Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1858-07-14
ADDRESS BY ROBERT P. DICK, ESQ,

RRerHREN-LADIEs-MY COUNTRYMEN:
Nearly thirty centuries ago, King solomon STOOD
on Mount Moriah lay the foundation of that mag
ni6cent Temple which be bad prepared to build unto
the God of Israel Around him were Master Build
ers and expert Craftsmen well skilled in all kinds OF
cunning and curious work, who had come from the
tribes Of Israel, and from Tyre and Sidon by the
sea. Before him were collected the oive-vood fir
trees and cedars OF Lebanon, stones we'll Poi'shed
and precious from the distant quarres and his co-
ers were overlooking with the jewels of the East,
and the gold of Ophir. Deep and strong were the
foundation stones laid and slowly and silently the
grand structure rose beneath the eye Of the Master
Builder, aud the hand of the cunning Craftsman.-
For seven years they labored, and NO sound OF axe
hammer, or any tool of iron was heard, neither did
any jarrng discord disturb the peace and harmony
of that fraternal band; for though they were of
different tribes and nations, there secret mys-
ferrous influence which made them dwell together in
unity.
When the Temple was completed, Solomon came
with numerous offerings and costly and precious in
cense to consecrate it unto the Lord What grand
and wonderful spectacle was there presented From
Dan to Beersheba; from the mountains of Gilead to
the sea, the Tribes of Israel had come up to the
conservation. What patriotic pride and rapture
must have filled every Hebrews heart, when he be-
held the Holy Temple overlooking the sacred City
of his Fathersl
There it rose magnifieiently beautiful, like
tain of polished marble, covered with the living
golden sunlight cleaning like the smile of God
Well now might Jerusalem be called "The City OF
GOD, " and Zion "The mountain of His holiness, u
beautiful for situation the joy Of the whole earth"
Well now might every Hebrew exclaim, +" If forget
thee, Jerusalem, may my right hand forget her
cunning. II DO not remember thee let my t6ngue
Geave to the roof of my mouth If prefer not
Jerusalem above my chief joy"
But the Hebrews soon forgot the CD OF their
Fathers-Israel was severed in twain-jhe Egyptian
spoer came, and the glory of the Tenple was desc
Grated. Still they would not hearked unto the voice
OF tnsir euemieA Then Sue rusi;iess Chaldean came
and the Temple was overthrow. The Ark of the
Covensnt wss carried away with uahallowed hands,
the Shekinah no longer dwelt between the Cherubim
above the mercy seattle voice Of the Urim and
Thummim was hushed-no longer did the altar
smoke with the acceptable sacrifice and holy in
cense-the captive children of Abraham left the
sacred homes and graves of their fathers, and in
sadness and sorrow sat down by the dark waters of
Babel, and hung their tuneless harps upon the will
lows, and they "wept when they remembered Zion"
The building OF, Solomon's Temple is an event of
peculiar interest to every Mason. Then was organ
lied that institution which he SO fondy caerishes,
human race. Many of its mysteries existed before
that period, but Solomon, the wisest of men, first
reduced them to q system of order, harmony and
beauty. More than a hundred thousand Craftsmen
were then bound together in holy brotherhood by
links more precious than the gold Of Ophir and they
have pro. ed to be indestructible by time.
After the completion of the Temple, our Ancient
Brethren became dispersed in every land and cline,
and carried with them the sacred mysteries and the
ed down to as. Amid the gross neral darkness
which for ages covered the earth they preserved the
great and sublime truth, that there is but one God
and the soul of man is immortal Faint indeed was
the holy light that shone upon their pathway
With anxious eyes they watched the little star in the
thick darkness and with longing hearts they desired
more light, but they were unable to attain unto the
excellence OF perfect knowledge And there came
the voice OF one crying in the wilderness prepare
ye the way Of the Lord, make his paths straight "-
and then the morning star of Bethlehem ushered in
the Glorious Sun of Righteousness and the pood
tidlngs OF great Joy were proclaimed unto all men"
Ear De It from me to compare Masonry with Chris.
tianlty. The one is inferior TO the other "a the
works OF man are to the works of God-the one may
assist in teaching US the second great commandment.
"Ihou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself"-the
other alone can teach us the first great command
ment, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with ali
thy heart, and with all thy SOUL and with all thy
mind" Christianity is the great living light which
covers the earth wherever it falls with glory and
beauty. Masonry is one of the lesser lights casting
the reflected rays Of brothery love. virtue. and
charity into many human heart; it soothes the
widow wounded heart and stops the orphans tear
NO good Mason can disbelieve the truths Of the
Christian religion.
1t is not my purpose to enter upon the history and
oenents OF masonry. My information would not
permit even were it appropriate to this occasion
Sumce to say, that the institution has existed for
nearly thirty centuries, survived the wreck Of em
Pres, passed through the fiery furnace of persecu.
fon, and increased in wisdom strength and beauty.
1t seems to have the vitality Of truth, and the dfE
s,veness OF hgnt Nearly every where you can find
Masons whose hearts will kindle with brotherly Low
at the mystic signs and tokens Of our Order. Thev
dwell in the majestic forests, where the Columh;.
and Willamette are flowing the Rock
Mountains where the homeless trapper and oold.
hunter are roving-amid the ruined palaces Is ,ha
Montezumas, and In the golden land Of the Inca,s
i'm the sunny isles of the sea-" where aromatic
oaor. from spicy shores are breathing, where the
Is smiling and the Arbutus is in bloom.
fou will find them in China and japan !. and The.
,1llowed Havelock in his glorious march, and their
olood was poured, and their shouts Of triumph
beard along the blazing lines of and Incl
now They still dwell by the Euphrstes and in the
noiy nnd-beside the majestic tombs Of the Ph.ra.
.h ana along those classic shores where Athen,
Wondering, and the Eternal City, sits IN hon.
dage and weeps over desecrated sltrss and M
graves of her glory. q 80. -.1 '1.t
kpSW tnat.is ~ matter Of surprise TO MANY
persons that Masons should be selected "a i. -,
corner; none: Of buildings. Until comp.r.tiyaI,
Ths Psslo9, ~ Masons were operative orknen
1ney erected the most magnificent Structures th.
ever rose upon the earth. They were the prom otss
OF al the arts and sciences and were yerv
nth those beautiful styles Of architecture vh;cI
Pave e 20 long claimed the admiration 81 the world
aa,S.. MIDDLE ages they vere selected to Law I'll
Hcas soS i. sno build the cathedrals and sacred ed
workmsn, and generally lead virtuous liver. ~