A CHARGE, AT THE OPENING OF A LODGE. BRETHREN, I BEHOLD you again assembling together, with thofe complacent emotions of affection which animate the meeting of deareft friends that have been fome time separated. AFTER this interval you must have acquired an increased relish for the interefting exercises of this retreat; and you undoubtedly return with new alacrity to your labors of love. AND now, brethren, with that closing door, the bufy world is fhut out and with it, all its perplexities, and cares, and forrows. None of them are fuffered to intrude upon our happy privacy. Here nothing enters but "innocent pleasures, pure joys, and rational gaities." COME, then, ye who are emulous to excel in the true, the good, or the great! Enjoying the bright aufpices and emanations of that glorious SUN, which now sheds around you the cleareft, the most cheering rays, your understandings will become more enlightened with WISDOM, your hearts more warmed with BENEFICENCE. Come, you are welcome guests at the feaft of CHARITY and the refreshment of LOVE! YE, Brethren, are not in darkness. Walk as children of the light. Obferve the strictest decorum. Carefully attend to every inftruction here offered, and readily comply with every requirement here enjoined. Be diligent in the duties of your respective stations and may the joys of UNITY and PEACE prevail ! $ 2 A CHARGE, AT THE CLOSING OF A LODGE. BRETHREN, You are now to quit this facred retreat of friendship and virtue, to mix again with the world. Amidft its concerns and employments, forget not the duties you have heard fo frequently inculcated, and forcibly recommended in this Lodge. Be, therefore, diligent, prudent, temperate, difcreet. Remember also, that around this altar you have folemnly and repeatedly promised to befriend and relieve, with unhefitating cordiality, fo far as shall be in your power, every brother who fhall need your affiftance: That you have promised to remind him, in the most tender manner, of his failings, and aid his reformation. Vindicate his character when wrongfully traduced. Suggest in his behalf the most candid, favorable, and paliating circumftances, when his conduct is juftly reprehended. That the world may obferve how Mafons love one another. THESE generous principles are to extend farther. Every human being has a claim upon your kind offices. So that we enjoin it upon you to "to do good unto ALL," while we recommend it more " especially to the household of the faithful." By diligence in the duties of your respective callings, by liberal benevolence, and diffufive charity, by conftancy and fidelity in your friendships, by uniformly juft, amiable, and virtuous deportment, discover the beneficial and happy effects of this antient and honorable inftitution. LET it not be fuppofed that you have here labored in vain, and spent your strength for nought; for your work is with the LORD, and your recompenfe with your God. FINALLY, brethren, farewell. Be ye all of one mind. Live in peace. And may the GOD of love and peace delight to dwell with and to bless you! AN ADDRESS, AT THE INTERMENT (WITH MASONIC HONORS) OF BROTHER SAMUEL PIERCE, JUN. OF DORCHESTER ; WHO WAS UNFORTUNATELY DROWNED NEAR LONG-ISLAND, OCTOBER 16, 1796. . 30. DEAR is eftimated the name of friend. Lovely is the relation which cements con genial fouls. But dearer ftill the amity, more intimate the connection, my brethren, which unites our hands and hearts. How painful then the catastrophe in which is dif folved an alliance fo close and fo affectionate! Alas! how forcibly do we feel this now! Death, regardless of thofe fweet engagements, those pleasing intercourses, and those improving joys, which Mafons know, has fuddenly fummoned away, in the midst of his days and usefulness the valued brother whofe |