p. 408 | In Bad Taste

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, Cal. · Sep 6, 1883

In Bad Taste.

AT the laying of the corner-stone of the Garfield monument in Golden Gate Park, Aug. 24, as the parties took their positions, an ode was sung the first verse of which is as follows:—

“Hail, Masonry Divine! Glory of ages, shine While time shall last! Where’er thy vot’ries are, Let Love an’ Peace be there, Let thy good works compare With ages past.”

President Garfield was the nation’s martyr, and all unite in doing him honor; and it did not seem in keeping with the occasion to open the exercises with a song ascribing divine honors to masonry! We are neither bigoted nor prejudiced, but we intend to always have a proper regard for the fitness of things. Under the circumstances the exercises should have been such as to meet acceptance with all classes of citizens, and this could have easily been done.

The week past has been a great occasion for San Francisco. The city was dressed up in gorgeous style. The cross was honored everywhere and by everybody; the crucified was forgotten or uncared for. The order of Knights Templars was duly glorified, and the people of our unpretending Republic have thus taken one more lesson in expressing their love of show and royal trappings and dignities.

The order of Knights Templars has no natural connection with masonry, but according to their rules none but masons can become “Sir Knights.”

In military drill they make a splendid appearance, and their movements are as nearly perfect, perhaps, as may be. But we have little taste for show, and cannot forget the words of our Saviour in John 5:44.