Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1839-01-24

and without speedy arrest. the inevita-
Die consequence must b that ~ essoes
avoid the shoals upon which seeka1s 49,
fore Us have WRECKED. Heocs ths oasiity
OF sssocieiioos such - sbss. To unite
the rich and poor. the Intelligent and ig-
norant. in the pursuit OF virtue, impress
iog upon them principles which are CAL
culsted To strengthen. concentrate. and
prepare their minds TO prose the gre al
objects which nature has endowed them
With sbility to perform. Brethren. IL is
con sols,ory TO indulge the hope that when
the fame OF earth shall have vanished in
its own emptiness; when she golden orb
Of day shall cease 10 illuminate the east.
ern horizon, but shall have told its last
round; when the sable curtain OF dark
ness shall conceal iis face forever; when
the things OF time. by the hand Of Om-
impotence will be hurried back TO nonen-
tity. and the clock Of eternity shall tell
the hour Of one; whom faic's capricious
whiriwinds shsi. be hushed forever by the
sound OF Immortality; then shall those
virtues we prornulsaie stand in bright
array before the eternal throne. divcsted
Of the poliuiing Influence Of corrupt.
trsnsi;ory things. shining in their primeval
parity, and exhibiting . striking contrast
10 the sapphire courts Of Heaven. com.
mencing an etern al existence which shall
not end while the pillars Of Gods edi6cs
shall endure. Aud Clansmen. if We
cherish those virtues. and add II them the
pure. unadul,srate1. and Undecided Teli-
gion OF the Son OF God. we shall leave
our terrestrial lodge below, in whica No
have had Co encounter sorrows. strifcs.
and difficulties Of every character attend
ant upon sublinary things. aud an abund-
ant entrance will be administered unto Us
into that celestial lodge. where We shall
eat the smbrosial fruit fresh from the
garden OF paradise. and drink Of the
never falling stream OF eternal life.
| Brethren. il is my sincere hope that.
when in accordance vii,' the laws Of
mortality. I shall be called to lay down
this tenement Of clay. shall be enabled
10 recur to my connection with you as
society, and End that you have not pros.
tiiuted. but sustained. fos.ered, and prac-
tised that virtue which adorns the human
soul. and 10 written In indeliSle characters
upon things infinite. What are the SEN
sud Ell joy nen,s Of this world' Alciphron.
the Epicurean philosopher. has most
clearly delineated their instability, in
the following language:
! have been the presiding genius Of
volnpiuous scene. Both my ambition
and my love OF pleasure have drank deep
Of the cup for which :hcy :hir,tcd.
Looked up to by the learned, aud loved
by the beautiful and young. have seen
IN every eye either the Acknowledgements
OF 'riumphs already Won. or the promise of
others still brighter. that awaited me.
Yet IN the midst OF all these, dark
thought. have presented themselves.
Tho peTishsbleness OF myself ADD all
around ne recur TO my mind those hands
| have pressed. those eyes in which
have seen sparkling spirit of life and
light that should never die; those voices
that have talked Of eternal love, oil. all
! felt were but the mockery Of a moment,
and will leave nothing eternal but the
silence o. their dust But Brethren,
although the things Of earth must fade
away. and mans existence terminate. it
does not de,ract from this truth, that man
was created for q great and noble purpose.
And whether he prostitutes the objects OF
that Creation or not. he is no less account
able. lie is accountable 10 God for his mo-
raj department; he is accountable 10 his
country fos any infrsction Of her lave. and
TO the community " which he resides for
the correct Performance Of oil trusts COM
miiied TO him. Hence. you clearly per-
Iceiyo that example 10 one Of the frat re-
qairemen:s made Of US by our fellow men;
aud as We profess 10 be the Disciples Of
virtue. let all our acts be 10 accordance
there with, that our example may serve as
Q regsncra'ing Influence npon the minds
OF youth, which shall DO characierized oy
The suppression Of vice. and an incitemen,
OF their daxning intellecis TO the pursuit.
OF those benevolent operations which are
attended with the diffusion OF happiness
through the community generally. Le;
The rudiments OF Intellectual educ alton be
early impressed upon the faculties of
their minds. that their impressions may
be strong and lasting that The flowers OF
literature may bloom in rich exuberance
upon the ihorny maze Of ignorance, per-
feeting that high mea,al cultivation OBJ
tanned only by close application, aud the
studious pursuit OF the refined principles
Of virtue. Then, add then only, shall we
as a society. have performed the purposes
for which it was instituted. Then leave
ell minor considerations. and apply your.
selves diligently 10 the promotion Of the
Interests Of the clan Of Independ ut Mae
lvors, that IL may expand and be trans
miiied unimpsired to posierity. rich in a
sense Of iis utility and worth. and robed
IN the garb Of purity. Though fortune
shall not gid. or power ennoble Us ~ its
members. we shalt be rich in tho love and
titled by the blessings Of our country. and
ouT labors receive the reward Of public
gratitude. And remember. amid the i'm.
Pedimenis With ~hich corruption will
oppose. and the detection wiih which dis
appointments may depress. you are &C.
CURING name TO be cherished by the
future generations Of earth. long after il
hss been enrolled among the ishe.ilors
Of heaven.