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Show MASONRY AS A MORAL FORCE. Masonry has existed, ;ind we have authentic record of it for five thousand years, and always aB a humanizing, elevating and benignant influence. Carnng in one hand relief to ti'e wretched, confidence to the wavering and hope to the dispairlng, and in the other food for the hungry. These blessed influences are distributed to the high, the low, the wise, the foolish, the rich and the poor alike, and with the most pel feet impartiality. All ages of the world, all lands and all ranks in life have shared in the good gifts Ma- Isonry have brought to man. Its blessed lessons teach toleration, liberality, charity, the protection of the poor and the wretched, the guidance of the footsteps foot-steps of the young, the safety of woman, veneration of the aged and the virtuous. Masonry also teaches the most exalted patriotism, regard fcr legal authority and devotion to heme and fatherland, which are charming and useful traits in any citizenship. She has advanced her banners wherever wher-ever civilization has penetrated. In faraway India, in sealed China, in Japan, in darkest Africa, in intolerant intoler-ant Russia, in imperial Germany, in France, Italy. England, in the wildB of South America, in Mexico, but especially es-pecially in our grand young republic has Masonry shea her benignant light with . most effect. Her offices have been world-wide, and always with blessings to those who have been wise enough to set up her altars in the land. No other earthly order or influence has been more potent, indeed half as potent, in subduing this western wilderness wild-erness and in setting up in thpse wil3-"ernesa wil3-"ernesa wilda the banners of civilized and christian government. In the days when savagery claimed these immense mountain and desert regions, when settlements were sparse and wildely separated, when each man was a law unto himself.it was always a noted tact that civilization and the law and order influences in her wake were more potent, were sooner and more perfectly j Bet up in thoee places where masonry had first erected her sacred altars. The fact is her mission to the world has been beneficent, but no where has it been more valuable or greater than here upon this western frontier. Like the church masonry has had her black sheep in the flock, but the general membership has always consisted con-sisted of the best men in the communities com-munities where it has been introduce! and it is not to be condemned bscause unworthy men sometimes pass her sacred portals. All patriotic moral and legal influences in the land have been placed under great obligations to this silent, unheralded, but potent body of men working ceaselessly' for the relief, upbuilding and improvement of their fellow men, as well as for the glorification, protection and dignifying of womankind, the purification of our homes and the security of their precincts. pre-cincts. Masonry is a great thing for men, but for women its greater use-fullnesB use-fullnesB and most perfect offices are reserved. We are elad to see young Utah fos-tering fos-tering and caring for our noble order. Every lodge set up but adds that much more to the inviting influences influ-ences so thickly scattered abroad in our bright, sunny, young commonwealth. |