American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-09-21


the spirit has fled, with its own hands lays ''the
coffinod clay" in the tomb which it has prepar-
ed. Nor does it stop here. 1t returns from the
homes of the dead, to the abodes Of the living
lit throws its protecting arms around the
stricken widow, cheers wi h its sympathizing
friendship, the gloom Of the dosolate hearth
stone-takes the orphan under its protection,
and thus becomes husband TO the WidOW-to
the fatherless a father.
These are its positive duties to its own house
hold-but these are not the perfection Of the
systematic sum ofits principles. "The great
test of these is Charity Charity!
Not that spurious principle, so often manifest
ed in the selfish pursuits Of The world, that
judges Of human sorrow, as it does of the huc-
tuations Of the stock market, and measures
sympathy by scale Of inches;-but prnc-
pie instinct with the holy warnings, which
looks upon man as a brother in all the grada-
tons of society. A principle that is drawn to-
wards the beggar Lazarus upon the dunghilI,
with the same fraternal regard it feels for the
monarch upon the throne. lnits view, virtue
though in rags, is more noble than vice clothed
i'll purple and fine linen, with the proud blood
OF centuries throbbing i'll its veins. Plying
weakness and delighting to alleviate suffering
and wo, it brings together under the ample
folds oil its heaven-woVen mantle, the bowed
down and distressed of every country, chine
and kindred of earth, and enstamping upon
each-upon all, the sacred name of Brother,
sends them forth inturn upon the great mission
of human moderation.
Such, in a few words, is the character Of
the institution, and such the principles which
will hallow this Hall. But for one moment,
look over the world and see the theatre upon
which these principles are TO be developed. To
whatever point you turn your view, changes
the horizon never SO often, one melancholy pic
tuTe of human Indebtedness is presented
Fraud ravages under the mask of friendship.
Dupliclty and deceit assume the garb Of frank
ness and candor. InoTdnata selfishness riots
in Its il-gotten gains, and in many instances,
sincerity and truth, seem, by agreement, to
have been banished from society. The ShyLock
still walks upon change, demanding his pound
of tlesh-noT is the IagO wanting to poison the
fountains of domestic peace, with the baneful
Oscillations of his sIanderous tongue. Squalid
poverty Observation-Disclosures and thousands
suffering with want, that the crumbs from the
rich mans table would relieve, and vet starv-
ing unptied. Sickness with no watchers by
its couch to smooth its pillow, or wipe the
damps of death from its ievered brow-the
grave, and no friends, but parish menials to do
the rites of sepulture--the widowed mother,
like Hdgdr in the wilderness, doomed 10 listen
TO the dying groans, and look upon the closing
eyes of a loved child, with no sympathizing
heart near, no friendly hand extended to re-
lieve. The orphan reared in ignorance, the
noble faculties of the mind lying uscultiVated
and waste, while the passions are all alive tc
evil, and ripenng its fruit, to add to the dark
catalogue of human guilt, which has converted
this beautiful earth into Il Lazar house for all
manner of disease vast .4ccetaama of crime
from which groans and strife and tears are con-
tinualy going up to God. 1t is upon this thea
ire that our Order is TO act 1t is amid scenes
like these, that it is TO develope its capabilities
for good, in arresting the tide of social and
physical evil, and gathering into one, The Uas
brolherhoo'S Of Earth, ''as children round the
loved hearth stone"
To the performance of this work, it brings a
power and an energy unknown to any other
mere human organization. 1t prcscrbes no re-
ligous, no political tests--t draws its practical
lessons from both Recitation and Philosophy, and
furnishes common name, under which may
be gathered all the divisions of the religious
and political world in the practice of those du.
ties, which all admit to be right and proper
however much they may differ as to the source
of their authority. The solemn ceremonies
with which these duties are taught, acquire i'm.
pressiVeness from the fact that they are hidden
from the obtrusive gaze of the world, while the
expressive signs and symbols furnish a language
that gives univorsality to the organization, il
its aptativeness 20 the condition and wants O
mankind. Take in connection with these, thai
striking feature of the lnstitution-Irs UNITY
and you have before you one of the most pow.
erful organizations for the accomplishment o.
good, that the world has ever known.
living, active body, composed Of many
members, united by an al-pervading and mys
ferrous chain ofsympathy. Unity is essential
to the prosecution and perpetulty of all under.
takings, but it can alone exist in power and ef.
fcency, where the natural and eternal affini-
ties of Truth AMI Justice are preserved. This
proposition is clearly evidenced, in the history
of both nations and societies.
Ancient Rome boosted her national unit,
when the proud wings of her Imperial bird
overshadoWed the PROSTATE nations subdued bv
her iron legions, but the bond of union with
those oppressed and conquered people, was q
sense Of weakness and dread of her power
The hour arrived when the adhesive influence
OF fear no longer held together the mighty En-
pire, and the purple-crowned mistress of the
world, was cast down in the midst of her glori.
Gus monument, and expired before the "red
arms" oflhe very barbarians who once trembled
at her colossal power, and bowed with humility
al the name of her Caesars.
Modern Rome, with her thousand invisible
agencies operating upon the conscience and the
fears of men, boasts her unity-but it is NOR.
al vassalage, destitute of the truth and justice
which are the essential ligaments that bind man
to man; and it must disappear before the light
of intelligence, and be remembered among the
things that are past-already is it shaken to its
foundation, and topping to its fall. The re.
script that once shook the world-that laid
whole kingdoms under interdict-that broke
The spirit of the haughtiest monarchs, and
brought an AFFECT people in tame submission t.
the feet OF d sngle man, claiming TO be Gods