Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Oration.
Himself has appointed ; in other words , to discharge his religious duties as he ought . At the same time , he will discharge aright his social duties , for these are so intimately connected with tbe former , that the two cannot be separated . He cannot love God without loving his brother also ; and in this are involved the leading principles of our Order—brotherly love , relief and truth , temperance , fortitude , prudence and justice , virtue , honour , and mercy , glory to God on earth , peace , goodwill towards men .
The whole discourse from which this extract has been taken is well " worthy of your serious and thoughtful attention . It will be found on page 426 of the FEEEAIASONS' MAGAZINE of December 3 rd , 1864 . I have the greater pleasure iu bringing to your notice the remarks contained therein , because they convey sentiments so different in irit from
sp those in another address delivered in the south of England , before a bod } ' of Freemasons , and reported in the MAGAZINE of August Sth , 1863 , which appeared to me so uncharitable , exclusive , and anti-Masonic , that , with a view to offer opinions in direct opposition , the argumentative portion of the last
consecration oration I had the honour to deliver at the opening of the Temple in whieh we now are , Avas entirely suggested by it . Companions , I have thus briefly alluded to some of the benefits of Freemasonry , aud especially of an acquaintance with the Eoyal Arch degree . Time will
not allow me to pursue the subject farther , and , Avere I to attempt it , I might be led beyond all reasonable bounds . I content myself , therefore , with these remarks , beseeching j'ou , iu conclusion , not to be satisfied with a mere nominal attachment to the
Eoyal Arch chapter , but to make its teachings and its privileges conducive to the expansion of your own understandings , to the cultivation of every virtue , to a more exalted estimation of the true and living God Most High , to whom you must be responsible for a neglect of the solemn obligations you have taken in
the various stages of your Masonic course . Let the altar which we this clay erect , in imitation of our pious ancestors , inspire us Avith reverence ancl awe in our approaches to it , Avhen we reflect on its associations Avith the mysterious emblems and the sacred words it bears , and be a place on Avhich we may lay
our rational offerings of praise for the manifold blessings we enjoy ; of devotion to Him Avho vouchsafes us such a knoAA'ledge of His mysteries ; of a pure heart , which alone will meet Avith acceptance at the throne of grace ; of goodwill towards men , without which all our professions Avill be vain and
unprofitable . May our solemn rites he here Avell and worthily practised . May Ave enter upon them with a due sense of their mystical import , aud of our responsibility . May we celebrate and transmit them in all their purity and efficiency . May the administrators of them be
endowed with a ri ght spirit , Avith Avisdom , with influence derived from moral ancl intellectual power , and from Divine assistance . . May tlie recipients of them be filled with humilit y ancl Avith teachableness . And , lastly , may the true and living God Most High crown tbe structure AA'e now raise with His especial favour and continual blessing , so that the Avhole may be knit together in unity and brotherly love , and produce results lasting in their effects on
Oration.
ourselves , aud on those who shall take our places when we shall have passed aAvay to receive our final award , as fitted to form part of that spiritual mansion , that house not made with hands , eternal in the heavens .
Poetry.
Poetry .
MASONIC MUSINGS . THE aSSIVS OP THE OBEEE . Again to hallow'd haunts return'd , Bright with names we all adore , Where those hero souls that burn'd Sanctified the soil of yore :
By the classic streams and meadows , By each sunny shore and creek , Draped with never-ending shadows , Rich in genius of the Greek .
"Pure unsullied love of labour , Warm impulses , noble aims , Back , when shepherd ' s crook and tabor Hung on branches by the streams ; Where the olive and acanthus Grew to grace that art antique , In the fabled far Atlantis , Eich in genius ofthe Greek .
Oh , ye bright inspiring fountains , Springs of primal art and taste , Rainbow , arch'd upon the mountains , Scintillating pure and chaste . Apostrophised , in ruin scatter'd , By lorn pool , and lichen'd peak , Old mighty marble shrines shatter'd , Rich in genius of the Greek .
From out of ruins grand and solemn , StreaVd with glaze of reptile slime , Above each frieze and fluted column , Clogg'd with damp decay of time , Swelling forth from porch and portal Immemorial echoes break , Redolent of life immortal , Rich in genius of the Greek .
Land of old heroic spirit , Rise thine halo-wreathed head ; Names like thine for aye inherit Glory from their mighty dead ; Heirs of art still unexampled , Athens from your torpor speak . Lo ! ho comes , the Goth who trampled , Rich in spoil robb'd from the Greek .
Lamp of pristine Architecture , Beacon in all distant time , In your radiant reflecture , Souls again will soar sublime . Virgin art and beauty vernal , Pointing heavenward ye bespeak
Triumphs matchless and eternal , Crown'd in genius ofthe Greek . CuNioir Hoar .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Oration.
Himself has appointed ; in other words , to discharge his religious duties as he ought . At the same time , he will discharge aright his social duties , for these are so intimately connected with tbe former , that the two cannot be separated . He cannot love God without loving his brother also ; and in this are involved the leading principles of our Order—brotherly love , relief and truth , temperance , fortitude , prudence and justice , virtue , honour , and mercy , glory to God on earth , peace , goodwill towards men .
The whole discourse from which this extract has been taken is well " worthy of your serious and thoughtful attention . It will be found on page 426 of the FEEEAIASONS' MAGAZINE of December 3 rd , 1864 . I have the greater pleasure iu bringing to your notice the remarks contained therein , because they convey sentiments so different in irit from
sp those in another address delivered in the south of England , before a bod } ' of Freemasons , and reported in the MAGAZINE of August Sth , 1863 , which appeared to me so uncharitable , exclusive , and anti-Masonic , that , with a view to offer opinions in direct opposition , the argumentative portion of the last
consecration oration I had the honour to deliver at the opening of the Temple in whieh we now are , Avas entirely suggested by it . Companions , I have thus briefly alluded to some of the benefits of Freemasonry , aud especially of an acquaintance with the Eoyal Arch degree . Time will
not allow me to pursue the subject farther , and , Avere I to attempt it , I might be led beyond all reasonable bounds . I content myself , therefore , with these remarks , beseeching j'ou , iu conclusion , not to be satisfied with a mere nominal attachment to the
Eoyal Arch chapter , but to make its teachings and its privileges conducive to the expansion of your own understandings , to the cultivation of every virtue , to a more exalted estimation of the true and living God Most High , to whom you must be responsible for a neglect of the solemn obligations you have taken in
the various stages of your Masonic course . Let the altar which we this clay erect , in imitation of our pious ancestors , inspire us Avith reverence ancl awe in our approaches to it , Avhen we reflect on its associations Avith the mysterious emblems and the sacred words it bears , and be a place on Avhich we may lay
our rational offerings of praise for the manifold blessings we enjoy ; of devotion to Him Avho vouchsafes us such a knoAA'ledge of His mysteries ; of a pure heart , which alone will meet Avith acceptance at the throne of grace ; of goodwill towards men , without which all our professions Avill be vain and
unprofitable . May our solemn rites he here Avell and worthily practised . May Ave enter upon them with a due sense of their mystical import , aud of our responsibility . May we celebrate and transmit them in all their purity and efficiency . May the administrators of them be
endowed with a ri ght spirit , Avith Avisdom , with influence derived from moral ancl intellectual power , and from Divine assistance . . May tlie recipients of them be filled with humilit y ancl Avith teachableness . And , lastly , may the true and living God Most High crown tbe structure AA'e now raise with His especial favour and continual blessing , so that the Avhole may be knit together in unity and brotherly love , and produce results lasting in their effects on
Oration.
ourselves , aud on those who shall take our places when we shall have passed aAvay to receive our final award , as fitted to form part of that spiritual mansion , that house not made with hands , eternal in the heavens .
Poetry.
Poetry .
MASONIC MUSINGS . THE aSSIVS OP THE OBEEE . Again to hallow'd haunts return'd , Bright with names we all adore , Where those hero souls that burn'd Sanctified the soil of yore :
By the classic streams and meadows , By each sunny shore and creek , Draped with never-ending shadows , Rich in genius of the Greek .
"Pure unsullied love of labour , Warm impulses , noble aims , Back , when shepherd ' s crook and tabor Hung on branches by the streams ; Where the olive and acanthus Grew to grace that art antique , In the fabled far Atlantis , Eich in genius ofthe Greek .
Oh , ye bright inspiring fountains , Springs of primal art and taste , Rainbow , arch'd upon the mountains , Scintillating pure and chaste . Apostrophised , in ruin scatter'd , By lorn pool , and lichen'd peak , Old mighty marble shrines shatter'd , Rich in genius of the Greek .
From out of ruins grand and solemn , StreaVd with glaze of reptile slime , Above each frieze and fluted column , Clogg'd with damp decay of time , Swelling forth from porch and portal Immemorial echoes break , Redolent of life immortal , Rich in genius of the Greek .
Land of old heroic spirit , Rise thine halo-wreathed head ; Names like thine for aye inherit Glory from their mighty dead ; Heirs of art still unexampled , Athens from your torpor speak . Lo ! ho comes , the Goth who trampled , Rich in spoil robb'd from the Greek .
Lamp of pristine Architecture , Beacon in all distant time , In your radiant reflecture , Souls again will soar sublime . Virgin art and beauty vernal , Pointing heavenward ye bespeak
Triumphs matchless and eternal , Crown'd in genius ofthe Greek . CuNioir Hoar .