The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-04-26

Jew nor Gentle, neither Romanist nor Pro-
testant, neither Odd Fellow nor Mason. Let
me, therefore, urge upon you the instant ac-
ceptance, by faith and its profession, of the
religion you so copiously quote in your books.
Some Of you, hope many, are already Chris
tians. But, my beloved brethren, need not tell
you that it is not the writing and printing OF
but their planting and germinaton in our
hearts. Like your society, everything tenn
poral should be placed on a Christian founda-
tion. But 1t is not enough to place our earthly
interests on that foundation. We must also,
foundations call for eternal rather than tenn
pOral structures. Christianity, while IL en-
wraps families and nations and time, also cir
cumscribes eternity. Shall we build only
house of pasteboard on the base of q pyramid,
and shall we erect only earthly economy on the
eternal Christ? Brethren, the Joy you have in
your own unity throughout the war, the graft
tude you pour forth for our national integrity,
must not only rise to the universal breadth
which your fourth degree so beautifully por-
trays, but each of you for himself must appIo-
pirate the Christian life and work for the
hlghesJ as well as lower good of the country OF
Wh1ch each OF you is q son. and the race OF
which each is brother.
In conclusion, there is one danger against
which l would affectionately warn you, and
that Is the possibility of becoming the antago-
Know That many of your number are devoted
Christians. You are a beneficial, not religious
association, and far be 1T from me to recon-
mend the adoption among you of religious
tests. Let men Of all religious beliefs share tue
pecuniaTy safeguards of your Order In high
and holy sense even unbelievers are our
brothers. But, to my mind, your ritual, with
It's forms of prayer, carefully emitting the name
of Christ, gives you somewhat the aspect of a
Church, and of Church not Christian. This is
much used against you, and is, think, fea-
ture notw without danger. Permit me 70 inquire
whether forms of prayer might not be altogether
dispensed with in society purely beneficial
and repudiating the character of Church.
My dear friends, your Denehcent spirit as an
Order, your cherished idea of the universal
brotherhood of man, your kind, fraternal
nursing of the sick, your noble care of widow
and orphan, were all born of Christianity, and
are wholly unknown beyond the borders of
Christendom. And 1 earnestly hope that moth
ing will have your countenance that to the
most remote seeming, will place you in q hos
tile attitude towards the Church She is the
mother and cherisher of every form of public
and private good
Finally, brethren, your appointment of this
day of national thanksgiving is, in our view, q
happy omen. 1t seems as though the Divine
Spirit the Holy Comforter, had visited you and
drawn you to the atars of the Church. You
evidently felt, and that rightly and wisely, that
if your Order was to engage in public worship,
the church was the fitting place. You have,
therefore, come to the church, to the churches
known as evangelical; and in the name of the
church we bid you welcome to her altars and
to her service. May the offering Of thanks
giving. which your Order this day presents be-
tore the Lord, come up with acceptance before
Him, and may the answer of Heaven bea bless
ing upon you and your brethren throughout the
country. uDOn the nation