Religion And Freemasonry.

will be an advantage to the present ana future generations in this district . The work inaugurated to-day may be denominated a great work—not so much in its material as in its spiritual aspect . It will live after us , when we have been all gathered

to our fathers . Souls will be saved here who will " be with us in glory , so that the object of the work ofthisdayis the glory of God and salvation of souls . It is the same Spirit that is with the church now that descended upon the disciples on the Day

of Pentecost ; and whether it be in a house , as at Jerusalem , or by the river-side , as whenLydia was converted , it is the presence of Christ by His Spirit that will alone give value and efficacy to the ordinances of religion in this or any other

building , and so build up the spiritual temple of the Lord . On account of this spiritual temple , and that it may be raised , we this day lay the foundation stone of the material building , in the name of the Fathea ' , Son , and Holy Ghost , and with the

prayer that He who alone is able , and whose work it is , will grant success . Mr . T . Alexander and other gentlemen briefly addressed the meeting . The proceedings terminated with the benediction .

Secrecy And Silence.

SECRECY AND SILENCE .

One of the princrpal qualities which makes a man be deemed wise is his intelligent strength and ability to cover and conceal such honest secrets as are committed to him , as well as his own serious affairs . Whoever peruses sacred and profane

history , firrds a great number of virtuous attempts in peace and war , never attaining their designed ends , through defect of concealment , and besides such unhappy prevention , numberless evils following upon their divulging . Before all other

examples , let us consider that one which excels all others , and derived from the Almighty himself , who so especially preserves His own secrets to Himself , never letting any man know what mil happen oai the morrow ; aaeither could the wise

men of the past divine what befalls us in the present , whereby we may almost suppose that the Deity is well pleased with secrecy . Although for man ' s good , the Lord has been' pleased to reveal some things , yet it is impossible at any time to

change or alter His determination , in regard whereof the reverend wise men of ancient times evermore affected to perform their intentions secretly .

We read that Cato , the Censor , often said to his friends , that of three things he had good reason to repent , if he ever neglected the true performance of them : first , if he divulged a secret ; second , if he adventured on the water

when he could stay on dry land ; and , third , if he let any day pass without doing some good action . The last is worthy of our attention , but the first conceams our present undertaking . Alexander having received divers letters of great importance

from his mother , after he had read them in the hearing of aaone but his dear friend , Ephestion , he drew forth the signet with which he sealed his private packets , and , without speaking , placed it on his friend ' s lips , thereby intimating that he in

whose bosom a man buries his secrets should have his lips locked upon his tongue , so that he may not reveal them .

The senators of Rome , at their usual sittings , admitted certain of their sons to the Senate House to listen to their deliberations . This favour was not general , and oarly extended to noblemen ' s sons , who were , by this means , instructed in affairs of

state , and thus fitted in after times to assist in the councils of the nation . On one occasion it happened that the senators were detained , in an important question , long past the usual time of parting , and , the case being delayed till another

day , it was expressly forbidden any one to speak of the matter . Among the noblemen ' s sons present was the son of the grave Papirus , whose family was one of the noblest in Rome . The young lad went home . His mother , like the generality of her sex , moved with curiosity , asked him what strange case had been before the Senate to detain

them so long past the usual hour of parting . The boy courteously told her , that he was not at liberty to reveal it ; whereupon the mother became the more anxious to know it . First , by fair promises and entreaties , . attempted to

wile the secret from him ; but finding these in vain , she tried to force it from him with blows . The noble boy found a mother ' s threats severe , but blows from her hand crushed his heart . He compared his love to her with the duty he owed to his

father . He placed her and her foolish conceit in one scale ; his father , Iris own honour , and the solemn injunction to secrecy by the Senate , in the other ; and whetting his tender wit upon the sand y stone of her edging importunity , to appease her , and preserve his own honour by remaining faithful , he thus answered her : —