"Charity Fainteth Not!"

and smooth the path of tho unfortunate in lifo . The consciousness of having done one's duty renders at all times less bitter the sting of adversity ; and thus , whilst sadness and pleasure go hand in hand on occasions such as these to which wo have referred , there is this proud satisfaction

that but for tho continued and unwearied exertions of the Craft , an untold mass of human discomfort and suffering , not only immediate , bufc remote , must go unrelieved . It is only for the brethren to bear in mind that as the years roll on , so is tho demand upon their liberality increased , and

that if we are to justify the fame of which we piondly boast , of being the most benevolent and charitable institution extant , there must be no relaxation of either personal energy or application of purse in support of the great Institutions which are devoted to their several and most

beneficent purposes . We are convinced that the brethren generally recognise to the full their responsibilities in this respect , and that in the session now fully opened for

united work the stream of benevolence will flow on in its nsual course , only with stronger and broader volume , impelled by the overflow of true sympathy in the increasing numbers of cases of real distress which arise deserving ifc .

" Thus Appears Masonry."

" THUS APPEARS MASONRY . "

An Oration delivered hy Right Worshipful Phild A . Norton , of Darlington , at the Dedication of the New Masonic llall , at Platteville , Wisconsin , 25 th July 1883 .

FROM the first record in history till the present time , buildings have been dedicated to the uses for -which they were intended by appropriate forms and ceremonies . Over a thousand years before the Christian era , according to Scriptnral chronology , King Solomon's Temple at Jerusalem , the work of those eminent artists whose memory we revere , was dedicated to the living God . The TempV

and the manner of its dedication were marvellous , as tbey are described in the Sacred Writings . Tho building with its sacred and cunningly wrought vessels and furniture , viewed in the light of sacred or profane history , or of Masonic tradition , is a marvel and a wonder inexplicable to the profane philosopher , classed with the miracnlons by the sacred writers , and by the Fraternity regarded as one of the

granedst events in history , ever to be commemorated for its sublime incidents and the moral lessons symbolized by them . The master builder of this wonderful Temple was one Hiram Abif , a widow ' s son , sent by Hiram , King of Tyre , to Solomon , a man skilled and cnnning'in the work Solomon had in hand . He it wns

who maanfactnred the two pillars of brass with their chapiters and network , which were placed in the porch of the Temple ; one at the right called Jachin , and the other at tbe left called Boaz . Also the Sea of Brass , and all the vessels and ornaments wbich adorned tbe Temple . These were all cast in tho c ' ay ground on the plains of Jordan near Snccotb .

The wood which entered into the Temple was cedar fi * om Lebanon , conveyed by sea in floats to Joppa , and thence to Jerusalem . The walls of the building were of stone , so carefully prepared before it wrs brought thither that there was neither the sound of hamraer , nor axe , nor any tool of iron heard in the house while ifc was building—a period of twenty years .

The Temple was built by the command of God , given to David , and when fnlly completed in all its parts it was dedicated by the King . The ceremony occupied eight days . It was attended by a great concourse of people . An immense orchestra , composed of the priests and Levites furnished music for the occasion . Twent y-two thousand cattle and one hundred and twenty thonsand sheep were

sacrificed . There was undoubtedly an Orator on the occasion , though the sacred history is silent on that point . The most important part of the dedicatory services was the Praver of Kins' Solomon and its visible answer by JEHOVAH . His prayer was delivered from a scaffold erected in one of the courts of thp Temple for the purpose , and was a practical and comprehensive

petition to JEFOVAH to care for and protect the people of Israel , and to bear and answer their prayers . Tbe Sacred Writings inform us that JEHOVAH appeared at nieht to Solomon and answered this prayer as follows * . " I have heard thy prayer , and have chosen this place to myself for an bouse of sacrifice . Now mine eyes shall be open , and my ears ar . tent nnto tbe prayer that is made in this place . And as

for thee , if thou wilt walk before me as David thy father walked , and do according to all that I have commanded thee , and shall observe my statutes and my judgments , then will I establish the throne of thy kingdom according as I havo covenanted with David thy father , Baying there shall not fail thee a man to be ruler in Israel . " This is the first Masonic dedication of which we have anv knowledge , and in obedience to custom thus inangnraterl wo have

met with the brethren at Platteville to dedicate this beantifnl Lodge . The brethren here should be congratulated for their pecuniary ability and taste displayed in the erection of this building , and for thei ? energy , enterprise and devotion to the cause of Masonry , thus exhibited . It is a monument to their love of the princi ples of » fraternity , which is worthy of them , and of which they are worthy children . May charity and the principles of universal brotherhood be ever so

" Thus Appears Masonry."

active with the members of this Lodge , as have been their efforts to erect this edifice , and may their characters be as symmetrical and as pure and spotless as the walls of this beautiful temple to-night , consecrated to brotherly love , virtue , and universal benevolence . I need not to sav to you , my brethren , that Masonry ia one of the noblest of hnman institutions . You know this , for you have tested its

virtues , and you daily attest your devotion to it . The present age is au intensely practical one , so much progress is being made in every department of life , and the activities of every thinking person are in consequence so stimulated , that instinctively the spirit of the age judges everything by its ability . Its tendency to assist or retard progress , at once determines the estimation in

which anything is held at the present day . It follows from this that old institutions , wbich have outlived the necessity which gave them birth , which may have been in their day the greatest aids to civilization in its struggle with ignorance and superstition , but whioh belonged to a plane of activity which the rising tide of civilization has submerged and obliterated , have ceased to interest the present age .

Institutions thns discarded are like the geological stratas in the earth's crust . Ouce they were the life of the planet , and all that could be seen of it at the surface . Now , though still a part of it , and essential to the existence of the whole , they are buried deep out of sight and are forgotten . A difference exists in this respect between societies or movements

for the accomplishment of a specific object , and those which advocate certain general principles , which are as applicable to one condition of society as another . The anti-slavery movement in the United States sought the abolition of slavery in this country and nothing more , and when thafc object was fully accomplished , the movement ceased its activity . The molten mass , fused by the energy

of ngitation and aggressive contention , when it had consumed all opposition to it , cooled and became stratified , and now forms a great nnderlying moral sensibility of the nation , giving character and stability to onr social and political fabric . Onr Fraternity is of the other class . Its objects are the advocacy and practice of charity , benevolence and brotherly affection . In so

far as these objects are realized it is a silent power ever active for the right ; an influence ever present to stimulate virtue . In degree its effect may and does depend upon the stage of intellectual and moral development of the people , but its benign influence is ever present and active like the sunlight whioh wattns the desert and the beantifnl fertile garden alike , however different the effect of its

genial , life-giving rays may be upon them . With institutions like OUTS , great age increases influence . The element of veneration is added . Its age and vigour exemplif y and prove its excellence . Freemasonry is the oldest social organization in tbe world . It also has the largest membership , and exercises the greatest influence . It is in full sympathy with the activities of the

present . Age has not brought infirmity . It is an athlete , though the dust of centuries rests upon its garments . It is as adaptable to frpe America of the Nineteenth Centnry as to the despotisms in Europe of the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries . Its objects do not require it to interfere iu political matters . It is a Masonic landmark that opposition to existing governments , disloyalty and rebellion are not to be countenanced . Freemasonry is a moral fleld .

TJnon his first entry into a Lodge of Freemasons , every initiate is specially charged as follows : " There are three great duties which as a Mason you are charged to inculate—to God , your neighbour , and yourself : To God , in never mentioning His mime but with that reverential awe wbich is due fiom a creature to his creator , to implore His aid in all your laudable undertakings , and to esteem Him

ns tbe Chief Good . To your neighbour , in acting upon the square and doing unto him as yon wish him to do unto yon ; and to yourself , in avo ding all irregularities and intemperance which may impair your faculties and debase the dignity of your profession . " My friends , do not understand me as claiming that all Masons live np to tbe requirements of this charge . Tbey do not , and it is to be deplored

that they do not . One of America s sweetest poets has said , " Not failure , but low aim is crime . " Our Fraternity aims hi gh . Nothing short of moral perfection , bnt while it holds high the standard of moral excellence it recognizes that humanity is weak ; that however strong may be the impulse to do right a scorn of vicious propensities ancl inclinations of equal strength operate in a different

direction . Then the Fraternity exercises charity . It teaches thafc while it is inseparable from humanity to err , it is an attribute of Divinity to forgive ; every Mason is therefore solemnly enjoined to whisppr good counsel in tbe ear of an erring brother , and in the mosfc friendly manner warn him of his dangers and aid him to reform . If " ¦ nod counsel and aids to reformation fail to arrest the downward

course of a brother , then Masonic duty enjoins thafc the strong arm be stretched forth to aid and assist the falling brother . The antiquity of Masonry is in its favour , and should be maintained by Masons so far ns the troth will maintain it . This opens a field of investigation which be ' ongs to tbe antiquarian , and wbich has enlisted the best of talent in tbe past and present . As a result of

these investigations , the truth may be now imperfectly discerned , and is found to lie between the extremes , on the ono hand of writers z ° alous in the cause of Freemasonry , like the Eev . Geo . Oliver , who maintained that Freemasonry existed as it now exists in tbe days of Moses ; thafc Moses was a Grand Master , and that Joshua was hia

Deputy , and Aholiab and Bezaleel were his Grand Wardens , and on the other hand extremists who in an unfriendly spirit toward tbe Fraternity , have maintained that its existence dates bnt little further back than the beginning of tho Eighteenth Century , 'ind that it is an invention of Elias Ashmole and Col . Manwaring , two ingenious

Englishmen . » All admit thafc Freemasonry , as it now exists , is an outgrowth o English ancl Scotch Masonry . It is equally true and undeniable that Freemasonry was imported into England and Scotland from t e continent of Europe , when it had long previously existed . Tbe pw " from the parent stock thus transplanted to England and Scotian