Freemasonry.

guide to the wise men of the east , west , north , and south , to direct them to that temple , and to that ark in which are deposited the sacred symbols of all moral excellence ! The foundation of all true religion is moral

excellence ; but as this has been mixed up and mistaken , blended and confounded with numerous forms and ceremonies of man's making , it has , to a certain extent , lost its force and power , in correcting the follies of men , and guiding lost humanity

from darkness to light . But , in the secret temple of Freemasonry , ( whatever men have taught their fellows with regard to morals and religion outside of it ) it has been the same , taught the same , simple , but highly intellectual and instructive code

of morals . And here , I would remark , that if the persecutions of the world had driven from the face of the earth in every form and vestige of religion , such as is daily taught publicly in our Churches , yet , would it fail to reach that hidden

treasure—that pearl of great price which has been locked up in our innermost heart of hearts —brotherly love !

All good things , brethren , have , and will be persecuted . Freemasomy has been tested in the fiery crucible of determined opposition ; the shiny and vituperating tongue of lying slander has tested it ; the pious , bigoting , and the

hypocritical cant of " infallible" priestcraft have tested it ; busy laziness and idle curiosity have sifted and scrutinised it ; it has been weighed and measured by every grade of society—by the king and the peasant , by the philosopher and the

fool , high , low , rich , and poor , and yet it remains unchanged . The jealousies and passions of human nature have driven to distraction , and for ever separated

religious and secular institutions , more pretentious and loud sounding than Freemasonry ; yet , has Freemasonry survived the terrible ordeal of persecutions without , and the passions within , with a tenacity truly wonderful to contemplate ! It is

this simple fact that has astonished the outside world . Secular and religious orders have arisen and spread themselves with marvellous rapidity ; they have been potent and mighty in influencing crowns and kingdoms ; at their nod kings and

princes ~ have trembled and quaked with fear ; but , lo ! they have passed away like chaff before the wind ; and we are left to exclaim , " How are the mighty fallen ?" Beloved brethren , while we are not permitted

to tell the uninitiated what Freemasonry is , we are quite at liberty , if I understand it , to tell them what it is not . It is not , then , in the first place , an idle lounging club got up for the purpose of spending a vacant hour—to chat over , with a

listless indifference , the current topics of the day . It is not a political institution , designed to aid any particular school of politicians , or to discuss the relative merits of this or that party , who lay claim to public consideration , on the basis of some

political policy .- We do not pretend to say , as Freemasons , who shall administer the Government , or who shall fill the important offices of Church and State .

The temple of Freemasonry is not dedicated to ecclesiastical authority , or subjected to religious disputes . We have not decided who are right among the many hundreds and thousands of churches who entertain very different opinions .

Indeed , we have not challenged any particular society to make a comparison between us , in order to show our relative merits , and thereby to lay claim to public notice . We have not blown our horns around the Jericho of other institutions ,

that these may fall before us and acknowledge our superior excellence . In these particulars we can . wash our hands and say , " Verily , we are innocent !"

Not only in the particulars referred to do we differ from other institutions , but there is another line of demarcation which has come under my notice . We do not proselyte . It is not the business of Freemasonry to go out

into the hedges and highways and compel men to come in . Whenever nature implants in the heart of man the superior qualities of justice and honour , she at the same time provides means for the gratification and exercise of such noble principles in

the sphere in which man is found . It must be admitted that there are but few men , generally speaking , who possess the sentiments of justice and honour to the extent necessary to become truthful and consistent Masons . This being the

case , there is no innate desire , in such , to seek a suitable society for the development and gratification of principles that they do not possess . We are not to suppose that there are no characters of this stamp among us . Doubtless , there are many ,

but , remember , they did not find their way through the impulse of justice , and the desire to gratiry a noble principle ; but from curiosity or some other equally selfish and detestable motive . It is not