we are taught to regard the whole human species as one family; the high, the low, the rich and the poor, who, as created by one Almighty Parent, and inhabitants of the same planet, are to aid, support, and protect each other. On this principle, Masonry unites men of every country, sect and opinion, and conciliates true friendship among those who might otherwise have remained at a perpetual distance." Relief:-"To relieve the distressed, is a duty incumbent upon all men, but particularly on Masons, who are linked together by an indissoluble chain of sincere affection. To soothe the unhappy, to sympathize with them in their misfortunes, to compassionate their miseries, and to restore peace to their troubled minds, is the grand aim we have in view. On this basis we forni our friendships and establish our connections." Truth:-"Truth is a divine attribute, and the foundation of every virtue. To be good and true, is the first lesson we are taught in Masonry. On this theme we contemplate, and by its dictates endeavor to regulate our conduct: hence, while influenced by this principle, hypocrisy and deceit are unknown among us; sincerity and plain dealing distinguish us; and the heart and tongue join in promoting each other's welfare, and rejoicing in each other's prosperity." These are the principles, the duties, and the fruits of Masonry. It is a summary; but, in our humble judgment, it occupies the whole Masonic ground. Could all men be induced rigidly to observe these sacred teachings, civil discord and crimes of every variety would be banished from the earth, and the world, in a moral point of view, would present an aspect upon which angels would look with pleasure.

But we have said that the Bible teaches the principles of Masonry. Let us adduce the proof. In the list of the cardinal virtues of Masonry, "Temperance" stands first. St. Paul, in pleading his cause before Felix, "reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgement to come." In his letter to the Galatians, he informs us that "the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." St. Peter says: 66 giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge, and to knowledge temperance, and to temperance patience, and to patience godliness, and to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness charity." Next stands "Fortitude," which is a medium between rashness and cowardice. Patience is an effect of which fortitude is the cause. Fortitude is that firmness of mind which enables one, with coolness and courage, to meet danger, and, without murmuring, depression, or despondency, to bear evil and reproach. Patience is the quality of bearing injury and offence without anger or revenge. The word of God requires us to be found in the exercise of both these principles. By reference to the original, from which the passage, "add to your faith virtue," is translated, you will find that the word arete, here rendered "virtue," means, also, valor, courage and firmness. To the exercise of temperance, add that of patience, says St. Peter. Prudence:-"The simple believeth every word; but the prudent man looketh well to his goings. A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on and are punished."-Prov. "Behold I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents and harmless as doves."-Jesus. Justice:-" Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue and if there be any praise, think on these things." The Bible also teaches the duties of Masons:-"Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain." "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy mind." "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." "As ye would that men should do unto you, do ye

even so unto them."

"Love

Again: Masonry enjoins the exercise of brotherly love on every Mason. Masonry teaches us to look upon the whole human family as brethren, and to regard all as bound to cherish kind and fraternal feelings towards each other. one another," and "love your enemies," are commands given by our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Relief:-"Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that

are unruly, comfort the feeble-minded, support the weak, be patient toward all men."-St. Paul. "But whoso hath this world's goods, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?"-John. Thus you perceive the Bible teaches us to relieve both body and mind. Truth:-" Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth." "All thy commandments are truth."--Psalms. "Buy the truth and sell it not; also wisdom and instruction, and understanding." -Prov. In support of the fundamental principles, the leading duties, and the fruits of Masonry, I have brought up the authority of God's holy word. I have done this with the intention to convince the opponents of Masonry that they must either reject the Bible, or admit the purity of Masonic principles.

use.

All the implements and badges of Masonry, to the intelligent Mason, speak a language which he cannot misunderstand, and inculcate moral precepts which stand in intimate relation to the rectitude and happiness of himself and all the human family. For the use of these, we do not claim the direct sanction of the Bible; but we contend that the word of the Lord does indirectly sanction their When the work of creation was ended, the Lord instituted the Sabbath, a day commemorative of the creative power of God, and preceptive as to the worship of God, and the moral duties of the servants of God. Previous to the crucifixion of our Saviour, he instituted, what is termed by Christians, the Lord's Supper, commemorative of his broken body and spilled blood. When the work of atonement was ended, the Lord's Day was set apart as a day of rest and religious worship, as a day commemorative of the resurrection of our Lord, and preceptive, as to the moral and religious duties of Christians. Finally, for the secrets of Masonry we claim the indirect sanction of God himself. In the works and in the word of God, there are secrets which proud science has never learned. Men of science believe (and no doubt correctly,) that the nerves are intermediate links between the mind and body. Take two of the human senses, sight and hearing, for instance. Light reflected from a surrounding object, enters the pupil of the eye, and, in its passage through the different humors thereof, undergoes different refractions, till, converged to a point, it forms an exact representation of that object on the retina. An exact idea of that image, the optic nerve conveys to the mind. The mind determines that this idea of the image of the object shall be communicated to a second person. It communicates this design through the nerves, to the muscles connected with the organs of speech. The muscles obey the mandate of the mind, and operate upon those organs. A sound is produced, so modified by the organs of speech as to convey the idea of the image of that object through the media, air, drum of the ear, and auditory nerve, to the mind of the second person. Who can explain, or even understand, the manner in which this intermediate agency between mind and inatter, is carried on? No mortal being. It is one of the secret things which belong to God. So in regard to the other senses. Nature, in all her ramifications, presents a "thus far and no farther," to the investigating mind of man. The Bible, the holy word of God, the transcript of his divine will, presents depths of secrecy, which the searching minds of the profoundest theologians have never been able to fathom. As in the world terrestrial, so in the world celestial, there are various orders of creatures. On earth, we behold an almost infinite variety of things inanimate and of creatures animate ;-so that, in passing through the chain of creation, from the meanest inorganic, up to man, the highest organic creature, we find one order differing from the next inferior or superior order, by an almost imperceptible shade. So in hierarchies of heaven: we see grade rising above grade, till we reach the archangelic, the highest order, which, from our distant view, seems merged into the perfections of Deity. Among the sons of glory and light, the inhabitants of the heavenly world, the companions of God, why is this difference found? The reason is locked up in secrecy. God, in his wisdom, has never revealed it. As Masons, we take the ground that whatever God does is right: God draws the impenetrable veil of secrecy over many good things: we, therefore, conclude that it is right in us to conceal some good things from the world. Thus we discover

that the works and the word of God indirectly sanction secrecy. In addition to this, Reason justifies us, and, to a reflecting, discerning, and understanding mind, points out the necessity of concealing those signs and tokens which serve as tests, and enable one Mason to know another as well by night as by day. There are privileges to which a Mason, and none but a Mason, is entitled. Should we reveal those secrets which have been so solemnly committed to our care, we would at once become the subjects of the imposition, not of the good, the highminded and the honorable, but of the base, the wicked and deceitful class of men, and that general confidence which exists among Masons would be destroyed. Though we have secrets, and intend to keep them, yet, in our judgment, we speak the truth, when we say, all the principles of Masonry are published and given to the world. At a small expense, you may procure a good Masonic library, and with a little labor, you may become acquainted with the principles of our Institution. If you wish to know what the Masonic world is doing, you can obtain this knowledge in a condensed form, by perusing the Freemasons' Magazine, published monthly in Boston. The editor is a man who carries the head, and wields the pen, of an honest gentleman and a Mason.

Masonry, in its present form, appears to have been established by King Solomon the wise. Though there were Lodges in various parts of the world before the building of the Temple at Jerusalem, yet it appears that there were differences in their ritual, their design, and their principles. Masonry, in its present form, should not, I think, be dated farther back than the time of building the Temple. In the performance of that great work, 150,000 laborers, 3,300 overseers, and 3 Grand Masters were engaged. In its execution, the wisdom of Solomon, the strong support of Hiram, King of Tyre, and the beautifying genius of Hiram, the son of a widow, were united. Men of different countries were brought together, and Sclomon knew that some system must be adopted in order to harmony among the laborers, and success in the undertaking. Here his wisdom is apparent. He devised a scheme which, while it required all the laborers to believe in the existence of one sovereign Ruler, still allowed them to worship God under their own vine and fig tree, according to the dictates of their own consciences, and to call their God by whatever name they thought proper, whether that name be the "Great Spirit," "Jehovah, Jove, or Lord." In this system is embodied a set of rules which inculcate pure morality, benevolence, truth, strict honesty, impartial justice, and, in fine, all those principles and duties which are essential to the existence of a moral and social being. He thus established a system which may be received by the good and the true in every clime, in every age, of every sect, denomination and party, political and religious. A system which has stood the test of ages, we here behold. Nations have risen, and systems have been devised, and time has buried them: but Masonry survives their fall, and it will doubtless continue to live and spread its benign influence till time shall be no more.

Notwithstanding the beauty and purity of this Institution, enemies, bitter, malignant, implacable enemies, have used the pen of misrepresentation, the tongue of slander, and the death-dealing weapon, for the purpose of crushing her. Politicians and Kings have fought against her; and even the Church, her younger, nobler, but sometimes misguided sister, has, and does, sometimes, take a stand against her. In the light of reason, we ask, why this opposition? What is there in the genius and spirit of Masonry to which a good man can object? Can he object to the principles, the duties, or the fruits of Masonry? No, no: if he is a man of sense and intelligence, he would blush in doing that. For all these duties are made obligatory upon us by the word of God, and sanctioned by the universal consent of all good men. If all good men and the holy word of God sanction and approve the principles, the duties, and the fruits of Masonry, we ask again, why does the Institution meet with opposition? Here come some objectors. The first objects because we have secrets which we say are good, and which we will not give to the world: this, he says, is putting the candle under the bushel: a thing forbidden in scripture. To the charge of secrecy, if there

is any crime in secrecy, we plead guilty: but we enter our protest against the inference drawn from the charge. By a reference to the passage of scripture cited in this objection, you will find that by the expression, putting the candle under a bushel, a neglect of good works is alluded to, and not the concealment of secrets. Hear the next passage: "Let your light so shine among men, that others seeing your good works, may glorify your Father which is in heaven." But, take care that, in urging secrecy against us as a crime, you do not criminate the God of Heaven himself! God's works and God's word, as we have shown, and could much more fully show, abound in secrets. How comes it to pass, that it is right on the part of God, and criminal on the part of Masons, to have secrets?

The second objects, because we have bad men-profane swearers, drunkards, liars, and a variety of unenviable characters in our Lodges. The charge is true, but aimed amiss: And do you not suppose that every good Mason within these walls and without these walls, heartily laments the fact? But, to him who urges this objection, I appeal as to a candid opponent: which shall be condemned, Masonry, or the Mason who, by drunkenness, falsehood and profanity, tramples upon the principles, and insults the genius and spirit of Freemasonry? I am willing to let our generous opponents decide. A disorderly, profane and wicked Mason meets not one approving smile from the Genius and Spirit of Masonry. But, if you choose to urge this objection against the Institution, take care that it do not prove too much for you. The Army of the United States has produced an Arnold: the Church of Jesus Christ has produced an Owen-who, though once a preacher of the everlasting Gospel, subsequently became the proud contemner of all religions, and the daring champion of Infidelity. Even in heaven itself, we read, that there was war: Michael and his angels fought, and the Dragon and his angels fought. So, if the Church of God, and Heaven, the habitation of the holiness of God, have not escaped the polluting touch of the ungodly, shall an Institution, vastly inferior to both, be expected to escape? But, if the fact that bad men are found in the Lodge, proves the Masonic to be a bad Institution, does not the fact that many intemperate men and swearers are found in the Church, prove the Christian to be a bad institution? We have time to notice but one more objection.

The third objects, because the ladies are not permitted to become members of our Lodges. Does the objector complain because the ladies are not permitted to vote at our elections?-because they are not permitted, as representatives, to sit in our legislative halls ?-because they are not permitted to take command of our fleets and armies? The exclusion of the ladies from the Masonic body, does not arise from the want of confidence in their capacity to keep secrets. Masonry was operative at the time of the adoption of our ritual. The ladies were, consequently, excluded. We would, for the sake of those who wish to become Masons, be glad if it were otherwise. But it is now too late: it is not our privilege to change. The reception of ladies would be an innovation.

ment.

Again: some are favorable to our Institution, but opposed to the members of Churches joining the Lodge: by them, one society is thought to be enough. We have often heard this objection urged: but it is so much in opposition to our every day's experience, as to make it almost unnecessary to pay it a passing compliBut, lest the objector should consider himself slighted, we will say the Christian, who is a Mason, other circunstances being equal, has a better opportunity of deciding this question correctly, than the uninitiated. But NEWTON, LOCKE, HALE, and WASHINGTON, were both Masons and Christians, and, I suppose, as competent to judge of the propriety of a Christian's becoming a member of a Lodge, as are the most of those who oppose the membership of a Christian in a Masonic body.

Companions and Brothers :-I feel happy this day in meeting and in greeting you. The Nature, design, and, to a greater or less extent, the secrets of Masonry have been unfolded to your mind. You have learned the principles of Masonry and professed to revere them. You have become members of a body whose influence extends over the world. You have connected yourself to myriads whom in

this life you will never see. While we are meeting here, our Brethren in other parts of the world are doubtless assembled, having in view the same thing that we have. Africa, Asia, Europe and America, have their Lodges and their members. Halls dedicated to Freemasonry, to virtue, and to universal benevolence, are found in the populous cities scattered through the refined nations of Europe: they bedeck the banks of the Ganges, send forth a moralizing influence upon the sable sons of Africa, adorn the beautiful vales and romantic heights of America, and from East to West, from farthest North to farthest South, they stand as moral directive and instructive fingerboards, pointing out the path of duty, of benevolence, of justice and of virtue. These halls have been erected by the members of an Institution, whose brow is adorned by the hoary and venerable locks of antiquity; whose courts have been attended by the wisest and best of men in every age; whose foundation and fortification, in all time, have been the moral law of God, and whose principles are destined to live as long as the wheels of time shall roll. Brethren, treasure up the principles, practise the duties, and exhibit the fruits of Masonry. By a life of unflinching fidelity and honesty, disarm blind prejudice of every sting. Square your lives by the Square of virtue." Remember you are moving on the current of time to that country "from whose bourne no traveller returns." Remember Jacob's ladder, whose principal rounds are Faith, Hope and Charity. These, properly directed, together with a due observance of the requirements of the Great Ruler of heaven and earth, will qualify you for a happy life, a peaceful death, a triumphant admission through the gate into the city, and, finally, for occupying a place, as living stones, in that spiritual building, that "house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens," where the Supreme Architect of the universe forever presides.

66

EVIDENCES OF THE EARLY EXISTENCE OF FREEMASONRY IN ENGLAND.

[An Address delivered by Sir CHARLES LEMON, Bart., before the Provincial Grand Lodge of Cornwall, Eng., in May last.-Extracted from the Freemasons' Quarterly Review.] "BRETHREN, It is needless to remind you that we sprang from Operative Masons and Architects who practised their art through a long succession of ages. We are no longer such. We boast that we are good men and true, but I fear not very skilful Masons. It may do very well for the late Rev. Sidney Smith to ascribe to Lord John Russell such courage that he could undertake to build a Cathedral like St. Paul's at a day's notice; but courage of this kind is not to be met with amongst us. Few of us I think would wish to spend a wet day in a house roofed by our tyler, and fewer still to cross a deep and rapid river over a bridge constructed by our Brethren of the Royal Arch. To confess the truth, we are no Masons at all, but our existence is merely representative: and what do we represent?

First and foremost, that deep-seated principle which began with the human race, and probably rose up in the breast of every individual whom I see now before me, as early as he was conscious of any impulse at all-I mean the desire to associate. This is not mere instinct like that which gathers animals into flocks and herds. Perhaps fear is their motive, the mere instinct of self-preservation, entirely divested of all notion of Brotherhood. Men, on the contrary, associate where no fear is, and simply, because they are men, born with the impress of that Divine image of which Love is the substance. In the earlier stages of society this sentiment binds men into tribes and nations; but in the lapse of time, when populations became large and crowded, the same sentiment tends to break up the mass which it had formed, and to gather us into those smaller alliances, of which our Brotherhood is an example; closer and more intimate ties are thus formed,