New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-12-28


OF their favorite themes by ingenious authors
The general belief among Masons however, 49,
that at the building of Solomon Temple Free
Masonry was first established as distinct Order
You are ali doubtless familiar Eithfhe peculsrtn
cidents attendant upon the construction OF tue Great
Temple. 1t was reared u1der the immediate super.
vision Of the Almighty. Day by day II advanced
IN beauty and grandeur ne sound q the grazing
tooor an shaune Ter vas heard for the stones
we're brought fashioned from the qaaFrte5 81 Le-
radatha After seven years of labor. the sunllgnt
cleaned from its Furnished dome and Spires
Three Grand Masters presided over the worz and
2 coo 0veraaars 10000 fellow crafts, and 10000
entered apprentices assisted With what teel
ings of pure bat grateful Satisfaction must rms
mighty multitude have assembled TO witness is9
dedication, when the Grand Master Solomon,
clothed in his sacred vastments blessed the PEG
pie, and stretching forth his hands 70 Heaven NJ
tered this supplication for mercy on his brethren
in their hour OF need, so beautiful and touching
from it's earnest simplicity" Hear thou in Hea-
ven, thv dwelling place, and when thou nearest,
forgive. What deep sense OF God presence
must have filed every bosom when tue fire cane
down from Heaven and the glory OF the LORD hued
the place How fervent Their emotions, as with
their faces bowed to the ground, they worshiLP3ed
and praised the God OF Israel, saying Inc
Lord, he is God, for his mercy endureth forever
This vas the first grand assemblage OF Masons
Up to this period we can trace with certainty Tue
existence Of our Order. Along the track OF nls-
tory, both sacred and profane, we have ghmpsee
of it's progress AS the foot prints IN the rock en-
able the Naturalist to determine the existence
and character of antideluvian animals, SO does
tract, a word, or symbol, in the historic records
which have come down TO as from antiquity, eX'
bihit Masonry. Although all this cannot be eX.
pained TO the Qninitated, it is clear and distinct
to the mind Of thu intelligent Mason.
The temple completed this great body OF
Operative Masons were dispersed. Tney travel,
ed into various lands, constructing temples and
palaces, and disseminating moral and intellectual
light This is neither the time nor place to enter
into an examination OF tie connection OF Masonry
with the Egyptian rites The remains OF bulid-
ings in Egypt at the presentday, prove that archl
lecture had in that land, reached at very early
age, high state OF pereC ton There is put iitIe
doubt that Egyptian architects assisted at the
building Of the Temple. From the similarity be-
tween some portions of their ceremonlals and doe
trines, it is probable that Masonry borrowed some
what from the Egyptian Mysteries, but that they
were identical with each other, we have no proof
and but little reason for belief. Immediately sub
seauent to the completion Of the temple sect
existed in Judea called Essences which was un'
questionaby Masonic.
Ii would be tedious and Improbable to follow
Masonry in her course through the world, to the
present time She nourished especially during
the middle ages, under the protection OF the Je-
suits, throughout Europe-and again declined,
when cast off and mathematical by the Ropes,
as opposed to their tyranny and superstition
She found q resting place in Great Britain INTO
which she was introduced, From England Ma
sonry was given back to the Continental King
doms probably by the adherents OF James Il3
who, on the abdication OF that monarch, took rel
uge with him in France. In spite OF persecution
she has continued to flourish there, and has mum
1,..r tl,l
and the best Prince and subject serve at the
same altar
In the year 1870, Lodges were created ia ditfe
rent points of America and provincial charters
granted by the Grand Lodge Of England, SUCH
is the origin of our own Grand Lodge We orr,
ginally held a charter from the Grand Lodge oil
England, and worked under the same, unit! on
the Declaration of our independence as a coun
try, she also assumed an independent position III
the Masonic world, as the Grand lodge Of the
State Of New-Yolk. Her course has been most
prosperous one, though at times Distracted by
opposition and persecution AIOmpklns, Lewis,
and host OF worthless, admired aud respected
by the world for their virtues and talents nave,
at various periods, occupied distinguished posi-.
tons among They lived and died, firm and
consistent MasoHs
= But let us turn to a subject of far more inter
est, to such audience, as | have before me
OF far greater Importance to us, Masons-a
Mbs fhgsc s Tei ma ne h A5 h 6o
walls of a Lodge the inquriog spirit nnds meet
companions There dwells in degree, that
unity of spirit, which, in a perfect state, IS only
found in the heavenly Temple. The seeker alter
truth enters our portals. He may come, Iretted
by worldly disappointment, bowed down by ms
fortune oppressed by care. He may feel solitary
amid the crowds which shroag the thoroughtare.
He listens TO the words OF kindness and truth,
which meet him at every step chord IS
touched-s trange-that chord has been sounding
ever since his birth yet he has not heard It, The
discordB OF the world have overpowered H. But
he hears it. noW-and as IL thrills through MS
frame, he begins to feel how good and pleasant
thing it is for brethren to dwell together IN
Unity. lie discovers that Friendship 10 some.
thing more than name--that deep within the
recesses OF the heart, lie emotions which ealy
need to be warmed into life by contact With
kindred spirits. He realizes the true nobility oil
his nature The intellectual and moral functions
are brought into healthfll action. AS an indIyld-
ual, be is conscious that & change has come over
bis spiritual nature. The genius OF Masonry has
touched with her W and his stony heart, and the
living waters have gushed forth, making his bar
rem wilderness blossom as the rose. de no long
err walks solitary amid the multitude Fer 10
such countenance he sees a something winch
draws HIM, SIS by a magnetic influence, 20 Itself.
He looks upon all as brethren and is bound 20 Gil
by the strong ties OF brotherhood. His anruIy
passions are subdued, and the genter emotions
reused into activity and lltc
AS the colors of the spectrum, though Of varied
brancy and intensity, when blended, produce
clear, unsulled white, the feelings OF the heart
though OF varied depth and power, are united and
har1nonized by the medium OF Masonry, and
brotherly kindness and charity are the character
istics developed brotherly love and charity, the
cardinal principles OF Masonry.
How endearing the title of Friend what
charm in the very name OF Friendship. How the
mind turns at once to the domestic circle for It IS
here that Friendship is seen IN its beauty and
intensity. The wifes devotion has ever been the
theme Of poets song and minstres strain, and
flial love has been promised blessing in its full
flIment. Desoate indeed must be that heart
which cannot look back TO the early quiet Joys OF
home o, the remembrance Of mothers love
hath often come back TO the lone wanderer, like
long.foTgotten strain, to cheer him IN his lonell,