A Sermon

But what is Freemasonry ? It has been beautifully and appropriately defined as " A science of morality veiled in allegory and illstrated by symbols . " It teaches love to God and suffering humanity . Its fundamental princip les are a practical belief in the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of man , —that God is our father and we are his offspring . No man is a Mason unless he is a believer in the Great Architect of heaven and earth . To

use the words of an elegant writer on the subject : " Freemasonry is an institution , not , as the ignorant and uninitiated , vainly suppose , founded on unmeaning mystery , for the encouragement of bacchanalian festivity and supp ort of mere good fellowship ; but an institution founded on eternal reason and truth , whose deep base is the civilization of mankind , and whose everlasting glory is supported by those two mighty pillars—Science and

Morality . " True Freemasonry is not a system of religion ; she adopts the shibboleth of no sect or party ; but she is the handmaid of truth . Freemasonry is not a system of national government or of party politics ; but a genuine Freemason is a peaceful and loyal subject to the civil power wherever he resides or works .

I state unhesitatingly that apart from Christianity , Freemasonry inculcates the hig hest system of morality and good works we know of ; because that system is founded upon the eternal principles of Divine Truth . I do not forget the now well known action of the Grand Orient of France , which , if I understand it aright , no longer requires from its candidates for Masonic honours and privileges a statement of their belief in the existence of the Great

Architect of the Universe ; but I say , they who form that Grand Orient are not true Masons—not true to the constitutions of Masonry . Take the Bible from its altars , and true Freemasonry exists no longer , for of what use is that Bible in its temples , when some of the temple-dwellers do not believe in its grand central revelation , the existence of the Supreme Being , the Maker and Father of ns all ?

French Freemasonry , in declining to make a belief in the Great Architect of the Universe a needful pre-requisite for admission to its ranks , has departed from the ancient lines laid down for our guidance . It is no longer true , and therefore we acknowledge it not . I have been forced to refer to this matter , which I would have preferred to have passed over in silence ; but necessit y compels me to refer to it , or else I might have had that atheistic action of the Grand Orient of France brought to bear witness against mewhen I assert

, that one of the Pillars of true Freemasonry is a belief in the existence of the eternal God . A brother Mason , writing on the same matter , uses strong , forcible , and stirring language . I would that I had time to quote the entire article , for there ' s the ring of the true metal about it . It ' s the setting up of the true banners in the old paths—as it is , I can only quote just a few of its words . He says : " The time has arrived when we must answer this

query anew , with a more decided tone than before—when , like a clarion-note , clear and loud , the answer shall be heard in the valleys and echoed on the hilltops . For years we have been accused of treachery , of perjury , and worse than perjury by narrow-minded bigots ; by wild fanatical bodies composed of scoffers at religion and mockers of the word of God ; by the influence and weight of the ancient and learned Church of Rome . For years we have borne this

, silently and steadily progressing , drawing within our fold the great and good of every class , sect , creed , and nation ; receiving only those whose faith was placed in an ever-living God . The time has now come when silence would be a crime—the hour has arrived for Freemasons of every clime to boldly declare and prove b y their acts that their faith rests in the Fatherhood of the Creator of the Universe . Masons , hesitate no longer to buckle on your armour and prove to the world that every brother has a faith in common—a faith in God , and a hope in immortality . * * * * * Prove to friend and foe