priety, knowing that the all-seeing eye of our Supreme Grand Master above, continually observes us that when we shall have performed the task assigned us here, we may like him be called from our work to those refreshments which alone can satisfy our immortal desires: that when we put off this earthly clothing, we may be arrayed with the garments of glory, put on the jewels of light, and shine forever in the sublime arch above. POETICAL ADDRESS. BY BROTHER ANDREW C. MITCHELL. When first the world with all its woes Man was the deadliest foe to fellow-man; To bonds of friendship, unity, and love. Its corner-stone and arch still perfect stand, They meet their fabrick still without a The bible, compass, and the square proclaim Symbolsof earthly love inspir'dby Heav'n; Live in obscurity, yet live sublime : prove Still there are some in ignorance, maintain Heavens! could such vile injustice stain divine! sphere, Their children bound in ignorance and To waste his life in unavailing pray'rs, She meditates on mis'ry and the tomb. That which their better reason would re- To hold our order as an impious league, Our mysteries-mischief; and our rites intrigue; Bids them believe what reason would de- That we with fiends and demons are allied; The best, the noblest priv'lege of the mind; Bless'd by that freedom which our fathers That noble birthright each has sworn to 'Tis here, no monkish fears appal the heart; God: Bound by no dogınas, here religion reigns, Not dress'd with gewgaws or defil'd by chains; Cc Bound by no form, each bends before the throne, And worships Heaven on principles his own. 210 How stands our order here?-On virtue's base; deface. Which time must strengthen and can ne'er On this bless'd clime, where heaven-born freedom stood, Burst slav'ry's chains and dash'd the despot's rod. (Immortal WASHINGTON! her chosen son, To gild those honours which his valour won;) On this bless'd clime auspicious fates pre- For he, the hero Washington, has borne, And when no human skill his life could Or if on Afric's dry and barren sand, own, Chill'd is his heart, for succour is afarAnd blood, and murder, mark this desp'rate war. Suppose him here! by savage fury press'd, The victor's steel now pointed at his breast, Or high uprais'd, is brandish'd o'er his head, Which if it fall, he slumbers with the dead; One hope yet lives: he lifts his eyes to Heaven, And gives that sign by none but Masons giv'n; As quick as lightning falls the conq'ror's sword, Palsied his arm, and gasping for the word; An instant's pause-he folds him in his That in his deadliest foe he met a friend. Are such thy pow'rs, blest Masonry divine Bless'd be thine altars, cherish'd be thy shrine; And may his hand, who Heaven's high thunders hurld, The Mighty Master Mason of the World, Protect thy Temple, that thy deeds may rise, With Virtue crown'd, immortal to the skies. THE MASON'S ADIEU. Adieu, a heart-fond, warm, adieu, Oft have I met your social band, And, ye kind-hearted sisters, fair, WEAKNESS OF THE OBJECTIONS AGAINST MASONRY. The following elegant extract, is from a sermon delivered by the Rev. Doct. Turner. It completely exposes the absurdity and weakness of the objections usually brought against our ancient and honourable fraternity, by the prejudiced and ignorant part of the community, who speak evil of those things which they know not." sons, urge thus :-The reason why we thinking, serious, and judicious perwhich, from close observation, we are enemies to Masonry is, the effects, have repeatedly traced. We have seen those, who call themselves warm, zealous Masons, most regular in their attendance on lodges, ready to go any lengths, both as to distance of place, loss of time, and expenses, in pursuit of Masonry, who never aptheir families without bread. Others peared at church, and frequently left ful of Masonry, and vastly fond of we have remarked, apparently brimeach brother, doubtless, in the lodge, "Masonry, I affirm to be a mystic science, wherein, under apt figures, select numbers, and choice emblems, solemn and important truths, naturally tending to improve the understanding, to mend the heart, and to bind us more closely one to another, are most expressly contained. In proportion as the wise, the learned, and the good have studied it, they have loved it.But like all other virtuous characters, or things, it hath met with persecu-according to their principles, who yet tion. Its enemies have been many; nor have its friends been few. Mature reflection on the characters of its adversaries, in a great measure, destroys all they say. For, in the first place, no truly sensible man will ever speak against what he doth not understand. There are some bigots in their opinions against it. It is, cry they, a bad thing, an unlawful thing, a sinful thing. Why? because we detest it, and abhor it. To pity such, is no mean part of Christian love; since, I am persuaded, that even in good hearts, the first emotion respecting them, were those of scorn and contempt. Of what use is it to reason with bigots, whether in religion, morals, or politics ? "There are some who speak against it, more from the vanity of saying somewhat on the point, than that they can urge a single rational objection. If it be good, say they, why not tell it? But we apprehend, continue these wiseacres, there is nothing in it. As for words, signs, tokens, all stuff, depend upon it, there are no such things. Now, what genuine son of ancient Masonry would hold converse with such people? Let them prattle on; if it pleases any who hear, they must be as weak as themselves; and it never those very brethren in trade, and the would cheat, deceive, and supplant ordinary transactions of society. They would defame them, and were it practicable, we should behold them attempting to take, as it were, the very bread friends to mankind, or one another, out of their mouths. Instead of being they are like wolves, preying with ferocity on whatever comes in their way. thing is no valid objection to its inher"In the first place, the abuse of a selves Christians, who are a disgrace ent goodness. How many call themto it, yet ultimately hurt not the gospel, but themselves? Besides, man's worth is not to be rated from his own exaggerated account of the matter, but from what he actually, uniformly, and absolutely is. The apostle has told us, that whosoever provideth not for his own, is an infidel; therefore we conclude, that no good Mason will ever be deficient in the due perforımance of all moral and relative duties. If a man is negligent in religious points, depend on it he is good for little in the lodge. jection, viz. that they will backbite and injure one another, it is too true, But what does it prove? simply this, that in the best institutions upon earth, worthless characters may occasionally "As to the second part of the ob can injure you. "The weightiest yet to Game, nor will I dinobjection is any be found. In the holy family itself, consisting but of twelve, one was a devil. Did that hurt the integrity of the eleven? far from it. Why lay the faults of a few at the doors of large respectable bodies of men, who by assiduously working at the craft, have done honour to human nature? Where the heart is bad, what can you expect from the tongue? After all, is it more than what happens in the most solemn duties of religion? Have there not been wretches who could go to the table of the Lord, and the very next day traduce the moral character of the minister from whose hands they received the holy sacrament? And if that was not making it to themselves the cup of devils, I know not what the apostle meant when he made use of those terms. ELEGANT EXTRACT. The following extract from brother Elder Osgood's sermon, delivered at Sacket's Harbour, at the installation of Athol Lodge, has been inserted in several American Gazettes, and has undoubtedly been perused by many of our readers. All, however, who consider its merits, must be pleased, by having it recorded in the Masonic Register, where it can be preserved from the fate which generally awaits publications in a common newspaper. It contains sentiments highly honourable to the reverend author, and to the fraternity in general, which ought to be treasured up in the heart of every individual member. EZEKIEL xliv. 5. And the Lord said unto me, Son of Man, Mark well! And behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears, all that I say unto thee concerning all the ordinances of the house of the Lord, and all the laws thereof, and mark well the entering in of the house, with every going forth of the The "The Masonic Society in its ancient purity resembled the building that was reared by its art. stones were hewed and squared in the quarries, the timber prepared in the forest of Lebanon,' so that the materials, when they were collected, were found to be prepared in such beautiful order and proportion, that it came together without the sound of axe, hammer, or any tool of iron; and had more the resemblance of the handy work of the Supreme Architect of the universe, than that of human hands. Such was ancient Freemasonry, when none were admitted to participate in its sublime mysteries but the worthy "Why need I multiply words to confirm it? Built on and drawn from revelation, must it not be of divine original? Adorned by the beneficent actions and amiable virtues of thousands, the first in point of rank, knowledge, and || sanctuary. moral excellence, of every language, in every age, and every clime, must it not possess an, inherent worth? Thou Heaven descended beam of light, beauty, and perfection! how oft hast thou been the means of saving life and property; reconciled the most jarring interests, and converted fiercest foes to dearest friends! On, on then, my dear brethren, pursue the great lecture with alacrity and firmness, each moving on the square of truth, by the compass of God's word, according to your respective stations, in all the rules of symmetry, order, and proportion. Nor dread when your earthly lodge shall be dissolved; your jewels will still be safe, and you shall be admitted into a more glorious lodge, even an house not made with hands, eternal in the Heavens; where angels and saints shall be your fellowcrafts and companions; and the Supreme Architect of the Universe your ineffably great and glorious Grand Master-your light-your life your joy-your all! and meritorious. "To 'mark well, the entering in of the house, in a Masonic sense is to observe well the institutions of Ma sonry. "In the temple of Solomon, there were guards placed at the different gates, to see that none passed without they were duly prepared. In like manner, those who are placed as guards in our Masonic temple, are to pay particular attention to the general character of those who present themselves as candidates for the mysteries of our order. " Among all the societies formed in this fallen world, there is but one that embraces so noble an object as the institution of Masonry; and that is RE LIGION. "Do we see a man cruel and oppressive, overreaching his neighbour, mark well the entering in of the house! If he is admitted, he will have no affection for the object; the widow and the orphan will never have the tear of sorrow wiped away with such a hand; the poor and pennyless will never find a home under such a roof. "Three great duties every Mason "Do we hear a man often speakis charged to inculcate; 'to God, hising reproachfully of his neighbour, neighbour, and himself.'' To God, in never mentioning his name, but with that reverential awe which is due from a creature to his Creator.' To his neighbour, in acting upon the square. To himself, in avoiding all irregularity and intemperance, which may impair his faculties, or debase the dignity of his profession. It has its secrets like all other societies; and having had them from time immemorial, it is a language of all nations. Such are the characteristics and principles the ancient institution of Masonry embraced; and such only now it recognises as brethren. "Do we see a man possessed of a covetous disposition, with a manifest desire to monopolize all to himself, 'mark well the entering in of the house; admit him not, he will neither have any affection for the general good, or unite in any probable means to obtain it! "Do we see a man often in difficulty with his neighbours, and is always first in his own cause, and right in his own eyes, mark well, if he is admitted he will have no regard for good order and subordination ! "Do we see a man spending his time idly, intemperate in his habits, neglectful of his family, 'mark well the entering in of the house. He is not a good husband, he is not a good citizen, and he can never be made a good Mason! "Do we see a man addicted to lewd company, or hear him advocate the principle, mark well the seventh chapter of Proverbs ! trumpeting abroad the faults of others, 'mark well'-a brother's character is not safe on his tongue! " Do we hear a man speak lightly of religion, and deny the inspiration of the Scriptures, and the mediation of the Lord Jesus Christ; 'mark well the entering in of the house'-let every gate be duly guarded ! "Take from Mssonry the validity of the Bible, that great Light, and total darkness will ensue. If the Scriptures are not what they are said to be, the unerring word of God, what an awful falsehood they are! Moses, the man of God, that was raised up to deliver Israel from the land of Egypt, and the house of bondage,' would then deliberately utter falsehoods. He tells us that he saw the burning bush' at Horeb, and that the Lord called upon him out of the midst of the bush, and said unto him, Moses, Moses! And he said, Here am I. And he said, draw not nigh hither; put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.' Moreover he said, I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.' 'And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God.' "When a well instructed Mason is asked what ancient production of his árt does he find previous to the erection of King Solomon's temple, how quick will he point to the tabernacle in the wilderness, and say, behold a perfect model of the temple of Solo mon! |