Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1827-11-29

Ine Grand Lodge OF The siate ot Yer
mont. convened at Montpelier, on | ues
day the 9th October, and after trans
acting the customary business, adjourn
ed on Wednesday evening the ION. An
appropriate aud judicious discourse was
delivered by the Rev Simeon Parmalee,
at he meeting house on Wednesday,
Previous to tue election OF Grand Off
GERS for the current year, the Hon. PM
meas White, Of Putney, the Grand Mas
ter, declining a re election, addressed
the lodge; from which address the fol-
lowing extracts are made.
ADDREsS.
My Brethren,
In retiring from the station, wherein
you have been pleased, by your sutfra-
ges, repeatedly to place me, sense of
duty as we'll as OF gratitude, impes me
to acknowledge your kindness and res.
pect, ia sustaining ,siA the perform
auce of the various duties which have
been imposed upon has
And permit one tor congratulate you
on the harmony and good feeling wnieh
have generally prevailed at the commu
nlcations OF tins Grand Lodge, during
the period nave had the honor OF pre-
siding ever your deliberations.
Oa this occasion, also, it being pro
babl, the last and only opportunity OF
addressing or meeting you, as members
oil this Grand Lodge, may ever enjoy,
permit me to urge upon your CONSIDER
alton, the great objects Of the Masonic
intitutions.
The gre at ends in view, are, to make
men better and happier. la promoting
these obJects-coDtrlbuting to the wants,
and aIleviatlng the suiierngs OF the bo
dy, embrace the least Of Masonic du-
ties. Enligh,ening the understanding,
cultvatIng the mental faculties, and im
proving the moral virtues oil men, and
teaching them their duties and relations
to each other, IN come 3tion with their
religious obligations, embrace the grea
ter and more important duties OF Ma
sons.
As individuals, we are taught to i'm
prove our powers and faculties in
manner, most ehectually to advance our
own good, and to contribute to tie pros
perity and happiness of others. Collec-
lively, as body, or society OF men, we
are to unite our energies, not only IN
promoting the happiness OF each other,
aud the prosperity OF the Masonic insti-
tutions--but in alleviating human woe
in expslling ignorance and moral dark
ness, and ditusIng light and happiness
through the world.
The observance # ceremonies put.
ting on badges and adherlng to ancient
rites anc usages, will alone never Con-
sil,ute the true and upright mason
Our duty to ourselves, as individuals,
teaches US in the first place, to hold IN
the highest veneration, the AL Wise,
Bountiful and Supreme Architect OF the
Universe-tron whom cometh every
good and every perfec. glit.-and to
feel our entire dependence upon HIM.
andto cultivate the powers and faculties
with which be has endowed US, In the
bes. possible manner-lopping OH all
excresences from the heart sitting
unhallowed desires and vicious propen-
sities-banishing from our bosoms,
pride, i'll will, hatred, malice and re
venge, and IN cultivaiins humanity, gen.
tlensss and pure love-drecting all our
energies to the promotion OF the greatest
sum Of human happiness.
But our duty to each other, we are
taught to love our brethren, to be char.
liable and kind, alleviating their suffer
ings, and contributing to their wants, to
be tender of their characters and repu'
tations, suggesting in tAeir behalf the
most favorable circumstanees,-and are
they justly reprehended, we are bound
TO let the world know how masons love
one another.
How far, as masons, we live up to
those duties, you my brethren can
judge. Looking abroad and beholdlng
the hear. burnihgs, animosities, and
contensions, which are too common a.
mong masons, and the vile unhardened
measures, not untrequently taken by
masons to SANDER their Brethren, and
by falsehood to destroy their fame to
the total disre gard of all the most sacred
masonic charlottesville heart OF eve-
~ true mason sickens within him, whilst
be turns Disguised with the name OF ma
sonry. But there is redeemlng spirit
in the institution its principlesare COR
rect, founded upon broad and liberal
basis. Go home, then, TO your lodges,