The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-04-01

| HAS iNCtLCATED-THE GERM 1T HAS IN.
PLANTED AMONGST THE NATIONS OF THE
woRID--TnE NAs0Ns' BANNER, &C., &C.
Below is given tie address delivered by
Judge William !. Ciopton, Of Manchester,
at the laying Of the cornerstone at Chester
Tuesday afternoon.
The mysteries Of Fieemasopry. so much
valued by the initiated and scofied at by the
ignorant, are certainly very ancient. We
cannot tell, save by the light OF tradition,
exactly how far back their origin dates.
Whether Pythagoras and bis disciples were
Masons or that mysteries akin TO ours were
celebrated at the EIeasnian festivals may
be doubted. But IL Is probable that the
priestly architects and eeometers OF Egypt
who built the stately Pyramids were The
founders OF the craft. and that the DyoDysiac
fraternities--the tepple-builders OF Asia
Minor-perpetuated II.
There can be little doubt in the minds Of
the initiated that the Essenes spoken OF In
Scripture were speculative II not opera.
tive Masons and The successors Of those
who built King Solomon's Temple. Certain
II Is that we find emerging from the dark
ness OF the middle ages, scattered all over
Europe, numerous bands OF operative Ma
sons, who were the builders OF the splendid
Gothic cathedrals OF that age. TO erect
such structures great degree OF geometri-
cal and architectural skill was requisite,
and we may therefore assume that
the lodges contained many men OF great
learning and exalted talents. In the island
OF Britain the chain OF succession comes
down TO us from those lodges unbrokcn
through many ages. This succession is
proven by public documents, and even acts
OF Parliament, which cannot be gainSaid.
But il our traditions be true-and we keep
our history thus, and not by the written
wOrd-our craft extends far back into the
dim ages-to the time when humanity, un-
enlightened by Heaven or reason, was sun k
in The rayless and starless gloom of super.
sttion, ignorance, and despotism. Through
/ far-reacbing centuries these three held man
in chains, and quenched in his heart bis no.
blest aspirations. But on the aliars OF our
craft the celestial fire was ever burning
which was destined in coming time TO llu-
inmate tic world.
Masonry led the way in the cultivation OF
the physical sciences and philosophy, and
ceaselessly inculclted the doctrines OF a
pure morality and OF equality amongst en-
lightened brethren, teaching ever that there
should be no distinctions OF position among
men save those which are founded
on virtue and intelligence. IL we could
but transport ourselves in fancy TO the
camps OF the lodges assembled in the early
ages around the stately edifices which they
constructed our imagination would depict
TO us scenes worthy Of our highest admra-
| tion. Judging from the beauty and gran
! deur of their works we know that the mas
| ters OF those lOdges-the architects OF those
buildings-must have been men OF the most
cultivated intellects and sublime fancy.
with souls lifted high above the groveling
superstition which surrounded them, and
! fully capable of teaching the youth OF the
order the elements OF science which they
themselves possessed. That the sciences of
architecture and geometry were thus pre-
served there can be no doubt, for the sur
face OF the earth Is strewn with their mon-
umenis from the Pyramids. defying time
and decay amidst the gloomy wastes OF
Lybya, to the Gothic temples, whose lofty
spires pierce the clouds OF Western Eu-
rope. These innumerabe colleges for
the instruction Of the youth were
perpetually existing. Conducted with
the perfect order and decorum charac-
teristic of the craft, these schools
for work and instruction gave the grand
est scope for the cultivation OF the sciences
and pure morality.
| We can well imagine how the eight hours
given to the labors which invigorated their
! bodies would be succeeded by learned dis
| courses Of the sages of the order given in
the shade Of the neighbOring groves or from
/ the porches OF the temples which they built.
Those of the youth who lOnged for excel
lence and were inspired by genius hung
upon their lips and treasured their golden
words in their hearts, aud transmitted their
wisdom to future generations. Nay, even
the dull and stolid who could hope for no
| great intellectual excellence were refined
by the associations and decOrum which sur
rounded them. Thus, whilst the nations
were shrouded in darkness the camps OF the
lodges were little commonweatbs in which
all were equally brethren, In which
| there was no distinction save that OF virtue
and intelligence, and the worship OF the
one true God was supplemented by the
practice and teaching OF the purest princi-
pies OF morality.
Thus was the germ OF peaceful, orderly,
and free society governed by law planted
amongst the nations, and planted by tue
side Of every flowing river and in every
country from the Euphrates in the far east
TO where the setting sun gilds the waves OF
the Atlantic as they roll in thunder on the
coasts OF Albion.
And the truth once delivered to men. the
light of science once shining in the intellect,
the sweets OF freedom once tasted 10y the
heart. arc never wholly lost and forgotten.
They may shoulder in one place and be
ouenched in another, but, like the living
lightning, they will sparkle again on the
crest OF the storm-cloud when the tempest
seems darkest, and renew themselves by
consuming the forces arrayed to destroy
them.
Thus the doctrines Of equality and the
rigbt TO worship God according 10 the dlc-
tates of their consciences, which have been
nurtured and taught by Masons in all
ages, is the germ OF that p0lltlcal ana
religious liberty which has boomed so
piandly i'm these after-ages and horne fruit
in those free nations the boast OF whose
splendid civilization is the political liberty
and religious freedom which they enjoy.
But Of equal importance to man individu-
ally i'm society are the sublime doctrines oil
virtue, charity, and universal beneyolence
which Masonry has sedulously taught ana
enforced amongst the brethren. In this re-
spect the craft has been as city set upon
hill for the admiration OF all peoples. That
there are many Masons who are not good
men is doubtless true; but this IS true OF
all societies, the Church not excepted.
Bat that as mass they are good ana
true men and ornaments to society none
can deny, and the general excellence OF the
order is eyinced by its work In the world
and the many copies which have sprung up
in the shape of other orders these last two
or three generations. But we dlsdain TO an
swer the cayiler in these respects, and point
to the glories OF our history and the virtues
OF Our living brethren as our yindication.
Could we but herald the day when the