Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1867-07-09
GRspOrted for the Tribune.l
Masonic Speech by the President at
Boston.


The Grand Lodge gave the President
dinner in one of the spacious diniug.rooms
in the new Masonic Temple, Boston. Graud
Master Dame presided On his right was
the President. and on his left Gen. Rousseau.
Next TO the President sat Gem Banks The
banquet was magnificent afflir, but. before
it was half over, the President was anxious
to retire. So Grand Master Dame departed
irum the regular course aud made short
speech complimentary to Mr.. johnson, after
which he proposed the toast: 1.-The President
of the United States" Mr. johnson replied
as follows -
BRETHEEN I'm responding to the toast
which you have just drank, can only tender
to you my sincere thanks for the reception |
have met in your midst If l had intended
ur felt inclined to make an address to you,
am free to say that language would be in
adequate to express the emotions and feelings
OF my heart since came into this communi-
ty, aud found these pleasant associations with
you. And instead of making an address OD
this occasion, l shall leave my intelligent
brothers to infer what | would have said or
Il
speech. If it were necessary to offer any ex-
cuse for not making an address to you upon
this occasion, Il think one sufficiently ample
has already been made First consider the
little time that can be absent, and then con-
slider the severe stress that has been laid up.
ON me to-day, and you will perceive that it
has been most emphatcally day of work,
and not of pleasure. [Applause L think
the action Of to day, the demonstration that
has been made, the manifestations of ieeliny
that have been exhibited on this OccnsiOn in
dicatc the beginning of new era in Mason
ry- 1t seems to me that the prCiudices,
was g"ing to say incrustation which has rest
cd upon our Order for u great number of
years has been hardly visible to day The
manifestations which we have witnessed show
that it has been broken and scattered. As
am before you | cannot restrain myself from
calliLg your attention to the fact that have
taken part in many Masonic celebrations. and
| hardly ever to1k part in one that | did not
hear taunts aud jeers but on this occasion
let me say 1t seems to me that every man, ev-
cry brother. felt that he was man. and was
wiling to Wear aud exhibit, and put on Ma
sonry in all its demonstrations. 1t is most
remarkable thing that in all that vast process
sion, tor things may have been Il little mixed
V. u, |
not heard the first expression of acrimOnv
and hence the intinatiOn that ! made that
this day has commenced new era. and that
all that is wanting now, when Masonry is be-
ing developed. and its great principles being
understood when understood. all know
that they cr.brac" the universe, and are coex-
tensivc with the human iamily-havimg
reached this great point, all that is needed is
energy and progress, and the consumaliOn of
the great objects of harmony will be obtained.
In visiting Massachusetts (and / should
not have visited Massachusetts. at least on
the present occasion, had it not been for YOU
l came here and in good faith for the express
purpose of participating IN and Witnessing
the dedication of this temple today to the
great cause OF Masonry, ard so far | as could.
be it much or little. give my counrcnancc aud
sanction. This being done. have shown no
restraint for felt none. In this. as in most
things in which have participated, have
first satisfied my conscience that it was right.
and that being So. have left consequences to
take care OF themselves. Without this grent
principle its tmunrnin and strength. L., me
ask where would Masonry have been? That
has been the controlling. the indeScrutlhIe
principle that has pervaded Masonry from its
advent TO the present day. As | remarked
my brothers, did not rise for the purpose of
making an address but | did not feel that
could leave You without saying So much and
therefore feeling that your convivial meeting
was not entirely over, and that I would have
to leave you. | interrupted it in rather an alb
rupt manner.
So far as talking is concerned Il say this
by way of episode. though perhaps there
are some who would not he prepared to
conccde that l have no passion for talking,)
l am not as n general thing, very garrulous
or loquacious, and when | say to you that
l have no passion for talking say it in truth
Most of the talking that have done through
life has been more matter of necessity than
choice. but when | am compelled to speak, l
care not on what forum or before what tri-
bunal 1t is, when truth, when principle when
my ountry, when the great cause of the hu-
man family is at stake. will speak. have
done so in times gone by, when the very eX-
istencc of my Government and my country
was in peril: and | believe that the great
principles of Masonry were synonymous and
identical with the great principles of free
government. and in talking to my brothers
here to night, let me say, if you examine the
principles that are laid down as you approach
the SD degree. the doctrines which have
preahed from my advent into public life to the
present time. will be found there laid down.
Though personally a stranger in Massachusetts,
yet politically there are here manyof my inti-
ma'eacquainrnnces;ar il matters not where we
are. whether we are in the East or in the
West, in the North or the South. when these
great principles come up before men, they
understand them and can act in the concert
and harmony. | have never felt and fears,
though the principles embodied in Masonry
have passed through many severe ordeals,
and their vOtaries have been subjected to tests
, Of the most excruciating character.
] hnXe lnnIncd nna thinr. I cnrn mt .rhnth