Weekly Trinity journal., 1857-07-04

mark our course. At times when the spirit of a
good brother has winged its flight to the skies,
and mufflcd drum beats the march of his nani-
mate corpse to the damp and cheerless tomb, his
late Masonic associates, panoplied in gorgeous
regalia, o1iciate with mourniul pomp at his OBJ
sequieS. Is this osten tation-to pay last sad trb
ute of respect, to the memory of one who has re-
quested it There is no denomination of chris
1ians in the world who have not funeral service
or who do not perform some ceremony OH funeral
occasions. With us tits an ancient usage and
we deem the custom as appropriate as it is beau
tlful Again, we have days of bright memory.
and celebrate with joyful display recurring ami
versarcs We do not deem it ostcntatious TO
bury good man with becoming demonstrations
OF respect; nor do we hold it criminal on occa-
sions like the present to honor The precursor of
the Saviour of mankind, whose virtues as well as
good agency in the caase of Masonry we love to
commemorate. All this does not interfere with
that sweet and noislcss charity which is ever de-
vcioping Itself MS the perennial stream OF the val
ley. Disease attacks and prostratcs one of our
number Nis home is cherries, and needy
family pine for bread. Many here have wondered
that strange but attentive men hover around his
sick couch. administering to every want; many may
marvel that his humble pantry is stored with ex-
cellent food, for that destitute wife and helpless
children and when the husband and father is
sleeping his last sleep beneath the unyielding
sod, that pale and feeble wife is yet engirt with
friends and comforts, and those little ones are
caughtup by some unseen, imperceptable agency,
and provided with the means of support and edu-
cation. until they enabled alone 10 battle with
cold, unieeling world.
This is Masonry, grand and pure, joyfully
sporting in its sublimest attributes. Ii is the
spirit Of noble, yet unostentatious benevolence
dflusing in secret, and silence smile upon the
chcerless healing balm unto the broken heart,
and the Tread of plenty TO the poor aud helpless.
lofty panegyric you will say have passed
upon the Order of which | claim to be ouly an
humble member. And yet, my friends assure
you that have not Overdrawn the picture. /
have not drawn on my Imagination for my facts,
nor have attempted display in painting fairy
scene The whole truth is that the infinite wis
dom aud goodness of God never devised an insti-
tuition more compatible with the wants and in
terests of the human family. have attempted
to show you its origin, and to show you that the
grand mission OF Masonry was to do good unto all
men. but my time would not allow me TO unfold
all its merits, nor human credulity indulge me in
setting forth all its benefits to the fallen race OF
man.
A few words to the bre thren and | shall have
done. ! have thus far omitted the crownng stone
of Masonry, without which our temple would be
incomplete-our acts and pretentions vanish into
air. Virtue is the body, the substance of Masonry
There is no Masonry without virtue /; virtue in
the individual and virtue in the Masonic masses
1t would be too frivolous, my brethren, for MS tC
contend that there are no bad men in an Order
frivolous in others to argue from thence that il
detracts from the merits we claim for our noble
institution. Our professions are of virtue and i
Masons are but true to themselves, none but thos,
of YirtuOus antecedents will ever Chamber within
sacred enyirous Masonry demands purity o
heart above and beyond all else Its great foun
der the sweet and hallowed songster Of Israel
the munifcent architect of Gods ancient temple
good and yirtuous. The most excellen
Evangelist whose natal day we are assembled t,
commemorate, the revered patron of our Ordc
was also good and virtuOus The patriots anC
philanthrOpists of ancient and modern times have
entered our sacred temples and drank deep insp
ratlOns from the same manual which now points
us to virtue and to heaven. We have adopted
the Holy Bible as our great light,-3S the rule
and guide Of our conduct. and we should be good
and yirtuous or our acts however good, abstract
ly, will rise to Heaven in nosomc and fPted
edor, and our lovely organization will perish amid
its own Tottenness.
The swells of the ocean cast upon the sea sbcre
q substance known as the Mcdusa or sea nettle
a beautiful object as its dome Of amber quiverS in
the sunlight, and oftentimes of size large that
strong man can scarcely lift it but tits all a
watery pulp and in trying to preserve it will
trickle out of sight and leave nothing but few
threads OF substance. Without virtue Masonry is
the marine Mcdusa, and whatever may be our
acts and assumptions devoid Of this great and in
dispcnsbe Masonic ingredient, few storms will
fret away the crystal fabric, destroy the gittcrne
eupulo, and leave for our meagre consolation but
few miserable fibrcs.
My brethren, let us look well at the great
mission of Masonry-study it thorough ly-lcarn
our duty and fulfill it for surely as there is a
heaven above us, it will render all men honorab
and happy who will conform to its prcccpts and in
functions. Thus will the honor, glory and repu-
tation Of the Order be preserved, and the world
at large convinced of its good effects thus will
our noble institution which has stood so long a
monument of antiquity and renown. be handed
down to remotest posterity with increasing balm
and usefulness, and still endure
When wrapt in flames the realms of ether glow
And heavens last thunder shakes the world below