Funeral Oration.

trayed inactive life ; childhood , for instance , when tired down AA'ith its ceaseless activity , has no very anxious desire at night to resign its pleasures and the society of its friends , and retire into darkness and a state of unconsciousness ; but the

law of nature is so imperative that even childhood must submit , and that AA'hich reconciles it to its fate is the assurance that an affectionate parent is watching over its pilloAv , and it sleeps in jieace In the morning the sun comes forth , the little creature arises not only refreshed , but reneAved wifch strength . So in the mornins- of the

resurrection of the just at the last day , Avhen the ni ght of death shall have passed away , the Sun of Righteousness will arise AA'ith glory and magnificence indescribable , and AA'ith all poAverful healing in his AA'ings , the dry bones of humanity Avill

collect together , the dust of those precious in the sight of Him AVIIO died for them will be reanimated and clothed upon with immortality . Then Avill those remains Ave have so latel y laid in the dark tomb arise for the joys of eternity ; that Avhich Ave

have now sown in corruption will be raised in incorruption ; that which Ave have now sown in dishonour Avill be raised in glory ; that Avhich Ave have sown in weakness will be raised in power ; that Avhich we have now sown a natural body will be raised a spiritual body . There is a natural

body and there is a spiritual body . That this our mortal part is capable of a change in immortality to one of heavenly glory , Ave have a very clear intimation . When Moses went up into the mount and received the tables of the laAA , AA'hile

in communion Avith the Divine Being * , he received an impress of the divine glory , and on coming doAvn from the mount his countenance shone so bright that the people could not steadfastly 'behold him , and he Avas obliged to cover his face

with a veil , AA'hich he Avore for some time . When the SaA-iour of mankind went up into the mount Avith his disciples , he Avas then in a state of humility ( man Avith , us ) , he Avas transfigured before them , aud became glistening and brilliant as the sun at noonday . At the resurrection the t'wo Avitnesses Avho related the circumstance to

tne holy women appeared with countenances like lightning , and their garments white , such that no fuller could Avhite them . Whether they were celestial spirits created to attend upon and execute the high behest of heaA'en , AA'I IO had never been clogged with humanity , or of the spirits of the just made perfect , does not appear , but that

they were of human form appears clearly . Thus will mortality be swalloAved up of life . "Blessed , then , are the dead which die in the Lord . " And IIOAV , my brethren , what do Ave learn in Masonry that will lead us in that path AA'hich Avill

bring us to this living fountain of joy and happiness—this glorified state of immortality , to Him who will not deceive us , neither Avill He suffer deception . [ Here a solemn aud very affecting appeal was again made in a Masonic sense upon

the subject . ] He then proceeded : — That great light Ave possess in Masonry is a divine light—it is a light from above—Avhich will enable us to lift this mysterious veil and look beyond the darkness and gloom of the'grave . It

opens to our understandings God ' s omnipotent poAver , holiness , and truth—it tells of His mysterious dealings Avith the creatures of His hands ; ifc speaks fco us of His divine promises , both of the life that now is and of that AAdiich is to come ;

it stands forth as a beacon light to guide us safely through the shoals and difficulties of life ; it stands as a light and guide to eternity . Philosophy cannot raise this mysterious veil , for she is indebted herself to its divine Avisdom for the chiefest of her

apophthegms . Reason , Avith her Aveak and uncertain light , can never guide us to such sublime mysteries , such glorious truths as Ave find therescience which enables us to make Avondrous discoveries in nature , to measure the heights of its

pillars down to the fastness of its pedestal cannot unfold to us eternity or the mysterious dealings toAvards His people of that God in AA'I IOUI Ave live and move and have our being . Nature , Avhich instructs us in lessons of God's creating and

preserving power—Avhich sets before us many instructive patterns for our imitation in faith , in hope , and those beautiful charities of social life

upon Avhich angels deign to smile , she may lead us to the threshold , but cannot open to our view the mysteries of eternity , the joys of everlasting life , or the miseries of eternal death . But having noAv discovered those mysteries in the treasures of

God's revealed Avill , let us therefore praise and magnify His holy name for that knowledge of Himself Avhich He has been pleased to vouchsafe unto us , and endeavour to Avalk Avorthy of that light Avhich has now shone around us—that Ave ,

with all those who have departed this life in the true faith and fear of that holy and incommtmicable name , may havo our consummation and bliss , both in bodv and soul , in that eternal and