Dedication Of A Masonic Hall In 1777.

sea ; thou that fillest the whole ancl everything that is in it , ancl art thyself boundless and incomprehensible , look down graciously upon thy servants , who have presumed to erect this house to the honour of Thy name . Let Thy Hol y Spirit descend upon it in the blessing of Thy peculiar presence . Thou that art everywhere , deign also to be with us . Thou that seest and hearest all thingslook down from Ththrone of loryancl ive ear to our supplications .

, y g , g And if at any time hereafter Thou shalt be moved in Thy just displeasure to punish this people for their transgressions with any of Thy terrible judgments , famine , pestilence , or the sword—yet if they make supplication ancl return to Thee with all their heart , and with all their soul , then hear Thou in heaven , Thy dwelling-place , ancl forgive their sin , ancl remove thy judgments . " With these words Solomon cast himself upon the ground in solemn

adoration ; and all the people followed his example with profound submission ancl homage . We are now going to dedicate this fair mansion to the noblest purposes—to Masonry , virtue , ancl benevolence ; ancl I persuade myself , from the flattering attention with which you have heard me , that our ensuing ceremony will be regarded with becoming seriousness , with decent solemnity . Whatever encourages the social duties , whatever advances the interests of

benevolence , claims bur respect as men ; and it is no flattery to our ancient and mystical institution , to affirm that it has these two great points ever in view . There cannot be a stronger argument in favour of our society , than what may be collected from the account * given us of certain Solitaries , who by secluding themselves from mankind , from friendly communication , and social intercourse , lost the human figure ancl human sentiments , ancl became like beasts . They fed in the same manner with their fellow brutes ; ancl if they saw any of the human species , they fled away ancl hid themselves in caves and inaccessible holes .

If such be the miserable abject consequence of retirement , whatever , like our Institution , collects and consociates mankind , has a claim to our warmest esteem as conducive to public ancl private utility . Yet let us beware lest in the unguarded moments of convivial cheerfulness , we give too large ancl unbounded a scope to our social disposition . Reason is the true limit , beyond which temperance should never wander . When misled with the " sweet poison of misused wine , " we overpass this bound , we quench the spark of divinity that is in us , we transform ourselves into brutes , and , like those who had tasted the fabulous cup of Circe ,

" Lose our upright shape , And downward fall into a grovelling swine . " One more word and I have clone . The Temple of Solomon looked towards theeast . Let us frequentl y direct our eyes to the same quarter , where the day spring from on hi gh visited us ; where the Son of Ri ghteousness rose with healing in His wings , and Cherubs and Seraphs ushered in the dawn of the evangelical day , with this gracious song— " Glory be to God on high , and in earth peace , goodwill towards men . "

ANTHEMS . Anthem written by H D , Esq ., and sung by Mr . Du Bellamy , at laying the foundation stone , and by Mr . Hudson , of St . Paul's Cathedral , at the dedication of Freemasons' Hall . To Heaven ' s high Architect all praise , All praise , all gratitude be given , [ Da Capo . Who deign'd the human soul to raise , By mystic secrets sprung from heaven . [ Da Capo .