Frostburg mining journal., 1882-12-23
ADDRESS
of Mr.. q. Il. Wellington Upon
Taking the Chair at the
BUers Banquet.

1t is always an honor TO preside
over meeting of our fsllow-men,
more especially when called upon to
assume supreme command" of a body
of Msson., whether they be assembled
for work or "rsfreshmsnt."
W. have assembled tlis evening in
the character of NaAons to give ex-
preston to our feeling Of friendship
and brothsrly love to q member Of
this Lodge who is about to depart
from the midst Of his brethren. A
token of your esteem and recognition
OF his devotion to Masonry has been
presented to him.
Occasions Ike this are bright spots
on the sombrs way Of life. We lcok
back with qualification upon them.
By such msmentos We know that our
labors for the craft are appreciated by
our brethren of the mystic tie.' for
he who lalors for Masonry claims no
reward. To have served her is of it.
self sufficient payment. To bear the
trusts and perform the duties of Ma
sonry is the highest honor that can
come to man. To have knslt at her
altar is a privilege of which we should
feel proud beyond all else. By it's
mystic tis" we bind ourselves to oil
the cycles of the past and of the fu-
turs. Its history covers the face Of
the globe and extends through all the
annals of time. It's mysteries, in their
"voiceless silence" speak truths which
only the wissst of the "chlldrsn of
light" may understand, when a life
has been spent in its service.
There are some who contend that
Masonry originated in the subtle brain
of II French metaphysician in the not
distant past. Others would trace it to
the time when the flower OF European
chivalry engaged in the unsuccessful
struggle of wrssting the Holy LAID
from the infdsl. Some that it was
cradled among the ancient priesthood
of Britain, who two thousand years
ago ersctsd their affairs among the
giant oaks to the unknswn God.
Some would find its origin among the
Building Frstsrnitiss of ancient
Roma, and others lead US into that
distant period when Solomon, the
wisett of men, built his great temple
to Jehovah. Others would have al
wander still farther back and find iti
origin among the priest architects who
built the pyramids, and others would
take us 10 the foundation of the world
and make the craft coeval with crea-
tion.
Let us in imagination make a pill.
grimage backward through time past
and ell deavor to find when Masonry
originated.
Fifty years ago in our own land
presidential campaign was fought up
on the issue Of anti Masonry"
One hundred years ago the Ameri.
can army lay at Valley Forge, and The
commander in chief was Grand Master
of the Masons of Virginia. George
Washington made Lafayette Mason.
One hundre years ago Sootland's
peasant poet, Robert Burns, sang his
immortal Farewell to Torbolton
Lodge"
A century and-a-half ago Frederick
the Great of Prussia knelt at the altar
of Masonry.
Two centuries ago London was de-
stroysd by the greatest confederation
recorded. Sir Christopher Wren,
G.and Master of Masons of England,
furnished the plans to rebuild it.
Three centuries ago the Grand
Lodge Of Masons of England Assem-.
bled at York and was dispersed by
Elizabeth, who afterward, through
the influence of the great Chancellor
Burleigh, became the protsctress Of
our Order.
Three snd-s-half centuries ago a
band of Free Aasons, led by Ulricb
Won Hutton, rescued Martin Luther,