Imágenes de página
PDF
ePub

The Pass-master with his jewels.

The Wardens with their jewels and columns.

The Treasurer with his jewels, bearing a silver plate properly inscribed for the occasion.

The Banner-bearer, carrying the banner.

The brethren hand in hand, succeeding two and two.

When they arrived within a little distance of the ground, they were joined by Mr. Morritt and the Rev. Mr. Zouch, properly apparelled, who fell into the pro

cession.

A close tent was pitched for the reception of the brethren in due form; the Tyler and Deacons encircling the tent, to keep it private, and.guard off the populace.

The concourse of people who crowded the banks of the river, on this occasion, was almost incredible.

After some few minutes refreshment, the Lodge proceeded from the tent to the river side; where, with the usual ceremonies, the foundation stone was laid by the Master of the Lodge, and the inscription plate inserted therein, amidst the acclamations of the people.

On the Lodge returning, the brethren changed their disposition; those who were last in procession, now marching first, the officers succeeding, till they approached the tent, when the brethren opened their lines, and, with a salute, let the officers pass through according to their rank.

After the tent had been closed for some minutes, the walls or skirts of it were thrown down, and admission was

G g

given to as many ladies and gentlemen as it could contain, the whole being open to the view of the populace; when an Oration suitable to the occasion was pronounced by the Master.

The Lodge proceeded from thence in procession to Rookby-hall, where they were most elegantly entertained at dinner; there being forty-seven Masons at the table, the Tyler and band remaining during the repast without.

The utmost regularity and temperance was observed; and at six in the evening the procession set forward to return to the Lodge room at Barnardcastle, in the same order they had proceeded in the morning.

By particular desire, the ORATION was given to the press, and is published for the benefit of the charitable fund of the Lodge.

THE EDITOR.

AN

ORATION ON MASONRY.

THE ceremonies of this day, together with the duties of my office, call upon me to exhort the Brethren thus assembled to a due exertion of the principles of Masonry.

FULLY to comprehend our profession, is the most certain means of performing our duty.

IN forming the society of Free and Accepted Masons, which is at once religious and civil, the utmost attention has been given to the honour of God.

In those times, when Free-Masonry had its rise, the minds of men were possessed of allegories, emblems, and mystic devices, in which peculiar sciences, manners and maxims were wrapped up-this was a project arising in the earliest ages-the Egyptian priests secreted the mysteries of their religion from the vulgar eye, by symbols and hieroglyphics, comprehensible alone to those of their own order.-The priests of Rome and Greece practised other subtleties, by which the powers of divination were enveiled; and their oracles were intelligible alone to their brethren, who expounded them to the people.

THOSE examples were readily adopted for the purpose of concealing the mysteries of Masonry.

We do not regard ourselves, as a society of men, arising from mere architects and builders; but as men professing themselves servants of the Great Architect of the World; and assuming symbols expressive of our being devoted to the service of the true God. Men had experienced that from religion all civil ties and obligations were compacted, and that thence proceeded the only bonds which could unite mankind in social intercourse. Hence it was that our originals, the founders of this Society, laid the corner stone of the erection on the bosom of religion.

As a Society professing ourselves servants of the Deity, the Lodge in which we assemble, when revealed, presents a representation of the world-the Great Architect hath spread over the earth the illuminated canopy of Heaven-such as the veil wherewith Solomon covered the Temple at Jerusalem, of blue, of crimson, and purple; and such is the covering of the Lodge. As an emblem of God's power, his goodness, his omnipresence and eternity, the Lodge is adorned with the image of the Sun; which he ordained to arise from the east and open the day, to call forth the people of the earth to their worship, and to their exercise in the walks of Virtue.

REMEMBERING the wonders in the beginning, we wear the figures of the Sun and Moon; thence implying, that we claim the auspicious countenance of Heaven on our virtuous deeds; and, as true Masons, stand redeemed from darkness, and are become the Sons of Light---acknowledging in our profession our reverence and adoration to him who gave light into his works;

and, by our practice, shewing, that we carry our emblems into real life, as the children of Light, by turning our backs on works of Darkness, Obscenity and Drunkenness, Hatred and Malice, Satan and his dominions; preferring Charity, Benevolence, Temperance, Chastity and Brotherly Love, as that acceptable service, on which the Great Master of all, from his beatitude, looks down with approbation.

THE same divine hand (pouring forth gifts of benevolence) which hath blest us with the sight of his glory in the Heavens, hath also spread the earth with a beauteous carpet---he hath wrought it, as it were, in Mosaic work; and that he might still add beauty to the earth, he hath skirted and bordered it with the wavy ocean.

As the steps of man tread incessantly in the various and uncertain incidents of life, as our days are chequered with innumerable events; and our passage through this existence is attended with a variety of circumstances: so is the Lodge furnished with Mosaic work, to remind us of the precariousness of our state on earth---to day our feet tread in prosperity, to-morrow we totter on the uneven paths of Weakness, Temptation and Adversity---whilst this emblem is before us, we are instructed to boast of nothing, to have compassion, and to give aid to those in distress; to walk uprightly, and with humility.

THE emblem of Prudence is placed in the centre. of the Lodge, and is the first and most exalted object there ever to be present to the eye of the Mason, that

« AnteriorContinuar »