interesting, will never present itself to view. It has passed the ordeal of ages on ages, stood the test of scrutinizing millions, and the influence of its genial rays shall become obsolete, and cease to cheer the weary pilgrim, but with the consummations of universal nature. I take leave of this part of our subject, and claim your indulgence to Masonry as it now stands. heads, to claim self-existence, or for human nature to deny its relation to the Grand Architect of the Universe. Permit me here to quote an extract from an oration delivered at Boston, and published in the New-England Galaxy. "The Christian Mason is taught to esteem the first great light in the golden candlestick, as infinitely superior to the light of nature, reason, and philo Cold must be the heart, and insen-sophy, united in triple rank; superior sible the feelings of him, who, as he travels this bright road, is not filled with admiration at each advancing step; weak and futile must be the ideas of him, who, as he journeyeth upon the consecrated ground, does not feel himself exalted far above the level of the world. He does, my brethren; the genuine Mason feels it all: from the moment his wondering eyes behold the interior of those walls, where nought but friendship can exist; from the moment he feels the warm pressure of that friendly hand which conducts him through the passes of his APPRENTICESHIP, and presents him before the altar of brotherly love, he feels his soul enlarged, he poises himself upon the purity of his intentions, and the magnanimity of his God. I speak only of true Masons; I mean only those who are such in heart and deed; of him, who, through the resources of that mysterious volume, that sacred deposit where dwell the secrets of the fraternity, is fully entitled to rank as a Mason, and a Christian; for he cannot be one, and not the other. Although the ignorant may scoff at an institution they know nothing of; notwithstanding the enemies of our edifice may say, there is no connection between Masonry and Christianity, we have full evidence within us; and we feel a strong glow of thankfulness that a separation of the terms is impossible; that it would be as proper for the god of day to deny the Creator's power; for each bright orb which shines in radiant lustre o'er our to the sun of genius, or the morning star of science; this light of heaven itself, his raptured spirit hails, and faithful as the star which led the adoring Magi to Bethlehem's peaceful vale, this light in death shall lead the sons of peace, the friends of virtue, and of man, to the eternal fountain of light itself, who alone is worthy of the morning song, the noon-tide shoutings, and the ceaseless anthems of praises from all his works." To return; his eye rests upon the CARPET, and the field of his labour is exhibited to his view; he stretches forth his hand, and the working tools of his profession are presented to him; he is attired in the robes of innocence, commences his labour with a cheerful zeal, nor ceases until he passes the shades of superstition, and finds himself raised to that proud station which defies the storms of adversity; he SQUARES his actions with rectitude, and one masterly sweep of the сомPASS circumscribes his wishes, and his views. It would require too much time to follow him through his whole course of labour, and descant upon the various work upon which he is employed, until he arrives on HOLY GROUND; we will therefore place him upon the MOSAIC PAVEMENT, and associate at once the Masonic and Christian virtues. "On this ground, companions, we can walk and not stumble; here we can in safety travel together, safe as on the pavement which God's own right hand hath laid, and which his perpetual decree supports. It is like the fixed decree which lays the found- || grees of the RED CROSS, and the MEDation of the everlasting covenant, and ITERRANEAN PASS; when he can shake the brazen sinews which bind the work the wily SERPENT from his hold, nor of the Great Architect together. feel the deadly poison of his embrace, then may he feel assured that Death and Hell are conquered in his behalf, and that his name shines bright on the register of Heaven's Eternal Chief. to to 4 VER and the 1005 "Doth the POT OF INCENSE, the unction of the fraternity, cause its offerings to arise in sweet perfumes towards the BLAZING SUN, that the labour of the TROWEL may be accepted, and the point of the SWORD be turned from piercing the heart; how significant of the acceptable service of him whose incense ascends in grateful perfumes in behalf of the universal fraternity of all true believers. "Do you ascend to the KEY, by a sevenfold progression, so in the number SEVEN you have the perfect grade of your ascent. You have then attained to all the elevation of thought which the Masonic art in this building can give; the grade is finished, the strokes you heretofore have struck, receive their crown, the men may be called off for refreshment, not to return to this work again, but to obtain the full accomplishment of their hopes in the mansion of a more noble edifice, whose builder and founder is God. When to this scene you shall have surrendered the sacred symbols committed to your charge, the sun shall be in its full radiance, the moon shall wax and wane no more, the LION'S GRIP shall bind the work in one settled decree, the trump of the Almighty shall open the graves of them that rest, and the jverdant branch, long since strewn upon the bosoms of our sleeping brethren, shall vegetate and flourish in everlasting bloom." thia When the Mason shall have become perfect in his order, and uniting the Christian in his faith, shall have passed through the several grades of experience, until he shall have arrived at the Most Holy Order of Knighthood, a true and faithful Templar of Jesus Christ, and shall with due honour and fortitude, have supported the amazing trials, and dangerous vicissistudes of this noble order; when he shall have attained to the further de Then shall the heart overflow with gratitude to Rex Regum, et Dominus Dominorum, and his tongne shout praises to him who reigns triumphant King of Saints. Brethren, take a view of the symbols of our order; see the COFFIN, that narrow dwelling in which we are to be laid, and the SPADE, used for planting our bodies in the dust. Look into the grand volume of human nature, and read the uncertainty of life. You will learn that it is like the dew which bespangles the mountain, 'tis exhaled by the rays of the rising sun, and not one trace remains to denote its former being. That the tender bubble which floats upon the fountain, breaks not easier than the fragile cord which binds us to existence. That it is rapid in its course, as the wild stream of the mountain, that rushes with resistless fury to the silent vale below. Let the sign of the cross, supported by the BRIDGE, point you the way to cross in safety the Jordan of Death, for the night will soon come, that night of gloom which will wrap all human nature in the darksome shroud, and doom our bodies to undivided dust. But thanks be to him whose irresistible fiat gave birth to the universe, there is a light shall pierce the deepest tomb, shall scatter every sombre cloud, and break the sleep of death. It is the star which beams on high, the Great Redeemer's countenance, which casts its rays throughout creation's empire, and kindly welcomes all. It bears us through the last dread hour of our existence here, disgorges earth of all her sleeping tenants, and cancels Calvary's blood. It guides us to the portals of the sky, conducts us to the realms of bliss, and presents us perfect in our order, to the Great I AM. GRAND LODGE OF THE STATE OF NEW-YORK. Atan emergent meeting of the R.W. grand lodge, held at the grand lodge room in the City Hotel, in the city of New-York, on Tuesday evening, the 12th Sept. A.L. 5820. Present, the M. W. his excellency DANIEL D. TOMPKINS, vice president of the United States, &c. &c. GRAND MASTER, in the chair: The M. W. G. M. stated that he had caused this emergent meeting to be called for the purpose of consulting with the grand lodge on the subject of grand visitations; and upon the subject being taken up, after a full discussion of the same, and a variety of propositions being submitted, on a motion of the W. Br. Hatfield, seconded by the W. Br. Lott, the following preamble and resolution were passed by a large majority. Whereas the book of Constitutions of the grand lodge, as well as the regulation adopted in 5806, and collated in 5819, provides for the system of grand visitation, pursuant to which, two different methods of carrying into effect those resolutions were adopted, both of which have been found inexpedient, and have been abolished; the first in 5814, and the second in June, 5820; and whereas it appears, from the accounts exhibited by the grand visiters, appointed by the resolutions of 5814, and audited; that the country lodges have paid large sums in 5819, to the funds of this grand lodge, that is to say, in the second district, 1842 dollars 87 cents; and in the third district, 3572 dollars 21 cents; of which, upon auditing the accounts of the grand visiters of said second and third districts, 1130 dollars have been allowed to the grand visiter of the second district, and 1300 dollars to the grand visiter of the third district, for their services and expenses; which appear to be unreasonable deductions from the dues of the lodges within said districts, without benefiting the funds of the grand lodge, or contributing to its ability, by means thereof, to answer the charitable purposes of the institution: and whereas, it is the wish and intention of this grand lodge, to continue the system of visitation by grand visiters under its jurisdiction, as essential to the preservation of that intimate connection and intercourse between the grand lodge, and all the lodges under its jurisdiction, on which the harmony, usefulness, and dignity of the order in this state, and its character and station in the great Masonic family must depend: Therefore resolved, that at the next quarterly communication in December next, the number of the grand visiters, tricts, duties, and compensations, be submitted to the grand lodge for their final disposition, and that the grand secretary cause a copy of this resolu and the determination of their dis tion to be forthwith transmitted to all the lodges under the jurisdiction of this grand lodge. A true copy from the minutes. A. LOTT, assistant grand secretary. GRAND LODGE OF KENTUCY. The grand lodge of Kentucky elected the following officers at its session on the 29th of August. M. W. Henry Clay, grand master. R. W. David G. Cowan, D. G. master. R. W. John M'Kinney, Jr. S. G. warden. R. W. Asa K. Lewis, J. G. warden. M. R. Caleb W. Cloud, G. chaplain. Br. John Rowan, G. orator. Br. Daniel Bradford, G. secretary. Br. Michael Fishel, G, treasurer. Br. John H. Crane, S. G deacon. Br. J. Speed Smith, J. G. Deacon. Br. Craven, P. Luckit, G. marshall. Br. Thomas Smith, G. sword bearer. Br. John D. Halstead, G. pursuivant. Br. Francis Walker, G. steward and tyler. The grand lodge of Kentucky holds its annual meeting in Lexington, on Portsmouth, N. H. Sept. 16. MASONIC DEDICATION. Last evening the new Masonic Hall, in the building lately erected by Mr. Boardman, in Congress-street, adjoining the Portsmouth hotel, was dedicated with the usual ceremonies. R. W. Brother S. Larkin, master of St. John's lodge, presided in the east; W. past-master B. Brierly, supported by the senior wardens of St. John's and Pythagoras lodges, in the west; and W. past-master J. Davenport, supported by the junior wardens of the same lodges, in the south. Prayers were offered to the Great Architect of the Universe from the Rev. Brethren of the Order, and an address was made by Rev. Brother Streeter. It is with pleasure we notice the attention of the brethren, to the interests of the Mystic Fraternity, in this town. The Hall thus solemnly dedicated to St. John, is scarcely surpassed in beauty and splendour in any city in America. On this occasion we were happy to observe several of the clergy, and many gentlemen and ladies, invited quests. Several beautiful paintings adorned the hall, from the pencil of Brother Pierce; that over the Master's head, particularly drew our attention; it was an admirable delineation of Simeon, with the infant Saviour in his arms, exclaiming, "Now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation." Oracle. Kimball, S. D. Ebenezer Fuller, jr. GRAND CHAPTER OF MASSACHU- At a meeting of the M. E. grand R. MASONIC ADDRESS. The following address was delivered at a Worshipful Master, Officers, and As the representatives of that dignified body to which you owe your existence as a lodge of Masons, we come to pay you our annual and fraternal salutations. We are not more strongly prompted to the performance of this service, by the duty we owe the R. W. G. lodge in the various offices we fill, than by our own inclinations; for to persons interested, as we are, in the prosperity of the craft, what can be more gratifying than to pursue and survey its varied operations in the several departments of the institution, from the unskilful, but well intended exertions of the diffident apprentice, 1 ! office has fallen upon a brother, who has modesty enough to feel his own insufficiency, let his difficulties be lessened by the earnest and ingenuous co-operation and aid of all who have contributed to his advancement. to the maturer efforts of the industri- || choice of the body for any particular ous fellow craft; from thence, to the sublimer performances of the expert master workman; and finally, to that perfect conclusion of the whole system to be found in the exalted degree of our order represented here, by the deputation with which I am honoured, from our most holy grand royal arch chapter ? What can be more gratifying than these things? Nothing, my brethren, if we have the pleasure to see you severally engaged with zeal and alacrity, fulfilling the obligations of your several stations, to your own honour, and the advantage of the institution which has adopted you as its members. To prize as we ought the importance of these stations, we must have proper conceptions of the dignity and excellence of the institution itself. And what institution can be more dignified, than one which travels not back a few centuries for the commencement of its existence, but whose origin is lost in the remotest antiquity; which has extended its ramifications into every part of the civilized world, and has boasted, as its patrons, the wisest statesmen, the bravest heroes, and the most generous benefactors of the human race, from our ancient grand master Solomon, down to America's best friend, our beloved and lamented Washington? What institution can be more excellent than one which inculcates piety towards God, love towards man, morality and justice in all our actions, and kindness and charity towards those of our fellow-creatures, from whom fortune has I say fulfilling the duties of your different stations; for perhaps, no error is more common in our society, than the promotion of brethren to the highest honours of the lodge, before they have acquired that superior knowledge of the work of the craft, which, connected with the merit of a good personal character for sobriety, integrity, and industry, both in and out of lodge, ought alone to entitle any brother to expect them. It becomes me to say, that I forcibly feel in my own person, the force of this observa-withdrawn her smiles, and who, with out our support, would be compelled still to wander on the barren wilds of adversity and want. But I am not now, brethren, to pronounce the eulogy of our order. Your feelings anticipate all my praises; and I fear, that my feeble voice would diminish rather than exalt its worth. tion. Raised by the favour of my ness, which has prematurely thrown I have glanced at the important object of care in the judicious selection of the officers of the lodge. I must now urge, as no less important, the exercise of great caution in the admission of new members. How has the craft been disgraced by inattention in this particular in some of our lodges! |