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PREFACE.

SEVERAL of these difcourfes have been delivered before the GRAND LODGE OF MASSACHUSETTS

in the discharge of my office of GRAND CHAPLAIN. Some of them have been already published, in a pamphlet form, at the request and for the accommodation of the particular lodges at whofe confecration they were delivered: but, as their circulation was limited, many of the brethren

who were defirous of perusing them had not an opportunity. To fatisfy the repeated application of fuch, and to extend to the public in general fome correct ideas of the facred character and genuine principles of Free Mafonry, I have been induced to consent to the republication of those discourfes in which I endeavored to obviate the misreprefentations, confute the asperfions, and allay the prejudices which have been so industriously circulated to deftroy the credit of the inftitution.

SOME difcourfes are now added which I declined publishing at the time of their delivery; and

others are prepared for this volume to give it a fuitable variety and a refpectable size.

THE critic will doubtlefs find thefe compofitions unequal and defective. For this fome apology must be made. They were written upon emergencies, upon very fhort notice, and when there was no leisure to spare from the preffing avocations, the laborious duties, and the anxious cares, in which their author was involved.

"Hæc, fcripfi, non otii abundantia, fed amoris."

HOWEVER they may be received by the Public, this I would have remembered, that I have endeavored in them to give a

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faithful delineation of the Spirit and principles of FREE MASONRY; speak that I do know, and testify that I have seen ;" and these pages

contain THE OPEN AND UNDISGUIS

ED SENTIMENTS OF MY HEART.

N. B. In the haste of transcribing for the prefs, a note of interrogation was inferted at the end of the second line of the 217 page, which the reader will please to erase.

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