Page:Oration Delivered on the Centennial Day of Washington's Initiation into Masonry (1852).djvu/6

6 be the Subject of another and different ceremony when clothed, with the official powers of a nation, his sword had redeemed from the dominion of the greatest power upon earth? Who that saw him the first time marching with the simple emblems of the Order, could have conceived the thought, that, in after years, he would, with other emblems, lead his countrymen to battle, and from battle to victory, and from victory to freedom, honor and happiness? The wildest vagaries of the most romantic minds, in that day, never took such a range, or assumed such a complexion; but truth transcends fiction, and the veritable scenes of reality surpass the imagination.

We would not presume to pronounce a eulogy on. That is a task for time, and which time will leave unfinished, when his recording pen drops from his palsied hand.

fame and glory will increase and extend as truth, knowledge, virtue and liberty advance among the nations of the earth. His fame is like the light of a new-born star, of transcendant splendor, which, if it require ages to reach this world, will continue to shine on, with undiminished brilliancy, for ages after its orb has expired on the distant fields of immensity.

We will now proceed, my Brethren, to the task we have imposed upon ourselves, in an address to you, on this interesting occasion, feeling assured that we cannot offer to you, as Masons and American citizens, anything better than the consideration of what has given true glory and greatness to the past, moral excellence and worth to the present; and how the same may be transmitted to the future; all of which resolves itself into this simple proposition—what is it that gives the highest worth and the truest excellence to man. And in this way we feel no less assured, that we can best defend the character and the cause of our ancient Order. And, although we do not affirm, that to Masonry alone, is man indebted for all the moral worth and excellence, in the past or the present either; but we do contend that Masonry is, and ever has been, on the side of man’s interest and welfare.

We do not claim for our Order, all the good that is in the world; but we do contend, that all she does claim and possess, is good. Nor do we affirm that all Masons are good men, honest and true; but we do contend, that Masonry docs not make them bad men, dishonest and false, in their obligations to God, to society and to men. No wise man believes, that all who have taken upon them, the name of Christian, are Saints; but no intelligent and honest man, Will affirm that Christianity has ever made men sinners.

And now to our task: what has given true glory and greatness to the past? To this important question, we answer in one word, Truth. But, by this single and hackneyed word, much used, much abused, and much misunderstood, we are not to be understood as using it in any of its many limited applications, either