Now, though there may be other interpretations, it is quite unquestionable that such pillars in front of a temple were emblems of the deity worshipped in that temple. These two pillars, then, represented God. How? First, they were strong: secondly, they were upright, thirdly, they were beautiful to behold. Is not God strong and upright? Do we not feel that one so good and strong, must indeed be all glorious to behold? Now, in the very beginning of my Bible I read, "And God said, let us make man in our image, after our likeness. So God created man in His own image. God created man; in the likeness of Cot. rage He him. Brethren, it is a solemn thought: you and 1 are made in the image and likeness of God. How rarely do we realize that. Yet we, especially we who are Masons, cannot plead ignorance, The Sacred Writings are to rule and govern our faith. If we really, unostentatiously, yet none the less, sincerely, let them do so, we are on our way to being in the image and likeness of God. For the second part of the V.S.L. tells us how God came on earth to make clear to mankind what God is and what God wishes. You remember those pillars, emblems of God—upright, strong, beautiful: but it was only when the lily-work was added that they were completed. They, too, show us what God is and what God wishes us to be—us, who are in His image and likeness. It is a primary duty to be upright in thought, word and deed—to be true and just in all our dealings: there must be nothing superfluous: the force of conscience must be such as to keep unpolluted our words and actions. We must be strong. We have ideals—we have made promises; we feel pity for one who is weak in mind or body—we perhaps feel contempt for him who is weak in courage. And yet, bre-throu, have we always the strength to stand up for what we have learnt to be right—I did not say popular, or customary or even harmless—but what is right? Often we pass something over in silence, or with a laugh. "Peace at any price——'silence is golden'—no doubt—but do we not put our trust in God?—and let us remember that wherever we are and whatever we do, He is with us, and His all-seeing eye beholds us. Does He find us strong? He alone is our judge.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.