Shall Masonry Be?

christianize , yet the wise hath it informed , the arm of anger hath it stayed , and the dy ing bed on the battle-field hath it softened . Ladies and gentlemen , the past of Masonry has been sung by poets , many ;

has been spoken by orators , numberless . The road from . Solomon ' s Temple to the present time - has been worn into Masonic ruts , deep and ineffaceable , by Masonry and Masonic writers . A few jierceptive enthusiasts have found a narroio trail leading

from the beginning of the world to Solomon ' s Temple , along which the leaven of Masonry had been transported to King Solomon . But wlnit of all this ? AVe

know that Masonry has been , all know that Masonry is . These are alpine facts that cannot be blotted out by the mistakes of Masons , by the soured Blanchard , or by Papal Bulls . The past is assured , but how of the future ? " Shall Masonry be ? " That is the question which interests youas well

, as the world at large . This is the day of Masonic growth . There have been the iron , chivalric , and golden ages . This might aptly be termed the secret age . During the past year there have been about 38 , 000 added to the Masonic rolls .

All others secret societies have also prospered , as never before , The world seems ready to swallow anything that smacks of secrecy . The returns already received from various Masonic lodges throughout the world , number the army that marches

under the letter "G" as about 800 , 000 strong . This would indicate that there must be about one million of Masons in the world . This vast army of men , sound in mind and limb , has voluntarily volunteered , and for the privilege of so doing has paid at least twenty-five millions of dollars .

The expenditure by Masons for Masonic purposes foot up several millions of dollars annually . I only speak of the vast number of Masons on our rolls , the vast accessions to our xanks , and the vast amount expended annuallto show the status and prosperity

y , of our Order . To the large amount I have named expended by the Masons , add an equal amount expended , by other orders , and you find there are expended annually oy secret societies , from five to ten millions ° f dollars . No church in Christendom has

increased m numbers and prospered as has the Masonic Institution . In our prosperit y there is danger . Out of the 38 , 000

taken on board our Masonic ship during the past year , how many Jonahs should have been heaved overboard ? Our ship is strong ; she has successfully buffeted - the waves of adversity , which threatened at times to overwhelm her . She still dashes

along with her million passengers ; she laughs at the black storms which threaten her ; she has gallently breasted the waves of Morgan times ; she has passed over all opposition . Now , it seems , she is safe in the harbour of popular favour . Not so !

AVhere the waters look calm and placid a rock may strike her keel ; and it may be , that only by the utmost exertions of her bravest passengers can she be saved from destruction . Such is the danger to our Order . Nowall looks calm ; but when

, , and where least expected , the Masonic Institution may receive a blow that will stagger , if not destroy . A few weeks ago a ship weut down . She was strong and sound . Many times had

she crossed and re-crossed the Atlantic . Danger was unexpected . A simple looking barrel was placed on board by a man of good address . AVithin that barrel was destruction . Clockwork noiselessly lifted a lever . An explosion , followed , and over one hundred persons were launched into

eternity . The vessel is no more . The clanger to that ship was within her own hulk . Has our Masonic ship the powder on board to injure or destroy her ? Brethren , I say yes ! I choose not to mouth this matter . AVe have liars on board , liars

who daily ignore their vows and forget their solemn obligations ; we have adulterers on board , adulterers who have been taught virtue ; we have drunkards on board , drunkards who have pledged temperance ; we have thieves on board

, thieves who have stolen the livery of Masonry in order to cover up their wrongs ; we have slanderers on board , slanderers who hesitate not to slander or libel a

brother whenever they think they can gain aught by so doing ; we have assassins on board , assassins who are too cowardly to kill , but who are brave enough to stab with the stiletto of falsehood , the fair fame and

reputation of a brother . This being true—and who dare gainsay it—is it not strange that the corruption found within the hulk of the Masonic shi p does not explode it into atoms ? It is onl y the strength of its structure , the purity of 2 ( 2