Arkansas true Democrat., 1857-10-13
AM ADDR ESS
|cz;ryrel 24M of June, 1857, ct the Masoni
 re1sJration, ia Chicut County A,kansas, ty
HENRY HAYS, ESQ.
:. cp>,r, rNFx AND BRETHREN:

AprEs GENTLEMEN, AND BRETHREN:
 This is joyous and hopeful day! We of
 ,o brotherhood of Free and Accepted Masons,
 rbo have come together in the observance of 1 t;me bonored custom, in the spirit of grate- <,l remembrance, fraternal feeling, and mutual N selfare to celebrate this glorious anniversary, Il ave great reason to be thankful in the per 1ormance of this pleasant duty!
 Heaven has kindly favored us with good |, ,oolth. clear sky and geneial weather; and [pr an occasion like the present, to be thus L,rooted by the approval, the sympathies, the F;los ond courteses of so large, so respecta- SJo and intelligent an assemblage of our tel- .,,, c:tizeps. furnishes a cause for sef-congra- II .,a.;on if s cheering indeed-it is to us day &f oxceeding great joy!
 F yrhon we have this accumulated evidence 1, ;s rleasinq assurance that those among men, T o arc eminent for their brotherly love, their
 Drtitude, their prudence, their temperance, their stice will enjoy the esteem of the wise and good while living, and ever be held in fond re- rolIection after death should we not all hope, 1v the performance of like good acts, and the Cultivation of these Masonic virtues, that we |foo may be thus distinguished and cherished Bv our fellow men? that we, too, may leave Examples worthy to be followed, and have our kames treasured up in the archieves of an af- fectOnate posterity?
 Is it rot to us all then an exceedingly joy { pus and hopeful day?
 It is natural for mankind to pay honor to he life and memory of those who have been
 bsspicuous in the worlds history--to great
 atesmen, 10 great generals, to great benefac- &brs-and it is right and proper, at stated peri Els. by public assembly, suitable ceremony ' &1d appropriate festivity, to express our admi- tAtior of virtuous and exalted life, hold in per 8etual remembrance heroic deeds, and to trans zbit to future generations bright examples.
 LIn thus doing homage to the great and good Se derive to ourselves incalculable benefit Ne become elevated in feeling, in sentiment,
 IN rurpose. and in action. We are fired with ' cir laudable ambition; we are inspired with
 cir inspirations; we partake of their zeal in
 Nod works. become co-laborers with them in eat achievements. and emulous of their im-
 ortality and renown.
 &1 Under the dispensation of Divine Providence ne life of man on earth is too short, his endow- Rents. both of body and mind, are too various, he circumstances, with which he may be sur Bundled and bearing upon him, are too mani Ild. for all to hope to excel in every vocation, & for all the hope to excel in any one vocation; < Tt. while it is given unto some to become 5hinent and distinguished in some pursuits, it \ given unto every man, by proper course of &e, by a proper use of the means placed in his 1bwer, even though it be but one talent, to at Sin unto great perfection, to accomplish great Il od and, when he shall be called to another 1 Rte of existence to leave name imperislable shind him.
 "The lives of great men all remind us, We may make our lives sublime, And departing leave behind us,
 Footprints on the sands of time"
 The life and character of him, to commem- late whose birth we have this day assembled
 las philanthropst as benevolent, charita- ,le just and devout man, as a lover of all that 3 good and a hater of all that is evil, as an postle of Jesus Christ, as the individual who ,erformed baptismal ceremony upon the Prince fl Peace-are known to you all; and his name nd his fame will endure foreyemOre. There vas, however, another character in which St. |ohn the Baptist was no less distinguished than n that of Christian. It is in such character that li life and memory are peculiarly dear to us; in lonor of which we have cherished his name lnd chaunted his praise for eighteen hundred 1earS; and which causes the sweet incense of 'rotherly love to ascend to him to-day from the learts of millions of the brethren of the mys- ic tie. He was the faithful friend, the earnest ul porter, the jealous defender, the exemplary 'rother, the eminent patron of the ancient fra ernity of Free Masonry.
 It may be truly said of our distinguished 'rother that in his earthly career, he never ired of doing good-he never faltered in, or lighted his work-he was bold, diligent, and teadfast unto the end-and we may we'll be- ieve that he is now in the full frution of that ternal refreshment, which is the reward of a yell spent life. And when we shall be called rom our earthly labors-when the :" silver cord hall be loosed and the golden bowl shall be 'ro ken"-let us hope to join him in the celes- lal lodge above, there to praise forevermore he Supreme Architect of all!
 The desire of happiness is universal and he attainment of it, in some form or other, has 'een the all absorbing theme, the constant ob- ect of pursuit among mankind throughout all ges-lt IS the philosophers stone, the disco 'efy of which has puzzled the ingenuity and hwarted the efforts of man from the beginning. Nhlle wealth knowledge, honor, power and >ieaSure have had their jealous but disappoint- d votaries; the philanthropst has more wisely lnd successfully employed his lime, in essaying Q sweeten the bitter cup of diversity, ivy ex- ending the blessings of friendship and univer 'a charity. Among the means employed for ;hs purpose, the institution of Free Masonry s justly entitled to distinguished rank, and has ever been held in high estimation bv the visest and best men of the earth
 The origin of Free Masonry is very ancient; m while we are unable to determine the pre- ,ise time and occasion of its establishment. we lave every reason to believe, as brother Bartlet las well said, that its principles and influences nave existed from the earliest ages, continued n different nations, and been diffused in de. .ree, proportionate to the rise and progress of earning, arts, freedom and religion that the Beneficial effects of its doctrines and precepts 1aVe not been wrapt up in the veil of secrecy, or we might look back to the times of the pa- riarches and prophets, and find the names of hose who were justly venerated for their wis lom, prudence and liberality; and in every yeneration from the days of Solomon to the oresent period, we might trace the virtue, be- 1er violence and patriotism of those who have henuously advocated the interests of this an- aent fraternity"
 William Preston, esq, master of the lodge # Antiquity in London, was of the opinion that, Masonry commenced with the creation He 4s beautifully said, that, lever since symme- 9 began, and harmony displayed her charms, |nr order has had a being;;" and numerous are he evidences and traditions going to substan- iate his opinion.
 By other accounts the antiquity of Masonry s carried up nc further than the building of Solomou's temple. Whether or net Masonry vas first organized as a society, with it's pre- ent regulations at that period, the building of he temple was certainly a very important 'poch in its history. And it may be well for IS on the present occasion to advert to some # the most important facts connected with hat gigantic undertaking.
 Josephus in his history of the antiquity of he Jews, mentions letter from King Solo, non to King Hiram, in relation to that event, n which he says ~ "I give thanks Q God for the peace I at present enjoy, and m that account, l am at leisure and design 0 buN a house to God; for God foretod to ny fathers that such house should be built ,y me." In the prosecution of this loble design, we are told, in the fifth chan er of the First Book of Kings, that, Hiram King of Tyre, sent his servants unto Solomop;