An Address

AN ADDRESS

Delivered hj the Hon . and Eev . Bro . J . W . LEIGH , Prov . G- Chap . Warwickshire , on the occasion of the meeting of the Prov . G . Lodge of Warwickshire . It has once again become my pleasing duty to ¦ address the Grand Lodge of this province , upon

subjects connected with Masonry ; and I feel that hoAvever inadequately I may perform the part ¦ allotted to me , it is ever a work of love to discourse upon those subjects Avhich must be nearest and dearest to the heart of every one of vou .

Let me , then , brethren , say a feAv words to you upon that which is most closely connected with Masonry—I mean Virtue . I say closely connected , because every Mason is pledged to pious virtue , and every lodge , in the name of the Great

Architect of the Universe , is dedicated to virtue . Let us start with this consideration—What is virtue ? Iu order properly to state the definition

of that word I must go back to ancient records and a dead language . The Greek for virtue is "apere . Now at first si ght it may seem strange when I tell you the derivation of the word apery . It Avas from Apeo- —Mars , or the God of War ; but

this derivation is easily reconcileable when we consider that the human race was then in a purely ¦ nomadic and barbarous state . Physical prowess , skill , and bravery in the chase and in war were the highest recommendations . We see this

exemplified in the deities and heroes that man then worshipped in Hercules , in Apollo , in Castor , in Pollux—might was right ; and the laAvs of civilization , property , and internationality were altogether disregarded ; but although this state

¦ of things Avas not to last even through a heathen age , the word -yere remained and came to be applied to excellence of any kind , moral , physical , and technical . The refined Greek in the march

of civilization became a follower and a worshipper © f other ideals than mere brute strength . Beauty , as represented by Aphrodite wisdom , as represented by Minerva , began to bold a higher position amongst a more civilized community ,

and throughout the works of the Greek philosopher Suce , aMOia , and apere , as representing jnstice , truth , and virtue , held the highest position in the magnificent Avorks Avhich they produced to improve the morals of the age . The orator

Cicero , the poets Virgil and Horace , endorsed the Greek opinion in their views of virtus and justitia ; and in the writings of Scripture Ave find the zealous Peter impressing on the Christian con-

An Address

verts the necessity of ape-re , or Virtue , in language reinarkableforits fineness ancl simplicity— "Add to your faith virtue ; and to virtue knowledge ; and to knowledge temperance ; and to temperance patience ; and to patience Godliness ; and to

Godliness brotherly kindness ; and to brotherly kindness Charity . " * That is , to your virtue add that practical , discriminating knowledge , of Avhich it is said in the Epistle to the Ephesians , " Be not univise , but understanding what the

will of the Lord is " —that knowledge which , in the language of the Apostle , produces temperance , a steady holding in hand of the passions and tempers , and ( to continue the paraphrase of the Apostle's words ) , beget patience , not a mere brute

stoical endurance , but a patient submission in afflictions and trials of a God-fearing ancl Godtrusting kind , from Avhence social virtues follow , such as brotherly love , which admits of no

moroseness in the exercise of your piety , no sullen , solitary habit of life , but a kind , courteous generosity , inducing that summum bonum of all virtues taken in its largest sense , viz ., Charity , a universal kindness of thought , Avord , and act , towards

all , a catholic large heartedness . Such are the graces Avhich bring forth fruit toward the mature knowledge of all that is above the earth , earthy—which produce a perfect knoAvledge , ethically as Avell as doctrinally of all the treasures

of wisdom . These are the results which flow from the Cardinal principles of virtue . Eesults which are peculiarly applicable to this occasion , as our Craft , our very inner Masonic life dedicates itself to a moral , pious and universal virtue , resting firmly on

the pillars of strength and beauty . A strength which implies labour not only for your own advantage , but a labouring in the cause of others . A beauty Avhich fadeth not away , but which rests on the solid fonndations of a contented mind and a ,

spotless conscience . Truly may each individual Mason echo the Avords of the Latin poet , " exegi monumentum tere peremrius . " - )* Truly may he say I have endeavoured to rear a memorial Avhich shall live in the hearts of succeeding generations .

Man ' s material works may perish , the stone may crumble , the Avood may decay , the brass may rust , but the fonndations of my order are built on the great abstract principles of moral and religious rectitude ; 23 rinci ] Dles Avhich are coeval with creation and unaffected by time ; principles