Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Thought.
the passing Samaritan ; it visits the poor man in his cot , and lays another comfort on his board , on wliich is spread the dry morsel of his hard-earned labour ; it visits the captive in his cell , attunes his Zieart to a new song , and causes a softer strain of melody to vibrate through the avenues of his soul ; lays before him a bright chart of good , whose pathways leading to many a comfort and enjoyment , his iron-bound limbs shall yet traverse in security and peace ; and ifperchancehis
, , foes shall sweep away this his only and fondest anticipation , raises his mind ' s eye to a brighter and fairer world of immortality as the reward of his sufferings here . From the commencement of the formation of society into distinct classes , have the various orders had their distinguishing characteristics , and why may we not be permitted to have Charity as our watchword , and Peace as our battle-shout ? and wh y may we not wage a glorious and successful warfare against the ills and
sorrows of life , ivhich seem the only legacies the parent may bequeath to his child , with the full consciousness that they will not be coveted by his nei ghbour , nor diminished by the finger of time ? The councils of nations , too , are veiled in mystery and silence , and woe is he who shall rend asunder that veil ; they at whose feet ye lay your liberties , and at whose command ye how the head in servile adulationset in secret conclave , and send forth their commands for a strictl
, y forced obedience . But ye say , if the results of their councils are the good of the people and happiness of each one of its members ; if our exertions are crowned with success , and a rich tide of prosperity fill the treasury of our land ; if learning be promoted , the sciences cultivated , and ignorance and prejudice are dispossessed of their bulwarks , ye will
it , that public opinion acting as sentinel , has compelled even the un worthy and unjust of our legislators to act in obedience to the spirit of our constitutions , and transmit unpolluted to their successors the high honours with ivhich they have been invested ; and it is precisely by this test that we are willing , nay , anxious , that Freemasonry should be tried . Convene your thousands , and let public opinion award its judgment ; summon the men whose brows are encircled by the diadem , and in
whose hand the sceptre is placed , and the warrior ivho has trod the battle-plain , reeking with the blood and paved with the hearts of his brethren , and the senator whose voice ye have heard in the forum , and who has kindled the fire in each bosom or lulled it to peace , and the philosopher whose keenness of vision has outstripped the immensity by which he is surrounded , and the philanthropist who has softened down many a sorrow , and extracted many a bitterness from the cup of human
suffering and woe , and the rich man rolling in affluence and wealth , and the poor man glorying in the honesty of his poverty , and taking your stand on the arena of earth , the vast cemetery of the universe , bid the dust of departed myriads resume its pristine form , and infusing into each the spirit of vitality , demand what Freemasonry has accomplished for each;—and it shall be told you that it has ennobled the heart of the monarchhas stayed the ravages of warfarehas been a solace to the
, , senator when overwhelmed with difficulties , harrassed by the taunts of his enemies , or importunity of friends , has immensified the soul of the philosopher and enlightened tbe path of his research , has opened a wider and more extended field for the labours of the philanthropist , has been the stream to the rich man , down whose current he might embark the little vessel of his hopeful charities , laden with all that heart can give or heart desire , fearless of the storm-lashcd surge , long
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Thought.
the passing Samaritan ; it visits the poor man in his cot , and lays another comfort on his board , on wliich is spread the dry morsel of his hard-earned labour ; it visits the captive in his cell , attunes his Zieart to a new song , and causes a softer strain of melody to vibrate through the avenues of his soul ; lays before him a bright chart of good , whose pathways leading to many a comfort and enjoyment , his iron-bound limbs shall yet traverse in security and peace ; and ifperchancehis
, , foes shall sweep away this his only and fondest anticipation , raises his mind ' s eye to a brighter and fairer world of immortality as the reward of his sufferings here . From the commencement of the formation of society into distinct classes , have the various orders had their distinguishing characteristics , and why may we not be permitted to have Charity as our watchword , and Peace as our battle-shout ? and wh y may we not wage a glorious and successful warfare against the ills and
sorrows of life , ivhich seem the only legacies the parent may bequeath to his child , with the full consciousness that they will not be coveted by his nei ghbour , nor diminished by the finger of time ? The councils of nations , too , are veiled in mystery and silence , and woe is he who shall rend asunder that veil ; they at whose feet ye lay your liberties , and at whose command ye how the head in servile adulationset in secret conclave , and send forth their commands for a strictl
, y forced obedience . But ye say , if the results of their councils are the good of the people and happiness of each one of its members ; if our exertions are crowned with success , and a rich tide of prosperity fill the treasury of our land ; if learning be promoted , the sciences cultivated , and ignorance and prejudice are dispossessed of their bulwarks , ye will
it , that public opinion acting as sentinel , has compelled even the un worthy and unjust of our legislators to act in obedience to the spirit of our constitutions , and transmit unpolluted to their successors the high honours with ivhich they have been invested ; and it is precisely by this test that we are willing , nay , anxious , that Freemasonry should be tried . Convene your thousands , and let public opinion award its judgment ; summon the men whose brows are encircled by the diadem , and in
whose hand the sceptre is placed , and the warrior ivho has trod the battle-plain , reeking with the blood and paved with the hearts of his brethren , and the senator whose voice ye have heard in the forum , and who has kindled the fire in each bosom or lulled it to peace , and the philosopher whose keenness of vision has outstripped the immensity by which he is surrounded , and the philanthropist who has softened down many a sorrow , and extracted many a bitterness from the cup of human
suffering and woe , and the rich man rolling in affluence and wealth , and the poor man glorying in the honesty of his poverty , and taking your stand on the arena of earth , the vast cemetery of the universe , bid the dust of departed myriads resume its pristine form , and infusing into each the spirit of vitality , demand what Freemasonry has accomplished for each;—and it shall be told you that it has ennobled the heart of the monarchhas stayed the ravages of warfarehas been a solace to the
, , senator when overwhelmed with difficulties , harrassed by the taunts of his enemies , or importunity of friends , has immensified the soul of the philosopher and enlightened tbe path of his research , has opened a wider and more extended field for the labours of the philanthropist , has been the stream to the rich man , down whose current he might embark the little vessel of his hopeful charities , laden with all that heart can give or heart desire , fearless of the storm-lashcd surge , long