Year: 1865

vi Mount MORAN, on whose twice consecrat-
ed summit once glittered the gorgeous
temple, stands the solitary witness Of the
surrounding ruin; and the sighing of the
winds through its rocky caverns is like a
wall and a requiem over the departed
glory of Israel.


.'Tho Niobe of nationst There she stands,


Chiidlcss and crowness in her voiceless woe:
An empty urn within her wthercd hands,


Whose holy dust was scattered long ago."


But Masonry survived even the desola.
tion of Israel, and the ruin of the tenn
pie, in which it was celebrated in all its
ancient grandeur. Its principles were
dearer to the heart of man than even
national glory and historic fame. Its
TRUTH is its title to immortality. In
stitutions tn 1t are merel y national in their
spirit and aim have no assurance from
history or from reason that they shall en-
durc forever, But system that is bas-
ed on the eternal principles of right and
justice, and is broad enough, like Masonry
to embrace the sentimen. of uniyersal
brotherhood, may claim to be able to
stand forever, and grow forever great and
beautiful.


Masonry appears in its most beautiful
aspect when considered us system of
moral instruction. AS a science, it
challenges our admiration by its regulari.
ty, its harmony, and its truth to nature !;
but as a system Of morals it reveals
divine beauties and inspires the love Of
every man who has the soul of true
Mason. He cannot but think, as be
listens to the voice of the master
in. his lectures, inculcating the
beautiful truths OF morality, purity, in-
tegrity and brotherly love, and beholds
the beautiful symbols of the lodge. each
Allowing forth some divine precept-he
cannot but think, that the sublime truths
that are appealing to his heart and his
intellect, are the best thoughts and high
est sentiments Of the holy men of those
grand old days when the world was young
and man coinmuned with God The
words that feA on his ear are the words
that aro precious to patriarchs, prophets
and sagcs, which they pronounced for the
instruction Of their brethren when they
assembled under the starry canopy Of
Heaven on the hills Of Judea, and made
the whole world their symbolical lodge
room, or which strengthened their souls
as they pol.dcred tacm while watching
their hocks on tao night.elad plains Of
Shinar. lie cannot but feel himself in
the presence of the illustrsous men Of
ancient and modern times, who, while
gazing on the beautiful symbols of the
lodge, have felt the inspiration Of the
sublime truths of Masonry, and have gone
forth frcm the assembly of brethren to
make their daily life shining example of
brotherly love. So it is that the as
sociations Of Masonry have peculiar
power in enforcing the great truths of life
and duty. The men who knocks at the
door OF the lodge with sincere purpose
to learn and be made wiser and better,
without any motive Of Vulgar curiosity,
will be solemnly impressed, before he has
completed a single degree, by the sacred
association around him, and he will feel,
as he never felt before the significance OF
the words of the Lord to Moses on Mount
Horeb :-"put off thy shoes from off thy
feet for the place whereon thou standcst
is holy ground On every hand hc is
reminded OF some sacred association of
those days vixen mems souls were near to
God. The great central light Of the
Lodge shines upon him and the allsecing
eye beholds him wherever he turns
The great spirits Of the past look down
upon him from the starry canopy. and he
seems to be standing in the midst Of
patriarchs, prophets, and holy men, in
some splendid apartment of the great
temple, adorned by the architectural skill
of the Grand Master, and hung with the
radiant symbols OF truth and beauty.