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, and return to thee with all their heart, and with all their soul, then hear thou in heaven, they dwelling-place, and forgive their sin, and 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 and homage. We are now going to dedicate this fair mansion to the noblest purposes, to Masonry, virtue, and benevolence; and 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 our 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 and human sentiments, and became like beasts; they fed in the same manner with their fellow brutes; and if they saw any of the human species, they fled away, and hid themselves in caves, and inaccessible holes. See Evagrius, lib. 1. Eccles. Hist. 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 and private utility. Yet let us beware, lest in the unguarded moments of convivial chearfulness, we give too large 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 groveling swine. ONE word more and I have done :-This Temple of Solomon looked towards the east: let us frequently direct our eyes to the same quarter, where the dayspring from on high visited us; where the sun of righteousness rose with healing in his wings; and cherubs and seraphs ushered in the dawn of the evan, gelic day, with this gracious song, Glory be to God on high, and in earth peace, good-will towards men! SOLOMON'S TEMPLE, AN ORATORIO. SOLOMON, the GRAND MASTER, HIGH PRIEST. HIRAM, the WORKMAN. URIEL, ANGEL of the SUN. SHEBA, QUEEN of the SOUTE. CHORUS of PRIESTS and NOBLES. SOLOMON. RECITATIVE. CONVEN'D we're met, chief oracle of heav'ng To whom the sacred mysteries are giv❜n, We're met to bid a splendid fabric rise, HIGH PRIEST. And lo! where Uriel, angel of the sun, AIR. Behold he comes upon the wings of light, And with his sunny vestment chears the sight. URIEL. RECITATIVE. The Lord Supreme, Grand Master of the skies! Who bid creation from a chaos rise, The rules of architecture first engrav'd Chorus of Priests and Nobles. To heaven's high Architect all praise, All gratitude be giv'n, Ff } Who deign'd the human soul to raise, By secrets sprung from heav'n. SOLOMON. RECITATIVE. Adam well vers'd in arts, Gave to his sons the plumb and line To the deep organ tun'd the strain. AIR. And while he swell'd the melting note, HIGH PRIEST. RECITATIVE, accompanied. Upon the surface of the waves, (When God a mighty deluge pours) Noah a chosen remnant saves, And laid the ark's stupendous floors. URIEL. AIR. Hark from on high the Mason word: "David, my servant, shall not build "A Lodge for heaven's all sov'reign Lord: "Since blood and war have stain'd his shield: "That for the deputy, his son, "We have reserv'd-Prince Solomon. Da Capo Chorus of Priests and Nobles. Sound great JEHOVAH's praise ! SOLOMON. RECITATIVE. So grand a structure shall we raise. Then men shall wonder! Angels gaze! By art divine it shall be rear'd, Nor shall the hammer's noise be heard. CHORUS. Sound great JEHOVAH's praise! Who bade King Solomon the temple raise. URIEL. RECITATIVE. To plan the mighty dome, Hiram the mighty Master Mason, 's come. URIEL. AIR. We know thee, by thy apron white, An architect to be; We know thee, by thy trowel bright, We know thee, by thy jewel's blaze, Instructed, thou the Lodge shalt raise; HIRAM. AIR. Not like Babel's haughty building, Shall our greater Lodge be fram'd; That to hideous jargon yielding, Neither sign nor word they knew; |