The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1870-10-12

OBITUARIES IhAOU14n VI AhcE1Ox
and eli oommuniestions wk.sh: SnAsersS paifat1
interests, will be paid for - vsstisesashss.
MASONIC Address,
DELIVERED By j.ss. ,4tdae ps6H., III
BEFORE sALEA LODGE. A.. I'm.
JUNE II. 1870. tt-'siA'':'';
SALEM LODGE RooM,ss3s} 4
.JuLx go, 1870.
U.s.. RICHARDSON, JRs-BSar 50
and Brother AT the rseess BsSals,
Communication Of Salem Lodge, No.
141, A.. f.. NJ. the following ireso-.
luton was unanimously adopted, and
the Secretary iustructedto eommunisats
the same: . y 1.:sI
Resolved, That the thanks Of this
Lodge be rendered to Brother j.. s..
RICHARDSON, for the able, instructive,
aud eloquent address delivered. by him,
on the occasion Of laying the hcornet
Stone of our new Masonic Edifics, and
acopy Of the same be requested for
publication.
Sincerely hoping shat you will comply
with our request, / am.
Your friend and Brother.
Fl. H. WILSON, sso., 8. L.
---:.- -:.--4>i ,s.5:.-1 :~.&
SUMTER, s. g. 18th August, 1870. !
Mr.. H. d. WILSON,, SEQ. 3SAbEM
LoDoE--Ay Dear lSgys-Your letter
Of the SOth July, conveying mo copy
ofthe resolution passed by Salem Lodge
in reference to the address delivered by
me on the occasion of laying the Corn
or Stone oftheir new Masonic Lodge,
has been received. I am deeply sensi-
bic of the compliment paid me by the
Lodge, and while I claim but little
more than the merit Of collating, from
the writings Of the Great Lights Of
Masonry, tho grand principles of our
noble order, yet as dissemination of
these in the form Of an address may
serve to dispel error and prejudice, 1
herewith place the address at the dispo
sal of your Lodge.
With many thanks to you and { the
Lodge, for the kindness aud considora-
tion extended to mo, am, very truly,
and fratcrnally,
Xours,.J. S. RICHARDSON.
ADDRESS.
Friends and .fcNo,o !uasons! Ladies'
and Gentlemen I'm responding to the
invitation of Salem Lodge, to address
you on this occasion, we are deeply sen>
siblc, from our. own small experience in
the grand scionoe and philosophy Of
Masonry, of our inability to represent
fairly and rightly the claims Of the
oidcr to that public favor and conf
dence which it's merits justly entitlc it
to-and which it has commanded where
ever Masons have expounded by their
conduct, and their lives, the true prin-
cplcs of our order. And we are feel"
ingly admouished of the responsibility
We have allowed to be,placed upon us,
when we look out upon this crowd of
faces, beaming with intelligence, and
bright with expectation-a brilliant
assemblage of youth and manhood--of
beauty and wisdom; All met to bid, as
it we're, hearty "God speed" to the
great and noble order whose humble
advocate, for this occasion, now Graves
your indulgence.
The claims of Masonry to your favor
and confidence is theme, in it's various
aspects, too vast to be traversed in the
short space of time which we can ask at
your hands-we are compelled there
fore, to select only few, among the
many attractive and interesting features
Of our order, for your inspection; and
our time, as we'll as your patience, will
permit only a hurried glance at these.
AS we conduct you then, thus hastily
through this spacious garden Of rich,
oriental shruhbcry, planted by our ances.
tors and nurturcd with SO much care by
our fore fathers, and point out to your
view some of its beauties, forget not
that, amid its deep shades arc cooling
bubbling fountains upon whose brink We
have not led you-that from the hidden
branches Of its deep recesses hang
delicious fruit, the flavor of which you
have not tasted, and among its rich
foliage lie hid many sweet flower,
upon whose beauties your eyes have
not gazed and whose fragrance could
but add new charms TO those, we shall
be able to discover to you.
1t will be expected, in this, tho. first
public Masonic demo monstration.in this com.
munity, aud on an occasion ofso much i'm
portanceas the laying Of the Corner Stone
of Temple of Masonry, that we give
account Of tho origin, progress and ex.
tent, as we'll as Of the principles of our
order, and the fruit it is calculated to
produce.
To q consideration Of these We invite
your attention.
Masonry is said to have originated
in that nature which God implanted in
the bosom Of man--and thus, in one
sense, it claims "The Great Architect Of
the Universe" as its author.