Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1843-11-16

pledge mutually to protect, support and assist
each other. Thus originated brotherhood that
for ages preserved the fickering light of science,
despite the principalties and powers of the earth
-'wSseh has had the honor of rescuing the
" Book OF the law from the devouriny flame
which has spoken peace to many troubled
breast,-hlied many "a hungry soul with bread
wiped the briny tear from many orphans
cheek-caused many a Widows heart to leap for
joy-direc,ed many benigh,ed wayfarer to a
place OF abiding rest-and whose light is destined
TO increase in splendor ill its lustre is merged in
the mllenn'e' glory of the Messiah's reign.--
Though upon The completion of the Temple
many OF the craftsmen dispersed through the ma
lions OF The EARTH yet il is TO the Grand Lodge at
Jerusalem that we to look for the most re-
markable incidents that illustrate the history of
order during several succeeding centuries-it
was there that Pious Ili!kiall and his council of
select masters, rescued the Book of the Law
from the hands Of the ilnpious Menassah, when
he sought to destroy every vestge OF the ancient
faith and TO blot out the very remembrance Of
the name OF God; and it was there that it was
reproduced amid songs of praise, under the aus
pices of better and happier reign. twas there
That alter years OF captivity and desolation Ter
nebahel assembled his royal arch companions to
raise the city from Its ruins, to restore the old
waste Places" and rebuild the House of the
Lord. Twas thence that John the Baptist our
hrsi christian patron, arrived TO proclaim in the
"i'uctiSSS Vi Juuea tie advent oil the - prince oil
peace twas here ''the disciple whom
Jesus loved" incucated the precepts of his Divine
Master aud a" In tones as sweet angels uSe''
eXpataied on the halowed theme.
How delightful TO dwell uponevents like these
which cast halo of glory around her early
history, and to linger over the details of the
story. How Pythagoras and his disciples seized
with avidity upon her principles and FASTENED TO
propagate them among the eager votaries of sci
ence-how her children kept alive the fire upon
her affairs, even when the sacrifices were mingled
with their own blood-how amid the barbarism
oil The middle ages, when the Eruption of savage
hordes had destroyed every vestigc of civilization
and refinement in Europe, when anarchy and des-
potlsm salked abroad throughout hefTwide eX-
panse-Freemasonry inspired the lay of the treu-
badour and couched the hero's lance till knight
hood became engrated upon her ancient institu-
lion, and chivalry borrowing from her its enno-
bling sentiments and lofty principles, arose 10
disPel the gloom that rested upon the nations.-
How the Roman hierarchy, trusting to the ieno-
rance and bigo,ry of the Laity for the perpetuily
OF her own corrupt sway-and consequently
dreading the light which Masonry promised to
shed around her, prosecuted her followers even
unto death-and how she flourished despite the
dungeon and the rack. How, when the ftendsh
rage OF that hierarchy instigaed that most detss-
table and cruel massacre that ever disgraced the
annals OF any natlon-even amid the horrors Of
the festival Of st. Bartholomew-the spirit of
iSciiaSohIy tIluI1pNln8 over WIG fandtIClSm,
saved many devoted victim from the DAGGER
and the cord. How she survived the flames rose
like the phoeSsss from her ashes, and exalted her
crest I'LL kings and rulers of the earth were de-
lighted to sit and learn wisdom at her feet; and
how she trapSplanted her glorious evergreen TO
our own shores, where it has taken deep root in
our propitlous soil, and offers its SPREADING
branches on every side for shelter and for shade
But am iofced to take leave of this branch of
my SUBJECT, not however until | have earnestly
commented 1t as subject of serious and attentive
study 10 all who aspire to the attanments of well
instructed craftsmen
That an order whose members were bound TO-
gether by solemn obligation to protect and as
Sist each other, and who were devoted TO the
practice OF universal charity, was an inappreca-
Bile blessing In times like those TO which have
adverted, is not denied by friend or foe But
there are those who, whilst they reluctantly dole
Out This tribute 10 the memory OF our ancient bre-
thren, fail not to couple with it the charge that
The advantages OF FTeemasonry have ceased with
emergencies like that which called it into exist
ence, and that nothing remains to us but system
OF useless II not pnneaning rites. TO this an
S"er' when man has ceased to prey upon his fell
low--when Truth and Justice fill the places of
ialsehood and corruption-when widows tears and
orphans groans ale things uninown-when care
and sorrow no longer demand the tear of sympa-
thy or the hand OF succor--in word, when crime
anu suffering cease, and charity and brotherly love
prevail throughout the worId-then, and not till
then, will Masonry have fulfilled her high com-
mission, and be ready to return her Charter 10 the
hands OF the Grand Master of the Universe.
lis true, L have claimed lofty eminence
among the benevolent institutions of the world,
ior our ancient iratenity-but to the worlds his
tory do appeal for continuation of the boast that
to christianity alone does she yield 10 the number
oil blessings conferred upon mankind. Do you
ask what she is doing now in the cause of Dbi-
ianthropyl Behold the Kingdoms of the old
world, studded with noble institutions, dedicated
10 universal benevolence and dispensing their
charities to countless thousands of the sons of
want. Look then TO our own land and behold i'm
every portion of our Union schools and colleges
sprlnglng up, the purpose of whose erection is the
education OF the needy and the orphan; and per-
init me to tell you, if for the first time you are TO
be informed of the fact, that in our own State
there Is large and increasing fund under the
control OF our Grand Lodge, the interest of which
Is annually appropriated to relieving the wants OF
Inc widows and orphans of Master Masons.-
would you learn more of the active benevoence
Oh our order, look not beseech you TO lists oil
eaheued donations, where rich men offer COLDER
tribute TO the shrine o! vanity and misca it cha
Tity. Go not where the careless worldlino dino.
'he lInPortuned boon TO some meagre siarveline
ana shrlnks from the pollution of his touch-no
YET "HeFe Tie ostertaIou5 plate shanes the vo
tary OF wealth and fashion into grudging NUM-
hcence-but In the wretched haunts of suualit
poverty, "where nought but misery paves TN,
way 10 ueath. in the house of mourning, whence
lUe hand OF death has snatched the husband anC
ia,her-in the damp cells Of the crowded city
Cells IN Which penury aud disease are exhibited
III 'heir most appalling forms, search for thu
eager, lhe untlrIng, the uhdaunted dispenser o
iood and raiment, for the man whose hand is bus,
OF the afflicted couch and whose eye is brimful o
l9e tear OF sympathy. He looks not for the niece
n