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About The American. (Omaha, Nebraska) 1891-1899 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 1, 1897)
Airmr'iJTfn a tvi A WEEK.. ! R. 'AMERICA FOR AMERICANS" Ws bold that all men are Americans who Swear Allegiance to the United Suit without menial reservation. TRICK FIVE CENTS Volume VII. OMAHA, NEBRASKA, Fill DAY, JANUAUY 1, 1S97. NOMBBB 1 THE A 4' '2i The Church of Rome Is Its Implacable Foe. tL Edwin A. Mtermas, Thirtj.Tbre Degree Mason, Gives the HiMsrj of the Rowan ( hnrrh. (Continued from last week.) Freemasonry continued to be both operative and speculative, but the lodges were separate and Independent of each other until the go-called "re-i vival of Freemasonry" on St. John the Baptist's Day, June 24th, 1717, when the Grand Lodge of England was duly organized and a Grand Master (An thony Sayre) was elected to preside over the deliberations of the Craft. A French Huguenot Reformer, born at Rochelle. France, and a thoroughly educated gentleman, who had been In itiated in the "Lodge of Antiquity" in St. Paul's churchyard, secured the as sistance of several older Masons to aid in the formation of the Grand Lodge of England, and in 1719. two years thereafter, became the third Grand Master and the division of the work of the lodges was made Into three de grees to conform to the custom of the operative portion of the Craft. The Apprentice received the Great Light in both hands and served seven years as such. As a Fellow Craft or Journeyman with his right resting up on it and the other raised as if ap pealing to heaven as in a court of Jus tice to witness the sincerity of his oath, he traveled or journeyed five years ri a faitb"U workman, at the end of which Uaie he returned and served as a Warden and under-over-seer for three years more, when he was duly qualified as a Master Mason, eonfirmed by an obligation of entire consecration ,o the duties which he owed to God, to his country to the Craft, to his neighbor and to himself and was entitled to wear his apron at u'.' angle of forty-five deems, lriug tbe hypothenuse of a perfect square whose sides were equal. The second section of tbe third de gree was then added by Deaeuiliere after the manner of the ancient Egyp tain and Eleusinian ceremonies of in itiation, with the tragical legend of lb.' fate of tbe master builder of King Sol omon's Temple, fabricated for the pur pose of concealing by symbolism, the death of the Grand Master of the Tem plars and others who became martyrs for conscience, who were the victims of that terrible power which for so many centuries has been the curse cf mankind. From that time forth, speculative or philosophic Freemasonry gradually spread itself over the world. Men of all shades of religious belief, who were liberal and tolerant, could meet their fellows in a fraternity on a common level without violation of their con sciences. Freemasonry became the patron of the liberal arts and sciences. It did not meddle with questions, of theology nor attempt to divide the .V of God, nor teach that the Crea- . T. of the Universe had a mother made pregnant by his breath, reduce himself to an atomic bioplasm and be developed into a human form of the masculine gender in the womb of a woman he had himself created through the common process of nature. Such a stupendous mystery and problem with many others was left to theologians alone outside of the pale of the Fraternity, to rend the veil of nature and investigate and explain for themselves. Such ques tions will never find complete satis factory solution among intelligent men on this side of eternity, and with which as with other like matters, Freemas onry does not concern itself in any manner whatever; in a few word Freemasonry has a faith in God with out creed or sect, politics of the prln ciples of a free and enlightened gov ernment of the people without party, and puts forward no candidates or platforms and is fraternity without dis Unctions of nationality or race. Whilst the Jesuits and the Pope were struggling for the rule of the world and were discussing the right to plunge na tlons into brutality, a war cry arose from the middle of France, which, re peated by a thousand voices, taught Rome and .ts black cohorts that God was watching over humanity. The Pleiad of philosophers ranged them selves together and battled in the breach against the civil and religious authority of popes, bishops and priests those implacable enemies of all ad vancement. Montesqieu combatted in the cause of liberty and published his famous Persfen letters; Rousseau Diderot and d'Alembert entered the lists and reenforced the battalions of the encyclopedists. Maupertuis. Clalrault, Camus, Le Moutaia. etc., determined geometrically the figure of the earth by measuring a degree from the meridan under the equator, and another tinder the poles, and Galileo, the astronomer, philosopher and martyr was vindicated. All these great men inpressed an ir resistible impulse on their contemp oraries and forced the third estate and even the nobility to march in their train, in the progressive route to the conquest of new order of things. The .political m yemant, though lea ap parent, was not the less real. Secret associations were everywhere or ganized to labor for the overthrow of kings and prieist; the sacred love of liberty, that divine sentiment, the lightnings of which despots bad re strained for so many years was rean imating all hearts. Rome wag moved by this revolutionary tendency of the mind, and to arrest it Pope Clement the Twelfth declared war on secret so cieties and fulminated a terrible bull against the Freemansons, whose lodgee were established In England. Scotland, France, Germany, Italy and America. Ilia holiness prohibited his subjects, under penally of death, from becoming affiliated with or from assisting at an assembly of Freemasons, or only from rendering aid, succor, council or a re treat, to one of its members. He Blso enjoined on the faithful, under the penalty of the most severe corporal punishments, to denounce those whom they suspected of being connected with them and to reveal all they could learn, touching thU "heretical and seditious association. " These proscription. Instead of check ing the advancement of Freemasonry contributed to give it extraordinary lustre, and Europe was Boon covered by a prodigious number of lodges. The unjust taxation and oppression of the British Colonies in America had aroused a feeling of resentment and re sistence, and the Western shores of the Atlantic were ablaze with the light of liberty, ifty-two out of fifty-six signers of the Declaration of American Independence were free and accepted Masons. Jefferson, Franklin, Livings ton and Sherman from the committee of five appointed to draft it, were brethren of the "mystic tie." as well as lohn Hancock, the President of the Continental Congress which adopted it. "All men are created equal and are en dowed with the inalienable right of life, liberty and the pursuit of hap piness," was to thunder the voice of a free people down through the ages, until time should be no more. They had been taught In the Tem ples of Freemasonry, the triune prin ciples of Liberty, Equality and Fra ternity. That "the lamb-skin or white leather apron is an emblem of innoc ence and the badge of a Mason, more ancient than the Golden Fleese or Roman Eagle, more honorable than the Star and Garter or any other or der that could be conferred upon him as king, prince potentate oraayother person, except he be a Mason, and which every one ought to wear with equal plasure to himself and honor to the fraternity." Says the pope of Rome In his books prescribed for the rule of his subjects ir trig eown't "The PI-m..! vjrerln Mary, conceived without sin, ts the pa troness (or governess) of the United States;" or in other words. In her name the pope must rule this country. Says the oath of the priest prescribed by the Council of Trent (still in force) among otner things, "I most firmly admit and embrace apostolical and ecclesiastical Traditions and all other constitutions and observances of the same church. '1 also admit the Sacred Scriptures, according to the sense in which our Holy Mother, the Church, has held and does hold them, to whom it belongs to Judge of the true sense and interpreta tion of the Holy Scriptures; nor will I ever take and interpret them otherwise than according to the unanimous con sent of the Fathers. "I promise true obedienceto the bish op of Rome, the successor of St. Peter, prince of the Apostles and vicar of Jesus Christ on earth, and I also con demn, reject and anathematize all things contrary thereto and all heresies whatsoever condemned, rejected and anathematized bv the Church. This true Catholic faith, without which none can be saved, and which I now freely profess and truly hold, I promise, vow and SWEAR most constantly to hold, and to profess the ' ne, whole and en tire, with God's a .stance, to the end nf my life: and to take care, to the best of my power, that it shall be held, taught and preached by those over whom I shall have authority or with the care of whom I shall bp charged by virtue of my office. Amen!" The Declaration of Independence and the principles of Freemasonry are di ametrically opoosed to those of the papal power. With the former in one hand and his sword in the other, the beloved father of his Country, George Washington, also a Freemason, went forth to battle for freedom of his coun try. Benjamin Franklin, the Provln cial Grand Master of Pennsylvania, is sent as Minister to France, and our French brethren under Lafayette, Rochambeau and De Grasse, volunteer to aid their American brethren in the cause of liberty, American nationality and independence, to return in triumph again to their own country, to light the beacon fires of freedom, which were to continue to blaze forever throughout western Europe, while the Basttle is thrown down and Lafayette sends the key to Washington. The Jesuits, driven repeatedly out of one nation and then another, again re turning to afflict mankind with their terrible power, have at last fastened their fangs upon our own land and con. spired to ruin the American Republic. 1 nrough tnei'- intrigues and machi nations, they were successful in their efforts to plunge our country into a ter rible civil war, that they might fill up the places of the dead with their own scum of corruption imnorted from Europe. By direction of Pope Puis IX, Roman i Catholics naturalized citizens were ab- I solved from their oaths of allegiance ' to tbe government of the United States and the arms and flags of their treason and perjury were placed in their hands by Roman bishops and priests, conse crated by order of the pope and they had his sanction to take even the bells out of their churches to be cast ir" canon, to be use against the Confla tions! government of the Union, which tbey had sworn to support. Foiled at butt In their schemes in that direction, the hour appointed for his &Mtauination comes, and the Jesuit conspiiaturs with their instruments, murder Abraham Lincoln, the marytr President of these United States, whose death by them had been decreed nearly ten years before. The Jesuit Arch bishop. Hotirget of Montreal with other Jesuit priests. Ixx1 Pierre and Boucher, are accessories to the crime. More running and adroit In their text act of foul assassination in covering their tracks, and James A. Garfield, our brother and President of the United States, la added to their bloody tro phies of murder and death, because certain appointments would not be made by bim to suit them. Will not our people open their eyes and see? The constant attacks made upon our free institutions, must be met courage ously and holdlv by the American peo ple. The balance of political power Is now In the hands of the enemies of Freemasonry and free government, while the people are duped, betrayed with false Issues, and played off against each other by thieves and scoundrels, while Rome triumphs. For more than a century, our Grand IxHlges have been called upon to lay the corner stones of public edifices and monuments, and their Masonic work In connection with the National and State governments and of societies, and their labors have kept pace with the progress and development of the Republic. Shall they at the dictation and mandates, and influence of the sat elltes of the pope of Rome now cease? Shall their Influence in the halls of legislation where there seems to be so little conscience, and in the timid ad ministration of government, fearing to lose the prestige of power, be so great as to prevent the further public labors of the Craft? is a question of vital in terest to. our ancient and honorable Fraternity. The foundation and cap stones of Bunker Hill Monument and of the Washington Manument at Baltimore, and thousands of public buildings were laid with Masonic ceremonies, and not a murmur of discontent, or protest was ever raised by any person or organiza tion on the soil of America. The Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia, laid the foundation stone of that proudest shaft on earth, in honor of the Father of his Country, George Washington, who as President of these United States, and the Master of his Lodge, acting as Grand Master of the Udge, acting as Grand Master for the Capital of the Republ'c In the City to be honored by his name forever. When he Grand Uxlee of the District of Columbia assembled to place the cap stone on the top of that splendid shaft, then Rome howled through its organs and protested against it, but in vain. More than a third of a century before, the pope had sent a block of stone, marked and gilded with the papul coat of arms, to be placed in a conspicuous place in that monument, but a few true Freemasons and true American citizens determined that it should not pollute or mar the beauty of that mag nificent structure, broke it in pieces at its base, and cast the fragments into the Potomac river. All honor to them for their fidelity to the Craft, to their country and to the memory of Wash ington. The Pope may plant his fortress in the shape of a great university in that city, from which to intimidate and In trigue through the channels of the gov ernment, and endeavor to awe the na tion; but that shaft, pointing to heav-e tion; but that shaft, pointing to heaven, will stand like the finger of a watchful and avenging God, as if say ing "beware that ye disturb not our harm my chosen people." Foreign Roman Catholic bishops be sides those born in this country, sub jeets of the Pope, have their military organizations as guards, armed and equipped with papal uniforms, belts, cartridge boxes, musk'ts and bayonets, while the American fla is debased to do honor to a foreign religious despot and his minions, the sworn enemy of our country and its free institutions. The National Guard fully uniformed and equipped, marching in companies, battalions, and regiments, with the (lag of our country dishonorer! and disgraced, under the orders of Roman Catholic bishops and foreigners sur rounded by the cohorts, performs escort duty at the laying of corner stones f convents, monasteries, cathedrals and churches, in violation of the spirit and letter of our constitution and laws, by bishops who in their own names, hold the title deeds to property ol a foreign institution in our cities, while mayors and other officials accept invitations and are present as invited guests, to their shame and that of the people, as the enemy constructs its fortifications In their midst, to destroy their lib erties, plunge the Republic into ir retrievable ruin, while the responsible heads of our National, State and municipal governments, dteiding to in cur the enmity of this terrible power, and fearing that to do their sworn and solemn dutv, will ential the loss of prestige, politicalinfluenceand strength in future elections. "Eternal vigilance is the price of lib erty." Our free institutions and our public schools, where we have placed the liberal arts and sciences, demand our watchfud care and protection. Hitherto in our own country, Freemas onry has remained silent and conservt tive when attacked by its enemies. Conscious of its strength, it has re ceived blows, but returned none; but as in other countries, it will have to arouse itself, or ere long its own free dom of action will be restrained and it will fall to decay through its own mis taken confidence in itself, its Bupine ness and carelessness. f : institutions must be defended gainst the assaults of the enemy, and we must say to them, hands off from our free public schools, for if it need e, e will fence thm in with bay- units and intrench them within walls of fire. I On I.x . nilx r Mh. 1KC4. Pope Pius IX. ' issued his papal Sylluluia of Errors, which was approved by the Ecumenical Council on July IMh. 170, and which is rigidly enforced wherever that hierarchy has any power. Section IV Is against Freemasonry and other secret societies and we are living under a declared sentence of death. Section VI (4'i) declares that it Is an error, that the entire direction of public hools, in which the youth of Cbrls tl.tn States are educated, muy and must H'Nrtutn to the civil power and he ll ng to it. so far. that no other author It whatsoever, shall le recognized as having any right to Interfere In the discipline of the schools, the arrange ment of the studies the taking of de-gr-v8 or the choice and approval of the teachers. Section V. (24). It Is an error that the Church has not the power of avail ing herself of force or any direct or In direct temporal power. Section VI. (5fi. It is an error that the Church ought to be separate from the state and tbe state from the church. In the Roman Catholic Bishops' oath Is the following: "The rules of the Holy Fathers, the Apostolic degrees, ordinances or dis posals, reservations, provisions and mm. dates, I will observe with all my mlg'it and cause to be observed by o'hers. Heretics, schismatics, and reb els 10 our said Ird or to his foresaid successors, I will to my utmost power, persecute and wage war with." A state of openly declared war ex- Ists, not only against Freemasonry, but against every liberal government on the face of the earth. Self defense and the preservation of the lives and property of Masons in Italy. France and nearly every Spanish American country have compelled our brethren to combine with each other In the sup port and defense of those powers which would shelter them under their protec tion. Under Mazzlni, Cavonr, Victor Emanuel and that unconquerable' hero. Garibaldi, who were all Masons And all Grand Masters, gave llbertv to the peo-l pie, unity to Itatly, with Rome for its capital and the sword of temporal power was wrenched from the grasp of the pope, while Freemnsonry flourishes in the Capital of the Caesars, the Bible Is an open book to the people, guarded by the constitut' ial King, Humbert., the son of Victor Emanuel, and himself a Freemason and honorary Grand Mas ter. Mexico, which for nearly four hun dred years has been- crushed deep Into the earth and so long burled In ignor ance, s'lpettitlon and mental slavery, its people, plundered, betrayed and kept In gross darkness, Is arising from the awful depths to which It has been sunk by that terrible power. Every convent hag been abolished, free public schools are held in its once monasteries, civil marriages are pro vided for by law, and the altar fires of Freemasonry are glowing like electric lights from the Halts of the Montezu mas to the Gulf and the Pacific Ocean, while its President Dlass is a Freemas on and one of the highest officers of the Fraternity in that Republic, the hon orable successor of the faithful Brother and President Benito Juarez. In all the Republics of Spanish America, with the exception of Bo livia, Freemasonry Is firmly established new tltap" are continually being erect ed and the light is radiating and the darkness of the night of ignorance and superstition is disappearing like the mists of the morning before the rising sun. Too long has our American Freeman onry been idly reposing tinder th shade of the tree of lilKrty, which our Masonic fathers planted and watered with tears of sorrow and their blood. While we have slept, the vermin and the serpents have crept In among us, soiled our couches and covering with a pest a thousand times worse than the lice and other plagues of Egypt and which, ere long, if we do not arouse ourselves, it will take a greater than the Red Sea, to dense and wash out. We are not only to hold to our obli gations as Masons, to maintain and support the free government and Insti tutions under which we live, but also to strictly watch and guard against the plots and conspiracies of that power whose declaration of war is perpetual and whose efforts are being constantly made to destroy it In the year 1778, during our Ameri can Revolution for Independence Frederic the Great of Prussia, and tbe friend of Washington, whom he ad mired as a patriot and Freemason and to whom he sent the present of a sword, and for whom Fredericksburg Virginia, was named, found trouble in his own dominions which he promptly suppressed. The superior of the Dominican Con vent at Aix-Ia-Chapelle, Father Greine- mt:m and a Capuchin Monk, Father Schiff. were trying to excite the lower classes against the Lodge of Masons at that place, which had been re-con stituted by the Mother Lodge at Wet zlar. When Frederic heard of this, he wrote the following letter, dated Feb ruary 7th. 1778, to the instigators: ' Most Reverend Fathers: Various reports confirmed through the papers, have brought to my knowledge, with how much zeal you are endeavoring to sharpen the sword of fanaticism, against quiet virtuous people called Freemasons. As a former dignitary of this honorable body, I aw compelled, as much as it is in my power, to repel this dishonoring slander, and remove tbe dark veil, that causes the temple we- liave erected to all virtues, to appeal to your vision as a gathering point for all vices. W hy. my most reverned Fathers, will you bring back upon us those centuries of ignorance and bar barism, that have so long been the deg radation of human reason? Those .imeg of fanaticism upon which the eye of understanding cannot look back but with a shudder? Tin me times. In which hyiNirrisy. seated on the throne of despotism, with hiim THtitiim on one side and humility on tbe other, tried to put the world In chains and command ed a regardlens burning of all those who were able to read? "You are not only applying the nickname of Muster of Witchcraft to the Freemasons, but you accuse them to le thieves, profligates, forerunners of anti-Christ, and admonish a whole nation to annihilate such a cursed gen eration. "Thieves, my most reverned Fathers, do not act as we do, and make It their duty to assist the poor and the or phans. On the contrary, thieves ore those who rob them sometimes of their Inheritance, and fatten on their prey, lu the lay of Idleness and hypocrisy. Thieves cheat. Freemasons enlighten humanity. "A Freemason, returning from his lodge, where he has only listened to Instructions benefitted to his fellow beings, will lie a better husband in his home. Fore-runners of Anti-Christ would in all probability direct their ef forts towards an extinction of Divine law. But It Is impossible for Free-' man nons to sin against It without de molishing their own structure. And those be a cursed generation, who try to find their glory in the Indefatigable efforts to spread those virtues which constitute the honest men. "FREDERIC." The satellite of the Roman hierarchy, who several years ago In San Francisco delivered the oration In honor of the 25th anniversary of the reign of Pope Plus the Ninth, the openly declared enemy of our public schools, by speeches and pamphlets In your own midst, was appointed as tho chief as sistant of the Attorney General, a rab Inet officer of the United States Gov ernment, himself a subject of the pope, whose term has but recently expired. The Jesuit volunteer, who with others left Ireland to fight for the Pope of Rome against the people of Italy, and was created a Knight Chevalier of the Order of St. Michael Htid the honorary aide-de-camp of Pope Plus the Ninth, is now a high commissioned United States Army officer, the son-in-law of the Chief Counsellor of the President and whose chlldreu have received the mark of the beast upon their fore heads. ' ' Subjects of the Pope, with scarcely a year of citizenship, whose oaths of naturalization with mental reservation in favor of their spiritual and temp oral Ijord and Master, the. Pope, are sent to represent the American people to countries that have for years been stmegling to free themselves from the M I'ule of the papacy and Its minions. We hang our Hids n -,huiv Indlgna Hon and w . w, at thi, tiesmlrching of our naf.oiial pride and honor, and mourn over our, :ountry's disgrace, A subject of the Pope once sat In the seat of the Chief Justice of the Sn- prece Court of the United States, which he filled for years, and one de cision of his against humanity and the rights of men, set the flames of civil war blazing to the skies, while an ocean of blood and misery inundated the fairest portion of America. Says the Jesuit Manual of Instruc tions, Chap. XVIII, Section 3. "We must inculcate this doctrine with kings and princes, that the Cath olic faith cannot subsist in the present state without politics; but that this, it is necessary to proceed with much certainty. Of this mode, we must share the affection of the great, and be admitted to the most1 secret coun sels." Section 8: "But if we do not hope that we can obtain this, supposing that It is nec sary that troubles shall come in this world, we must be careful to change our politics, conforming to the times, and excite the princes, friends of ours, to mutually make terrible wars, that everywhere, the mediation of the so ciety will be implored; that we may le employed In the public reconcilia tion, for it will be the rause of the common good; and we shall be recom pensed by the principal ecclesistical dignities, and the greater lxneflclar- ies." "Sec. 9. In fine, that the society after wards, can yet count upon th favor and authority of princes, procuring that those who do not love us shall fear us." says General Foy of France. "The Jesuit is a sword whose hilt Is in Rome and its blade everywhere," How easy for such false representa tives of this government, to compro mise and entangle this nation in use less and foreign wars through their scheming and Intrigues, to advance the cause of the enemy of our country and Freemasonry, under the delusive pretext of defending our national honor and American rights. What a sight for an American ship of war going into battle, with the American flag at the mast head, not beneath the cn, of liberty but under a bishop's mitre or the tiara and cross keys of the Pope of Rome. Our Ship of State seems to be rap idly drifting towards the treacherous maelstrom in the Papal seas and it will be necessary ere long for the Craft to launch the Ark again as in the old Ark Mariners Degree, to tow her into safer water and see that she is safely an chored in a securer harbor and thor oughly fumigated, overhauled, refitted and tnandned with a more loyal and faithful crew. But a few more words and I am done Here in America as in England and her dependencies, Freemasonry, with its drama, based upon the history of King Solomon's Temple, the re-building under Zertibbabel. simply applies its morals for the self government of the individual brother and contem plates a continual state of perfect peace The teachings of its principles and, the illustrations or the drama, and the les sons given to the candidate, absorb the mind in the work performed with letter exactness, precision of detail and the bond of brotherhood with the mutual satisfaction of association and fellowship, with the interest of promot ing each other's welfare. Relying iixm the strong hand ami arm of the civil government, for security and protec tion of person, property and rights. In England, the sovereign Is the daughter and the mother of Freemasons, and the heir apparent to the throne is a 33d Mini the Grand Muster of England, chosen as such upon the aitostucy of. the last Grand Master, the Marquis of RiMn. who by reason of his high Ma sonic position, was sent as a peace maker to these United States, to pro pose arbitration concerning the Ala bama claims, in which he was success ful, returns to England, and for un accountable reasons renounces his Ma sonry, joins tho Roman Cutholle Chunh and becomes (ho subject of thi Pope. Our Scottish Freemasonry not only contemplates a state of peace, In tho enjoyment of nil Its blessings, but tho sword Is alwnyx allied with the trowel, to defend and maintain It. Wo not only build temples and tabernacl" among nations of the earth, tisn th same foundation stones, but also In the heads pf men. The history of the erection and destruction of the tempi of Solomon, not only tells uh how to build, but also, that after It Is built, how It must be defended against those enemies who have sworn to destroy it. The invasion of Jerusalem, the destruc tion of the temple and city, the over throw of the nation and driving the people out of their own country In, chains Into captivity; the return from bondage to freedom and rebuilding ot Jerusalem and the temple, with the further history of that nation of the Israelites, now scattered over the earth, have sharper lessons for us to learn, to save our own temple of civil and religions ll!erty; and as Free masons, good citizens, and lovers ot mankind to le constantly on the alert, with voice and vote, as well as sword and trowel, in the defense of our coun try and Its liberties against th(se wb have declared war against them and us and constantly engaged In their efforts to destroy them and us together In one common ruin. ScoiiNh KYecnisj' onry accepts the rage of battle. Each for hlnin If, and In his own way like the bee. wort-lug- Independ ently and ariuHi for Vir. own defense, flying from flower to lower, gather the honey dew of leiiVen ntul when laden, returns beritg the fruits of Its Industry It has gathered, and stores it with thst of its fellows in the common, hive. Then "behold how good and pleasant it Is for brethren to dwell in unity," animated with a common de sire und nuriMme tn defend nnri nrJ. ;-. rve the 1. keltn.s jewel of libei j uH. Independence, bcqu lied uh by uui' Masonic fathers. As' 'in the beginning the Spirit of God moved ter the face of the waters and God said 'let there be light, and there was light,' " so let the spirit of true Freemasonry move like the mag net, attracting the responsive steel to Itself, prepare the fraternity for the conflict between light and darkness. freedom and slavery, education and Ignorance, reason and Bupen.tlt.oi., loyalty to God and Country, against Satan and treason. I cannot elese without repeating that grand poem by our poetess of our be loved Golden State of California, en titled TUB JKSI IT. (Mrs. Kliia A. Plttslnger.) In Home a tyrunt, and In Spain a thing That wrttrs a mask and bears a poisonous Minx; In India a nirariRir. In France a knave. In IrWanri a kteot and a ilave; In our rcptihltc a de-Kilning tool And traitor warring with the puMlo schooV . And whether In (Irevcn, - Hlndostun or Spain, Ills rei'ord hear the progeny of Cain. In the hlach srl s chieftain and a king, MovlnR en rapport with a sudden spring; And In the Rata of infamy and sin. f steals a march long ere IiIh focn be Kin; His dupes he nark, and with a restles greed. Wherein hlw ronwieiH-e Klorilles the deed. No means are left untried by which to take The last lone Peter's pence, for Jesus' sake. In a most marvelous and crafty way. He flatters, fawns, and pounces on his prey; If at his hamlH a kindly deed Is done,' O, then beware of some dark plot bctjun! The robes of liuht he don and nerve his cred In garments niched, and suited to his need! Hid from the lttnt in some dork, must aisle, He learns to feifrn, to meddle and beguile; And In his skill avoids no toil nor cure, As link on link he weaves his wily nnare, Spins his dark web, and most adroitly flies On poor eonflilmjr bat, and helpless plies. The vilest of al arts and blackest of all lies. His breath tn like some dire and dread simoon. Forever blasting with a curse and doom; Whate'er he touches, droops beneath the spell . Of some dark, hauntiiiR shade, cruel and fell Wher'ere he Journeys, wheresoever toils. There virtue weeps and inoncence recoils, And the fair cup of life doth overflow With desolation, infamy and woe. And thus he stands a stigma and a blot, With deeds confined to no especial spot Where carnape. superstition, death and crime. Despoil an se or devastate a clime, There hat le wandered, and on evry shore Placed his Wrous hand, and left a pl&gu pot a4 m sr.