Talk About Masonry.

in many pulpits as the object of love and worship / bears little resemblance to the real " Father of Lights , from whence cometh every good and perfect gift . " And it may be that the man we

hate is the creature of our own creation , differing from every real man . That men may come to hate God and their fellows , I will admit ; but

that they naturally and spontaneously do so , I connot believe . In blindness ; in error as to the true nature of his fellow-man , in misunderstand

ing of his acts and motives , a man may come to hate his fellow . He hates because he first supposes himself hated , and hated without a cause , How often has it happened that some unexpected

and unmistakable revelation of love has broken down the malicious and even murderous purpose , and instantly turned the current of animosity into a flood of tenderness and affection ?

No ; we love our feliow-men . We pity their sorrows ; we long to relieve their distress ; to pour in upon their ignorance the light of truth ; to correct their prejudices ; and to secure them

against the contingencies of life ; to avert the consequences of their errors . We want to do this without offending their pride or wounding their sensibilities . We want to open up a certain

avenue to our brother ' s heart , by which we may securely enter for his good . We want to give him such a key to our own . If conscious of these sentiments , we find

ourselves repelled with coldness , misunderstood , even injured and traduced , our disappointment may turn to hatred . But this is but the subversive developement of a feeling , whose normal

exercise tends only to practical beneficence . The establishment of the desired relat ions is not possible with all men . Many natures have been so perverted , subverted , cramped by early

neglect , ignorance , want of education , false edu . cation , bad example , wrong moral training , that they are incapable of sustaining these relations , however they may unconsciously and secretly

long for them . We are driven , therefore , to seek the objects of our fraternal affection by selection . And this brings me to the last branch of my

subject . Masonry , my brethren , g ives us the means of making this selection . Masonry responds to the nature and wants of man , by casting out fear , diet tilling hope , and

giving free scope to the full tide of fraternal love . Within the walls of our Masonic asylums , gathered around our common altar , we find the

longed-for assurance of safety . If we are in danger , no matter how that danger may have arisen , we know that an army of brethren is pledged and ready for our rescue and protection . If we are in want we know that the hand of

Masonic charity is always and everywhere open to minister to our necessities . If we tall into vice or error , the whisper of good counsel is ready to recall us in gentle admonition to duty .

and the outstretched arm to raise to us uprightness again . If we die , we know that brotherly hands will close our eyes and bear us tenderly to the tomb , and that the loved ones we leave

behind will never be forgotten or suffered to perish , hi all this , we find that security for the future which tends to calm our fears and give hopefulness to life .

Talk About Masonry.

But lastly , here we find the proper objects of fraternal love , in brethren culled -with jealous care from the promiscuous ranks of men , and entering voluntarily into our sacred union . Love

is the controlling sentiment of the institution . It is not repelled , misunderstood , or betrayed . It is rather expected and welcomed as the legitimate fruit of our doctrines and practice . How many

of us are there who have known , and still know , brethren whose Masonic lives have been beautf ful illustrations of its growth and power , under the fostering influences of Masonic association .

This sketch , hasty and imperfect as it is , still presents Masonry to us in what we regard as its most glorious light—as an institution answering to the universal wants of human nature , and

helping man upwards to a higher plane of courage , hope , and love . The full realisation of this theory demands that every brother should understand and faithfully perform his Masonic

obligations . It rises far above all question of rites and ritual . These may indeed change in the uncertainty of human traditions and the mutations of human thought . Its forms may vary , but the spirit of our institution is eternal .

Masonry In Texas.

MASONRY IN TEXAS .

The Grand Lodge of Texas on June 14 th , met in Annual Grand Communication , M . W . Uro . Wm . Bramlette , Grand Master , presiding . On the following Monday morning the New

Masonic Temple , at Houston , was dedicated in ancient and solemn form . We take the following extract from the address of the Grand Orator , Past Grand Master F . B . Sexton ,

from the Texas Masonic Mirror of June nth . The ceremonies of this day , my brethren cannot fail to bring our minds a consideration of the history and progress of Freemasonry in

Texas . Little less than forty years ago , five brethren , whose names deserve to be repeated—Anson Jones , John A . Wharton , Asa Brigham , James A . E . Phelps , and Alexander Russell—¦

whose names are on record in our Grand Lodge —names that are historic with the Republic and State of Texas—and which I hope will never fade from th e memory of Texas Masons , met

in a laurel grove in Brazoria County to concert measures to organise the first Masonic Lodge in Texas . They subsequently organised Holland Lodge , No . 1 , which now meets in this city ,

and in this Temple , is the oldest , the most prosperous , and the most respected lodge in the state including among its members distinguished gentlemen , enterprising and public spirited

citizens , devoted Christians , worthy , ingenuous and faithful Craftsmen , who are constantly doing good unto all men—albeit , they may " remember it more especially to the household

of the faithful . " A little later , on the 20 th of December , 1837 , tne Grand Lodge of Texas was formed in the town of Houston . The five who met in Brazoria , and those who

organized the Grand Lodge , have all been gathered to their fathers ; but " their works do follow them . " They have laboured , but we have

"entered into their labours . " The laurel grove in Brazoria has been exchanged for the splendid apartments now occupied by Holland Lodge in this building , while the Grand Lodge , which

Masonry In Texas.

formerly was glad to beg accommodation in the counting-rooms of country storekeepers , now meets in this magnificent Temple , which we have to-day in the name of God , set apart to

purposes for His glory and the good of man . Instead of meeting with members not enough to fill its official stations unless by borrowing from a subordinate , or from non-affiliates , it now

numbers over three hundred lodges subordinate to its jurisdiction , while three hundred or more brethren representing morally , socially , and intellectually the very best elements of Texas

population , the high and the humble , the distinguished and obscure , rich and poor , old and young , the blacksmith who forges , and the farmer who drives the plough , the carpenter who

drives the plane , merchants , members of learned professions—men of all creeds and all vocations are eager to receive its instructions , to do its work , enjoy its social pleasures , and wear its

hig h honours . From the small beginning to which I have referred , we have grown , until incense now arises from more than 300 Masonic altars in Texas , and more than 10 , 000 faithful

brethern now minister in the duties of Brotherly Love , Relief and Truth . Whatever may be said of Masonry in the past , or . whatever may be its future fate , we know , that

in Texas , it has put out the fires of discord , dried up the tears of distress , given food and clothing to the hungry and destitute , encouraged the orphan , cleared up the gloom from the pathway

of struggling merit , and kept back the maddening torrent of passion which would precip itate man in deadly conflict with his fellow man . With such a record of the past , with so much

prosperity in the present , our hearts should be filled with gratitude to our merciful and Supreme Grand Master for his mercies and blessings , and should be incited to more diligence and greater

exertions for the future . This Masonic Temple , grand in its architecture elegant in finish , and complete in its appointments , reflects great credit upon those who first

projected it , as well as upon those who have so faithfully devoted their time to superintending its erection and completion . It is worthy of the Craft for whose use it has been built . It

is an ornament to this city , whose reputation for enterprise , public spirit , hospitality , and social courtesy is the pride of the state . With this splendid house for our annual

assemblies , in the midst of such pleasant surroundings , then my brethren let us be encouraged for the future ; let us preserve and and transmit to our children , enlarged and

improved , if possible , the heritage which our fathers , amid so many difficulties , and after so many and such great sacrifices , prepared for us . We know how vast and extensive are the

capabilities of Freemasonry for usefulness . We know that it is founded on the immutable laws of truth and justice , and that its grand object is to promote the happiness of the human race .

Let us illustrate this , brethren , in our lives and conduct . Let us prove that it is intended to assist good men in all that is right , to protect

them against the vicious and unprincip led . Let us establish a standard of intelligence and excellence in the practice of the social and moral virtues , which shall be worthy of emulation—¦