Why Masonry Prospers.

experience upon the occasion . From its humble infancy , nine years since , when it numbered but six Lodges , the Grand Ledge has grown , amid tbe confiding liberality of the people of Illinois , to its present prosperous and vigorous condition . Sixty-three Lodges are represented hero to-day .

Having fcean organised at a time when the Masonic institntion had just gone through the fieiy ordeal of public persecution , it has had to undergo the watchful jealousy of the politician—the lukewarm confidence of the mere

moralist—and the doubting forbearance of the Christinn . Our presence here to-day , my brethren , and your presence , ladies and gentlemen , show bow well we have bovno the trial .

Let us then examine , in a brief manner—I . The character of our time-honoured institution ; IT . The trials which have obstructed its progress ; and III . The cause of its present prosperity . I . Masonry is a volontaiy league for the promotion of

Freedom and Virtue . In examining this proposition we do not ask you to follow us through the difficult mazes of ancient Masonic history . Go back only a single century , when Masonry was unquestionably what it is now . It was thin practised by o \\ v forefathers in England and

America , and bore its presont English name . It is therefore easy to trace it , step by step , to the present hour . And when wo say that its progress has been so interwoven with the spread of liberty among men that tbe history of freedom is but an account of the influences of Masonrv , we

simply state a proposition susceptible of the most ample proof . Long before the cardinal principles set foifch JJi n the glorious charter of onr liberties had bscome the acknowledged text-book of Freedom for the world , they were taught around the Masonic altar in our Lodges . The

official jewel of your Senior Warden , Most Worshipful Master , is to us but the familiar emblem of that equality proclaimed in tbe Declaiation of Independence , " All men are created equal . " And no well-regulated Lodge is over closed without the reiteiation of this principle from the

Warden ' s lips . That " all governments derive their just powers from the corsent of the governed" is another fundamental principle in Masoniy . The will and the welfare of the ir >? iny determine the choice of our Officers ; at d the Master of a Lodge , and yon , Most Worshipful

Master of tbe Grand Lodge , feel that you but represent the will of the majority . Like the Chief Officer of our National and Slate Governments , Masters of Grand and Subordinate Lodges are required , at their installation , to pledge themselves , in all their official acts , to abide by the Masor ' c constitutions .

But the resemblance 1 jtween the character of onr National government and tho Masonic institution stops not here . Both are governed by a written constitution ; both acknowledge the controlling voice of the Majority ; both admit no official superiors but snch as themselves have

chosen ; both limit the terms of office by the previously determined will of tbe electors . A general and a local government are common to both . The stranger from every kindred and every clime may be naturalised and fraternised in both . " Liberty—Equality—Fraternity "—words which

have been linked together and proclaimed with such magic power by the people of Fidnco ' u their late successfr revolution , and which now pron-. 'j to be' jme the watchword of freedom to all Europe—th- 3 have for ages been familiar to the ear of eveiy Mason . Many a listening ear

had hung upon the lips of him who fell at Banker Hill , and thus caught the first principle of Freedom from their beloved Grand Master , the lamented Warren ! Tbe leading spirits of Boston , in its revolutionary days , had assembled with him around the same Masonic altar , and

together invoked the blessing of Jehovah for the freedom of the world . Long before the declaration of American independence there were Grand Lodges in Massachusetts , in Virginia , and in South Carolina , and subordinate Lodges were at work in most of the other colonies . In the army of

the Revolution the practice of its solemn rites was not omitted ; and we have authentic records of " Washington Lodge , " of which General Patterson was Mr iter , and which was chartered by the Grand Lodge of MasFichusetts as a Travelling Lodge in the army . Montgomery was au active

Mason ; Gates was a Mason ; Sullivan , Lincoln , Knox , Lee , Schuyler , De Kalb , Lafayette—these were names which adorned the Order then . Finally , that great and good man , whose example should wei g h so much with every American—Washington—waa an ardent and active Mason . And now , think you this glorious institution , the

Why Masonry Prospers.

foundation of whose Temple was laid upon the level of equality , reared by the plumb of moral rectitude , and squared by the square of virtue ; whose lively stones wero by the Masonic trowel cemented together with brotherl y love and affection ; whose capstone was no less than " Him

whom tho builders rejected , but who "has now become tho head-stone of the corner ; " whose bouudaries were vast as from east to west , from north to sonth , and within whose solemn precincts weie equally welcome the men of every clime , and upon whose sacred altar the Holy Bible

lay always open , guiding them and urging them to that active virtue which manifests itself in brotherly love , relief and trnth ; think you that Masonry , who first taught her votaries the golden rules of freedom and equality among themselves , did not thereby aid in awaking that longing for

political liberty which first lighted tbe torch of Revolution at Loxiugtou and at Concord ? Aye ! Masonry was a Bunker Hill ! She saw the life-blood flow when Warren fell , but faltered not . She followed Franklin to the Hall of Congress , and watched over the national council . The

Declaration of Independence had made her princi ples the political creed of a nation ; and when the storm of war was over , and triumphant Peace saw the assembled representatives of the nation consulting upon a future form of

government , who shall say that she did not aid in tempering the rancour of sectional discord , and thus promote that temperance , fortitude , prudence and justice , which brought their deliberations to so happy an end !

And now let us reply to the oft-repeated charge , in times of persecution , that Masonry is a political institution . Trulv it is even so ! Bat that its influences aro of a

partizan character ; that it ever sustains one party , composed of its members , aud opposes another , which is not ; that it ever plots for political power ; that it ever kneels for political favour ; that it ever Bwerves from political duty , or shrinks from its responsibility , is false

Within the halls of Masonry the din of political discord is uever heard . Around her altars gather not only the men of every clime—Christian , Jew , Mahometan and Hindooall who are willing and worthy to join the league of

brotherly love—bnt every sect and every party of each , And he who thinks that harmony can harmonise all these , till they shall come together for a common government or common creed would give her superhuman power . No , no . The follower of Mahomet leaves his turban and his

crescent at the door ; the Christian takes his Jewish brother by the hand , and , having without the emblematic cross which separates their faith , they approach the shrine of Masonry together , and bow before the altar of Jehovah , the common God of all .

But there is a mode in which Masonry exerts a political influence;—by teaching to its votaries the principles of equality , the necessity of law , tho duty of subordination , and the excellence of order iu all things . The influence of Masoniy is , then , of a general , not of a partizan nature .

It prepares men for the reception of political freedom ; but that freedom is based upon the most perfect submission to the authority which the majority have chosen to rule . And this is the true reason why tyrants in all countries havo opposed its progress . The doctrine that " all men are created equal" in incompatible with arbitrary power .

II . We now come to the second branch of our subjectthe trials which have heretofore obstructed the progress of Masonry . It is probable the institution owes by far the greater

portion of its trials , in times past , to that cardinal principle of the Order , secrecy . To understand the valne and the necessity of this principle , we must go back to a former age , and to other lands than this at the present age .

In that wonderful discourse to the assembled multitudes

upon the Mount , by the lips of Him who " spake as never man spake , " they were told , "Ye have heard that it hath been said , Thou shalt love th y neighbour and hate thine enemy ; but I say unto you , Love your enemies ; bless them that curse you ; do good to them that hate yoa ; and pray

for them that despitefully use you and persecute you . Never till that hour was the doctrine of Love proclaimed among men . Never till that honr was the lex talionis publicity denied . " An eye for an eye and a tooth for a

tooth " was not only current law throughout the world , but was even believed to have the sanction of the Almighty Lawgiver ! Admit the early origin of Masonry which our traditions teach , and which most candid historians acknowledge—how could it have borne the exposition of its principles a single day ? What ! tell tho multitude that