DEDICATION OF THE MASONIC The Masonic Hall in the city of Philadelphia, which was destroyed by fire about nineteen months ago, has recently been rebuilt, in a style of elegance far surpassing that of the former building. It was dedicated on Wednesday the first day of November last. The event was celebrated by the craft, about one thousand in number, with a degree of pomp, splendour. and good order, exceeding any former exhibition of the kind, and feelings of joy and gratitude, were evinced by the brethren. A grand procession was formed at Washington Hall, in true Masonic order, composed of the brethren of the different lodges in Philadelphia, joined by others from various parts of the United States; and after moving through the principal streets in the city, proceeded in regular order, to Zion church in Fourth-street, where they entered with the usual ceremonies. On the entrance of the procession, By Brother R. Taylor. In all thy distresses, thy Head feels the Yet all are most needful; not one is in vain. pain; Praise him for all the mighty acts, That loudly sound on solemn days. The brethren in the church were favoured with the presence of the clergy of different denominations, various civil officers of the state and city, and the trustees and directors of the several learned institutions, together with a brilliant assemblage of ladies. After the conclusion of the ceremo FOR THE MASONIC REGISTER. AN ADDRESS, Delivered at the interment of a deceased brother, at Newburgh :-By the late BENJAMIN F. LEWIS. Respectable Auditors, It falls to my lot to address you on a most solemn occasion; a fellowcitizen, and a worthy brother, who but a few days since, was actively engaged in the busy scenes of life, now lies before you a breathless corpse. Suddenly snatched from the society of his relatives and friends, and wrapped in a mournful shroud, he is placed before you on the brink of that opening grave; it is there placed for a moment, to give us a pause for serious reflection; and to drop a tributary tear to his memory. Such a scene as this proclaims, in accents louder than triple thunder, this all important truth, that man is mortal. It was the desire of our departed brother, while he yet was a tenant of mortality, that his funeral solemnities should be attended with masonic hon ours. In accordance to his wishes, and at the request of my surviving brethren, I now appear before this assembly of mourning friends, to bear a part in the obsequies of the deceased. nies at the church, the procession | You this day behold the solemn pro cession, and contemplate these badges of grief. From these ceremonies we shall learn many interesting lessons, which in the ordinary course of life, we should never regard; and while out of respect to the memory of a departed friend, or brother, we are indu again formed, and proceeded to the Hall, in Chestnut-street, where, after the brethren had entered, and the grand master having reached Solomon's chair, the doors were tyled, the grand lodge opened, and the Hall was solemnly dedicated, agreeably to the usages and customs of the order. Af-ced to exchange the common routine ter the grand lodge was closed, the officers, with those of the grand lodge of New-Jersey, and a great number of respectable visiters, partook of a banquet in the grand saloon of the Hall. During the whole celebration, no accident, nor any thing unpleasant occurred, notwithstanding the immense concourse of spectators. of pleasure or business, for the house of mourning, and a temporary intercourse with its inmates, and to bedew its sacred portals "with sympathetic tears for their distress." In these serious and endeared moments, we are feelingly alive to the charms of virtue, and the dictates of religion. We are necessitated, in a measure, to clothe ourselves, in imagination, with the garb of the dead, well knowing that very soon we must wear it in reality. On such occasions we should endeavour to copy their laudable examples, and to catch some portion of the divine spirit, which has ascended to Heaven. and to furnish themselves with all the peculiar virtues of these Christian heroes. Our business, this day, is to recal to our memories, a truth which cannot be too often repeated, that we must all die, and render a strict and impartial account of our stewardship, to our Maker; and the wisest know not how soon, or how sudden, this great and irreversible change may happen to each one of us. It was not only the custom of the Egyptians, and the Greeks, to celebrate the burial of a deceased friend, with funeral pomp; but the sacred scriptures also furnish many instances of a similar kind, and bear testimony to its propriety, and tendency to soften the manners, and to mend the heart. When Joseph heard of the death of his venerable father Jacob, he hastened to visit the breathless clay; he fell upon it, wept over it, and kissed it, and commanded his physicians to embalm it. He then, with all his brethren, and those of his own, and of his father's house, with chariots and horsemen, a very great company, went up to bury him, in his own burying ground, and made a great, and very sore lamentation for their father, for seven days. How much more respectful was this solemnity, than the unceremonious manner, which too generally prevails at the present day, of burying the dead, even without the customary services of religion. Such negligence and inattention, has the appearance of thoughtlessness, and that it is our chief concern to succeed, as quickly as possible, to the estates of our departed parents; with very f umphant, in Heaven; from his family in this world, to the paradise of God. To them this providence must be pe But a few short months have elapsed, since we were called upon to perform the last sad honours of Masonry, over the mortal remains of one of our oldest, and most respectable brethren, and this day we have received a fraternal summons to convey to the silent tomb, the corpse of a worthy and venerable brother, who was walking our streets, not a week since, and was assiduously engaged in the affairs of the world, in all the bloom and pride of his usual health. He has indeed been suddenly called from his station among us; but we have good reason to hope and believe, that he was not wholly unprepared to exchange his house for a coffin, his activity in society for solitude and silence, and his exertions for doing good to mankind for darkness and the grave. From the busy scenes of this mortal life, it hath pleased the Sovereign Disposer of events, to call him, as we trust, to become a member of the church tri little respect to their memories, or any due sense of their former kindness to us, usefulness to the world, or the les-culiarly afflictive; and considering sons which their examples should teach. the heavy loss which they have sus tained, and the keen sensibility it must have excited, I feel myself in doubt how to proceed. Should I dwell upon the dark side of this dispensation, it would only open wider the springs of grief, and enlarge the avenues of sorrow. I wish not to add affliction to the afflicted; but would rather, if I knew the means, adminis The ancient Christians, besides their funeral solemnities, were wont to meet frequently at the graves of their martyred saints, and holy men, and there to write the histories of their sufferings, and their triumphs, for the purpose of deeply infixing, in their own minds, that unconquered boldness, and fervent piety, which character comfort and consolation to the terized these disciples of Immanuel; || broken hearted; though their best and dearest earthly friend is gone, never more to be à resident in this our world, yet they have a rational hope to support them under their trials, that he has exchanged worlds, infinitely to his advantage. Charity forbids that we should place him any where but in the bosom of Abraham, surrounded with myriads of kindred spirits, solacing him with beatific joys, at the fountain of delight, and drinking full draughts of the rivers of pleasure, which flow at God's right hand. He died but to live again, and to live in a more happifying and exalted manner, than when here on earth. His relatives and friends have no reason to lament his death, as a loss to himself; for while to him to live was Christ, so for him to die was his eternal and unspeakable gain. But I hasten to a conclusion. Funeral addresses are intended only for the benefit of the living; therefore let the virtues and noble example of our departed brother be long cherished in our memories, and precious to our hearts. Let us dry up our tears, and silence every vain complaint. Let us not question the dispensations of Providence, nor ask, with a murmuring temper, with a certain conceited philosopher, Whether it were not desirable, that the virtues and talents of eminent men should be hereditary? Let us rather trust, with confidence, that the Bountiful Giver of life, and its blessings, will in the end, do us ample justice. Let us persevere in the line of our duty, and serve our generation faithfully, according to the divine will, well knowing that the all-seeing eye of our great and glorious Grand Master, continually observes and records all our actions; and may we learn from him, that a heart pure, and detached from sordid pleasures; a soul panting after perfection, and devoted to the service of its Maker, and the best interests of mankind, shall at length rise, and mix, in eternal fellowship, with the beatified family of God. " In these bright regions of celestial day, Far other scenes, far other pleasures reign! All beauty here below, to them compar'd, Would, like a rose before the mid-day sun, Shrink up its blossoms; like a bubble break The passing poor magnificence of kings! Amid etherial powers and virtues, holds ! REASONS FOR MASONIC SECRESY. If the secrets of Masonry are replete with such advantages to mankind, it may be asked, why are they not divulged for the general good of society? To this it may be answered, were the privileges of Masonry to be indiscriminately dispensed, the purposes of the institution would be subverted, and our secrets being familiar, like other important matters, would lose their value, and sink into disregard. It is a weakness in human nature, that men are generally more charmed with novelty, than with the intrinsic value of things. Innumerable testimonies might be adduced to confirm this truth. The most wonderful operations of the Divine Artificer, however beautiful, magnificent, and useful, are overlooked, because common and familiar. The sun rises and sets, the sea flows and reflows, rivers glide along their channels, trees and plants vegetate, men and beasts act, yet these being perpetually open to view, pass unnoticed. The most astonishing productions of nature on the same account escape observation, and excite no emotion, either in admiration of the great cause, or of gratitude for the blessing conferred. Even virtue herself is not exempted from this unhappy bias in the human frame. Novelty influences all our actions and determinations. What is new, or difficult in the acquisition, however trifling or insignificant, readily capti vates the imagination, and insures a Whose word with light adorn'd the skies, ing. Did the essence of Masonry consist in the knowledge of particular secrets or peculiar forms, it might be alledged that our amusements were trifling and superficial. But this is not the case. These are only keys to our treasure, and having their use, are preserved : while, from the recollection of the lessons which they inculcate, the well informed Mason derives instruction, draws them to a near inspection, views them through a proper medium, adverts to the circumstances which gave them rise, and dwells upon the tenets which they convey. Finding them replete with useful information, he prizes them as sacred; and convinced of their propriety, estimates their value from their utility. PERSECUTION OF MASONRY. It is stated that the king of Prussia has ordered all the Freemason's lodges in his dominions to be closed, and that the same measure is proposed to be taken in Austria, and throughout Germany. Vain and presumptuous tyrants! Do they now think to suppress an institution, that has stood unmoved for ages, in defiance of all the storms raised against it, by ignorance, bigotry, and superstition? As well might they order the winds to cease from blowing, or the rivers to run over the highest hills, as to oppose their feeble power to an institution, supported by the strong pillars of Truth and Justice, and embraced in all parts of the known world, not only by men possessing the highest çivil honours, but by those of the purest piety. MASONIC HYMN. BY BROTHER A. NICHOLS, JUN. Great Architect, supreme, divine, For Charity's employ, The liberal arts by Thee design'a We labour to improve. CHORUS. Till love shall cease, till order dies, To Thee masonic praise shall rise! ODE TO MASONRY. BY BROTHER A. NICHOLS, JUN. Hail sons of light and Masonry, The seat of peace and innocence! While virtue has a friend below, Blest royal art thy secret worth! While wisdom, strength, or beauty charms, Shall walk secure in paths of peace! While pure religion calms the soul, BUNDESLIED. Segen jener grossen Stunde, Der Berblendung dunkle Hülle |