Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1823-07-19

Delivered by Gen. JAMES ADAMS, on The
24th June, 1928. at the installation of
Sangamo Lodge, No. g.
Communicated for the Spectator.)
To tie audience in general:
The short period since | have been
honored with request to address you
on this occasion, forbids Justice 10 sub
lect OF the importance OF the one before
lus.
RESTRICTED fraternal friends,
Uncontested facts, in innumerable
abundance, are recorded in evidence,
that, from time immemorial, the civiiz-
ed world have sanctioned the commemo-
ration of important events. We have
therefore assembled on no trivial or or
binary occasion, to lay ard greet the
toundation-stone CT the fabric of Mason
ry. This, also, being one Of our fcs.
i've days, in memory of St. John the
Baptist whose birth day is recorded in
perpetual memory with that OF St. John
the Evangelist, as the two great paral-
lels in Masonry and Christianity :; whose
piely, goodness, and benevolence we are
proud to revere and initiate. These
considerations united with the first, rem
der this occasion doubly impressive with
a sense Of our duty as men, christians,
and masons.
The ancient favored people Of God
were commanded to observe some Of
their signal deliverances, and unusual
dispensations of providence. These i'm
pressive duties serve to remind them of
the protecting care of their supreme
preserver, and to conhrm and enliven
their religious ZEAL
The christians, in imitation of the
jewish church, have commemorated
some OF the most important events &C.
enrred 20 failen men, and have felt and
acknowledged their beneficial results.
On this occasion, it is essential--not
merely essential, but laudable and high
ly proper, to call TO mind the great prin-
cipies OF our institution, which, if under
stood and cherished, will excite in us
love OF order, an attachment, to moral
precep.s and reverence to Deity, in
whom we believe and trust.
When we take survey of masonry,
we are led TO the emanation of IFS prin-
ciples, which were the great fountain of
wisdom and truth These thoughts con-
sequently bring afresh to orr view thai
original state OF chaos, when the Almigb-
" mandate went forth, and from the dis
cordant elements, harmony, order and
light in quick succession filled the space,
and universal nature appeared clad in
resplendant beauty.
When we leave the contemplation so
much to be admired and truly sublime,
we may trace the first dawn of masonry
emerging with the rise Of society from
the depraved state in which the race OF
man was enveloped by the fall, when
architests and philosophers, Initiating
the handy works Of the supreme archi-
tect of universal nature, in the construc-
ton of edifices TO shelter them from the
relentless storm and the piercing cold.
Thus we see in Noah, when lie con-
structed the ark that saved the surviving
few from the general deluge that, at that
carly period, symmetry, order, and hsr-
mony prevailed; and that his descendants
were skilled in the mystic art, when on
The plains of Shinar, amidst the clouds of
heaven, Babels lofty top was reared
Bat from this reflection we are hurried
10 the contemplation of the act of Moses,
who was not stranger to its precepts
and principles-who by divine appoint
ment built the tabernacle, sanctuary
for the Lord, and constructed the ark of
the testimony. The first was form
and sample for the construction Of our
edihces, and will perpetuate to latest pos
terity the miraculous east wind that
wrought the mighty delvcrance OF the
Jews from the oppressive hand of the
Egyptians. But in more recent survey
of masonry will call our attention to a
still more perfect and magnificent dis
play in the building ofthat temple which
was erected by King Solomon, for the
worship of the Most High. and which
was consecrated by the Shekina, the
cloud of the divine presence.
AT this time it is perhaps unimpor-
tant for me to expaliate on the figure,
beauty or harmony which prevailed in
the erection thereof. But here is a
theme on which the mason and the
corn, two years, when it preceded the tree in