On The Principles Of Freemasonry.

the Prov . G . M ., Bro . Sir Archibald Alison , Bart ., who prefaced his address by remarking that often as it had been his' privilege and great gratification to preside at meetings of this kind , he could safely say that he never rose at them Avith so

much pleasure as he did on the present occasionseeing before him an assembly unprecedented he might say in Scotland , in point of numbers , respectability , and influence . He was delighted to see such a large gathering of people to testify

their adherence to and approbation of the principles of Freemasonry . They could easily see that some cause must have been at work to produce so great an accession to the ranks of Freemasonry as Avas proved by the assembly before

him , and it was not difficult to tell Avhat that cause was . Sir Archibald then adverted to the proceedings in connection with the recent appointment of a Grand Master for Renfrewshire . He

rejoiced in Avhat had taken place , because it showed hoAv hi ghly the offices of Freemasonry were regarded in Scotland , Avhen two gentlemen of high character and position and great fortune competed so ardently for the post in question .

The result of this had been great additions to the ranks of Fieemasonry , and the present festival showed that the Freemasons of GlasgoAV , if they conducted their contests like men , concluded them like Freemasons . It Avas good that their quarrels

ended , like those of lovers , in the renewal of amity . The Prov . G . M . then proceeded as follows : — He was sure it was the desire of all present that the principles of Freemasonry should spread widely throughout society , and he could assure

them , from a recollection Avhich he Avas sorry to say extended oyer sixty years , that the Avorld has seldom , if ever , in the course of his experience been so divided or the principles of Freemasonry so much set at naught as at present . Since those

re-unions began , wonderful changes had taken place , and most of these changes for the worse had arisen from setting the principles of Freemasonry at naught . The expected reign of peace , justice , and equality in the Republic of America

had been broken by a contest of unprecedented vehemence and devastation—a contest which in four years had cost the lives of about 400 , 000 men and the contraction of 600 million of debt . If they looked to the other side they saAV in Germany nothing but the indulgence of the selfish passions . They saw Denmark spoliated without

a vestige of protection . They had likewise seen a great Power conclude a dreadful war in seven , days . South of the Alps they saw the Popa about to be . driven from his capital , which his . predecessors had held for a thousand years ,..

Again , on the other side , westward , he was sorry to say , they found that the demon of Avar had even , infected our OAVU shores . They were every day in expectation of an outbreak , ancl that very day they had received intelligence of the first serious ,

act of hostility . Where would they find a remedy for this state of society , in Avhich the angry and . selfish passions had acquired so great a preponderance ? He had no hesitation in saying that it could only be found in the spread and increased , influence of the principles of Freemasonry . They need not be surprised at greater results arising .

from less promising causes . Let them recollect , that the fate of the Avorld had been changed by a , faith which began from still smaller numbers-. Eighteen hundred years ago , principles were . , preached on the shores of Galilee , svliich then had ...

the most unpromising of all appearances ; for they were surrounded by hostility on every side .. Where Avere these principles now , and where Avera the powers / which endeavoured to oppose them ? The jjrinciples of Freemasonry were the principles ..

of loving their neighbours as themselves—tha principles of the Gospel . Having laid Freemasonry on that foundation , he left it there to take its . chance in all future ages . There was another circumstance which he thought he should bring ' ,

under their notice on this occasion , as commemorating an event of unprecedented importance and interest which had occurred within these

fewmonths . By the patriotic efforts of English merchants , aided by the skill and talent of English philosophers—among' whom he Avas happy to say their friend and countryman . Sir William Thomson . .. bore a high p lace—they saw a cable laid betwixt .

Great Britain and America . They saAV , as it were * , two nations separated by 3 , 000 miles of oceaa shaking hands at the bottom of the great sea . They might well be astonished at such an event ,,, and to observe how human ingenuity and

perseverance and talent acquired such a marvellous , power over the most evanescent and the most ¦ ephemeral power of nature . We saw that these powers of nature gave Avay to the effects of human . , perseverance . So rapid was the progress of science in these respects , and so wonderful the changesmade , that he did not despair , if he lived a few-