The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1823-08-21
ELEGANT EYTR1CT

ELEGANT EXTRACT
From 60 Address tn the Members Of Solo
mons Lodge No. 6, OF Poughksepsie, on
the anniversary Of 81. John the Baptist,
june %, A. l.. 5a2S by James &. Brooks,
Esq.
IL is now nearly three thousand years since
the foundation Of Masonry; as yet it hes re-
sisted the destroying hand Of Time. Kiog.
dUms have arisen, nouiished, and falien--the
rock Of power, the adamsnt Of genius have
cfpDlbled-morai earthquakes have dashed
IN ruin The strongest, the fslrest i.brics OF hu.
man enterpfize and ct bumsn wisdom, Ma
sonfy has remained unbrokeu--it has not
bent 10 the storm, nor hath IL died 10 the slug.
gish calm. IL We examine the nature aud
progress Of mans institutions, wo sbsll find
them all partaking of that mutabilmy which
cbarsctefizes his own strange, and hifnl, end
feverish existence perishsble himself, how
Gao be confer eternity upon his wcfts (: lie
efects his statute OF brass, the colossus Vt q.
ges--lriuro phsnt Time thou burlest IL to
the dust. True, he cen ascend the cvef-cur-
log arch VI Edme, and inscribe there the let.
tefs of his i'm m oftality--he can kindic the fiie
OF his renown which biszes for ages, bca-
con 70 the universe; but he caooot recall the
last faint sigh of existence, nor protect his
trophies against tho scythe OF destruction.
60, and learn tbls ruth & ON the melsnc holy
picture OF History! Go, end moraize amidst
the ruins CT Thebes, and ask where ore her
hundred gaIss, her thousands OF Chasio,i, aud
hei millions OF warriors!
"Ah! there in de.olaton cold
The desert serpent dwells alone,
Where grass DER grows each mouidering stone,
Aud stones themselves to ruin grown
Are grey and death.like old !"
Gu, aud learn wisdom Iron. solitary Tyre, end
ask whe'e are her golden palaces and her
numberless nasies! Go aud ask Of E.gypt,
whore ace her tweOty thousond cilie,, her
temple Of ihe su., her Oracle Of Ammo on, aud
het sacred i0uDtuiD there the sun low shire.
oc bleak waste, the voice Of the Oracle bath
bce0 s,lont Tor sges, and tho wild weed hath
long waved Ia tho bed OF is ioun'sin Ls,
Msccdon produca the trophies OF her con.
quering son--!et Persia show the diadfm OF
Cyrus and the spear Of Csmbyses; they are
onvsloped by the ob!iyious pail, and tha
mou'piul voice Of Hiuo'y tells only that they
haze been. So IL is with man, nns that the
works oi naD---chid o.! dou5, and danger--
the spectre OF uncertainty bends over M, c'a-
monnood, aud extends his dusky arm o7er tho
evening" OF his decline He walks iorlh ~ his
mejcsty, the image u God, and ths Lord Of
credtIoO---h's pa,b t. on he mighty deep
his footsteps s,e on tho lofty moun,sin--he
stands OF his proud sminencc and looks down
on a suffice, world Lvok onco again, and
where Ia be The mysterious FIRE Of his ex.
,s'ence s :xnnguisn,d-lhe cold clod presses
on his colder Duso'n--1he dbl worm banquets
on ihai brow where once spark,ed genius and
beau y--snd the charnel sbroud enwrspi tho,
form where once giowsd 'he star Of honor
and The purple OF dominion
SIace then instability Is iuherent Nv The
very Oaiule Of nnsn, aud spreads u'ell over sll
his works, We can best Judge Of the value OF
al instructions by lhelr longer or shorter &c.
s,s,ance 10 subduing Time. We are sale in
the assertion, thai no society can compete
with ours IN durstiOO--it hath resisted every
change pnd braved eve'y tempest--,hN STOOD
firm and beheid the wide-spreading pine OF
Assyria srewiog ,hs ea'th with is brsnc hes,
/ IN Visi snd gigantic ru,n--it hath seen the
rising hood o! mighty hosts de.ols,o imperial
GAbyirn--,t nash seeO the sts''y throne Of The
just iisroun broken Gown---it hath seen tho
me este esgle OF the RomsB extending his
dark form over battle brils,
"where deaths brief psng was quickest,
Aud the battles wreck iay ,hickest
Strewcd beneath the advancing banner
OF the eagles hurning crest;
There, with a.. .,der. .cionds to fan her.
Who could then her wing arrest
Victory beamlng from her bresstT'
All, that wing WAS ares,ed and the proud
bird struck down, prey TO the volu'e, OF
the northern forests. So u hs,h bsen--ihe
poIop, the psgssnty, The migh,iness OF ns-
Iona have bren hualbled The hand of ob-
scurity hath spread his Iolds ovet palace, and
temple, and ,ower.--The ferce storm OF wa
aud The iezy moh OF luxury have unned IN
this wo k of destruction aud the impstuous
wave OF Time hath ever been ohequs'ed by
the Iesmen,s of gIory and tho weeks OF
mag aenIhGence, floating along 10 lsaflul and