time are used either as emblems or indications of the fimpleft and most important MORAL TRUTHS. IT collects men of all nations and opinions into one amiable and permanent affociation, and binds them by new and irrefragable obligations to the discharge of every relative and moral duty: and thus becomes the most effectual support and brightest ornament of focial life, and opens a wider channel for the current of benevolent affections, and a new fource to human happiness. ITs laws are REASON, and EQUITY; its principles, BENEVOLENCE, and LOVE; and its religion, PURITY and TRUTH. Its intention is PEACE ON EARTH; and its difpofition, GOOD WILL TOWARDS MEN. "I THINK (fays a fine writer*) we are warranted in concluding that a fociety thus conftituted, and which may be rendered fo admirable an engine of improvement, far from meriting any reproachful or contumelious treatment, deferves highly of the * Rev. DR. MILNE, Grand Chaplain, in a sermon before the Grand Lodge of England, 1788. community; and that the ridicule and af fected contempt which it has fometimes experienced can proceed only from ignorance or from arrogance; from thofe, in fine, whofe oppofition does it honor, whose cenfure is panegyric, and praise would be cenfure." ASSUREDLY then, my hearers, you will with me congratulate the members of ST. PAUL'S lodge on the agreeable event of this day. RIGHT WORSHIPFUL MASTER, WORSHIPFUL WARDENS, RESPECTED OFFICERS, AND BELOVED BRETHREN. ACCEPT my affectionate falutations; accept the felicitations of all the friends of masonry. We are pleased with your harmony and zeal, and rejoice in your establishment and profperity. Your fuccefs is connected with the best interests of humanity. May the focial virtues you cultivate and the heartfelt pleasures you experience in the lodge, be your companions through life! Their mild influence, their benignant fpirit, will animate every scene of duty, alleviate every corrosion of care, heighten every fenfation of joy, and in the hour of diffolution fhed divine tranf port on your fouls. LET all my brethren prefent be willing I fhould remind them that in vain do we attempt the vindication of our most excellent fociety, or the commendatory defcription of its purposes and requirements, if our conduct contradict our profeffion. Let us then be cautious to avoid all thofe improprieties and vices which might tarnish the luftre of our jewels, or diminish the credit of the craft. Mafonry will rife to the zenith of its glory if our lives do juftice to its noble. principles, and the world see that our actions hold an uniform and entire correfpondence with the incomparable tenets we profefs. Thus we fhall "obtain a good report of them that are without:" "and those who fpeak evil of us will be afhamed, feeing they falfely accufe our good converfation" and mifreprefent our generous purpose. "For fo is the will of GOD that with well doing ye may put to filence the ignorance of foolifh men." REMEMBER that we are THE ASSOCIATED FRIENDS OF HUMANITY; that our facred union embraces in its philanthropy the amities of the gospel; and that charity in its kindeft exercise and largest extent is our diftinguishing characteristic. Others wear the warmth of fummer in their face, and the coldness of winter in their heart; but a Mafon's difpofition should be mild as the breeze, open as the air, and genial as the fun; cheering and bleffing all around him and his deeds pleasant as the clear fhining after the rain; and refreshing, as the dewy cloud in a harvest day.* MAY the affembly at large be convinced that prejudices against FREE MASONRY are ill founded, and that the Society is worthy of high encouragement and warm commendation. FINALLY; let us all pray that the privil eges of equal right may be widely extended, and all men become free: that wars and contentions may be forever terminated: that peace and happiness may be the uninterrupted enjoyment of all mankind: and to God afcend the universal, united, unceasing afcrip tion of love and joy and praise ! Ifaiah xviii. 4. |