The daily phoenix. (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, December 21, 1866, Image 2
ADDRESS OF HN. J. D. MIWUL,
DELIVERED IN THE BAPTIST. CHURCH,
ON WEDNESDAY EVENING, DEC. J9t ?888t
ON THE DEDICATION OF
COLUMBIA LOEE, I. 108, A.'. P.*. M.".
The Order of Free Masonry conies to us clothed with thc dignity
of antiquity, and it has traveled through the ages of the past down
to the present hour, and to its present imposing proportion, wit?
nessing in its march the rise and fall of dynasties and empires. It
has illuminated its pathway with the effulgence of its own light
beaming always from that constellation in God's moral firmament,
composed of integrity, truth, charity and religion. The spirit of it
has ever been instinct "with these grand moral virtues and energies,
whilst its practice has been directed by them to an extent ecpial to
thc efforts of any kindred fraternity known to the records of the
human family ; and it is in vain for impotent revilers to attempt to
detract from its solid claim to the respect and affection of man?
kind, by pointing to particular instances of unworthiness in the lives
and characters of individual members. The most inveterate
opposer (usually the least useful and honorable in society) will find
it now, as he has always found it, a task too grcnt alike for his
ability and his malice to undermine tho strong foundations on
which Free Masonry is reared-ard thus we may most satisfactorily
account for the comparative infrequent assaults to which it has been .
exposed in thc lapse of centuries of thc history of the human race
and of its own progress and triumphs. I would not bc understood
as asserting that the Order has not been compelled, now and then,
to wage heroic, defensive war ; to repel, with promptitude and con?
stancy, the attacks of vulgar ignorance and prejudice. Its armory
has ever supplied its friends with abundant and victorious weapons
whenever thc exigency demanded the production and use of them.
"What I mean to declare in its behalf, is : that the evidences which
have uniformly attended it of the mercifulness, charity and
humanity ot' its mission to the race of man, have ever been so pre?
valent, as to subdue hostility, however rampant, and, by their equal
mildness and brightness, to win to its warm and genial bosom, in
lowly and repentant love, the fiercest and blindest denouncer and
calumniator. It is this capacity, eminently possessed by it, of
silencing objection and reconciling opposers by its temper and
teachings, which entitles Free Masonry to a very distinguished
position amongst thc moral forces of thc world. It is emphatically
a poire/- amongst thc moral agencies of society for great good, and
not for evil, displaying the amplitude of its resources whenever and
wherever good can be effected for mortal man by exerting them
not with noisy pomp and gorgeousness of outward exhibition ; not
with proclamation in advance of its pious ministrations, but with
unpretending modesty and diffidence of approach, and with the
sofiiy voice of charity and love.
Yes, unquestionably our Order has ever been a power in the world,
and a conquering ixwcer-necessarily such by reason of its elemen?
tal structure and the nature of the field chosen for its internal
operations. The human heart is thc theatre of its activity. It
seeks to secure conquests there that it may send forth its votaries
and subjects glowing with thc desire to find where suffering and
want dwell, that they may replace them with happiness and abun?
dance ; animated with the courage to penetrate into the dark prison
houses and plague houses of thea- unfortunate fellow-creatures with
healing in their voices and hands, undeterred by the dangers of
fatal pestilence and premature death. Avoiding the contentions of
thc political aren;!, rejecting the proud distinctions of ambitious
greatness, unseduced by the allurements of wealth and fashion,
Frei; Masonry quietly pursues its high calling of benevolence and
human amelioration, struggles silently but earnestly to fulfill its
mission of love and mercy to society, and by diligent tenderness
and watchfulness over its own brethren, steadily and perseveringly
endeavors to hold them to all their noble duties of temperance,
industry, justice and truth, not only for their own honor and
advancement, but likewise, by the force of example, for the wider
and more general dissemination and acceptance of tthe glorious
precepts and principles of tin; institution. While, however, the
transient honors of political life are not corruptly sought, the
prizes of selfish ambition not too much coveted, the fascinations of
fortune and the foolishness of fashion not permitted to usurp thc
throne of thc mind or heart, yet no better or purer school for the
instruction and Inspiration of the patriot, the estimate of the value
of public honors, ol' wealth and fashion, eau be entered, than that
of Free Masonry. Its teachings ami discipline are intended to
prepare the aspirant for public honors ; to discriminate between the
triumphs that may be now in political life and the method of
achieving them ; to demonstrate to such, that while the prizes of a
successful public career of themselves, and in themselves, may be
altogether worth struggling for, the paths which conduct to them
maybe stained with blood and darkened by crime ; to instruct the
possessor of wealth that he is endowed with it by Providence as
a sacred trust, to bc fulfilled under a r?sriousibility of Divine impo?
sition for the blessing and not for the cursing of humanity, and to
enable rational men and women te distinguish between the follies
and extravagance of fashion and that refinement and elegance of
life and manners Avhich are at the same timi' the intelligent plea?
sures and graceful adornments of civilized society.
It is thus perceived, that in the discharge of the important func?
tions of a teacher and instructor, Fret- Masonry enters the domain
of thc affections, and endeavors to rule the heart-the seat of sen?
sibility-rather than the brain-the scat of intellect; that it elects
to reign in the moral rather than in the intellectual nature of man;
not at all doubting but that its supremacy over the affections and
sensibilities once established, it would speedily lead captive the
proud powers of tho mind, and bc ablo to direct and appropriate a
large part of its energies in the cause of virtue, purity, charity and
truth. Nor docs this mode of action furnish any evidence of weak?
ness or timidity in tho constitution of the Order. If it addresses
its cfforts'at first to the conquest of the moral nature, to the affec?
tions and imagination, rather than to the subjugation of thc
intellect, it is because experience has taught it that thu heart is
stronger than the mind in controlling the trill. The mind reasons,
the judgment determines or concludes, while the will-the groat
master faculty-decides all questions in practical life. The effort,
then, of Free Masonry to secure the alliance of tho moral powers
of our nature, in its enterprises of philanthropy and charity, of
virhie and truth; above all, to secure the co-operation of the imagi?
nation-itself a great power, sometimes lifting the soul, as it were,
into a new existence, and re-bathing it at the fountain of immortal?
ity-is not the dictate of cowardice, but of a wise and honorable
policy.
Whatever, then, of formal pageantry may characterize thc external
workings of Free Masonry, if its occasional celebrations and festi?
vals are marked before the public with gorgeous ensignia and
resplendent paraphernalia; if it practices in signs and secrets;
adopts types and symbols; deals in emblems, enigmas and hierogly?
phics; the whole great purpose of all its machinery is to reinforce
the capabilities for good of the Order, by-wooing to its support in
the noble task it has undertaken, of blessing and comforting tho
miserable of the race, the almost divine aid of the imagination.
The mastery of the moral nature of man is essential to thc
advancement of Free Masonry, and the high purpose of its labors.
Brotherly love, hope, charity, sobriety, honor, truth and fidelity, are
plants of the soul, whose golden fruits can best mature in its rich
and resplendent gardens, where sun-light and streams forever
rejoice; and while the majestic powers of the intellect may sweep
?round thc circle of all knowledge, explaining and expotmding its
profoundest mysteries, and adding to its glorious stores new and
more exalted ideas, the cause of virtue and human civilization, of
human improvement and amelioration, philanthropy and truth must
languish and decay, unless it be warmed and energized by the
sympathies of t he heart and the approval of the conscience, "among
the faculties, the king upon the throne." This is the view which
enlightened Free Masonry takes of the relative influence of '.'moral
and intellectual causes noon human progress;" and it has been very
forcibly and truly said, that "ploughing the head is easy culture
enough; but ploughing the heart-here we encounter stone. He re
is needed the power of dod. li is not what a man accomplishes,
that is material, but. what, ho becomes; not his learning, but his
training; not his accumulations, but himselt." And again: "Intel?
lectual truth is complete when understood, moral when practiced.
The former is something to be known, the latter something tobe
done." This great truth the discriminating intelligence and moral
sense of Free Masonry most thoroughly conjprehend, accept and act
upon; well knowing that while the brilliant theoretic triumphs of the
intellect beget in it ostentation, and till it with pride, the practical
labors of our Craft, regarding what is to be done, rather than what
may be thought and known, in silent and effective streams pour
upon the human family charities and gifts both for its physical and
moral purification.
The. fallen passions and appetites of man are the great obstruc?
tion to their moral improvement, and these require the most watch?
ful restraint and rebuke, lest in their reckless and licentious vehe?
mence of indulgence, they may usurp power over the conscience
itself, and over-ride justice, honor and truth. This, therefore, is a
field in which Free Masonry <. rcerts its disciplinary fp.ee with most
signal efficacy. Here its conservative vigilance is never permitted
to relax. It anticipates the rising storm, and subdues it before it
has gathered its wrathful maturity of strength. Its incipient thun?
ders, with its occasional lightning flashes, are perceived in thc dis?
tance, when the reason, judgment, the heart and conscience are
immediately invoked to drive it back to its noisy caverns, there to
expend its impotent and baffled force.
Nothing caii more grievously afflict the faithful votary of Freo
Masonry than the exhibitions of the ascendancy in the heart, espe?
cially in that of a Brother, of vicious tastes and desires, as from
their continued influence, moral profligacy and debauchery are sure
to follow. Oh! what fearful ravages have been wrought in the moral
universe of God, by first yielding to and then with fatal eagerness
cultivating the corrupt tendencies and proclivities of the poor human
heart! What an aw tul wreck of all that is beautiful und true, that
is elevated and chaste, grand and commanding in the moral and
intellectual faculties of men, do, we too often behold ns the result of
even a single vicious sentiment or appetite, when once it has
achieved the mastery in the moi'tal breast! Therefore, to fence
about the heart with every practicable barrier against thc encroach?
ment of sinful and debasing passions, and to plant upon the out?
posts faithful sentinels, courageous to sound the alarm, is one of the
gravest duties of our Order, which cannot be remitted without
exposure to the imputation of disregarding one of the highest obli?
gations of Masonic imposition.
To succor the stricken bodily frame, to protect it against the as?
saults of disease and famine, whether the objects of its ministra?
tions be Brethren or strangers, are offices inseparably pertaining to
the Masonic Brotherhood. But what are the necessities of that
perishing structure of evanescent and decaying flesh and blood,
bone and muscle, howevir wonderful ?ind beyond mortal skill to
organize, when contrasted with the wants of the immortal soul
which animates it-of chat never dying, imperishable, spiritual and
moral fabric, the heart, with all its affections and sensibilities ; the
conscience, Avith its .vast responsibilities, so enlarged and comprehen?
sive as to project into eternity itself? It is thc health of these
moral faculties, their discipline and full development, which should
always engage the attention and efforts of our Fraternity. If it bt
indeed the design of physical training to perfect the development oi
the bones and sinews and muscles, to endow them with growth,
strength and activity, with power of endurance, in order to mala
men successful wrestlers with the manifold toils and hardships oi
life, it is certainly a most imposing and urgent part of the Masonic
obligation to train the faculties of the soul-to drill them witt
every good word and work, to meet heroically and triumphantly tin
inward and spiritual conflicts, which they must engage, so thal
finally men may be made invincible, moral, athletic, conquering
every temptation and allurement towards profligacy of sentiment o:
manner.
There is one thought in the mind of atrae Mason which is always
attended with lively emotional pleasure, and it is this: however his
labors may sometimes fail in emancipating the victim of evil pas?
sions and appetites from his moral bondage, hi; is conscious of hav- ^
ing done no harm to the subject of his solicitude in doing his duty;
and although ht: may find himself compelled reluctantly to admit
that he has failed in a particular instance or individual, there ever
remains itt his breast a calm and delicious joy, emanating from a
consciousness of pure integrity of purpose and the hope that thc
odor of a good motive, with corresponding fidelity of action, must
sweetly smell to Heaven. According to my opinion of thc ordina?
tions of Providence for the government of the moral world, no truly
good or benevolent action eau be performed, especially if its spring
be puro and unpolluted, without being attended with some valuable
rc?i?t, although it may not be realized within the knowledge of tho
actor or of those immediately surrounding him. The Divine Mas?
ter above, omnipotent, omniscient, supremely good and merciful, will
not permit the desire even of one of his creatures to do good and
be useful to society to be cultivated, without receiving tho crown of
his blessing, whether it be displayed to mortal sight or hidden away
from human observation. What peculiar happiness wells up in tho
heart of a good ami faithful Mason when he reflects upon this great
and consoling truth ! And how powerful indeed in thc encourage?
ment which it begets to persevere in his resolution to alleviate the
sufferings, animate the sinking hopes, and improve the moral con?
dition of such members of thc human family as are embraced within
thc allotted sphere of his influence and efforts! And just here hes
one of tlic principal sources of that invincible faith and confidence
which, ever abide with the true disciple of Free Masonry, upholding
him amidst the painful mortification he sometimes endures for
hopes of doing good disappointed and enterprises of human ameli?
oration defeated. His reliance upon and faith in the superintend?
ing providence of (lod, project a glorious light along his path, so
that his feet shall not stumble nor his heart grow faint in running
the race set before him-of pious benevolence, philanthropy ami
charity. He knows that in every sigh he bi t allies and in every tear
he sheds for the sorrowing pilgrims ot' earth, lhere is a prayer that
shall not be made in vain-that shall reach to yonder brigid, and
blissful world where (rod dwells, from which ii will be mercifully
answered, according io His infinit*3 goodness and truth. This faith
of the Mason in the faith <>r belied' of lite heart, as contradistin?
guished from the judgment, or belief of the mind, which is formed
by the purely intellectual process of reasoning upon subjective or
objective facts, for there are as certainly facts within it as there are
facts external to it, with which the intellect dc als and from which its
conclusions are readied. Being the faith of the heart rather than
the judgment of the mind (but by no means in opposition to it)
which invigorates and reinforces his resolution to continue his toils
for the good of mankind, it is characterized by ;i warmth of enthu?
siasm distinguishing rarely the operations of the intellect, which
most commonly are cold and stern in proportion to their (dearness
and decision. Unrprcstionably there is a faith of the intellect won?
derfully effective in producing action in practical life ; a faith the
sume with belief or judgment which has not unfretpiently startled
the world with its mighty achievements within the spheres of its
exercise ; in philosophy, in geometry, in chemistry, in astronomy,
in all the arts and sciences. The illuminations of this faith of the
rnind are brilliant indeed, shining as the light of clustered diamonds,
and as cold also, producing no more warmth in the heart than the
' rays of thc sun do heat in the icicle, beautifid to the mental vision,
but to the touch 'drill and freezing as treachery in friendship. No
one ever heard of a man or woman being reasoned into sighs or
tears by the power of the logician, because the heart is not addressed
but the intellect merely. Appeal, however, to the sensibilities and
affections of the soul ; paint pictures before it of human suffering
and destitution ; speak of the widow's sorrows and the orphan's
exposure to hunger and nakedness, and to the still more terrible
ravages of vice and immorality ; of the victims of political domina?
tion and despotism; of war, pestilence and famine ravaging whole
empires and continents-the heart then leaps out in the proportions
of a giant into the fields of charitable and benevolent enterprise,
and fully armed, joins the struggle against these powers of moral
and physical evil, that their progress might be arrested and their
victims rescued. In the heart of the female sex is found the source
of their transcendant influence and control in thc world. By their
sweet affections and purity of sentiment , followed ever by purity of
life and conversation ; hythe teeming sensibilities and virtuous pas?
sions ; by tiie great soul-courage which the gloomy and adverse
exigencies of humanity never fail to inspire, they reign absolutely
without rivalry or envy over the proud principalities and powers of
the intellect, making them willing vassals of the grander and more
enduring dominion of the moral nature of man. It is not at all
surprising, therefore, that Free Masonry should address its energies
to the conquest of the heart first, then through it to the mastery of
the intellect, and through the heart and intellect combined, to secure
the supremacy of virtue over vice, of mercy over cruelty, of temper?
ance over inordinate indulgence, of sobriety over every species of
licentiousness ; in lino, to accomplish the restoration of the degraded
and abandoned sons and daughters of men to the' respect and con?
fidence of society and to thc favor of thc Great Creator. It is not
extravagant to say that it is universally admitted that in order to
capture the head and engage its stupendous powers in behalt of
any cause, the great depths of thc heart must be first moved towards
its support. Having done that, the resources of the mind Will
readily be commanded as allies. Common observation and experi?
ence corroborate this fact, as they do another most interesting one
that the very grandest conceptions of the intellect are attributable
to the glorious stimulations of the social and moral powers. Hie
heart, the seat of the affections and passions, is also the seal of thc
understanding and the will, and, therefore, it is not. difficult for us
to comprehend the true cause of its predominating influence over
thc cold and unsympathizing fatalities of the mind. The imagina?
tion, heretofore in this address, denominated as a "[/rad power of
itself," has its dwelling-place in thc heart likewise, and, ministered
to through thc senses and through them impressed by every external
object, it carries the intellect with it round the circle of tire earth,
to the depths of the seas and along the tracks of stars and comets
and suns innumerably far into boundless space, thus opening for it
unexplored fields of discovery in which it may acquire greater