Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Address Of P.G.M. Bro. Hon. Richard Vaux, At Centennial Of American Union Lodge.
or pyramids , establish strength and beauty in the structures . So it was , and is to this day . It was some of these initiates in the fellowship of the mystery that from tribes and surrounding nations , who under the influences of motives and purposes by which
civilization fostered intercommunication , came to King Solomon , as duty instigated , to aid in the erection of a House of the Lord of which they had knowledge by the teachings of the fraternity . Then it wasand there , that the first
, Grand Lodge of Freemasons icas opened , and then it was that the fellowship of ilia mystery was formulated into the Fraternity of Freemasons . Those who there were then assembled of
the tribes , nation , peoples , or from whencesoever they came , of whatever tongue , and were before , or at that time , initiated into the fraternity of Free Masons , constituted the exclusive and ori g inal constituents of the Craft . To them and their descendants forever
was given the possession and the privileges of Masonic Bites . It was to those peoples aud nations only which developed civilization that were to be their custodians . The landmark was then set up by the hands of G M . Solomon and G . M .
Hiram , King of Tyre , aud G . M . Hiram , Abiff . In the presence , and by the Sovereign and Supreme authority of the Grand Lodge then established , this landmark was hallowed for all Time . Those who were then absent , of
whatever race , tongue or people , are absent now , and cannot be received into the fraternity , while the inviolability of landmarks is the foundation of the institution of Free
masonry . It must be remembered that " The Great Light ' ' which is ever on . our Altaideclares : Curseth be he who removeth his neighbour ' s landmark . " And our Grand Master Solomon hath said : " Remove not the ancient landmark which thy fathers
have set . " It may be that a law is violated , but violations of laws do not destroy them . Therefore , from the teachings of Time , and the lessons of Truth , as they help , aid and assist each other during their progress to the fulfillment of their mission , it is made to appear to the investigator and the thinker , that Freemasonry may have thus
Address Of P.G.M. Bro. Hon. Richard Vaux, At Centennial Of American Union Lodge.
been transmitted to ns . Is it not the outcome of those cults and mythologies or mysteries which were hid from ages and from generations , and which have been revealed to those who are now initiates in the
symbolic mysteries . ' The present occasion , my brethren , was deemed appropriate , as'its purpose involved not only the centennial celebration of the anniversary of the constitution of a lawfully warranted Lodge of Freemasons , but also a public attestation of the devotion of the Fraterntiy to the institution they claim to be the most ancient and honorable
existing among mankind , to present some views that may justify this claim , and shield Freemasonry from those continued assaults upon it , that Truth aided by Time make alike ridiculous and impotent . As St . John , to whose memory to day we
hold forth our ceremonial , saw in a vision at Patnios the revelation of some of these mysteries , and then beheld that bow which was on the cloud for a sign to Noah , round about the Great White Throne as the further sign of the fulfillment of the covenant
under which it was first spoken ; and as St . Paul declared : " I knew a certain man , whether in the body or outside of the body I know not—God knoweth— -who was rapt into Paradise and heard things ineffable which it is not lawful for a man to repeat ;"
so let us my brethren , in holy faith , hold fast to the landmarks of that " fellowshi p of the mystery " which have been taught us by Truth , and which Time has revealed to us as a Fraternity of Freemasons , until it come topassthat by our faith ,
obe-, , dience and hope we shall be prepared for those holier mysteries which hid with God before the world was are celebrated before His Throne from Everlasting to Everlasting -
Short Is The Way.
SHORT IS THE WAY .
SHORT is the way , yet rough and dreary ; E ' er half is past our feet are weary , Ay , weary with the way ; The flowers at first that bloomed so bright Have faded in the morning light—Their thorns still stay .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Address Of P.G.M. Bro. Hon. Richard Vaux, At Centennial Of American Union Lodge.
or pyramids , establish strength and beauty in the structures . So it was , and is to this day . It was some of these initiates in the fellowship of the mystery that from tribes and surrounding nations , who under the influences of motives and purposes by which
civilization fostered intercommunication , came to King Solomon , as duty instigated , to aid in the erection of a House of the Lord of which they had knowledge by the teachings of the fraternity . Then it wasand there , that the first
, Grand Lodge of Freemasons icas opened , and then it was that the fellowship of ilia mystery was formulated into the Fraternity of Freemasons . Those who there were then assembled of
the tribes , nation , peoples , or from whencesoever they came , of whatever tongue , and were before , or at that time , initiated into the fraternity of Free Masons , constituted the exclusive and ori g inal constituents of the Craft . To them and their descendants forever
was given the possession and the privileges of Masonic Bites . It was to those peoples aud nations only which developed civilization that were to be their custodians . The landmark was then set up by the hands of G M . Solomon and G . M .
Hiram , King of Tyre , aud G . M . Hiram , Abiff . In the presence , and by the Sovereign and Supreme authority of the Grand Lodge then established , this landmark was hallowed for all Time . Those who were then absent , of
whatever race , tongue or people , are absent now , and cannot be received into the fraternity , while the inviolability of landmarks is the foundation of the institution of Free
masonry . It must be remembered that " The Great Light ' ' which is ever on . our Altaideclares : Curseth be he who removeth his neighbour ' s landmark . " And our Grand Master Solomon hath said : " Remove not the ancient landmark which thy fathers
have set . " It may be that a law is violated , but violations of laws do not destroy them . Therefore , from the teachings of Time , and the lessons of Truth , as they help , aid and assist each other during their progress to the fulfillment of their mission , it is made to appear to the investigator and the thinker , that Freemasonry may have thus
Address Of P.G.M. Bro. Hon. Richard Vaux, At Centennial Of American Union Lodge.
been transmitted to ns . Is it not the outcome of those cults and mythologies or mysteries which were hid from ages and from generations , and which have been revealed to those who are now initiates in the
symbolic mysteries . ' The present occasion , my brethren , was deemed appropriate , as'its purpose involved not only the centennial celebration of the anniversary of the constitution of a lawfully warranted Lodge of Freemasons , but also a public attestation of the devotion of the Fraterntiy to the institution they claim to be the most ancient and honorable
existing among mankind , to present some views that may justify this claim , and shield Freemasonry from those continued assaults upon it , that Truth aided by Time make alike ridiculous and impotent . As St . John , to whose memory to day we
hold forth our ceremonial , saw in a vision at Patnios the revelation of some of these mysteries , and then beheld that bow which was on the cloud for a sign to Noah , round about the Great White Throne as the further sign of the fulfillment of the covenant
under which it was first spoken ; and as St . Paul declared : " I knew a certain man , whether in the body or outside of the body I know not—God knoweth— -who was rapt into Paradise and heard things ineffable which it is not lawful for a man to repeat ;"
so let us my brethren , in holy faith , hold fast to the landmarks of that " fellowshi p of the mystery " which have been taught us by Truth , and which Time has revealed to us as a Fraternity of Freemasons , until it come topassthat by our faith ,
obe-, , dience and hope we shall be prepared for those holier mysteries which hid with God before the world was are celebrated before His Throne from Everlasting to Everlasting -
Short Is The Way.
SHORT IS THE WAY .
SHORT is the way , yet rough and dreary ; E ' er half is past our feet are weary , Ay , weary with the way ; The flowers at first that bloomed so bright Have faded in the morning light—Their thorns still stay .