Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
A Charge
away . Look round you ; and behold the Masters , the Fellow-Crafts , and their Apprentices , the old and the young , your neighbours and 3 'our companions , are sinking in the stream of time ; and though for the moment your little barks are floating on the surface , yet presently they also will disappear , and the places which now know you will know you no more . Addthereforeto your faithknowled
, , , ge , temperance , patience ; to these add godliness ; and to godliness , universal charity . For if these things be in you and abound , they will evince that ye are not barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of the Lord , our Saviour , and our GOD .
But hark ! the voice of lamentation strikes my ear ! it is the sound of mourning from the chambers of sorrow that surround us . Yes , my respected Brothers , while we contemplate with pleasure this fair town , among the first which our venerable ancestors planted on these transatlantic shores , rising , like the Phoenix from its ashes , with- increased splendour , we are called to mourn with those who
mourn . If the Divine Providence has been pleased , with peace and independence , to give back to some of its inhabitants a full portion of that wealth which for a season He saw proper to withdraw ; others there are who still lament the loss of those means of subsisting which they formerly enjoyed , and are compelled to supplicate that charity which once they were able to bestow . These now solicit your
friendly aid * , and I am sure they speak not to the deaf , nor will they solicit in vain . They are men , and are in want ; this is sufficient for you to know , for ye are men , and ye are Christians . To comfort t : ; e broken-hearted—to feed the hungry—and give ' clothing to the naked—these are among the works which your religion and your profession enjoin . These are the works which will
bear reflection ; they are the good Works which will give you peace amid the storms of life—peace in the agonies of death—peace at that . solemn hour when the earth and the sea shall give up their dead , and the appointed Judge shall sever the good and charitable , from the impious , the cruel , and profane , and shall throw the impassable gulph between , saying to these , depart—to those , ascend with me to the temple not made with hands , to that city whose Builder and Maker is GOD .
" What ensues ? " Thc deed predominant , the deed of deeds i " Which makes a hell of hell , a lreav'n of hcav'n . — " Eternity , " The goddess with determin'd aspect turns " Her adamantine keys , enormous size , " Thruugh destiny ' s unextricable wards , " Deep-driving ev ' ry bolton both their fates
, , " Then from the crystal battlements of heav ' n ''* Down , down she hurls it thro' the dark profound " Ten thousand thousand fathom ; there to rust , " And ne ' er unlock her resolution more . YOUNG ' S Night Thoughts .
* After the Charge a collection was made for the poor ofthe town .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
A Charge
away . Look round you ; and behold the Masters , the Fellow-Crafts , and their Apprentices , the old and the young , your neighbours and 3 'our companions , are sinking in the stream of time ; and though for the moment your little barks are floating on the surface , yet presently they also will disappear , and the places which now know you will know you no more . Addthereforeto your faithknowled
, , , ge , temperance , patience ; to these add godliness ; and to godliness , universal charity . For if these things be in you and abound , they will evince that ye are not barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of the Lord , our Saviour , and our GOD .
But hark ! the voice of lamentation strikes my ear ! it is the sound of mourning from the chambers of sorrow that surround us . Yes , my respected Brothers , while we contemplate with pleasure this fair town , among the first which our venerable ancestors planted on these transatlantic shores , rising , like the Phoenix from its ashes , with- increased splendour , we are called to mourn with those who
mourn . If the Divine Providence has been pleased , with peace and independence , to give back to some of its inhabitants a full portion of that wealth which for a season He saw proper to withdraw ; others there are who still lament the loss of those means of subsisting which they formerly enjoyed , and are compelled to supplicate that charity which once they were able to bestow . These now solicit your
friendly aid * , and I am sure they speak not to the deaf , nor will they solicit in vain . They are men , and are in want ; this is sufficient for you to know , for ye are men , and ye are Christians . To comfort t : ; e broken-hearted—to feed the hungry—and give ' clothing to the naked—these are among the works which your religion and your profession enjoin . These are the works which will
bear reflection ; they are the good Works which will give you peace amid the storms of life—peace in the agonies of death—peace at that . solemn hour when the earth and the sea shall give up their dead , and the appointed Judge shall sever the good and charitable , from the impious , the cruel , and profane , and shall throw the impassable gulph between , saying to these , depart—to those , ascend with me to the temple not made with hands , to that city whose Builder and Maker is GOD .
" What ensues ? " Thc deed predominant , the deed of deeds i " Which makes a hell of hell , a lreav'n of hcav'n . — " Eternity , " The goddess with determin'd aspect turns " Her adamantine keys , enormous size , " Thruugh destiny ' s unextricable wards , " Deep-driving ev ' ry bolton both their fates
, , " Then from the crystal battlements of heav ' n ''* Down , down she hurls it thro' the dark profound " Ten thousand thousand fathom ; there to rust , " And ne ' er unlock her resolution more . YOUNG ' S Night Thoughts .
* After the Charge a collection was made for the poor ofthe town .