twenty centuries before, what emotions must be supposed to fill my bosom, when I was contemplating, in all their freshness and vigor, the majesty and beauty of systems just starting into life, of the value, energy and loveliness of which, neither Socrates nor Plato were ever permitted to form the faintest conception. And, by the way, my dear sir, after all that has been said and sung of Greek or Roman, of what was their glory composed? They had their orators, their philosophers, and their warriors-their painters, their musicians and their sculptors—but in what way did their labors add to the amount of human happiness? To human vanity, pride, avarice, and ambition, they had temples and altars without number. How many erected they to human charity? What institutions had they for the relief of the destitute? What provisions for the needy, either in mind or body? Alas, not one-not one: "The heroic lay is tuneless now, The heroic bosom beats no more." I had a theme before me, in comparison with which the splendors of the boasted Parthenon were tame, and all the trophies of Marathon, Thermopyla and Salamis were worthless baubles. It was the opening of the book of knowledge to the poor-the establishment of a splendid charity here, on the confines of civilization-the unsealing of a fountain by the Grand Lodge of Missouri, from which the precious waters of moral life might flow in upon society in copious streams, to which all were invited to approach, and from which all might be abundantly supplied-and when the sound of the chapel bell smote upon my ear, announcing that the hour for the celebration had arrived, I wanted none of the "pomp and circumstance" of external form, to enlarge my conceptions of the moral grandeur of the occasion. Or, if this had been necessary, I could well have imagined a procession of all christian virtues and divine influences, moving forward in advance of the multitude that were now pressing towards the chapel, and guiding them onward in the consummation of a work which had received the approving smiles of Him who ever presides in the Grand Lodge above. I hastened along with the rest, and procured a seat. The oration was delivered by Prof. Hollingsworth. The exordium consisted of a short history and beautiful tribute to the memory of the patron Saint. The balance of the discourse-altogether one of the most interesting I have heard upon the subject-presented a vivid and powerful analysis of the Christian character; wherein were brought out and displayed in bold relief, the several elements that enter it, with apt and pertinent remarks upon the nature of the human intellect, the passions, the necessity and kind of moral training, the value of knowledge, and the purposes of the Masonic Order with reference to these important subjects. The oration over, the audience repaired to Higbee's, and enjoyed the delicious feast he spread before them. I returned the same evening to Palmyra, my mind elevated and delighted with what I had seen and heard, and feeling that I would rather be the founder of the Masonic College than the hero of Waterloo. The College farm, (about 400 acres) which is by law under the care of the steward; the College buildings, consisting of the residences of the Professors, the chapel, the dormitories, and the refectory, have cost the Grand Lodge about ten thousand dollars. Of this sum, the whole amount has been defrayed by the Grand Lodge, save only a few hundred dollars, which were donated by the Craft in other States, and the friends of learning, not Masons, here and elsewhere. The Grand Lodge have done much in the prosecution of a noble work. But it is not disguised, and the Grand Lodge are aware, that, to complete this work, much remains to be done. They are struggling on-but they are poor, and have a claim to the sympathies and aid of the Brethren in other States. Our College is not sufficiently endowed. We have all the necessary grounds and buildings, a healthy location, talents and learning already secured in the professorships inferior to none, the confidence and patronage of the public, and are succeeding equal to our expectations. But we need, greatly need, a philosophical apparatus and library. These are all important, and yet we have no present means of supplying the deficit. Now, my dear sir, in your great city there is, so far as I am informed, no public charity set up by the Craft, which holds a special claim upon your benevolence: there are many Lodges of our Brethren, and many members of the Fraternity not connected with Lodges, in Boston, whose hearts are warm with the love of human kind-who are anxious to spread wide the book of knowledge to the poor. May we, in these remote regions, venture to believe, that you have seen and admired our generous intrepidity in the work we have undertaken here, and that you will stretch forth the helping hand? In so large a city as Boston, might not a very respectable philosophical apparatus be procured, at a cost which the donors would not feel? From one, you might procure for us a microscope; from another, a pair of lenses; from a third, a compass; a fourth, a box of plotting instruments-and thus, a chronometer, a voltaic pile, a set of Leyden jars, an electrical machine, a galvanic battery, crucibles, retorts, an air-gun, air-pumps, barometer, &c. &c. Thus, too, might not a library of standard works be gotten together, which would lend an impetus to our motions, and make glad the bosoms of our youth who are toiling up the steep ascents of the hill of science, in want of many facilities to smooth the ruggedness of the way. But I have spun out these observations to an extraordinary length. In the course of time, no doubt, we shall ourselves remove all difficulties; but, candor compels me to say, if we are left to our own resources, it may be longer than we wish. That we shall, however, as we fondly hope, triumph over all opposing obstacles, and eventually place the Masonic College of Missouri high as, from its glorious purposes, it deserves, is the earnest prayer of Your friend and Brother, S. T. GLOVER. [We will cheerfully take charge of, and forward donations of any description, which our Brethren may feel disposed to make for the above purpose; and we doubt if the liberal hand could be opened in a better cause-where more real, practical good could be accomplished by the same amount of means. We commend the subject to our Brethren, and shall be happy to learn that the urgent call of our correspondent, in behalf of this noble charity, has met with a proper and liberal response.]-EDITOR. THE 24TH JUNE IN NEW YORK.-TRIBUTE TO THE R. W. JAMES HERRING. [Communicated for the Magazine.] A number of Brethren tendered a dinner complimentary to their distinguished and beloved Brother, the R. W. JAMES HERRING, P. G. Sec'ry of the Grand Lodge of the State of New York, as a tribute of fraternal regard and affection, and expressive of the high estimation entertained of the very eminent services rendered the Fraternity of this State and the Institution at large. During the seventeen years he has held the office, the Order in this State has been assailed by factions, political, antimasonic, and rebellious; but with unremitting assiduity, Bro. Herring battled the opposing tempests, and we are now enjoying the fruits of his labors, zeal, and deep devotedness to the cause. The following is the correspondence: New York, June 15th, 1846. Dear Brother and Friend:-A number of your Brethren, anxious to testify to you the high sense they entertain of the faithful and independent manner in which you have acted during a term of 17 years, as Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Masons in this State, and of the benefits which your devoted affection to the best interests of our Order, in days of the darkest adversity, has been the means of securing, will feel gratified by your being one of them, at some early day, to be named by yourself, at a dinner to be given you, as a continued mark of their fraternal attachment to you. We are, dear friend and Brother, To the R. W. JAMES HERRING, P. G. S. F. G. TISDALL, New York, June 15th, 1846. My Dear Friends and Brothers :-I have before me your letter of this date, inviting me to be one of you at some early day, at a dinner, to be given as a mark ` of the fraternal attachment of a number of my Brethren, and of their appreciation of the services which my position as Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge for many years, may have enabled me to perform. It cannot but be gratifying to me to know, that the duties to which I have devoted a large portion of the best years of my life, receive the testimony of approbation from my Brethren, and I beg you to assure those on whose behalf you have written, that I deeply feel their kindness and affectionate regard. As I must necessarily be absent from the city some days, it will not be possible for me to name an earlier day than the 24th instant on which to meet them. I am, my dear Brethren, sincerely and affectionately yours, To Brs. F. G. Tisdall, Wm. W. Nexsen, and George Loder. } The festival of St. John the Baptist having been selected, at the appointed time the Brethren assembled at Br. Stone's, Broadway, and in the room used by the Grand Lodge, which was appropriately decorated with Masonic banners and emblems, they sat down to a sumptuous table loaded with the choicest viands and all the delicacies of the season. The R. W. William Willis, P. D. G. M., presided, and the cloth having been withdrawn, Non Nobis Domine, was chanted by Brs. A. Phillips, A. Kyle, and J. Massett, who, with Br. John Anderson, enlivened the banquet with cheerful songs-Br. George Loder presiding at the forte piano in his usual excellent manner. 1st. The Day, and all who honor it. [Music.] 2d. The Grand Lodges throughout the world. The R. W. P. D. G. M. Willis, then read the following letter from the M. W. John D. Willard, G. M. of the G. Lodge of the State of New York: W. Brothers:-I have the honor to acknowledge the viting me to attend the dinner to be given on the 24th Herring, P. G. Secretary. Troy, June 22d, 1846. receipt of your letter ininst., to the R. W. James There is no one who appreciates more justly than myself, the ability and zeal with which the Past Grand Secretary has discharged the important duties of his office through so many years; and it would give me very great pleasure to be present at the dinner, both for the sake of uniting in the compliment to that distinguished Brother, and for the purpose, also, of meeting, on a festive occasion, the noble-hearted Freemasons of the city of New York. I have delayed an answer for two or three days, in the hope that I might so arrange my business engagements as to be present; but I find it impossible, and am compelled reluctantly to decline the invitation with which I have been honored. Very respectfully and fraternally, yours, To Brs. F. G. Tisdall, W. W. Nexsen, George Loder, Committee. JOHN D. WILLARD. 3d. The M. W. Grand Master and Grand Officers of the State of New York. To which the R. W. D. G. M., Bro. Phillips, responded as follows: R. W. Brother:-In the absence of our M. W. Grand Master, the very agreeable duty devolves on me of returning the most grateful thanks in behalf of the officers of the Grand Lodge, for the good wishes and kind feelings intended to be conveyed in making mention of them at this interesting moment, and for the cordial, hearty, and unanimous response which has been made to the compliment by so numerous and respectable an assemblage of our Brethren. May I trust that I am not overestimating the kindness and partiality of those friends around me, with many of whom it is my pride to say I have been long and closely linked by the tender ties of fraternal intercourse, in feeling and believing that it is not alone to the office, to which their attachment has elevated me, that I am indebted for a share of their loudly expressed token of respect, but that there is some personal regard in connexion with it. Sure it is, I have the most affectionate feelings for this entire body, recognizing, as I do, many esteemed associates, and appreciate the invitation which enables me to indulge with them at this time the conviviality of the Masonic festive board. Well pleased am I, Right Worshipful Sir, to observe together so many active and zealous Brethren on this day and on this occasion, and gladly would hope it is the revival of one of our time-honored customs of uniting together on the festival of St. John, and by the interchange of social sentiments, strengthen our bonds of brotherly love, in doing honor and reverence to the memory of one who will ever be remembered by the members of our ancient and honorable Order with all possible veneration, and I trust the return of the day will never hereafter be permitted to pass over without due and proper observance by at least every member of the Craft under our jurisdiction. It is also exceedingly gratifying, Right Worshipful, to witness so respectable a body of Masons assembled on this occasion, to do honor to an eminent Brother, who has ever been active in the Fraternity, who has sustained the character of an upright adherent of the Order, and distinguished for his untiring industry and zeal, as well to sustain the honor and dignity of the Craft as to promote the interest of the Grand Lodge of this State in particular. I need scarcely add, that I allude to our R. W. Bro. James Herring, to whom the 363 compliment of this entertaiment is worthily paid. It has been my good fortune to be intimately acquainted with him from the earliest period of my connection with the Institution, and have uniformly borne witness to the able and indefatigable manner in which he labored for the Craft, and of his perfect willingness at all times to impart any knowledge he possessed, to benefit either the applicant or the Order. Entertaining the greatest respect for his experience, I have, on every occasion, asked and followed his advice on any Masonic matter, with the same confidence I should have appealed to my own father, on any other subject, and it becomes me to say, I ever found it to prove sound, discreet, and brotherly, and that the observance of his counsel invariably gave me abundant reason for satisfaction and pleasure. It is, therefore, particularly gratifying to find that my Masonic Brethren know how to appreciate merit, and are ever ready to acknowledge and reward it. I thank them officially, for their observance of the day, and I thank them for honoring their Brother, for it teaches you and me, and all of us, that the same honor may be our lot, if we but act up to those pure principles our noble Institution inculcates, and that similar tokens of approbation will ever be as freely bestowed on any Brother who, by a strict attention to his Masonic duties, shows himself worthy of them. Permit me, Right Worshipful, to conclude with the following sentiment: The Masonic Fraternity wheresoever dispersed around the Globe-May health, happiness, and prosperity be their portion. The R. W. Bro. Willis, in rising to propose the 4th regular toast, spoke as follows: Brethren-We have assembled this evening for the two-fold purpose of celebrating the Anniversary of our Patron Saint, and of honoring our R. W. worthy Brother, James Herring, who has long filled one of the most important offices in the Grand Lodge of the State of New York. I had designed before offering the toast next in order, to have made a few remarks on the subject of it. In this agreeable duty, I have been, in some degree, anticipated by the eloquent remarks of our R. W. D. G. M., Bro. Phillips. Yet, there are acts and efforts of his, which, from a long personal acquaintance and official intercourse, I feel bound to speak of, and one or two of which I shall briefly allude to. I had the pleasure of first witnessing his efforts for the preservation of our Order in this State, at the time when political antimasonry was threatening destruction to our beloved Institution, by standing prominently forth with a few kindred spirits, and nobly sustaining the principles of our Order. I dare not trust myself to go fully into detail, lest I might detain you too long. storm at last spent itself, though not without, in a great measure, impairing the Suffice it to say, the usefulness of our Order in this State; for, from about 500 Lodges then under the jurisdiction, we are reduced to 72 working Lodges; our permanent fund seriously reduced, and the Grand Lodge largely in debt. But, thanks, to his untiring efforts, through the success of the different projects brought forward by him, the Grand Lodge is once more, as I have been officially informed, now entirely out of debt. But, my Brethren, while attending to the repairing of our financial condition, he lost not sight of our working and social state, but, by the introduction of a model Lodge in working, (which all would do well to imitate,) and by the Representative System, he has contributed to our information, our comfort, and our pleasure. I will mention but one more, and one which I deem the crowning excellence of all, the Masonic Hall and Asylum Fund, (which, when completed, will be a home for the distressed Mason, the poor widows of Masons and their orphan children of this our great State of New York,) which in the beginning had his unaided efforts alone, and from the comparative mite that crowned those efforts about three years since, the fund now consists of about $3000-a noble example, that I trust will not be lost sight of by the Fraternity of this State. Brethren, I will not longer detain you, than to ask you to assist me at the sound of the well known Masonic signal, in the toast prepared for the occasion: |