alfo in celebrating the valor of WARREN and the wisdom of FRANKlin. While you

praise departed worth, neglect not to honor living virtue. And add to all your fongs the chorus of acknowledgment and affectionate refpect to our furviving patron and brother, WASHINGTON," the friend of Masonry, of his country, and of man."

AROUND the altar of friendship do we thus yearly affemble, and bring our votive incense to that temple which our predeceffors founded on the firm basis of virtue, and fupported by the pillars of wisdom, ftrength and beauty. We meet not to drain the bowl of intem

perance, nor to indulge the exceffes of gluttony: But to renew the cordialities of friendship, the refolutions of love and good will. We affemble not to difturb the peace of mankind by the bufier plans of ambition, nor to fabricate thofe arts of luxury which but augment the miseries of life: Our object is to enliven the kindly fenfibilities of human nature, and all the fweet civilities of focial intercourse.

CHILDREN OF LIGHT!

THE duties of your profeffion are interest. ing and important. The duties of fociety and of religion are alfo binding upon you. May you discharge them all with fidelity and honour! Then, when the events of time shall be ended, and the retributions of eternity begin, when the MORNING STARS fhall again fing together and the fons of GOD fhout for joy, YE fhall join the animating chorus and fhare the glorious triumph. Ye fhall be deemed worthy to enter the doors of the celeftial temple, to be adorned with jewels beautified with immortality, and advanced to glories incomparably more refplendent than any here below.

SO MOTE IT BE!

R

DELIVERED BEFORE THE GRAND LODGE OF MASSACHUSETTS, JUNE 24th, A. L. 5795.

IN fubmiffion to the appointment, and in compliance with the request of the venerable officers and beloved brethren of this GRAND LODGE, I rife to give the customary masonic CHARGE. To make apologies now, would be ineffectual. And to intreat indulgence in behalf of what it is expected I should enforce by authority, would but diminifh the dignity of the precepts to be inculcated, and weaken the influence of the caution to be impreffed. I cannot doubt the candor of the liberal; and need not fear the cenfure of the prejudiced. It will fuffice if

this refpected audience be but convinced, from my honeft developement of the character and simple statement of the duties of Free Masonry, that the principles upon which the inftitution is founded are falutary, and that the morals it enjoins are pure.

To give to these principles and these morals their proper force, recollect, my beloved brethren, that I ftand in the place, and fpeak by the authority of that Divine Mason whose anniversary, you celebrate. On this occafion you are to regard me as his reprefentative. To his counfels you are invited to liften. "THE SAME CAME FOR A WITNESS, TO BEAR WITNESS OF THE LIGHT, THAT ALL MEN THROUGH HIM MIGHT BELIEVE.". As the herald, commiffioned to awaken attention to the glories of the brightest scene that ever dawned upon the earth, he calls for the reformation of those prejudices which preclude acknowledgment of the doctrines of heavenly truth, and those corruptions which prevent diffufion of the fyftem of unbounded love.

LET your minds be open to conviction. Examine with the utmoft freedom. Be will

ing to adopt what you find to be excellent ; and in the best of caufes be the warmeft of advocates.

THE duties of PIETY claim your first and chiefeft attention. Their facred spirit should fanctify, pervade, and influence all your thoughts and actions, ennoble all your purfuits, and be both the beginning and the end of whatever deferves the name of wisdom.

DEMONSTRATE by devout reverence and habitual goodness, your homage, fidelity and love to the ALMIGHTY ARCHITECT. Ever act as under the inspection of that "Eye which feeth in fecret." Neglect not to implore the affistance of the Deity in your building; work by his perfect plans and confecrate the edifice 'you finish to his glory and praise.

WEIGH. Well the powers of fimple PIETY!
Make it the key-ftone in your arch of virtue ;
And it will keep that graceful fabric firm,
Though all the storms of fortune burst upon it.

FORGET not that you have profeffed yourfelves" members of the great temple of the