1876. Past, Present, And Future.

1876 . PAST , PRESENT , AND FUTURE .

AVE live to hail the Centennial of our Nation , and to celebrate the completion of its hundred years of growth and grandeur . We see the close of the century ; there are but few living who saw its beginning . That entire generation of noble men and women

—the lathers and mothers of a great nation —have passed on to a silent land , while we , their children and grandchildren , to the third and fourth generation , live to celebrate their patient sufferings and heroic deeds , and thank God that we live in

better and brighter days . AVe owe a debt of gratitude to Him who shapes , alike , the destiny of nations and of individuals , for his Providential goodness to us as a nation . He was with our fathers in the wilderness and through battle and blood—throug h

suffering and conflict—throug h toil and deprivation—until , after ei ght years of trial , he brought them forth victorious—a free and independent nation . AVhat can

we say but , bending beneath the Royal Arch , exclaim , " the Lord is good , and His mercy endureth for ever . " And we should be grateful to the fathers , —the grand old heroes of ' 76 , "who fought and bled in Freedom ' s cause , " and for and for

won us , future generations , the freedom and privilege , and national distinction we now enjoy . Thanks to the fathers who fought om- battles , and rescued us from a foreign yoke , and made us " a free and independent nation " and thanks to

; the mothers who bore their share of the burdens , and aided to the utmost of their ability , in the great work of redemption . Noble fathers and noble mothers ! a hundred years make their memories and their virtues dearer to usand we bend at

; their shrines with grateful recollection of their sacrifices and sufferings . AVe think of them in the good old clays of' 76 ; we admire their heroic sufferings and uncomplaining endurance , and we echo the sentiment .-

" Then let our glowing hearts unite , Our grateful memories to bestow ' On those who wrought such noble deeds This year a hundred years ago , " ' We shall learn the full meanino- 0 f the word " Centennial" before the year closes .

All nations will be represented beneath the stars and stripes at Philadel phia , hi the great World ' s Exposition , and all will send their representatives to do homage to the growth , aud wealth , and power , and achievements of the United States durin < r

the hundred years just past . But we leave all this for others , as the press of the country will teem with facts and statistics coucerning our national growth in extent and population , as well as our progress in the sciences , in agriculture , and the

mechanic arts . There will be enough said on these and kindred subjects , perhaps too much . A hundred years ago there were comparatively but few Lodges of Freemasons in our country , and they were scattered in the cities and towns of the

Atlantic States . But three or four Provincial Grand Lodges existed , and no independent Grand Lodge . Now , there is a Grand Lodge in every State in the Union , and in most of the Territories , Lodges duly chartered and legally at work , are found

everywhere , while our members number over half a million . We shall endeavour soon to furnish a table of statistics on this subject which though it may uot be perfect , will give a proximate view of the extent and numbers of the Masonic family in the United States .

But we should not so much boast of numbers , or achievements ; and in this regard we have little to boast of . The charities bestowed by the Lodges are small , and much of the amount goes to impostors and the unworthy . We have

built no " Homes " for the aged and the destitute worthy , norschoolsforthe indigent orphan . The Craft in Kentuck y have clone nobl y , but in what other State has there been so much expended , or the tenth part as muchto provide for the indigent

, orjjhans of deceased Masons ? AVe say , just here , at the beginning of 1876 , that in the sole mission of Freemasonry is to " confer degrees , " it is not worth the expense or labour bestowed on it . Charity has always been the watch-word of the

Craft ; we claim it as the crown of g lory of our Institution . If we do not make it the great business of the Order , —if this God-like work is sacrificed to show and banquets—to splendid regalia and beautiful parades , —then we are no longer worthy of the glorious banner under which we