Page:Oration Delivered on the Occasion of the Dedication of the New Hall of Cooper Lodge.djvu/16

14 words to you, who have honored me by your presence and attention, though I feel I am unable to do justice to so fair and interesting a subject.

Masonry, ladies, has ever regarded your sex with the highest degree of respect and esteem. She is second only to christianity in the work of elevating and ennobling the condition of woman. And if you are not permitted to take part in all our ceremonies, it is because of their adaptation to us, not to the softness of your sex—just as you are excluded from the pursuits and labors of men—from the judicial seat, from the executive chair, and from the ballot box—none of which are scenes and places suited to feminine refinement and modesty. But your position, power and influence, in the world and over it, are none the less because of the sphere in which nature and God have placed you. Indeed, that very sphere is the very seat and throne of your power and influence for good. It is from that pure and virtuous station, woman’s sphere of life and action, that a refining, and harmonizing, and moralizing influence, goes forth over the earth, to refine, and soften and elevate man, who, but for that influence, would become rude, wild and savage. And as before stated, next to christianity is your sex indebted to Masonry for support, protection, and to that high position of honor, esteem and respect, to which the sex, in all christian and Masonic countries, have attained. It was chiefly for this that the order of chivalry and knighthood was established, in the dark and barbarous times of the middle ages, when neither church nor state could, or, would not, protect the weak, defend the defenceless—and above all, when woman’s honor and virtue were most unprotected from the lawless licentiousness of the times. Then it was that this order of chivalry and knighthood was formed, as the defenders of the weak, which law could not, or would not do, to protect the widows and fatherless, and female virtue. And to this they devoted their lives, under the most solemn vows. And most nobly did they do their duty, and vindicate their pledged honors and truth, at home and abroad. Time would fail me to tell of their gallantry, their noble deeds,