relief from his cares, or strength to rife above them. There his fpirit was enlivened and his joys restored; every cloud dispersed, and a bright sunshine illuminated his prospects.

He paffed the various grades and filled the feveral offices of the lodge; and was tried, proved, and accepted in them all. And whether we contemplate him as exalted to the chair of Solomon, to inftruct and govern; or returning to the level of his brethren, to partake their toils and fhare their duties; we have equal occafion to admire the dignity and humility of his character, the noble elevation and amiable condefcenfion of his manners." So, when raised to the highest military and civil honors his grateful country could beftow, even when filling the rank of PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES he deemed it no derogation of his diftinguished eminence and station to be confidered as a Mason.†

* In the course of the revolutionary war, this exalted hero frequently vifited a Lodge where a Sarjeant presided as Mafter.

+ This is proved by his answers to the various complimentary addreffes of most of the Grand Lodges in America. His reply to one from King David's Lodge in Newport (R. I.) contains this dec

IN fhort, his love for the order, his zeal in promoting its interefts, and his teftimonials in its favor, have not only revived its pristine credit, but given it new confequence and reputation in the world.

THE honor thus conferred upon us has been peculiarly serviceable at the present day, when the most unfounded prejudices have been harbored against Free Mafonry, and the most calumnious impeachment brought forward to deftroy it. But our oppofers blushed for their cenfures when we reminded them that WASHINGTON loved and patronized the inftitution.

WHEN the order was perfecuted by religious fanaticifin and political jealoufy, his unfullied virtue was its apology, and his irreproachable life its pledge. He advocated its principles, because he had found them to be pure; and commended its defigns, because he knew them to be generous.

laration: "Being perfuaded that a just application of the principles on which the Masonic Fraternity is founded, must be promotive of private virtue and public prosperity, I shall always be happy to advance the interests of the focicty, and to be confidered by them as a deferving brother."

WHAT an irreparable lofs, to be deprived of fuch a patron at fuch a time! Ages, perhaps, will pass away, before our Fraternity may boaft at its head a character fo great.

YET let not our enemies fuppofe they may triumph now that he lives not to confute their afperfions. The fuperior lufire of his name will out-fhine the flashes of their refentment, and reflect a glory upon Masonry which can never fade.

HAPPY in its original value and grateful for its augmented fame, let us resolve never to forfeit nor leffen the present high refpectability of the craft. Let our lives be adorned with thofe focial and moral virtues which become us as the fons of light, and the brothers of WASHINGTON. We fhall honor him by honoring the inftitution of his early attachment, and lateft veneration. His virtues illuftrated its principles, and his benevolence explained its tendencies. O might our virtuous actions and benevolent purpofes, formed by the fame discipline and excited by the fame motives, emulate his !

And, though they fall, at laft, far, far behind in merit and effect; it will be to their praise that they were modelled after those that were fublime and perfect.

ILLUSTRIOUS WASHINGTON! We lament thee as mortal by nature, but we celebrate thee as immortal by virtue! We mourn thy departure from earth, but rejoice at thy arrival in heaven! Having been faithful in all thy course, thou art now raised to the sublime degree of LIGHT INEFFABLE. Taught by thy example worthily to pass the probationary grades of time, we will hope to follow thee to the Grand Lodge of kindred fpirits.

FAREWELL, till the grand fummons: then, brother, we will rife and meet thee!

THE

EXTEMPORANEOUS DIRGE

WHICH WAS SUNG ON THE OCCASION.

WHILE all our nation, wheml'd in grief,
Lament their General, Patriot, Chief,
Let us, his brethren, long revere
A name to Masonry fo dear!

In myftic rites our Lodge difplays

Its forrows and its patron's praise ;

And spreads fresh garlands round the tomb,
Where the sweet caffia long fhall bloom.

Look to the Eaft; its fplendors fail!
The leffer lights grow dim and pale!
-The glory once reflected here
Now dawns upon a higher sphere !