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OF hope, there associated with the brethren of the
mystic order, and cenen!cd by the bonds of love,
ana bound together by that my stc chain, which
is woven within every Lodge OF Free ard Accep-
ted hasons. They may have nothing 70 fear.-
They know that the AiI-seeing Eye is upon them.
and Faith, Hope. and Charity are the principles
which actuate them in their intercourse with each
other.
Thus we see, that tho moral principles Of Ma son.
ry are as pure and excellent, as could bel given by
the hand OF Deity to morlals in this probalionar nv
sphere, for they emauate from the incorruptbe
fountain of truth and goodness.


FIRST among the lights of Masonry stands con.
spicuols tine Bible of God, confessed and revered
by all true brothers and fellows of the the order.
a christian congregation may ho consec Grated, and
religious services may be performed in the alb.
sence OF the sacred writings; bu, Lodge cannot
be constituted. a Mason cannot be made, and no
collective Masonic act whatever can he perform-
cd without the presence of the first great light of
'alasonry 10 direct our footsteps.


With the tioiy Bible as the man Of our counsel,
II need scarcely be remarked, that Masonry and
inhaelily are as antagonistcal as light and dark
ness. Sill more glaring!y inconsistent and out
of character would It be III alason to reject the
Supreme Architect of the Universe, whom lhc
Sun, Noon and Stars obey.'' For ho Who thus
necessarily and cordially embraces the Bible of
poi. cannot dare not, reject the God of the Bible.
Aud u each Mason in this assembly was questl on
cd separately in ichom do you put yoar trust ?''
would he safe in ,onturing my ife, that the
prompt and immediate answer Of each wsuid be,
" In God" My brethren, your trust being thus
founded. you have Il sure, affirm foundation upon
which TO build pure morality.


Masonry Is also intended to elevate the intelec-
tuai man, by intoxicating The necessity and advan.
lhSo oi scientific knowledge; and that Mason is
fecrcant 10 The hrs: prlIcle of the institution.
" no docs not attempt 10 store mis- mind with ne
cessary and useful hnDvl,i s.-iu,w.nr as he


must, that he had scarcely passed The threshold OF
the LouSe Tor the hrst tinIe when the teaching be-
gan to the end that he was an intellectual being.
whose excellent powers Masonry is intended 10
cultivate, by making proper attention To the
sciences jus, as impo lanl obligation upon him
as any other requirement of the Lodge.


These truths being laid before you, the in1ur-
ing mind would naturally be led back TO ask,
when did an institution based upon such princi.
pies, and teaching such doctrines, originate =
What land gave it birth! And wha, people
claim its paternity.


Much has been written, and divers are tho opin-
ions upon this subject.


Some date It's ori gin at the erection of King
ooloinon's Temple. Some Gud vesliges of the or.
der among the relics of Egyptian Priests, oh.





the Holy Crusaders. Oilers still again more en-.
husiastic, overeap all barriers, and find its prin-
ciples understood aud acted upon by the anl,Je.
luvlans-daiing its existence co-cval with the
commencement Of time itself.


tbs unnecessary for our present purpose to fix
The precise tine or place of its origin. 1t is
enough Tor us to know that when mind first began
10 assert her superiority over m Utter when the
dark and impenelrabe vale of ignorance, which
enshrouded man'n his primitive state, was drawn
aside by the haid of science; when the bars and
bolts which al confined him so long in the Deep
dark vaults of ignorance and superstition were
rent a'sunucr. aud tho sunshine of intelIircnc.
began to warm up aud be,utify that spark Of tli.
vinIiy, which Is implanted in the bosom of ALL the
brightest flower that bowed its radiant head m the
prlmeva garden OF science, 10 kiss the pu Ring
dew-drops oi intellectual morn, was Ma sonry.


Inc hrst voice which called man to the hiyh
estate To which Nature and Nt.ure's God s,aI in.
tented lin. and first nerycd his arm To strike
down biSotry and oppressoa. ana proclaim his 10.
te'iece''ai aud moral wortp can be traced to the
mystic order OF Free AMI Accepted Masonry
les Masonry stood ~ those dark ages on a proud
em'nence--a bright beacon Of light and know-
edge TO all who would seek hcr hidden treasures


Lake lone tree IN the desert, Masonry has
stood, though sometimes scattered anI rven by the
lightning bolts of slandar and detraction vet she
stood detylng the desoating blasts of the jnfuria.
ted tempest, as It swept the plains, leaving
RUN and destruc ton in Its path. Yes. she stonI,
a beacon.l,sht to cheer the dospondiLg heart, aud
guide the fainlins footsteps of the weary traveller
on to the heaven of light and knowledge.


This was her position when time was youno
and society Yet an infant. and this has been her
position from THAT day to this green sI,o, on the
desert waste. as bright aud beautiful as an angel
OF light clothed in her virgin purity.


Behold, and again she towers like somc proud
eminence above all surrounding objects, based
upon tho eternal principles Of truth. Justice, and
brolherly love. whilst the anathomas of tyrants
and the shafts of envy. hatred, and maiignitv,
have fallen harmless, and broken at its base, aud
the concentrated cnmi,y of kings ami courters
have sought lis destruction.


2 Like the christian religion, it too, has been sub
jocted to the firebrand of persecution; and like
that, has passed through unscathed ouilived il.
prosecutors. and triumphed over the maddened
rage OF iniuriated bgols, calm spectator upon
the downfall of kingdoms; has wthstood tn. do.
cay OF ages, and chaunted the requiem Of dis.
solving empires. WIist nations have been an
gaged in fierce combat, and ambitious mon doyis
ling means for sef.aggradisement, Masonry, like
the eternal hills, has stood firm upon its unyied.
ing basis, and waved its stately head amid ,he
wild comniotion of contending armies.


I And thus will il evrr sto nd ,,.d ~, IL