New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-12-28

tunes we believe that |, does now exist we know
and that win continue to exist to "the las, .yab
o. recorded time, we believe [Applsuse] And why
becsn,e truth Is powerful and will prevail .
In Mssnry however. az in religion. there
must be hih. abiding faith. The hallowed
fame Of pure devoSn Is no; kept brilliant BY sud Ten
eratc gusts but by the gentle steady tanning Of the
elements SO burns the FIRE where our vigils keep
and BY it, sacred light affairs are iIlumned It is
this kind OF faith which precludes the necessity Of
searching for ingenious devices which environ
Masonry. Masonry itself furnishes undenisble evi.
dence OF s reality. Il is coeva with the time when
darkness fed and light appeared at the fat Of the
Creator. The position is not unskillfuly maintained
that behind the veil of Isis concealed our Masonic
birth Both sacred and profane historians have desg
mated Egypt as the place whence it first sprang II
has also been advanced that the Tabernacle Of the t.
raelites in the wilderness presented the first signs Of
the Masonic order The Druids, or ancient Britons,
are also Represented as having been the orig
inators Of the order. Confused ard numberless
have been the opinions had in conjunction with
our beginning. do not assume for my own part any
precision as TO s exact origin but content myself with
the weil-known fact that in England in M the Or
der was established-"f from whence" says Mr.. Eel
lows, took wing and visited all parts of the civilized
world. What matters it whether we are TO attribute
our origin to the land Of Nod or the Garden Of Eden
What does that efect' We admit no antiquity as
standard Of merit. No ratherlet prize Masonry for
what it h and for what it does-or the excellence Of
lite materialsfor the wisdom and beauty displayed in
its erection and for the streams of mercy that have
gone out from it to supply the wants and alleviate the
dstrefses humankind. Applause Let extol ii as
it stands before the world n0p-the oldest well the
best of all purely human institutions
Passing on the speaker alluded to the universally
Of the language and benefcence Of the Masonic Order
rearking that beneath the torid the temperate and
the fgid zones lifted its voice and extended its help
to the suffering and needy noble deeds, he argued
were rightfuly claimed coexistent with the order
throughout the world He also spoke of some of the
iustrious names which they proudly claimed as be
longing TO their order Amid the ranks Of patriotism
Masonry pointed to Warren-her first Grand Master
Amid the walks of science, they pointed with honor to
him who stole the fiery lightning from the clouds and
were proud to enrol among her members the name of
Franklin. Inscribed high the arch Of honor, Ma
sonry also pointed TO her Clinton La Fayette and
Marshall, and Henry Clay and Washington were hon.
ored names Of the order And of the last name said
the speaker well has OF lresnds orators said No
people claim. country can appropriate the boon
ofProvidencc to the human race His name lie Eter-
nity-and his residence Creation"
After paying passing tribute the gentle aid and In
fuence of Woman the speaker closed his address with
an aposrophe to hs flag Of our country, follows:
81 would venerate it because II is free / would honor
it because is the unspotted harbnger and ensign of
the confederated Union, formed the indisructabe
foundation of truth, justice, mercy, wisdom and
strength I" IApplausel
After the ceremonies at the Institute a large COM
pany went up to the Metropolitan Hotel, where a
excellent dinner served to about hundred in the
splendid style for which the Messrs Leland are re-
nowned. The vands the oasts and the speeches were
of the first order and kept the company until the small
hours Of the morning