Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1851-10-07
opp-FI.lLoay snlI,--An l.lasn.,,r r..t,ae..

~ s., - r ~
Grand Sire Robert A. Griffin, e Georgia
on retiring from Office, delivered lis valodic,
/ tory before tue Grand Lodge Of the United
States. The following glowing extracts from
/ il viii be read with interest
One generation ago a prophet eye might
/ have pierced the dark and hcary folds Of the
curtain which separated the pioneers Of the
& Order from tie days in which we live: hut
prophet Voice revealing in the glow If III
spiration, the unaffected history b. that inter-
vening time, would have fallen upon inocking
ears From the pinnacle on which we stand.
the retrcating shadows Of the events which
prophecy would have predicted, are diuly
Visible, The bubbling spring has expanded
into the rushing river Ibe pigny company
has saolca into the giant army. The bend
ing sappling has foufisbcd iu.o the anchored
oak. The rough foundation stone proudly
bears up the towering marble The humble
fundamentally Of man has been used, my
Iroihers, to bring results upon which You
COX with such admitting affection. But it
becomes us always, and more especially on
these occasions Of solemn re union, to lay the
tribute Of our feivent gratitude at tie foot Of
that throne, whose Almighty occupant has
noufisbed our weakness into sfreBcth. ard
Suffered US, from such small beginnings to
increase iato so great a community And
with cur thank offerings let us send up to~ur
great aud coed father, our earnest petitions,
gushing warm from the heart. that his pro-
tpctiug arm may never be Withdrawn. but
IN bis all wise councils it may be ordained,
that our beloved Order shall 60 on, from good
work to good work, prospecting and to pros
per.
Il cannot take leave Of you without few
words of fraternal counsel. Tine times in
which we act are times Of restless motion
Tie age to which we belong is The transition
age. The foundations Of society are heayine
upward Science is reopling the earth Will,
new creations. Art is disntcrring her old
renown. Gum antiquity IS giving up its bu.
fied lore. he fair features of the youthful
present arc wriukling with struggles to bring
back all the conqncsts Of the ancient past
The ID law Of progress has been re- enacted
and is sweeping The world. The glorious
eoatagicn yon, yourselves, have caught my
hrothers. Your honorable ambition stilnu-
latcs you to advance further and Yet further
the standard Of our Order God speed you
III the good work. But. / bcscech you,
make haste slowly Make your fires glow
With seven inld heat, and submit all proifered
geld' to he fierce trial &C the crucibie Re
i.tmbcr IN yoiir heart Of hearts, that all
Changes arc not reforms and that all move +.
meut isnot progress. Chain Down with ada
mant that portion Of your legacy Which has
passed tie ordeal Scatfcr 10 the winds
whatever your judgment. deliberately, yes.
even painfully matured shallreport % you As
worthless Rut, in sll coming tine, guard
web those great features OF our time conse-
Grated institution, which have preserved thcir
beauty and integrity. through all mutations
Of circumstance aud misfortune. And, as the
parting admonition Of one whose counsels de-
tiyc Importance, chiefly, from the position
which YOU have assigned to their author. but
III the solemn language Of the inspired king,
| charge you---remove not the ancient land
marks which your fathers have set ="