Alabama state intelligencer., 1831-06-11
ADDRESS

LOdge of the State of ALabamd, on the occasion of | Laying the Corner Stone of the Masonic Hait in
 TAscaloosa, on Monday he 1lh of April, A. D.
 1881, and in the year qf Masonry 583l. By Bro
 her ALBERT A. MULLER, Rector cf Christ
 Church, Tuscaloosa.
 | FELLOW CITIZENS: The memorials of departed greatness-the monuments of ancient nations, and the faithful records of departed science are marked by those lndelble characters of skill and perfection which once rendered them the glory and beauty o forgotten generations. Over the plains of fallen Egypt, the lofty pyramid still towers in grace and majesty; at Rome, the declining sun still throws his heightened rays the walls of tle colosseum, and beneath the fortress of the ancient Sion, fragments of the sacred temple yet remain among the tonbs oi
 the prophets The works of art still flourish beside
 those of nature; and for the energies of genius and
 the labor of resedrch there is left the bright soace of that poshumous celebrity which perpetuates the memory and achievements of man. It is thus, that in founding the halls of philosophy rearing the siate ly edfces of Legislative wisdom and in consecrating the temples of religious deyoiion the wise, the pa t0tic, and the piJus transmit to distant generations their disnerested munifcence, and render immortal the abors and inventions of genius and ofart.
 Those national solennltles which commemorated
 the virtues, and distinguished the ages of Greece and Rome were hailed with the highest demonstrations of rejoicing and veneration The inauguration of the enlightened and patriotic counsel, the investture ofjudical authority, the emancipation from seryile wrongs and outrageous oppression, the consecrated period of civil liberty, and the dedication of public temples 10 the gods, were marked by the proudest triumphs and the most ardent devotion.
 It cannot be expected my friends that on an occa- sion like the present. should fatigue your minds by exacng the tribute of your patience and courtesy. In an elaborate disquison the subject which has brought us togetler. that should enter into mi
 mute delneaton of the character and objects which distinguish the institution of Free Masonry.
 am aware that in this age of restless innovation | and amidst inc ut dnctrua of ed reform, that Masonry like most other benevolent institutions, has received the full amount of that 0b | loquy and misrepresentation with which prejudice and political anatcism Lave attempted to tarnish it's | reputation. and diminish it's usefulness. Without adverting to the unhappy origin of those charges which have been made on the institution of the mys tic order, or exposing the weak and faacious agu mcnts of it's adversaries, allow say in behalf of | the society of which am member that the com pact in which free and accepted Masons are bound | engages them in system ofcunnng artice or se- cret fraud to deceive the world by an affected sem bance of imaginary virtues Its objects are fearless | ly and openly declared to the world. They are re- | hec,ed in that light which every where surrounds the craft. They and felt in the labors the industry ard perseverance of every faithful and vir- tuous member of the brotherhood. and the eye of cu | riosity may read upon the banners of tie Order | "LOve to God. and benevoence 10 man." In virtue of such declaration, it proesses to incucate | firm and perpetuate the moral obligations and rela- tive duties which unite mankind in the bonds of so- cal order and virtue. It enjoins most powerfully the highest vrneration towards God and the most ardent affection for his creatures As the handmad l of religion, it embraces that Faith which is the strength and foundation of all vrtue-rejoces in that | Hope which springs from the labors of piety, and pours forth abundance of that Charity which com passionates the wretched and relieves the distressed l Besides its merlorious and disnterested exerions for the relief of the indgent and endless-it car firth mild nd If intercourse, to distant natons and bears in te consecrated chace of it's pledges the unctious spirit and healing qualities of that desirable peace which is the offspring of the Creators love. Such is the character, and such the favored and distinguishing offices of the masonic fraternity.
 l Among those objections which have been s,renu- ousy urged against our ancient association, and pro- pagaed with no little industry-that which appears most conspicuous Is Tn relation to it's Secrecy This is the great Shibboeth which is every where to be found in the mouths of iis adversaries. This is the great stumbling block which impedes it's progress to perfection, and the mmoveabe rock of offence which flinders 1t from rising to honor, distinction and use funess Let us look little into the nature of this objection, and by faithful analogy with other sub Jects see whether 1t can be sustained by any prnci pie of reason or justice.
 The most simple operations of the natural sciences are those which are least understood in the pheno- mena of the material world; and yet from their nice adaptation to the purposes of active e they ad mlred as finished specimens of the Creators skill, and readily applied to the abors and services of man. All nature is in fact secret and though the of its various operations he hidden yet its perfection is perceived its success acknowledged and its bounties | received Who amidst this ample provision would refuse its choisest gifts because the of its nlfcence excluded from his research7 Who under the sharpness and orments of hunger, would, like Damoces shrink from feast of luxury because the process which produced the fruit was secluded ia VIay nraan tHlf, nh fn on account of the privacy of its symbols, and refuse its benefits because they cannot penetrate to the sources of its benevoence, for consstency's sake ought equally to object to the mysteries of that ture by which they are governed, and in like manner | refuse the support ofis bounty and provision. | Again: we are often obliged to listen to such ob- lections when urged by those who the disciples and followers of the christian religion. It is against tie mysteries of Masonry that their anahemas are illuminated. It Is against the influence of those cret machinatons which are planned behind the tans of the institution and matured in the chambers of the consecrated Lodge, that their denunciatons are hurled It is impossible for them to tolerate that shew of fbenevolence, charity, and good will which is conjured up in the dak and midnight incantaons of mysterious fraternity And what shall we say to such in relation to the mysteries and hidden per fectOns of that divine religion which they profess The christian mysteries are unquesOnably tie most sublime that can be imagined. Are not the origin of evil the fall of man. the incarnation of the Son of God. and his redemption of the world by the doctrine of an atonement, mysteries which no human genius can penetrate, or operations of science un- fold And yet. who would on this account refuse the benevolent doctrines ofthe Gospel? Who would reject its gracious and encouraging truths, refuse
 its benefits and blessings because they were in g- norance as to the oiigin and influences of it's secret designs St. Paul, the learned and devoted apostle of christianity, who so largely shared in the cemen cy and efficacy of its doctrines, declared in relation to the ahstruse and unfathomable nature of its de-