Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
A Charge
Our first obligation is to the supreme Architect of Heaven and earth ; you have well done , therefore , in opening this Solemnity by prayer to Him in whom we live and move and have our being . You have had delivered before you an animated history of our benevolent Institution ,. stating its rise and progress , so far as the eye of inquisition ' is able to penetrate the dark ages of remote antiquity ;
together with its introduction and present state on the shores of this western world . It now remains for me to remind you of the right object of this Society , and the best methods of attaining it . . " His own happiness is the great object of every man . This is the leading principle of his constitution ; it is the great law of his nature
, established by him who made the world and the inhabitants thereof ; for this he feeds and clothes his body—for this he studies and cultivates his mind—for this he g ives his hand -to some fair partner and rears a family—for this he unites in neighbourhoods and other societies — for this he acknowledges his dependence upon God , worships and adores the Great Father of Lights , from whom comes
down every good and perfect gift . For the full attainment of this object the Author of our nature has made us social beings ; and daily teaches us by experience that our natural wants are better supplied in society than in solitary lifethat our highest enjoyments are from a frequent exchange of kind offices—and our speech , which would be useless to man single and alone , demonstrates that lie was made for societv , where , 'iis best pleasures arise from the mutual communication of ideas , sensations , and desires . Thus do we realize that '
" Self-love and social are the same . " For the whole species to unite and dwell together in one common society is impossible . Mountains and seas separate , and will for ever separate nation from nation , and one people from another . Convenience , similarity of dispositions , mutual- regard , and sameness of objectlead into and originate smaller societies or associations of men
, , variously denominated as they differ in the object of pursuit , or rather in the means of attaining the one grand object . Hence we see socie - ties religious , scientific , commercial , military , political , humane , & c . all of them useful , commendable , and meritorious . Among these our ' s boasts of its antiquity , its wide extent , and the worthiness of its object , which is Relief arid Aid ; for however operative Masonry
might in the beginning have combined mechanic , knowledge and charity in one , the former has long since merged in the latter , which is now confessedly the sole principle of our union . Such are the changes and chances of this mortal life ; so numerous are the calamities arid misfortunes to which men are liable in the course of their pilgrimage ; so closely are we pursued by pain and sickness from the cradle to the grave , that we may well look around us for all the consolations which human wisdom can devise , or hu-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
A Charge
Our first obligation is to the supreme Architect of Heaven and earth ; you have well done , therefore , in opening this Solemnity by prayer to Him in whom we live and move and have our being . You have had delivered before you an animated history of our benevolent Institution ,. stating its rise and progress , so far as the eye of inquisition ' is able to penetrate the dark ages of remote antiquity ;
together with its introduction and present state on the shores of this western world . It now remains for me to remind you of the right object of this Society , and the best methods of attaining it . . " His own happiness is the great object of every man . This is the leading principle of his constitution ; it is the great law of his nature
, established by him who made the world and the inhabitants thereof ; for this he feeds and clothes his body—for this he studies and cultivates his mind—for this he g ives his hand -to some fair partner and rears a family—for this he unites in neighbourhoods and other societies — for this he acknowledges his dependence upon God , worships and adores the Great Father of Lights , from whom comes
down every good and perfect gift . For the full attainment of this object the Author of our nature has made us social beings ; and daily teaches us by experience that our natural wants are better supplied in society than in solitary lifethat our highest enjoyments are from a frequent exchange of kind offices—and our speech , which would be useless to man single and alone , demonstrates that lie was made for societv , where , 'iis best pleasures arise from the mutual communication of ideas , sensations , and desires . Thus do we realize that '
" Self-love and social are the same . " For the whole species to unite and dwell together in one common society is impossible . Mountains and seas separate , and will for ever separate nation from nation , and one people from another . Convenience , similarity of dispositions , mutual- regard , and sameness of objectlead into and originate smaller societies or associations of men
, , variously denominated as they differ in the object of pursuit , or rather in the means of attaining the one grand object . Hence we see socie - ties religious , scientific , commercial , military , political , humane , & c . all of them useful , commendable , and meritorious . Among these our ' s boasts of its antiquity , its wide extent , and the worthiness of its object , which is Relief arid Aid ; for however operative Masonry
might in the beginning have combined mechanic , knowledge and charity in one , the former has long since merged in the latter , which is now confessedly the sole principle of our union . Such are the changes and chances of this mortal life ; so numerous are the calamities arid misfortunes to which men are liable in the course of their pilgrimage ; so closely are we pursued by pain and sickness from the cradle to the grave , that we may well look around us for all the consolations which human wisdom can devise , or hu-