mating encouragements awaken its hopes! To this kind end, what attention, what assiduity, what complacency, what indulgence, what sacrifice, is too inconsiderable or too great! And what repays and rejoices more than when we see the suffering brother suffer less, suffer more composedly, or suffer no more; when we can see him restored, strengthened, cheered, and satisfied; again in possession of the comforts of life.

THIS, I am bold to say, is the genuine spirit of our institution. These are its appropriate services, its peculiar duties. In this philanthropic affection, and in these benevolent and gentle cares, does it endeavour, by the inculcation of forceful precept and the exhibition of affecting example, to instruct and exercise its attentive and faithful disciples: exciting the generous disposition of love adding to brotherly kindness, charity; confirming the habits of disinterested beneficence; and prompting "the capricious wish that pants for universal good."

- Nor that I would by any means be understood to intimate that those who are not of the sodality may not be as conspicuous in all these amiable regards as those that are : but only that our institution adds to the law

of our natures, and the requisitions of our most excellent religion, another and prevailing inducement of their observance. So that to say, "an uncharitable or unkind Free Mason" implies a gross contradiction: and if such an one there be, he has done violence to his profession, and is an odious excrescence on our society.

HERE indulge me the freedom of one remark. Inasmuch as Masonry is professed in those nations which have not yet been converted to the Christian faith, and as it enkindles benevolence and excites virtue so accordant with the genius of the Gospel, it may eventually have no inconsiderable tendency towards introducing and propagating among them that most glorious system of revealed truth; at least by humanizing the disposition, softening the manners, and removing the prejudices, may prepare the way for that most desirable event.* I hazard this observation, with more confidence from knowing that the SUBLIME GRADES, to which all the initiated which so much eagerness aspire, do in fact imply the knowledge, and

* So St. John the Baptist, the first Christian Mason, was commissioned to prepare the way of the Lord; to smooth the way and remove the obstructions to the introduction of his truth.

cannot be attained but through the acknowledgment of Christianity.*

FINALLY; with consistent views of our Society even the prejudiced will forego their dislike. They must adknowledge that the blunders of its ignorant or the vices of its degenerate members do not indicate defect nor prove baseness in the institution itself. As we do not know the heart, we may be deceived, and unhappily adopt the unworthy. As we cannot alter the nature nor controul the passions of men, there may be some among us whom our persuasions have been ineffectual to meliorate or our injunctions to reform; who "remember not the brotherly covenant,"† or disregard its bonds. We lament these unfortunate circumstances. We pity our weak, and reprobate our corrupt brethren. We are sorry too, that the world is so disposed to treat us contemptuously on their account. Still we comfort ourselves with the hope that the candid will see where the error lies, and not withhold honour from those to whom it is due while we are assured that every friend of enlightened reason and rectified humanity will approve and patronize our social plan.

Particularly the "Companions of the Holy Sepulchre" and the "Knights of St. John of Jerusalem."

† Amos i. 9.

Herein we this day indulge a livelier joy, and felicitate the members of the newly erected lodge on the happy occasion.

Right Worshipful MASTER, Worshipful WARDENS, Respected OFFICERS, and Beloved BRETHREN of Fellowship Lodge,

YOUR joy is the joy of us all. Pure. be the pleasures of your union, increasing the prosperity of your lodge! Ever may you exhibit for each other, and for every member of the Masonic family, that constancy of af fection which signalizes the friend who loveth at all times, and that tenderness of sympathy which designates the brother who is born for adversity. In all that is affectionate and all that is noble may you excel! And let your conspicuous virtues diffuse beauty and lustre over your own characters and that of the Society to which you belong!

THE appearance of two Grand Lodges on this occasion is a happy exemplification of Masonic union and harmony, and an additional source of pleasure to us all.* Let me

* The Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, under the M. W. PAUL REVERE, Esq. Grand Master, was joined by the M. W. JABEZ BOWEN, Esq. Chancellor of the College, and late Governor of the State of Rhode-Island, at the head, with several members, of the Grand Lodge of that State.

be honoured as the organ of fraternal, congratulation on the pleasing circumstance.

THE very large collection of respectable brethren gives a dignified aspect to the day. I salute them all with fraternal affection.* May the honour our institution derives from their patronage, and our festival from their presence, be repaid in all those acts and expressions of respect with which we delight to venerate the worthy, the wise, the eminent, and the good!

MAY we all love fervently as Christians and as Brethren, walk as children of the light, keep the unity of the spirit in the bonds of peace, and by active, graceful and exemplary virtue be trained up for, and hereafter admitted to, the Society of the Perfect in the Temple not made with hands eternal in the heavens !

*"Quos ego dilexi fraterno more sodales."

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