The evening Argus., 1867-07-08
MASONIC ENTERTlINMENT
Address by James =. Brady at
the Academy of 16asic.--Kskief
for Destitute widows ands
Orphans, - i
From the New York Times, ID

@ASAN 49, >-sSf AS4A AAesASet = INV SosH' II
The grand Masonic ovation in aid of the
destitute and suffering masons, and widows
and orphans ofmasons, in the Southern States,
came off, according to advertisement at the
Academy of Music last evening, and was
very successful. Over 1000 tickets are
said to have been sold, principally among the
Masonic Lodges of the City-and sufficient
nambcr of ticket holders to constitute q large
and fashionable audience gave the demon
stration the encouragement of their personal
audience.
The orator of the evening was introduced,
between the first and second parts of the
musical programme, by Robert E. Holmes,
Esq, who jocosely bespoke for him the in
diligence Of the audience on the ground that
he was novice in Masonry and had not
been accustomed to address large audiences.
ADDRESS OF MR.. BRADY.
The following is synopsis of MIR Brady's
remarks, which occupied about half an hour:
tIadies and gentlemen" he said, was the
ordinary expression speakers began their re-
marks with before a mixed assembly but he
would dismiss that phrase and substitute one
more endearing, and which in its present con-
nection fell from the orators lips for the first
time in his life-"Brother Masonsm He
would like to add something more graceful
and beautiful, and say "Sister Masons !"
The venerable institution of Masonry had
not torerer been diyested of that grace, for
two women, at least in its history have
adorned it by being admitted as members
the daughter of Lord Donegal, of Dublin,
aud Nine Reeamier. The former lady hay
ing been discovered secretly viewing the
solemn rites of the Order, was admitted
to membership in order to retain its secrets
and its obligations. Hermotive had been of
great wonderment and historians had grave
ly charged that it might be curiosity. Upon
one occasion Nine. Recamier being reproach-
ed by Voltaire for belonging to the Order,
replied 81 love it because it demonstrates
the beauty of doing good. He regarded the
women present as encouraging one OF the no.
blest purposes that even stirred the heart OF
man. On the ticket sent to him he saw
printed these few eloquent, pathetic, fearful
and terrible words: 'The cry ofthe hungry y
This is no humor of the fancy; it is a sad,
stern truth and while he stood before them,
there were those at the South who had been
delicately reared in the homes of wealth and
comfort, but who now experienced the pinch
ing want of the common neceSsaries of life.
He as well as many other gentlemen present,
had received letters from the South, the pen
manship and the expressions of which indi-
Gated that they-came from ladies in high po-
sitons, containing an entreaty perhaps to get
means to purchase few bushels of corn to
support their starving little ones. They were
present on this occasion that those who cried
for bread as in the Wilderness, may have
mama sent to them through the agency of
Masonry. Could the order of Masonry hear
such an appeal without vindicating its repu-
tation borne through the ages? {Applause. J
1t is their mission if they remain to the
principles of the institution. to be engaged
always in that which the great American
poet Byranta calls Labors of good to man; un-
published charity" They recognize the
mission, if the voice of suffering comes from
the Pacific slope or the frozen regions of the
Poles. 1t was interesting to contemplate
one view of the South in view of the circum-
stances developed during the war but yes
terday brought to close. Families were
disrupted, ties of friendship were severed
and the structure of government was assail
ed. 1t may be said to have struck at the
foundations of religion; but it left Masonry
standing in all its grand perfection. Gap
plause.l That such thing should be made
| ton should be erected by these feeble, per
| ishing, mortal hands-like the sunlight OF
| God, spreading over half a globe at once
! nay more, as the sunlight of Masonry light
| ems the two hemispheres at once! That
| such thing should found empires and king
| doms, high and llow, and come down still in
| its beautiful perfection to the present hour
And tonight, when it is represented here for
| the purpose of obtaining means to send sup
port of life to famishing brothers and sisters,
may God come down and enter our hearts
and fiji us with the spiritual determination
that none of US will feel satisfied at any time
unless we contribute in some way for the
relief of those suffering people. The enter
prise inaugurated here would, he hoped, be
| initiated all over the country and world