Year: 1870



 in it's earlier history i've meet to celebrate ! the birthday of St. Dohn the Evangelist, ! whose eminent virtuk, faith, charity and | brotherly love did mth 10 build up and es- tablish that most hdorahle and useful of in | stitutions known antngst men, and of which | you are members; and l believe we can in no way more iittingli do honor to the mem ory of that great andgood man upon this Oc- casion than to reyiewand mediate upon the truths and principlesupon which the institu- ton Is founded, and tc blessings and benefits emanating therefroni to our race in all ages, in every country andin every condition.

 In order to appreciite the benefits and bles- sings to our race em;aating from this ancient and honorable institution it is necessary that we for few momenu devote our attention to the history of our hcc from the time our common ancestry ia the images of their Maker were placed h the Garden of Eden, surrounded by everything necessary to con tribute to their happiness and comfort. They were given full and complete use and enjoy ment of everything within the Garden, ex- cept of the tree of knowledge, and of that tree it was said by the Creator. "n the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die" Notwithstanding the reasonableness of the injunction, our parents violated IL, and did partake of the fruit of that-tree, and by so doing brought death to themselves and their posterity, both physically and morally. The seeds of decay were not only at once i'm planted in the physical system, but moral decay followed in rapid succession. The first act of our paterna ancestor, after the viola tion of that injunction of the creator was Tn derogation of those chiefest attributes of so- ciety and most to be esteemed affections of the human heart, to wit; Love and Charity.

 When inquired of why he had violated the command, instead of bearing that part of the blame which justly attached to him, he at once charged the whole offence upon his oonsort, and from that day, instead of those holier principles and most sacred affections of the human heart. truth, love- faith and charity, commenced the growth of those baser passions with which our race has ever been affected 10 wit hate, revenge, envy malice etc From these baser passions have sprung those bickerings and feuds that have destroyed the peace and happiness of the family hearth and the social circle; those quarrels which have ;mbued the hand of brother in brothers blood those islanders which have despoied the good man of his reputation; those wars which have drenched the earth with fratri- cidal blood spreading desolation over whole countries and communities. In word, the influence of those baser passions has wrought all the woe of our race in the world. From that day to the present We have seen the strong oppress and wrong the weak; we have witnessed the slanderer despoil the character of the good man; we have seen those able to give succor to the needy and destitute pass them by, and turn deaf ear to their appeal for help, and we have seen whole countries desolated by war. In word, mans nhu- manity to man has been such as to appal the good man, and at times he has almost been ready to exclaim that goodness, truth and virtue had become extinct among men.

 But, brethren, while such has been the general experience of man throughout the history of our race, the good man has even been cheered by exceptions to the general rule. An association, the beginning of which reaches far back into antiquity, and the foun- dations of which are the eternal principles of truth, faith, charity and brotherly love, has been most assiduously engaged in inculcatiug those virtues and imbuing the race with an appreciation of the benefits and blessings emanating therefrom

 Good men of every nation are found among the members of this association. and the mys- tic language of the order is understood by each, no matter of what nationality or what his vernacular tongue.

 This association, though strange and mys- terious to the outer world, yet is simple, beautiful and lovely to those who have passed its portals and learned it's truths.

 It encourages submission to Government, and by its examples and precepts admonishes that the good of the many should be the ob- ject of Government.

 It aids and encourages religion in this, that al. ..1.- the immortality of the soul, and future happiness for the good.

 The design, tendency and effect of the as- sociation is to enlarge and promote that true sociability, that kindness of heart which so much beautify and adorn the character. Around the same altar where all have bowed the knee and assumed the same obligations. again and again meet the brethren, of every business and profession, of every sect and opinion, gathered in from all the walks of life. The high and low, rich and poor, learned and unlearned, king and subject walk to- getner, arm in arm, on the same level, untram- eed by the artificial and too often inyidious distinctions of society

 Again, my brethren, proud and prominent among the many noble features of this asso- citation stands that priceless virtue. which shall cover many sins, Charity. In speaking of this virtue you will permit me to adopt the language of brother Pratt, delivered be- fore the Grand Lodge of California, as Grand Orator In speaking of this virtue the Brother said

 That charity which leads to aims giving and the practice of benevolence in our daily lives; that spirit which bids us stoop and bind the strangers wonds, when priest and Levite have come and gazed and passed by on the other side-these, the noblest elements of human character, it fosters with especial zeal and care.