Oration.

and beautiful affections which God has interwoven with our frame and which throw almost a divine glory over the most clouded features of the history of our kind ; or who beholds only in that varied and wonderful history the traces of a ruined

being , and to pray as its noblest consummation , that all its future pages may exhibit the aspiring faculties of human genius , bound down under one narrow system of contracted thought and the natural flow of human affections creeping on in one dull and artificial channel . Nor does the blood of

the natural man freeze in the veins when the sublime principles of faith are impressed upon the soul , but continues to flow as before through their multiplied windings ; neither is it meant that these principles of a higher character , should impede one

rush of genuine affection—one legitimate employment of our intellectual powers—or even one innocent play of fancy—but that they should guide them all to right ends and guard them with the shield of their own peculiar sanctity . Freemasonry

rejoices in these principles , it addresses itself to every description of men , and hides the poor under the shadow of its wings from the ills and injuries of life . It is equally suited to the north , the south , the east , the west—all are interested in its

beautiful lessons of brotherly love and all treasure its contemplations ol immortal life . Ours is indeed a glorious fabric S founded in strength , ordered by wisdom and adorned with beauty ! For , say : —Brethren , what institution

can have a firmer foundation than the volume of God ' s sacred laio ? And why is this so , independent of its own claim ? Because it sanctions all that experience teaches us respecting the natural powers of the mind . It leads us up in grateful

thoughts to Him who bestowed the principles of life at the first , and who continues to impart it through successive generations . It enhances its value by asserting and proving its immortality . It Tenders the man useful to society by cherishing

the love of goodness and encouraging hatred to vice , by unveiling the future destination of the spirit , to eternal happiness as the reward of piety , or to eternal misery as the just judgment of sin and thus affords a more powerful guard of virtue

and barrier against vice than all the laws society could impose . He then that is an enemy to sacred truth is an enemy to himself . He is extinguishing so far as he can , the light which is sent to guide him home and to absorb the feebler rays of reason and of nature , and he" is refusing the only cup of

consolation which is a true antidote to the bitterness of sorrow . But he is an enemy to mankind for he is robbing society of the cement which : holds it together ; of the source of its intelligence ,-its happiness , its glory . And he who is the enemy of Man is the enemy of God ; for He is the Parent as well as the Architect of the Universe —•

He stamped human nature with His image , and He loves it still . Yes ! brethren , this sacred volume is our foundation stone , which , while it records a thousand blessings for the present , pointsout to every wandering child of Adam , " the path >

of life . " And if Truth lies at the foundation ,. Wisdom has raised the superstructure of our house . No one of thoughtful mind and who has studied Freemasonry to any extent can have failedto "" observe the connection of our whole system ,

as well as the relative dependence of its several , parts , " the great objects brought out in thevarious implements of art , the lessons taught by our traditional histories , the significance of every ornament that adorns our lodges , all these

are striking emblems of blessed verities—outer things mutely symbolising the highest duties off social life and the deepest truths connected with , our inner life . Never can we witness a brother raised to the degree of a Master Mason without

feeling a divine call to a higher life—without at least being deeply moved by the solemnities of a ceremony which forimpressiveness and instruction , is second to none in this lower world .

And is not our house not only strongly founded and wisely built , but beautifully adorned ? Are not purity of thought , integrity of life , benignity of manner , and above all , sweet charity the beautiful , garments with which a true Mason is invested ?

Oh ! how lovely is this Charity ! it constitutes the highest dignity of human nature—it elevates and refines our feeling's—it calms the storms of

passion—it causes men to look with kindness on each other aud to view no one as a stranger whose joys we can heighten , whose wants we can supply or whose sorrows we can soothe . No distinction of rank will affect its operation—it will

consider no object as beneath its notice that can be benefitted by its exertions , and no task to be mean by which it can promote human happiness . Where would be the boasted dignity of reason if employed only to promote narrow selfish views ?

Where the glory of that knowledge which never of itself , advised or comforted another ? And where the honour of that power , which never promoted