Its fragrant repose.
Bearing upward King Holomon's worship.
As iriconso ascends from the rose!
Ia their brass and their silver, their mar
ble Sod (Old,
All nolseleis tbo crafts have wrought.
Till, In grandeur of silences tbelr works
unfold
As with life everlasting fraught,"
And thus Freemasonry hnd lta birth.
And thus began that splendid system that
Ims survived tho destructive forces of all
tbe ages, and lias corns down to usl after
the lapse of three thousand yean, In un
impaired vigor and In uudlmmed glory.
But not upon Its past, splendid mud
glorious as It has been, does Freemasonry
rely. For our Masonic Templo Is grander
than that of 8olomon. Yeal the glory of
this latter botsao Is greater than that ot
tbo former. Tho Masonic Temple of today
Is supported by pillars and pilasters more
enduring then those that upheld the Temple
of Solomon when It stood fa atljte beauty
nnd splendor on Morlnh'e sacred crost.
But I can not dwell on all lta principles and
teaching*, • Its practical relief. Its embodi
ment or sll that la good and noble and
true.
Briefly would I apeak nf only two of tho
great plllnrs that uphold our Temple—tbe
protection of womanhood and tho practice
of brotherly love.
Principles of Masonry.
More than any oilier human agency bas
Masonry derated tbo standard of woman
hood. Far back In tho misty past. In
rod* and barbarous times. Frcemusnnrv
•tood like a rock for tbe defenio of worn-
_ favored century, tho shield
of lta potent protection 1ms been felt In tho
life of many a woman—sometime* unknown
oven to her.
It la trn* that woman can not bo Initiate,1
ita tho tnysterlet of Freemasonry. It la
..we that she Is deharred from the bolt"'
room, save on public ocesslons. Yet It
g 0 j oar aecrets to say that
lost aarred nml moat solemn
vows assumed by every Mason Is the pro.
teetlon of pure and noble womanhood.
He Is pledged-aye, *wora-not only to re
lieve her wants, not only to assuage her
sorrows, not only to aomtniater to her
comfort, bnt to defend to tbe Isst ex
tremity that which Is to her dearer than
life Itself—her womanly purity.
Let woman and Masonry walk hard In
hand. Their hopeo, their Ideal*, their
plrallona are tba i
inanity r~* —
Maaon b .
an. let woman be the friend of Slnsoury
is are the aame—the uplifting of ho
und the glory of G«f. Every true
Is tho friend nnd protector of 'com
et woman be the friend of Jlnsoury.
The time spent In a lodge room or In Mi
rente work make* Iwstt. r husbands, better
fathers, better brothers, better cltlreus
Next to retlaloo—and tiiat should always
rams flrst-Marenry Is the grandest, nur. at
and holleat Inttttntloo in the world.
In hut or In palort. In cottage or In
mansion, where woman dwells there stands
the nngel of Masonry, the tlnuilna sword,
to guard, protect, defend, nnd If need be,
to smite with resistless power'.*
And now a few words on that great key-
Continued on Page Four,