Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1851-09-25
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
EXTRACT.

On Monday week. Grand Sire Robert A. Griffin
Of Georgia. on retiring from office delivered his vai
edietoryl before the Grand Lodge of the United
Stats The following glowing extracts from twill
b. read with interest:
tf0ne generation ago prophets eye might
have piarced the dark and heavy folds of the
curtain which separated the pioneers Of the
Order from the days in which we live but
prophets voice revealing, in the glow Of in
spiratien, Tho unaffected history ofthat inter
| Yening time, would have fallen upon hooking
ears. From the pinnacles on which we
stnpd, the retreating shadows Of the events
which prophecy would have predicted are
dinliy visible The, bubbling spring has OK
pandea int the rushing river, The pigmy
company has swollen into the giant army
The bending saplipg has fourished into the
anchored oak. The rough foundation stone
proally bears up the towering marble The
humble isstrumentality ofman has been used
my brothers, to bring results upon which you
lock with such admiring affection But IL
becomes Us always, and more especially on
these occasions Of solemn reunion, to lay the
tribute of our fervent gratitude at the foet Of
that throne, whose Almighty occupant has
nouFishsd cur weakness into strength, and
suffered US from such small beginnings to in
crease int SO great community. And with
our thank offerings lei us send up to our
great and good father our earnest petitions,
gushing warm from the heart, that his pro.
tecting arm may never be Withdrawn, but
that ID his alLwise councils it may be ordain-
ID, that our beloved Order shall 90 on, from
good work to good work, prosperipg and to
prosper u.
4. cannot take leave Of you without few
words Of fraternal counsel The times ID
which ne act are times Of restless motion
The aget to which we belong is the transition
age The foundations Of society are heaying
upward Science is peopling tie earth with
interpretations. Art is disinterring her cid
renown: Grim antiquity is giving up It's bu-
ried lore The fair features Of the youthful
present are Wrinkling with struggles to bring
back Al the conquests Of the ancient past
The ola laW ofprogress has been re-enacted,
and i sweeping the world. The glorious
eontagien Jon, yourselves, have caught. nv
brothers Your honorable ambition sfimu-
lates you to advance, further and ret further,
the standard Of our Order God speed yeu
ID the good work But, beseech YOU
make hhste slowly Make yeur fires glow
with seven. fsld heat, and submit al proffoTed
gold II the fierce trial Of the oruci6Ie. Be.
insmbsr n your heart Of hearts, thai ali
changes kre not reforms, and that al move
nent Il MT progress. Chain down E;;sn IA
annant Cat portion Of yonr legacy which has
passed slie ordeal Scatter 70 he winds
whatever Jour judgment, deliberately, YES.
even pnfpfally, matufed, shall repors 70 va
As ueEEhtsss But, In 81 eomingiime, guard
well tkpss great features Of cur time conse-
Grated nse:sation. which have preserved their
beaus7 zla integrity, through I'll mutations
. Il circumstances and fortune And, a. the
parting edmenitioa Of one, whose eOnnsels
derive - nertanoe. chiefly, from the position
which yeu have assigned 10 their author, but
/ ia the solamn language of the inspired king,
I charge Ypu- remove not the ancient land
marks which yenr fathers haTs set e