Holly Springs gazette., July 28, 1841, Image 1

About Holly Springs gazette. (Holly Springs, Misp. [i.e. Miss.]) 1841-18??

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"VERITAS NIHIL VE11ETUE,' NISI ABSCOXDI."
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!Y TUOS. A. FALCONER.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 28, 1 84 1 .
'VOLUME INUMBER 1.
7 n n-e l?vi.Tr.TON : An-Ad-
,vpV THE UAAD.'IA"' -
brethren of the Holly. Springs
" Tth ALirenary of the Pa,mrcJh Saint John
' 1, V 1 5S41:bv John Delafield, Esq,
-V;"Sc nation oft he Divine Will bathed into
c cmtnt of Light. Before the Almighty adorn-
r: t with its present beauty, foaled through the
;;.;,-cf snare a chaotic and fluid gloue. "The
movrd Jpon the face of its vtcrs"-that spir
r a the darkness and the light are both alike which,
and ia ail ages to come, hath and will ever per-ijV-Vttin
the universe. In the progress of his excel
TIc .nCai- the word, ar.d at His a, the anodic
' ' v i'ti "lowiiv cherubim and seraph:m, amazed,
i new crtSed world, confusion to order yields, the
separates from the waters verdure clothes the held
and herbs bedeck the mead, the insect sparkles in tue
r-vof the risinj.Min, the lowing cattle and every
, th-n-r come forth from chaos and, Goo saw that
iVjod onJUessod.it. Creation there displayed the
I jor, and,-" when its wonders were crowned with
v nt i' Light, the morning stars sang together, and
i of God shouted for joy. t
ulo, in the moral," as in the physical world, naU
'n brought order out of chacs, and dispelled darkness
-li d light. . . r . 1 . ,
i net ours hcicto paint the origin of society nor ta
,( in their sources the jarring elements whicn has be
iherert in the existence of our mrai nature, We
biiv the s;d truth, that, from his superiority over the
hemselves, man has fallen through disobedience
m the peaceful besom where first nought but charity
i!i existed, now dwells a mind harassed by anxiety,
!i and distrust. We also know, that all was made
enjoyment and happiness; andthat.it is we ourselves
j execs?, defile that which otherwise were pure.,-
the fainting traveller may drink wholfsome and re
draughts from the bounteous overflowing spring, but
rushes heedlessly therein he muddies the source,
waters are these of impurity. The causes, however,
oral chacs around us, it is not ours here to investigate,
tpreme architect of the universe has placed us in the
t, as humble christians and upright masons ; to this
n of us we are bound cheerfully and, cordially to
.ut although to the natural mind, darkness is every
hrouding the secrets of heaven in obscurity; yet,
te benevolence of Almighty God hath granted to
l nature bright luminaries, whose light is open to
,';Il receive it, and the rays of which, darting from
rce of bgh. and life itself, will lead the faithful
. Id' the firmament-first arose the onOhlinrhe world (made by the Emperors and their officers; to ,-uort f rii the
I"M-?"C?. LT?. HB -?S Christens the nature of their Wru rites. Jin vain
viim 'J" nai is uij iuc suttHuui ui-iut; sjuiai jay 10 ine
eiiiiieiice or me oun oi, itiffnteousness mat sun wnicn rose
for the healing of the nations to dispel from them the mists of
sou:
1
through the intricacies of tliis life to the immediate.
of the Great and Glorous Iluler ol'IIeavea.
e m al cliuo'a- -..cal'foiiu the Lut "Let f iiKR bi:
lied the mists of error before the Sun of Rightcous
with healinir on his winsjs. When "the blazing
it thlehem first led the wandering shepherds to the
uth-plaee of the Son of God; then was the response
choed through the arches of Heaven, "and there
.'; In the midst of the Doctors at the temple its celes-
rst began todawn upon this'world. 1.3 lighter did thej
more radiant was their effulgence, when the npes-
imon the tarth in astonishment at His glorious
aiii.n. Cut at the night of the crucifixion, when
kness shrouded jhe earth, when the elements were
.vhen-nature heaved convulsively at the throes
t ajjonv, and the ''eye of God" seemed withdrawn
tv tnan; then the dawn of the brightest light -ever
r "our blessed Lord upon this world was break-
iv ''It is fanshed! Tne scourge has Iacerattd.
has pierced, the bloody drops have coursed down
of our Redeemer, the stonv patn has been trod
valrv the crcat sacrifice was offered!- MIt is fin-
he powers oi darkness have been "overcome!
ere was fight" In celestial tongues of fire it de
om on high, speaking to the troubled inind,-
. pardon to the prisoner, Jb recuom Light oi Ilea
kis ever since been shed upon the sincere and faith
-Light of Heaven, that has been committed to the
ireh, the 13 rid of Christ, and which, points to us
e .and unerring' path la a better wo? Id. " ' ,
iking back over the history of the moral darkness
ure, and the means displayed by ilmighty God
ractiug our evil passions, an 1 for dispensing to
in in ure instruction and knowledge, we are struck
mphcity and benevolence ofthe plan. ' There have
but three means of communication of moml light
3 rr.nsoNAL presence and authoritative command,
itnarchs he imported knowledge by personal con-
W'ttu ss tin: humig cloquenceof His discourse cut
rhvind with 56b: To his chosen be appeared in the
:loud am) of light To Moses, in majesty on Sin li:
ligh Prict wisdom was vouchsafed by Urim
imim. Still later came the Messiah, "God manifest
1" and, even nowr, His real presence, in fulfilment
ly promise, is vouchsafed to the Christian church,
n with you always, even to the end of the world' :
he Holy volume of the Sacred Scriptures;
of Life the rccotj of Tlis sacred laws.
Traditionary instruction:- Drawn by wise
men throughout past ages from the laws of nature,
L down for preservation of doctrines and practices
whom holy things were committed by inspiration
t did not appertain t sacred record. J '
in;this division of moral illumination if may not be
istiluts a farther comparison with the system and
,ich verned the creation of the light of. this
Jodmade great hghu in the firmament the sun to
ay the moon to govern the night and the stars to
h rough the vault of ether. -These were for signs
asons for days and for years; but the moral lights
continr- forever, to shine gently in our passage
ife and to brighten into perfect day when our des
:se on earth shall have been run, and the silver cord
c been loosened, and the vessel broken at thefot n-
error, and effectually to banish the povyers of darkness.
What, the brilliancy of the solar ray, to a sunbeam from the
presence of Giicl! What the power ofthe sun above our heads
in comparison of His presence, a single emanation of whose
will breathed it ipto cxialence, and without whose sustaining
power, its elements would, dissolve -with fervent heat
With gentler beams and milder rays the silvery moon
first shed her lustron the nswly created world. So. doth
the sacred,volume;bf God's law shed its, mild and hallowed
radiance upon the narrow path to life.' This word is a light
unto my feet," and a lamp about my paths. Silently and cafm
ly do its solemn truths enlighten, purify, and improve the
heart. ".; . : : - ;
Then in the firmament twinkled the starry hosts of Heav
en through the realms of night. There is neither speech nor
language amongst them, yet their voice is heard in an elo
quent and burning praise of God. So in the moral world
amid the darkness of the natural mind, have we noticed
gleaming scintillations of light in the various traditionary
lore of man.
Here and there sages and philosophers have explored the
laws of nature, have investigated her phenomena, and have
left us the traditions and philosophy of the schools. iAud
prophets and apostles through past ages have gleaned the
doctrines and' precepts of the, Holy Chur :h, and by tradition,
have handed them down for our guidance. From various
sources has traditionary light been shed upon the moral
worldand these may be aptly compared to the twinkling
light of tho starry spheres -dim, yet giving light and in
fact deriving all their brilliancy by reflection from, and con
formity to the -Divine Will whether expressed in nature or
revelation.
- Based upon the united foundation of the Reil Presence
of the Redeemer, the Holy Scriptures, and apostolic tradition
stands the Church, the Bride of Christ, our holy Mother.
She shines forth resplendent with an union of every degree
of moral illumination ever vouchsafed to man.
. At humble distance, without pretension, with one hand
resting on the sacred volume, the other extended with charity
towa:ds mankind, and with the eye turned with hope towards
Heaven, stands Masonry the handmaid of religion. Her
disciples receive illumination from the Holy Woid, and from
tradition.- Two degrees ofthe moral light irradiate her path.
While the Holy Church is a Divine institution established
for the redemption ofthe world Masonry has flourished, its
handmaid, claiming however, only human authority for its
origin.- It commenced with Enoch before the flood. It i
nourished through the patriarchial ages, but was signally
bt ought to its height of excellence by the wisdom of the migh
ty Solomon. From his era it has been handed to us a perfect
science, founded on the united testimony of Holy Scripture
and tradition. Prophets and apostles have been amongst its
brightest sons. Sages and philosophers have drank from its
fountains. Almighty God has stamped the seal of approba-
in the. nreservation of His holv word. Has nnv Christian
present in th's assembly learned what became of the Ark of
the Covenant at the destruction ofthe first temple? When
the Jews were carried in captivity, to Babylon, what fate at
tended the sacred records, the Holy Law of God ? All that
it is permitted to state is that in llh providence Jehovah" com
mitted the preservation thereof to the Masonic fraternity - J
thatuuring the captivity none but the "luye ol (od rested on
those sacred deposits, and that at the rebuilding-of the second
temple by the Masonic Art they were again brought to light
and restored to their wonted places in the house of God.
There is one feature in all the systems of moral science
handed down from earlier days forming a singular contrast
to the customs of the present age. I al'ude to the secrecy and
mystery in wThich the various elements of iustuction are imparted.''-
Amongst many of the good and virtuous, this has
been" in our dav an objection to the Institution itself. , It is be
lieved that all history will confirm the fact that, until about
the fourth Century of the Christian lura, no system ot instruc
tion was.. ever public. : The schools of the philosophers were
shrouded in mystery, :;The rites and ceremonies of worship
in those days were veiled in mystery. At Elcusis, at Thebes,
at the" temples on the Indus, nay, at Rome itself, secrecy mark
ed the more important rites. The notice too, before he could
become an hierophant was required to undergo a systematic
preparation, and the steps from initiation to perfection were
gradual and progressive. Even a system of writing. was pe
culiar to the Priesthood in early ages, now handed down to
us under the name "hieroglyphics" or "sacred sculptures."
But lest the antiquity ofthe custom, and the danger of remov.
ing any ancient land mark, or of omitting any, sure tradition
properly delivered to the brethren, be not deemeef a sufficient
reason for the preservation ofthe mysteries as their ancestors
did of old alio w me to refer to an "a nalogy wh ich may tend
to disarm the scruples of any Christian. I ajlude t6t"TiiE
discipline of the secret" as practiced by the Apostolic"
Church during the first four Centuries to "the hidden, terms
in which the holy sacraments were alluded to, before mere
calechumens or the uninitiatcd--and to the peculiar secrecy
and progressive steps required of each disciple of the faith as
he advanced to tho. perfect knowledge ofthe Christian. faith.
"I have fed you with milk" saith St. Paul to the Church
at Corinth (I. Cor! III. 3.) and not with meat for hitherto ye
were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.". Then
too where in the sacred word do we find the faithful assemble?
Tn 'nreachino-. the Apostles boldly addressed the multitudes in
the streets, in the market places, at the Synagoguesin the
Flolv Temple. But when to use the pnrase 01 inspiration
thv nsembLcd "to break bread" or m otner woras tooiter
the .Eucharistic oblation the congregation met m n upper
chamber" or in the secret retreats of the mountains around
Jerusalem. Nor was the peculiar nature or tne mysiery 01
he Lord's su Dier explained to the unin.tiated. t or lour cen
turies was it pres&rved m strict obscurity--and to this truth
both Christian and Pagan writers near ami e T- Lr T at
ui.t, T,ep6rr.ntinn were warded arainst tho faithful Mar
tyr aftcr.Martvr suffered at tlie stake: ' EfToit a Iter effort va
uta uie pro-consui I'Jmy, the apostate Julian or the learned
and infidel Torphyry or CVJsus urge their surmises as to
what was the great Christian mystery. They never ascer
tained its holy truths. Far and Vide was spread the 'vile
slander that the faithful at each secret meeting killed an in
fant, covered it with paste or bread, and then ei its body and
drank its blood. But altho' this was firmly met and denied
at every martyrdom at every persecution, still echoed the
sacriligious lie, through Pagan ranks. None but the truly
faithful, who had passed thto' the several degrees from initia
tion to perfection, were permitted to witness the most holy
rite3 or understand their import. In the earliest liturgies we
find that after all had assembled, the public prayers were of
fered, and the public instruction was communicated, but when
the Bishop then pronounced the usual formula, "Sursum cor
da" ("Lift up your hearts") the Novitiates and Catechumens
were dismissed with the words "Ite, miasa est." ("So! you i
are dismissed") and none but those who had undergone the !
requfsite degree of instruction were permitted to remain. !
If thrrn the immediate disciples and successors of the in
spired Apostles adopted this then prevalent custom, still pre-
served by Masons, may it not be the subject of doubt whether '
a well founded objection can exist upon that account 1
To return however to the principle features of Masonry.
We have this day assembled to celebrate the Anniversa
ry of tha festival of St. John the Baptist one ofthe Patron
Saints ofthe fraternity. From the lesson of his holy life may
be gathered the duties, and the aim of every true Mason. His
was the task "to comfort the people ofthe Lord, to utter the
voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of
the Lord Make straight in the desert an highway lor our
God." Following in the footsteps of this Saint, came one
whose shoe's latchet he was not worthy to unloose. So with
thisrfraternal association. It comes the-harbinger of a yet
brighter ligl.t. Its lessons refine and purify the heart, while
they prepare it for the reception cf what is truly good and
right. To the people of the Lord it doth sp ak comfort. In
the moral desert it doth make straighten highway for our
God. Every valley of depression and distress is exalted by
the companion of tho .brethren for each others woes. Every-hill
of difficulty and unjust oppression shall be made low
by the sympathy and assistance of every worthy brother.
The crooked dealings ofthe unjust shall be made straight and
the rough places of this world's adversity, smooth. But may
we not draw a yet stronger nalogy ? "Mark the perfect
man, and behold the upright for the end of that man is peace!"
Let then the varied instructions ofthe Masons be communi
cated to "an attentive ear" and "a faithful breast," and the
way is; at once open for the grateful heart" to receive in the
mere ftfrd m7trios -pf the Holy Church, cue h peace Mi
passeththc understanding cfthis world,
In surveyingthe character of St. John, we are struck with
his perfect faith, his enduring hope, and his se'f moitifying
charity. In these qualities, the true and upright Mason en
deavors to imitate him. Masonry has for its sole aim the
communication of such valuable instruction as shall the more
fully perfect its disciples in these heavenly graces. Mark
the distrust between man and. man in every walk of life!
What 'mean the bars, and bolts, and locks on every door?
What, the massive chests, and arched vaults? What, the.
guarded security between men in the business transactions of
the world? 'Alas! Suspicion, lurks in every breast, and
man distrusts his fellow man. But let a Mason recognize a
worthy brother distrust vanishes, and perfect confidence
takes its place.. Whence this change? The active princi
ples of this yet mystic science here achieve a moral wonder.
One ray of light from alove here points out a path unknown
to the world at large, 1 But faith ends not here. , II exists In
active e::erc!se towards'cach other in the walks of life, joined
with an unwavering confidence in the. Supreme Ruler of
Heaven and his perfect laws, whether displayed in the works
of nature, or in the book of Revelation. To every man some
hour will come when the brightness of prosperity shall be
veiled; when anxietyshall cast a cloud over the future; when
all teems to go wrong ; when the most prudent and well di
gested schemes have been diVoncc.ted : when fortune frowns;
and when the darkness of night hangs like a funeral pal!
over the future. In that hour. Masonry echoes the voice of
piety, ard in still small accents wnispcrs to her-children
"Look above." These are but the troubles of time fleeting,
transitory, and evanescent.- She tells us that whether time
blanches our locks .or mows us down in early youth, still
our immortal spirit shall net see death, but sha'l if worthy be
transplanted to that happy temple where the wicked cease
from troubling, where the, weary are at rest and. where God
shall wipe away all tears from our eyes. At the last great
day cur work? of wood and hay and stubble shall he con
signed to their destined end. but even then Hope whispers
L"thou shah be saved. Even now perchance the red
breast. is warbling a melodious requiem over the graves of
departed brethren, but hope tells us their spirits rest quietly,
awaiting the great consummation of all things ot this world.
"Rcjuiescant in pace " But "the greatest of these is chari
ty t". Freely did our Patron'go about doing, good preach
ing the coining of the Prmce of peace. In the. desert or in
the market place his voice of instruction and warning wa3
heard. His own comfort he regarded not in comparison of
his mission of love to mankind. -Still is there some analo
gy. 'fhe lessons of Mason rj point out the first great duty
of her children to beTraternal love. . Regarding no seel, nor
anv set form either in 'religion or philosophy, she teaches
rus that we are brethren subject to like passions and equal in
firmities, and again echoes the accents of piety m the warn
inrr "Bear ye each "others burdens !" Though various our
pursuits in fift different our positions in society, the valuable
lesson is till reiterated that we are one,- and are dependent
upon each other and that the duties of life inall their rela
tions should be cordially and cheerfully practised. Follow
me for instanee to the bed of a dying- brother. Around are
his agonized wife, his weeping re tationsP-and his uneon
fMit children. The nulse is throbbing more- and ' more
wvv v ...
slowly;" The " extremities are becoming cold.; The , eye
loses it? brilliancy and becomes fixed. Silently, then the
spirit waits above and leaves itsciay cqia lencmcni io
solved into Its primitive elements. Poverty and distrc
be rc-
trcss may
nave been the lot of every previous month, but when that widow
looks upon her orphan children, and their cry "dear inothei,
give us bread 1 now falls in plaintive accents on lu r ear, h
she deserted ? No! In every Mason she finds a brother
and a protector.- She is in the mid.-t of those who t-ynipa-thize
in her distress's, who feel her anguish, and who, atthat
trying iiour will standby and support her in every trial. In
every event of "liffv each brother of jhe uystic lie heats his
sigh responded to in the sympathy tfoHy: is. If chill p nui v
or fell din-us a?snl him, a hand Ls nlivnys near to aid and
alleviate lus pain. No Lcvhical "passing by on the c th r
side" is known to Mr.soni y but here ami in a ray of I Lav
own light irradiates the path of each true brother.
Here, then, kt me or.ee more ask whether Maecnry doth
not accomplish a task analogous to that rf the Patron S.iint
whose fe stival we this day celebrat ? lie went forth prepar
ing mankind for the reception of th Son of God and Hi.?
holy doctrines. Doth not this mystic art cow in the heart th
seed of faith, hope and charity, there to spring up and bring
forth truit abundantly whenev er the Holy Spirit shall send
down the dew of His grace to nourish it ? Is she not
an handmaid to the Bride of Christ Her aim is the' i lid"
of the fatherless and the widow, and the preservation of her
children from the contamination of this world. The Chris
tian church offers the means of grace, and is the only appoin
ted channel of salvation. Maronry points the w ay when by
the heart may be enlightrned so as to lccogntze that glorious
approach to Heaven, and hail its holy rites dispensing mer
cy and pardon to mankind. The Church of Christ shall live
throughout eternity whilst masonry, however, can conduct
us no farther than this transient life. But shall we reject this
lesser light? What'have been its result.' What its duration?
When "darkness covered the earth, and gross durkm m the
people, when war and pestilence brooded over the earth,
where was masonry? Busy in the ranks em the battle field,
averting the point of the sword and spear, end at her in
stance have millions of lives been spared. Busy at the couch
of the sick and poor, when death was raging round about,
Busy in the halls of princes and judges, shielding the ft t bb'
and weak from high-handed oppiessiou and tyranny. Busy
on the wide spread ocean, aiding the distressed and uoiu out
mariner Busy at the savage council fire spreading pi oh ction
around the doomed victim at the stake. Busy even at th:
martyr's dungeon, loosing his shackles and setting him at lib
erty, or conveying to him the cons lation and sympathy of
others even amongst his oppressors. In point of duration
kingdoms and empires have dwindhd mid gone into de
cay, thrcnes have risen and set, principalities end power-?
have gone to destruction, while Ma-onry has marked their
rise, their progress and their fall. She maintains her prb -
I tine purity amid all the changes of this mutable woi Id. A -
of old, far?, Mead Mi every e!:m she clings to ever, ar. nut
land mark ; slili torches' the. s.nu; salutary truths, and
practices Ihrougn her members the same . viituts. At a re
verent distance, yet in her proper place, ?he maintains hi r
position, the hand-maid of religien in conveying moral illu
mination to mankind. With the church of Christ, outliving
th powers of this world, slic chrds her gentler ray on earth,
soothing its care?, alleviating its distress ses, and .com! at
ing it evil principles. Whilst thus existing amongst nun,
ever devctcd to the propagation of rel gicn and phty, twi
has it nrid an holy hmple to Almighty God upon the
Mount Moriah. By "the Masonic Ait, elected to asplenia
science under the wise and mighty So'omon, lh' first .stupen
dous f lbric-wns raised and dedicati d; but, Judea fell Lra If,
thrones Were bumbled in .the dust; u'hncu brooded e'er hrr
plains; desolate became her cities; captive wept her children.,
Even, then, when, the power of tlie Chaldeans overcame Jud a
anduil skeined d o:ned to inevitable ruin. Almighty God, in
His providence, comm tied to this fraternity the preservation
of his sacred law and the Aik ofthe Covenant. Well va
the sacred trust guarded; in still silence and peifect recuiity
did the deposit rest; but, ar-ain did the temple rise from its
Tormcr ruins. . Under Zerubbabel, the turrets of God's 'house,
once more shone upon 'Mount Moriah. '.The Ark ofthe
Covenant and the Sacred Law weie again brought to light
by the art of; Masonry and were restored to their wonted,
places in the house of God Jerusalem then irsounded once
more with anthems to the Great Jehovah; but the veil of
that temple was rent in twain on the fatal night that eavv tho
agonizing death of the Sr.r. of ( Jod; and, in a few more yiars.
in fulfilment of the blessed Redeemer's prophecy, not one
stone of the second temple rested cn another. In the provi
dence of God, his once chosen people have become outcast.?
and wanderers in all lands: affording us, in this our day. the
witness of a stupendous miracle, to wit; The perpetuity of a '
distinct race scattered over all the earth, free from intermix
ture with the nations amongst whom they live existing
without a leader, without political organization and, yet, a
nation (iistinctivc in ft? features, with marked and unerring
characte'tics peculiar to themselves.
But greater things are looked for in this our age. Ju
dea, there is reason to believe, is once more free. Jews, by
thousand are now travelling thither; and without too ardent
a flight of fancy, we may be permitted to hope that the time
is rapidly" approaching when, t'in the fulness of the Jew: ,
shall the gentiles be gathered in."
Brethren of the Masonic fraternity! If by our mystic art
there has been twice erected upon Mount Moriah an holy
temple to the Great Jehovah, how' fir may we, although cr;t
tcred over the earth, contribute M this lime to the erection f
a third and more glorious temple in honor of the holy, blessed
and gloiious trinity "three persons but one God"? In honor
pf God, the father, the author of all things, who led.'ais people
of old to that chosen ppot and instructed them how to build
His temple: in honor of God, tlie son, who there sealed our
redemption with his blood and in honor of the Holy Ghost,
who there first descended in tongues of cclcst.' f fir to
enkindle the flame of, true piety through all ages to come
May we dare to hope this great work. is reserved to us? K
to, may Heaven speed the day! Masons! what a theme!-
Would that a ceal from heaven could touch the speakers
lips, and enable him to impress every heart and thrill
every 'nerve with , the ennobling subjcci ! Masonry
ha?,, heretofore, be nXtn humble instrument in the hands of
God in th"' preservation of true religion. It ha rurvi vc d t'.--Ccuti'urd
on Jrirth pags.l