Oration

Master Moses in the Avilderness of Sinai , from the midst of the bush burning , but not consumed . With that ancient Grand Master of ours , AVG are one in spirit when summoned to the most secret recess of Masonic wisdom . For there we indicate

none other things than those Avhich the prophets and Moses did say should come . We indicate somewhat explicitly what they indicated but implicitly . What was so revealed at the first may in the last days of the outpouring of the Spirit of God upon all flesh , be Avell communicated Avith a certain degree of explicitness , yet safely and circumspectl not

indisy , criminately nor universally . Else we must give that which is holy to the dogs , and cast our pearls before swine , aud publish on the housetops what , for the timo then present , Ave should tell no man openly . Companions ! A * ery sacred is the hour when Ave ponder in our R . A . chapters the

manifested name Avhich indicates more of the mystery of the Godhead than the divine name known ' to the patriarchs—the name El Shaddai , God Almighty . Only second in solemnity to this hour should be the hour of hi gh tAvelve in open lodge . If , at the hour of high twelve , Ave did ever recall to mind our Master

Hiram ' s Avonted custom , whither he then retired and for what purpose ( eating meat which the carnal know not of ) , then Avould our lodge table be transformed into a veritable altar , for our lodge refreshment must then be devout refreshment , eating and drinking , and doing all to the lory of God .

g This , brethren , is our best safeguard against any deco . y of Masonry through the desecration of its temple by Dagou worship . In any pillar of n temple so desecrated , Avhatever strength of stone and cement there is loft , is turned suddenly into a suicidal ruin b y hands like those of Samson ' s , when he put out his

lamp and quenched the li ght of Israel amid the maddening and horrific darkness of debauchery and death , the circumcised being as the uncircumcised . Brother Masons , remember seasonably the last end of Samson , the judge of Israel , moved as he had been from his youth up by the S pirit of the Lord . " Quench

not the spirit . " " Neither be partakers in other men ' s sin ' s . " " Keep yourselves pure . " So Avill the zealous Mason , eager for further instruction , find here great facilities for acquainting himself with the pith and marrow of all our lectures , even if , in extracting from them much of what is

valuable , he has not the memory to take along with him also the beauteous and expressive wrapping of quaint Avords and archaic phrases in which our Masonic lectures ^ are genially ensheathed . Here , too , whilst guiding himself still by the principles of moral truth and virtuehe AvillI trustbe conducted

, , , further than at present in the paths of intellectual science , so that , without neglecting the ordinary duties of his station , the liberal arts and sciences may be made verily and indeed , as well as expectantly , his future study . " So mote it be , " should we all say from the ground

of the heart . Foris it not our unanimous conviction that the better any brother is enabled to estimate the wonderful Avorks of the Almighty , the better will ho be enabled to discharge his duty as a Mason ? And inasmuch as Ave cannot hold a lodge without some significant allusion to the noble orders of architecture , nor can any lodge be perfect without Bonie further allusion to the liberal arts and sciences , there must

ever be a handwriting against us on the wall if we progress not with the progress of science in the intellectual age . For , in addition to that provocative to scientific pursuits which our fellow townsmen share with us in common , because of the honour with which recently our town has been honouredwe furthermore have among us a very

, special provocative that , with twofold import , confronts us whenever we hold such a lodge as is that in which candidates can be legally initiated into the Order . And now to conclude . From , the foundation laid this evening may there be raised an external

structure perfect in all its parts , and honourable alike to our brother the architect and to our brother the builder . But within the Masonic sanctuary of its inner precincts may there be raised many living superstructures in the highest style of man—the pillars of Avhich will be men fearing God and hating

covetouaness , men of godly , scientific , and intellectual habits , men AVIIO are in deed and in truth the salt of the earth and the light of the world . Here may we , one and all , be taught to be meek , humble , and resigned , faithful to our God , our country , and our laws , to drop the tear of sympathy on the failings of a brother ,

aud to pour the healing balm of consolation into the bosom of the afflicted . By letting our lig ht so shine before men , the world will see the happy and beneficial effects of our ancient institution . In a good Freemason they will be coustrained to recognise one to whom the burdened heart may pour forth its sorrows , to whom the distressed may prefer their suit , one Avhose hand is guided by justice , and Avhose heart is expanded by benevolence .

In fine , brethren , by a careful study of the Book of Constitutions , above all by a dih ' geut use of the volume of the Sacred Law unfolded . Ave shall lay up for ourselves a crown of joy and rejoicing Avhich shall endure imperishably when time itself shall be no more . And through the lodges that shall assemble hereafter in the Birmingham Masonic Hallmay these the

, genuine tenets aud princip les of the Order be transmitted pure and unsullied from generation to generation . One other last word , brethren , in the form , of a Masonic sentiment suited to the occasion -. May then the rough Ashlar be transformed with good speed into

the polished Ashlar , Avhich ( as you know well ) needs not any ordinary chiseling . In due time , too , may there be found flocking to this Masonic Hall a goodly number of Lewises , all of whom ( because- of each one ' s fidelity to the filial duty of a Lewis ) can , without scruple or diffidence , claim their peculiar privilege

to be made Masons before any other person , however , dignified . . And since virtue , honour , and mercy are the distinguishing characteristics of a good Freemason , may they , if banished from other societies , be ever found in all our hearts . The choir then sang " God Save the Queen . "

Loud cries were then made for the Mayor , who mounted the stone and said that as he was not ornamented with the brilliant decorations of some present it would be evident to those present that he did not belong to the body of Freemasons , and therefore he should not address them on the subject of Freemas'mry . But he could scarcely allow the proceedings to ' terminate without congratulating his fellow townsmen on the commencemen t of a building which ,