Part 17 (1/1)

[181] Suggested by a noble passage in the _Recollections_ of Washi+ngton Gladden; and the great preacher goes on to say: ”If the church could accept this truth--that Religion is Friendshi+p--and build its own life upon it, and s, should we not have a great revival of religion?” Indeed, yes; and of the right kind of religion, too! Walt Whition, in ”the dear love of man for his comrade, the attraction of friend to friend” (_The Base of all Metaphysics_) As for Masonic literature, it is one perpetual paean in praise of the practice of friendshi+p, from earliest time to our own day Take, for example, the _Illustrations of Masonry_, by Preston (first book, sect, i-x); and Arnold, as we have seen, defined Masonry as Friendshi+p, as did Hutchinson (_The Spirit of Masonry_, lectures xi, xii) These are but two notes of a hty anthem whose chorus is never hushed in the temple of Masonry! Of course, there are those who say that the finer forces of life are frail and foolish, but the influence of the cynic in the advance of the race is--nothing!

[182] _The Neighbor_, by NS Shaler

[183] If Masons often fall far below their high ideal, it is because they share in their degree the infirlibly recites the teachings of the Order and quickly forgets the lessons they convey; ears its honorable dress to conceal a self-seeking spirit; or to who only an outward thrill, and no inward urge toward the highest of all good Apart from what they symbolize, all symbols are empty; they speak only to such as have ears to hear At the same time, we have always to reotten--that the most sacred shrine on earth is the soul of man; and that the temple and its offices are not ends in themselves, but only beautiful means to the end that every human heart may be a temple of peace, of purity, of power, of pity, and of hope!

[184] Read the noble words of Arnold on the value of Masonry to the young as a restraint, a refine about youth the reat ideal (_History and Philosophy of Masonry_, chap xix)

[185] _Heroes and Hero-worshi+p_, by Thomas Carlyle, lecture i

[186] If the influence of Masonry upon youth is here eerous period of life is not youth, with its turmoil of storm and stress, but between forty and sixty When the enthusiaslaht of co down of ideals, a hardening of heart, when cynicis are austere and need to be softened by charity, the middle years of life need still more the reenforcement of spiritual influence and the inspiration of a holy ate upon old ather up the scattered thoughts about life and build them into a firreat hope and consolation Indeed, itsMasonry is like looking at a sunset; each man who looks is filled with the beauty and wonder of it, but the glory is not diminished