hot-bed of fedition," and fraught with pur. pofes for the fubversion of all government and rule, all thrones, principalities and pow ers. THUS, my brethren, "We'll diffipate each dark and threatening cloud That prejudice and calumny can raise, By radiant probity of heart and life, And perfevering deeds of love and peace." DEFENDED and illuftrated by an edifying example, Free Masonry will yet triumph in its influence, and be refpected in its effects. WHILE We evince in practice those principles we profefs in theory, our inftitution will "have a good report of all men, and of the truth itself;" and those who " speak evil of us as evil doers, will be afhamed," seeing they falfely accuse and mifreprefent us. REGULATED by the precepts of wisdom, supported by the strength of virtue, and a, dorned with the beauty of beneficence, our actions will escape cenfure, if they meet not praife. If we live within compass, act upon the square, fubdue the passions, keep a tongue of good report, maintain truth and practise charity; we shall not only display the principles, but honor the cause we have espoused. Such an exemplification of its tendencies, will do more to wipe away the unfavorable impreffions which any have received against the institution, and will more effectually conciliate their esteem of it, than all the reasoning of labored argument, or all the eloquence of verbal panegyric. THEN, as we honor our profeffion, our profeffion will be an honor to us. REMEMBER, brethren, that the interests of Free Masonry are in your hands. Be careful then, not to blend with it your weaknesses, nor to stain it with your vices. Confider how much the world expects of you; and how unwilling to make you any abatements. Confider with what dignity, fidelity, and refpectability you ought to fupport the character you bear and render the name of Free Mafon illuftrious, as defignating worth and virtue of fuperior stamp. It is highly incumbent on you to "walk in wisdom towards them that are without ;" doing nothing that should render your prin. ciples fufpicious, or difgrace your inftitution in their eyes, nothing that should give them new occafion of diflike, or increase their former prejudices. For, "be affured that, if in your conduct you forget that you are MEN; the world, with its usual severity will remember that you are Mafons." WHILE ambitious of obtaining the favor, able opinion of men, let us not be regardless of the honor that cometh from GOD. HIS approbation will make us ample amends for all we may suffer from their evil furmifings and unjuft reproaches. Let us, therefore, feek to please GOD rather than men. Remembering that we are his fervants; let us be fervent in fpirit, ferving him with fidelity, conftancy, and zeal. Let the fense of his adorable prefence never, for a moment, be eftranged from our minds. May all our conduct be strictly and invariably directed by his will and word, May we "walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleafing :" and "when a man's ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be with him." at peace TO CONCLUDE: IF, Brethren, we have any true love for Masonry; if we have at heart the honor and the intereft of this moft antient and venerable inftitution; we fhall be careful, not only to rule and govern our faith, but to fquare our actions by the holy word of God: and, while with each other we literally walk upon the level, may we keep within due bounds with all mankind. Thus fhall we merit and obtain the reputation, not only of "good men and true," but of wise and skilful, Free and accepted Mafons. And when he who is "the first born among many brethren," fhall again appear to be glorified in his faints and admired in all them that believe," may he pronounce our commendation and defignate our reward by this declaration, thefe fhall walk with me in white, for they are worthy!" * Bro. BENJAMIN GREEN's Oration before the Philanthropic Lodge, June 24, 1797, page 22. |