civa iety; equally interested in preserving its order and peace? Do they not owe their personal and their associate security to the laws; their protection to the magistrate? What possible inducement could they have for endangering that security, or forfeiting that protection?

Whatever inteferes with the prosperity of any nation, persuasion, or individual, forms no part of the masonic theme. While the real Mason acts within his sphere, he is a friend to every government which affords him protection; and particularly attached to that country wherein he first drew breath. That is the centre of his circie; the point where his affections are the warmest. His philanthropy is by no means incompatible with patriotism; and when he speaks of being free, and of standing on a level with his brethren, he advances no sentiment in militancy with social or political grades and dignities. He adınits, and is familiar with, the principle of due subordination. He finds its expediency in his own institution; and he knows it essential to good government and order in the community. "To be free is one of the characteristics of his profession; but it is that steady freedom which prudence feels and wisdom dictates;" a freedom which reason honors and virtue sanctions: a freedom from the dominion of passion and the slavery of vice.

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Appeal we to fact, to the history of all nations; and we shall find that Freemasons have always been peaceable and orderly members of society. Submissive, even under governments the most intolerant and oppressive, they silently cultivated their benevolent plan, and secured it confidence and protection by exhibiting in their conduct its mild, pacific, and charitable tendencies.

"See "An apology for the Free and Accepted Masons, occasioned by the persecution of them in the Canton of Berne." Printed at Francfort, 1748, 12mo.

And "An impartial examination of the Act of the associate Synod at Stirling;" by the Rev. Charles Leslie.

In a late British publication is the following observation: "Were there even no other testimony in favor of Freemasonry, the public would not be easily persuaded to look upon that to be big with secret mischief, which is openly espoused by Earl Moira.". Public Characters of 1798 and 1799, vol. 1.

They excited no factious resistance to established authorities, conspired in no turbulent and seditious schemes, exaggerated no grievances, nor even joined in the clamors of popular discontent. Making it a rule never to speak evil of dignities, nor interfere with the claims of lawful authority, they, at all times and in all places, supported the character and obtained the praise of liege subjects, and good citizens.

Recur we to the American history. Were Price, Oxnard, Tomlinson, Gridley, leaders in rebellion? Warren a seditious person? or does Washington countenance conspiracy against government? Are not the members of the fraternity known? Are they such as are generally thought to harbor inimical designs against the civil or ecclesiastical establishment? Are the lodges principally composed of, or governed by, men suspected of disorganizing projects or demoralizing views? You will unite in answering No! Scarcely an individual can be found in our Order who can be thought to favor such principles.

But enough, surely, has been said to convince every candid and unprejudiced mind, that the members of the ancient fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons are incapable of a design so base and villanous as "a conspiracy against religion, government, and social order."

And we, my brethren, know, and it is our boast, that a profound veneration for the Christian verity, and a dignified respect for the government, and a patriotic zeal for the welfare of our country, are among our sacred duties and our dearest interests. In this character and conduct may we still be known and respected; continuing to "walk by the same rule, and to mind the same thing."

The officers and Members of King David's Lodge, this day to be installed and consecrated, will permit me, ere I retire, to congratulate their establishment, and tender them my best wishes.

While your attachment to Freemasonry and zeal in its cause demand the approbation of all its friends, may your lives and virtues confute the slanderous reports of all its enemies.

May your lodge be beautiful as the temple, peaceful as its ark, and sacred as its most holy place! May

your oblations of piety and praise be grateful as the incense, your love warm as its flame, and your charity diffusiue as its fragrance! May your hearts be pure as the altar, and your whole conduct acceptable as the offering! May the approbation of Heaven be your encouragement; and may that benignant Being, "who seeth in secret, reward you openly!"

Finally: May we all be accepted of God; workmen that need not be ashamed, rightly discharging the duties of life. May we abhor that which is evil, and cleave to that which is good; approving ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God; and be continually making approaches to that state where the credit of virtue is established and secure, and its satisfactions perfect and eternal.

PAST D. G. M. OF THE GRAND LODGE OF MASSACHUSETTS, U. 8. HONORARY MEMBER OF THE BANK OF ENGLAND LODGE, LONDON; THE SHAKSPEARE LODGE, WARWICK; THE FIRST LODGE OF LIGHT, BIRMINGHAM; THE ST. PETER'S LODGE, WOLVERHAMPTON; THE WITHAM LODGE, LINCOLN; THE ST. PETER'S LODGE, PETERBOROUGH; LIGHT OF THE NORTH LODGE, LONDONDERRY; ROYAL STANDARD LODGE, KIDDERMINSTER; LODGE RISING STAR, WESTERN INDIA, BOMBAY; ST. GEORGE'S LODGE, MONTREAL; LODGE SOCIAL FRIENDSHIP, MADRAS, ETC.

Αθηνών των Θεοδμητων.-SOPHOCLES.

Græcos Teletas ac Mysteria taciturnitate parietibusque __ clausisse.
VARRO.

SCOPWICK VICARAGE,

August 1, 1849.

DISCOURSE XI.

"With well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God."-1. PETER ii., 15, 16.

men.

I SHALL use these words, my brethren, as the motto to a discourse, wherein I propose, after adverting to the injustice of those imputations which are brought forward against Freemasonry, briefly to consider the way in which we can best preserve it from misrepresentations, and best defend it against censures.

Whilst we feel our minds enlarged by its discoveries, our hearts expanded by its charities, and our satisfactions increased by its influence, we cannot grow indifferent to its interests, nor hear the reproaches repeated against it with the coldness of unconcerned auditors, without emotion and without reply. With honest zeal we come forward; not to contest the subject in "a war of words;" not to discuss, but to demonstrate; not to defend opinions against those whom no reasons will satisfy and no arguments convince; but to vindicate our principles by referring to their effects on our temper and our conduct.

Modesty, which retires from observation; diffidence, which always entertains an humble opinion of its own merit, and avoids ostentation as it does censure; have hitherto restrained us from such a plea: but our enemien impel us to this issue.

1. Freemasonry, you know, is, at the present day viewed in an unfavorable light: and we are considered by some as covenanting on principles, and associated for purposes destructive of civil subordination, and tending to dissoluteness and infidelity; to the disavowal of all that is venerable in virtue or sacred in religion. In vain have we repeatedly unfolded our sentiments to public examination, in the most honest, ingenious, and explicit

ON THE BEST WAY OF defending FREEMASONRY.

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manner. Our protestations are disregarded: and while every paltry pamphlet or paragraph written in opposition to us is eagerly read and implicitly believed; what we publish, particularly the Book of Constitutions, which contains our laws and ceremonies, is never enquired after, never consulted.

My brethren, our inexorable accusers arraign us at the tribunal of the public, to defend ourselves, not against what they know, but what they suspect; to answer, not for what they have experienced, but what they fear. This is taking us at great disadvantage: and the unfairness, as well as injustice of such an allegation, will excuse our passing it by in silent contempt. We challenge them to point out the instances in which we have appeared the advocates or abettors of immorality or rebellion! We submit our actions to their prying investigation; hoping, besure, some allowance for the frailties and imperfections incident to humanity; arrogating to ourselves no immaculate purity nor indefectible virtue; but neither needing nor asking apology for anything that is peculiar to us as Masons.

Assured that whatever follies or imprudencies may have injured our credit as men, and that whatever vices have wounded our character as Christians, it never justified the former nor allowed the latter, let us exculpate our institution; and frankly declare that our errors and crimes are from another source, the weakness and depravity of human nature, the incitements to evil, and the corruptions of the world, to which all alike are exposed.

A distinction must be made between what is attributive to Freemasonry, and what is not; between what is within its influence, and what is beyond its sphere. For though we may safely declare that it is impracticable to ascend into these regions without improvement of the heart, and enlargement of the understanding, and without carrying along with us into the world we are obliged to act in, something to purify our conduct and meliorate our condition; yet we do not pretend that Masonry was inisttuted for the express purpose of teaching morals. And though all its rites, ceremonies, and charges, imply the necessity, and express the importance of piety and virtue, and with impressive solemnity inculcate their