Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-12-07
From the New-York Saturday Evening Gazette.
ADDRESS

of the New Masonic ilaiI, broadway, new torks
Oct so, 1927
Much respected hearers.
= now becomes my duty TO call your atten-
tion for few moments TO some remarks, a.
dapted TO the interesting occasion tha. has cali
he'd US together. The Partially Of the Bre-
ihers has requested this duty, and the deep
RESPECTS feel for this ancient and honorable
BODY. will always command any services may
be able to render them.
From the beginning of,he human family,
the love of society has formed one OF the
s,ronses, characteristics of our nature.
II is sorie,y that gives enjoyment 10 wbat>
ever resources we possess. 1t is society that
forms q spring TO mental improvements the
cultivation of the arts and sciences. IL is So
cirty that gives latitude for the exercise OF all
The social virtues that are at once the ornament
Of our nature; and that calls into requisi,ion
all the intellectual and physical energies which
he Great Creator has thought proper to be-
stow upon US.
In consequence of this universal impulse ev-
cry where rcl,, associations have every where
been formed, from The remotest antiquity, In &C
very age and every patton, Tor vast variety oil
purposes. Some, IL is true, where base and
dishoncrable principles naturally combine, tior
mind, like every other object OF which we have
any knowledge, will find its proper level such
will unite for injurious purposes; but others
where pure and ,irtuous dispositions associate,
the happiness and the welfare OF mankind
are studied and promoted; and OF this latter
description, the society with which we profess
20 be united, may justly be d'nomInatrd'
Atwnat period The masonic fraternity orig
irsted, tits extremely difficult TO determine,
and therefore this unct rtainty has given rise 10
a vas, variety of conjeotnres. Some (perhaps
over much Jealous of ahtiquity,) have directed
our attention to he pa,iiarchal ages, and have
quoted the nominal "pillarsN Of Seth" with
heir Inscriptions, and some uncertain tradi-
lions, in hyoGr OF their hypo,he sis. But the
period OF SolomoH's temple, distance OF near
iy three thousand years from The present, IS,
perhaps the most correct period OF calculation,
when from the immense number OF artists and
labourers tabout 10000 souls, and Of different
languages employed in this s'upendous work,
Che mos, magnificent the world ever wines
sed.) il then became indespensi5ly necessary,
that the artists the architects and labourers, ar
TO use masonic language, the masters and the
fellow crafts, should be c!assed ana SO sepe-
rated; and some kind of general language.
adapted 10 the exigency, partly by some sig
nihcant words, that perfect unae rs'andlny
might be had throughout lhe whole; aud the
different parts OF the great design might be
accomplished without confusion. Sometime
alter this, We are informed from the best
authorities exrant that this language OF asso-
citation was adopted into the Pythagorian
schools, by signs aud ciphers, and significant
words, by which the dcples Of That great
philosopher could be known throughout The
world; and il is by this same language of asso-
citation that the fraternity Of masonry, at the
1av known I'm, el Ia, IN other distant
lands. and that "the housclcs child OF want
shall find in every brother, however IN ether
respects a stranger, Il irisnd, and IN almost ev-
cry country he shall find home.
X is confidently asserted, that masonry was
introduced into Great Britain long before the
COMMUNISTS OF the Romans; aud IN evidence OF
this appeals are made to the remains OF those
great works OF antiquity still existing, that
must have been constructed long before the Ro-
man invasion. But, il is much more certain
that Cesar, and many OF the Roman officers,
governors of Britain, were particularly favour
able 10 masons, aud encouraged and employed
their laoors.
In the third century, 1--WE are inf3rmed) un-
der Carausius, masonry was particularly cher
ished; for Albanus (,hat is the celebrated ST.
Alban, the proto martyr Of Great Brittany took
the society under his special care, and obtained
a charter for them to hold a general council,
in which council re himself presided; and
from that time, select meetings, denominatcd
lodges, began 20 be introduced. But was not
until st Augustin, with his band of christian
preachers, arrived in Ensland, in the sixth CEN
tury, tha: masonry became eminenty distn-
pushed. And let il be remembered, that il was
with the light Of christianity that the talents S
the virtues of the brotherhood were especially
called into conspicuitY.-fhe holy man (who
has been called the apostle of Great Brittany
Immediately took the craft under his protection,
and the venerable structures OF Canterbury Ca
ihedral--the Cathedral Of Rochester-S,. Pc
,er's, Westminster, and numerous other build
ings that might be mentioned, are monuments
10 the present dayof the superior talents, the
usefulness, and patient labors Of the masonic
fraternity of that period.
/, may be proper, here, 10 mention, that ma
sonry was originally cairay confined TO those
artists, architects, and others, who were devoted
10 the science OF constructing splendid tenn
pies of religioa and great national buildings