Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1830-07-28


To which the nj. w. Grand Master
replied
Most WorshipfM Past Grand Master,
and Brethren Of This Grand Lodge: The
confidence with which you have honored
me, manifested by placing me in this
chair, inspires sentiments more easily
conceived than expressed-which, while
they excite the most grateful feelings,
impose as duty, to which trust incli-
nation will ever respond, such dis
charge of the trust reposed in me, as
shall not disappoint your most fiattering
expectations.
l Circumstances, beyond control, hav-
ing for many years obstructed IL regular
association with the lodge of which was
last a Member, it will not surprize,
should the ceremonals ofthe Order have
escaped my memory. This cannot how
ever be the case with its principles and
obligations, which are too deeply impress
cd on my mind ever to be removed.
The circumstance alluded to by the
very respectable Brother, who has kind
ly o.iiciatcd at this Inauguration, is one
TO be contemplated more in pity than in
anger, except perhaps as it regards those,
who ceriainIy had the power, and whose
duty it was, rather to stiilc than to fan
the cmbcrs Of discord, until they had
blown them into Il flame Of persecution,
better adapted to the darkness of the
middle ages, than to the enlightened pc
rod OF the present day. When we be-
hold these men connecting the excite
mcnt, which if they did not create, they
have certainly cherished and increased,
with political party views, the conclusion
is irresistible, that they have been actu-
atcd by sinister and selfish, mol by viz
tuous and laudablc motives.
The circumstances to which this eX-
citomcnt, III its origin, is rclerablc, must,
in candor, be allowed to have been of AN
aggravated nature; and, as far as the
immediate perpetrators, of the offence
are concerned, mcri.s the most cxem-
plary punishment. But to visit the sins
of few worthless individuals on the
whole body of an institution, founded in
bcnevolcncc, charity, and the purcst
philanthropy, which has subsisted for
ages with unblcmishcd reputation, enrol
ling within its pale, countless numbers Of
the best of Patriots, Statesmen, Sagca,
and Dvincs, must meet the rcprobation
of the yirtuous and disinterested. If ma
sonry, human Institution, is to be ana
thcmatizcd for having furnished few, Il
very few, enthusiasts and fanatics, what
shall We say TO those deemed Of divine
origin illus not every Religion which
History records, been obnoxious to SINH
lar objections and among them none
perhaps has shed more blood than that
which we profess. Shall we therefore
discard it? Shallwe deprive suffering hui
manity Of its best, its surest consolation,
uLder the Christening Affections of divine
dispensation | say, God forbid.
But we have been told Gas falsely as
insidiously,) that masonry has certain
aptitude to dcmoraEzation. Might not
the same be said with equal Justice of
the sacred Writing? Has not the Relig-
ious fanatic, as well under the Jewish as
\ Christian dispensations, invariably JUS
tilted his lawless shedding of blood, on
those rove aled, but misconccivod Truths,
we hold divine.
II But we have our mysteries: so has our
holy religion. The writings of our pa
| tron saint are full Of them: we shall not
therefore, | trust, discard the one or the
! other.
i Our forms have also been made the
! Isubicct of ridicuc. A sufficient answer
to this is, that forms are essential to the
existence of all societies; as they are
arbitrary, they will sometimes give scope
to the carpings of the too fastidious;
! but they never can with justice be held
to derogatc from the fundamental princi-
| pies of any institution. l have been a
member of this useful and honorable fra
tcrnity for more than half Il century, and
have never till now heard the calumny
uttered, that its obligations, under any
circumstances, impugncd the ordinances
of civil or religious Society. On the
contrary, we hold ourselves bound to
render unto Cesar the things which are
II Caesars and unto God the things which
are Gods, and | can with truth affirm,
that never knew n man who became Il
mason, and whose practices conIormcd
to the prccepts it inculcates, who did not
/ become a better man than he had been
Heretofore.
i On the whole, belicving as do, that
no favorable result can be expected from
reasoning with men during the paroXisms
Of a feverish imagination, stimulated II
many instances, by the hope Of personal
advantage, cShort the Brethren to fol.
low the example of their fathers; like
them, regardless of the ISLANDERS and re.
vilngs of their enemies, to pursue the
steady tenor of their way; deviating nei-
thcr TO the right hand nor the left, bu