Royal Arch Address.

tion , gam access to large congregations and numbers of people , and are seeking and striving with a zeal and a constancy worthy of a better cause to prejudice the public mind , and more particularly the religious community , against us , and , if possible , to

subvert our Order . In a word , the old anti-Masonic element is not dead , but alive , and under the leadership of men , who have not been found worthy of receiving our privileges , or by their unworth y lives and conduct have forfeited themare

, marshaling their scattered forces anew . It is not from such a source as this , however , we need fear or apprehend any clanger . Our Order can never suffer from foes that are without ; it is from no assault —no ! for , in this respect" our castle ' s

, strength will laugh a siege to scorn . " It is the slimy , unseen and wil y foe , that secret enemy that we , through our own unfaithfulness to duty , have permitted to crawl in among us . The impure and unholy characters of someI am sorry to that

, say , have been suffered to pass within the veils of our tabernacle , is a secret stab at tho very vitals of our institution . The responsibility resting upon us in this respect is one of the most solemn and imperative nature . Neither can ire rid ourselves of

it by any subterfuge ; it is an individual and personal one , to hand down to our successors , with untarnished purity , the same sacred truth , with hands unsullied and hearts unpolluted , even as ' we received them . The King ' s daughter " is all glorious

within , " said the Psalmist . "Behold , " said the gieit Teacher of men , "An Israelite in whom there is no guile . " Behold , we say , a true Mason . The solemn and deeply interesting ceremonies of to-day , in which wo have participated in dedicating this

tabernacle to the Most Hi gh , the One only true and living God , should imbue us all with a deeper and more solemn sense of our dependence on God , the Great Architect of the Universe , the bestower of lioht and life , the author and giver of all our

mercies , and should further lead us to a more serious apprehension of those duties and obligations which are due him , for our unprecedented success as an institution and which will require all our energies and His Divine aid to perform ari ght . As a component part of the great Masonic famil y , we have , been engaged in setting I apart and solemnly consecrating , for the '

capitular degrees , this portion of the Temple ; the solemn chant and the inspired prayer have gone up this day , from hearts and lips sincere , to the God of our fathers , that Ho would bless this house , and that His ej'es mi ght be upon it day and night ,

and the symbol of His presence , the Hol y Dove of Peace , with her Heavenly influence , might ever dwell among us . Therefore , laying aside all guile , envies and evil speaking , lifting up holy hands without wrath or doubting , let us learn with meekness the exalted lesson of " Holiness to the Lord . "

Let the High Priest of every Chapter upon whom the Hol y Order has been conferred remember that lie has been made such , not after the law of a carnal commandment , but after the power of an endless life . Eor He tcstifieth— " Thou art a

priest forever , after the Order of Melchisedeck . " The ark of the Lord now securel y rests beneath one of the most magnificent and gorgeous Temples iu the world . This house , which wo have just dedicated to His glory , is forever to be the home of the

once captive exile . As we meet and assemble within these newly-consecrated walls , may it be with clean hands and a pure heart , for ho alone shdl ascend into the hill of the Lord and stand in His holy place .

Ihe success of our institution is established . The very earth itself , as it whirls along its orbit , carries the universal shout around , "Esto Perpetua , " and from the distant realms of the coining future return the prolonged and repeated echo , "Be

thou everlasting . " To you , our honoiu .-cd and distinguished guests from abroad , who have complimented us by your presence on this interesting and solemn occasion , on behalf of the Grand Chapter of Pennsylvaniaand the Eoyal

, Arch Masons of Philadel phia , I extend our most hearty , cordial and fraternal greetings . We welcome you most sincerely to our hearts and to our homes , with the unfeignedassuranc ? - that your presence here , and in such large numbers from all parts of

the land , has touched the tender chord of our hearts and deeply affected us . This marked evidence ol your hi gh regard ami esteem iu which you have been pleased to hold this Grand Chapter , has filled us with renewed love and affection for you , and lo feel more tenderly than ever the