fweet and amicable difpofition, may and often must forego the attachments of this peculiar and appropriated alliance in their stricteft intimacy and warmeft cordiality; not from any fault of theirs, but from not finding eafily in others that perfect fimilarity of difpofition and coincidence of fentiment and regard on which friendship is founded. And, indeed, "to lavish on one object that kindness and affection which ought to be diffused among the whole human race, might well be deemed a monopoly incompatible with that free and general commerce of good offices which the gospel certainly meant to extend to every quarter of the globe."*

On the other hand, though it be our incumbent duty to love ALL and to do good to ALL, even this is to be but as we have opportunity; and it is ftill to be understood that some have a more fpecial claim upon our efteem, and a more immediate need of our affistance. Widely as we extend the circle

* Bp. PORTEUS, in a fermon on John xiii. 23, has attempted to prove, and he does it in a most pleasing and ingenious manner, that, although friendship is not exprefsly enjoined in the gofpel, yet it is implicated in many of its precepts, and recommended in the example of the Savior.

of our benevolent regards, universal and dif interested as our good will may be, yet it is certain we can neither know the need, nor administer to the comfort, of every individual. Ignorance of the former, and inability to the latter, restrain even our attempts. The very circumftances of the cafe require a more special appropriation: while our reason, our instincts, and natural propensities, lead us to make choice of fome on whom to gratify our kind inclinations and benevolent acts, where they may be indulged and applied with dearer interest and happier effect. And this may be done in entire confiftency with that UNIVERSAL LAW OF LOVE which the gospel enjoins.

It remains, then, that we inquire for fome medium, where our affections may be exercifed without being partial and without being indiscriminate. And how fhall we attain this defirable mean between the diffufednefs of general regard and the contractedness of individual attachment, but in a felection of those among our acquaintance who poffefs congenial hearts, mutual good difpofitions and propensities, and reciprocal esteem and

love? Who are inspired with like ardor in the pursuit of wisdom, like zeal in the cause of virtue? Of whom to form an affociation which fhall partake of the liberal fpirit of Philanthropy and the intimate union of Friendfhip; combining the benevolence of the one with the tenderness of the other. And what fociety answers fo exactly to this description, and unites fo many of these purposes and advantages, as that of FREE MASONS? Founded on a liberal and extenfive plan, its benignities extend to every individual of the human race, and its adherents are collected from every nation under heaven. It invites to its lodges the fons of virtue, of love, and of peace; that it might connect them by vows of eternal amity in a moft facred, intimate, and endeared alliance, and unite and invigorate their best endeavors for mutual and general advantage. Blending their resources in a common stock, and forming a community of interests, it makes the profperity of each individual the object of the whole, the profperity of the whole the object of each individual. How nearly does this approach the state of the primitive Christians, who were "of one heart and one foul, neither faid any of them that aught of the things which he poffeffed

was his own, but they had all things common!" Were fuch the unanimity, love, equality, generosity, and disinterestedness, of profeffing Chriftians now, Free Masonry would be less neceffary among them.

MOREOVER, in the affociation we are defcribing is also realized that conftancy of affection which friendship boastingly promises, but frequently fails to retain ; and that tender fympathy which fraternal love ought ever to exprefs. There is to be found "the friend that loveth at all times, and the brother that is born for adversity." And fuch are the mutual relations and connections which compofe the fodality,* that " if one member fuffer all the members fuffer with it, and if one member rejoice all the members rejoice with it."

THE order, though compofed of perfons from various countries, feparated by all the natural barriers which prevent men from running into coherent maffes, yet seems to be one body actuated by one foul. Thoufands and thousands have one heart, one

* "Fraternum vere dulce fodalitium !" CATUL

hand; the heart of benevolence, the hand of charity.

SWEET are its ufes in adverfity! Then, when the offices of general Philanthropy would not reach us; or our fhare in its benignities be inadequate to our need: when Friendship grows cold, and its most zealous profeffor forfakes us; Mafonry triumphs in the exercife of its lovely charities. The nobleft fphere of its operation is in redreffing the calamities of neglected, injured, merit; inveftigating the wants and fupplying the need of indigence, relieving pain, pitying and foftening infirmity; admiring and foftering virtue. Yes, the true Mafon (and all who are not fo fhould not be numbered among us,) the true Mafon looks as much to the welfare of his colleague as to his own; feels more fatisfaction when he can give him af fiftance, when he can benefit him or fuffer for him, than when he receives help or favors from him and is most forward to relieve him when his occafion is most urgent and his ability to requite the favor appears the least. He is emphatically the "brother born for adverfity." If his means of affift

;