Random Thoughts—Ii.

posely for him , and uncheered by that smile whicli is AA-orth more than the wealth of the Indies , and without ivhich grim despair would soon assert its dominions , to the destruction of its unhappy victims . Well , therefore , was the power of woman shadoAA'ed forth by the ancients in their enduring columnsbased as they are upon that strength without which

, woman Avould be incapable of breasting the storm of life , or the rough seas of human passion and prejudices . And well also were these three columns , when combined , chosen to represent those three glorious attributes which Masonry links together . as wisdom , strength , and beauty . AMPLIFICATOK .

Masonry And Its Mission.

MASONRY AND ITS MISSION .

I ' The folloiving address was delivered before trie Sfc . German ' s Lodge , ( A . ' o . 221 ) , Irish Constitution , at Peel , in the Isle of Alan , on the 24 th of A lav , 1 S 59 , by Bro . RO . BEIU' BRUCJ'AVILLIS , AV . AI ., Xo . 221 ; P . M ., No . in ? " ; P . Prov . S . G . D ., Cumberland , & c . & e . ] THE subject , brethren , to which I wish to direct your attention this evening is one of the deepest importance , not only to the Craft in generalbut also to ourselves individuall y

, , affecting , as it does , both our temporal and eternal interests most nearly : that subject is "Masonry and its Mission . " VYe learn , on our admission into the Order , that it is an institution founded upon the purest principles of morality and virtue , and possessed of great and invaluable privileges to worthy men , and to worthy men alone . And here I will

quote the words of a few distinguished brethren , both writers in years long since passed , and also those of more recent , date . In a MS . written by King Henry VI ., Ave read , " Ttt beeth the skylle of nature , the understandynge of the myghte that ys hereynne , and its sonclrye werkynges ; sonderlyche the skylle of reckennynge of waightcs and rnetynges ,

and the time manere of facomiynge al thynges for n ramies use headlye divellynges and buyldynges of alle kyuds , and all other thynges that mako guclde to manne . " Preston ( 1772 ) says , "Masonry is a science confined to no particular country , but extends over tire whole terrestrial globe . " " Preemasonry , " says a learned foreign author , "is a moral order instituted b y virtuous men , with the praiseivorthy design of recalling to our remembrance the most sublime truths in the midst of the most innocent and social pleasures , founded on liberality ,

brotherly love , and charity . " Bro . the Eev . IT . S . Rutchei briefly defines Freemasonry to be "the religion of benevolence . " Dr . Oliver , in his "Antiquities of Freemasonry , ' says , it is a science which includes all others , and teaches mankind their duty to God , their neighbour , and themselves ; and in another place he says , speculative Masonry is nothin "

else than a system of ethics founded on the belief of a God , tlie creator , preserver , and redeemer , Avhich includes a strict observance ofthe duties AVC OAVC to each other , inspires in the soul a veneration for thc Author of its being , and incites to the pure worship of the incomprehensible Trinity in Unity . . Dr . Anderson says , " the end and purport of Masonry is to

subdue our passions , not to do our OAVII will ; to make a daily progress in a laudable art , and to promote morality , charity , good fellowship , good nature , and humanity . " From thc above definitions ( and did time and space \ I 11 OAV I could adduce numerous others ) we gather that Masonry is a beautiful system of moralityveiled in allegory and illustrated b

, y symbols . Truth is its centre—the point Avhence its origin diverges , pointing out to its disciples a correct knoAvled"c of the Great Architect of thc universe , and the moral laivs ivhich he has ordained for their government . Who does not know and feel that man is ordained to converse with his brethrento impart mutual information by the

, interchange of their sentiments and reflections , and by the aid of sympathy to sooth his sorroivs and assuage his pains ? Who has not tasted the pleasures of social life , or been charmed with the more intimate union , of friendship—for as ( he wise Solomon has it , " a friend loveth at all times , and

a brother is born for adversity . ( Prov . xvii ., 17 . ) Therefore , who does not find in himself sufficient impulse to the use ot the one and the enjoyment of the other . The principal intention in forming societies is undoubtedly the uniting men in the stricter bonds of love , and for mutual assistance for men , considered as social creatures , must derive their

hapjriness from each other ; every man being designed by Providence to promote the good of others as he tenders his OAATI advantage ; and by that intercourse to secure their good offices , as being , as occasion may offer , serviceable unto them . And what society answers so fully to this description and unites so many of these purposes and advantages as

Preemasonry ? Founded on a liberal and extensive plan , the three great pillars of which are brotherly love , relief , and truth , its benignities extend to every individual of the human race , and its adherents are collected from every nation underheaven , upon Avhich account Masonry is become the centre of union and the means of conciliating friendship among men

that mi g ht othei-Avise have remained at a perpetual distance . From instances of popular tumults , factious panics , and of all passions which are shared by a multitude , we may learn the influence of society in exciting and supporting any emotion , Avhile the most ungovernable disorders are raised , we find , by that means from the slightest and most frivolous occasions .

He must be more or less than a man who kindles not at the common blaze . What wonder then , that moral sentiments are found of such , influence in life , though springing from princi ples AA'hich may appear at first si ght someAvhat small and delicate .

At all times and in all ages we find endeavours have been made to overthrow , and to jirejudice mankind against those institutions and men , Avhose principles and practices are for the benefit of society . We read that when Tertullus pleaded against St . Paul , the chief accusation on which he founded his plea was , his being a ringleader of the sect of the

Namrenes , and this sect ( said the Jews ) we know is everywhere spoken against . And why was this sect thus spoken against' ? Was it from any evil they knew of its professors , or from mere ignorance and prejudice ? We find nothing of the former , but undoubted proof of the latter . And this I take to be pretty much the case in respect to Masomy , as flowin" *

from the same corrupted source . As to any objections that have been raised against the Order , they are as ridiculous as they are groundless , for what can be greater folly in any man than to attempt to vilify - that of which he knows nothing ; yet , strange to say , there are some foolish and envious men Avho attempt to injure and vilify the Order by bringing charges of infidelity , deism , rebellion , and other impure and unholy practices against it ; and at the same time these men , who had the cool impudence

to declaim against Masonry , and to write books on tin ; subject , were never initiated into the noble Order , and consequently could knoAv nothing concerning it . Contrast such men as Payne and Carl yle , ( infidels ) , Adams , Barrnel , Robison and Trevilian , Soane , E . C . Pryer , and other penny-a-liners , our opponents—if we can confer such dignity

upon them as to st yle them opponents—with the names of Zetland , Leinster , Athole , and the Dukes of Sussex and Richmond , in our own time , besides hosts of others , as Wellington , the Archbishop of Canterbury , Washington , George Prince of AVales , and his brothers , and the long line of men , noble alike by their birth , station , talents and

virtues , who for centuries have , with a just pride , boasted of belonging to the Craft ; for to so hi gh an eminence has its credit been advanced that in every age monarchs themselves have become the promoters of the art , have not thought it beneath them to exchange the sceptre for the ti-OAvel . have patronized our mysteries and joined in our assemblies . They call us atheists , but no infidel can be admitted into the Order ; here , at the outset , they show their utter ignorance , for the Book of Constitutions , pub-