THE AMERICAN MASONIC REGISTER, AND Ladies' and Gentlemen's Magazine. BY LUTHER PRATT. Remove not the OLD LANDMARK, and enter not into the fields of the Circleville, (0.) June 27, ▲. L. 5821. GENTLEMEN, In reply to your note of this morning, in behalf of the brethren of Pickaway Lodge No. 23, requesting a copy of my "Oration delivered on the 25th inst.," on the Festival of St. John the Baptist, permit me to return my grateful and sincere thanks to you, and through you, to [VOL. II.] my labours, on this and all other occasions, I hope and trust, that the fraternity will impute any errors which they may detect, to the head, and not to the heart. Throwing myself upon the candour of my friends, and the charity of my brethren, I now deliver into your hands a copy of my address, for publication. With gratitude, esteem, and fraternal affection, I am, brethren, yours truly, CALEB ATWATER, Brothers Committee of Pickaway Lodge No. 23. AN ADDRESS, Delivered on the 25th June, A. L. 5821, before Pickaway Lodge No. 23, at Circleville, Ohio; it being the Festival of St. John the Baptist: By brother CALE ATWATER, a member of said lodge. Worshipful Master, Wardens, and Brethren, On a day, dedicated to the recol the worshipful master, wardens, and brethr-lection of departed worth, I rise to address you. I shall not undertake to prove to you the purity of our principles, their importance, and usefulness in the world, because, on this subject, I am aware that nothing is needed in aid of your own solemn of which, are still visible. See, also, in the walls which surround us, the two parallel lines, on the vertex of which, rests the square work, in the east! Have we not perverted the ancient simplicity of the craft, in our traditions, in some cases, referring to things comparatively recent, instead of travelling back to the earliest ages of mankind, when our brethren worshipped in open lodges? Assembled then, at the centre of an ancient lodge, erected by our ancient brethren, in the earliest ages of the world, whose only covering was the cloudy canopy, or starry heavens, are you surprised that freemasonry dates its origin from a high antiquity? With such proofs of the antiquity of our order, constantly before our eyes, for additional ones, need we tra convictions. Neither shall I undertake to answer objections made to our. order, by ignorance, bigotry, envy, and malice. The candid inquirer after truth, will find more information concerning freemasonry, than I have now time to furnish, in the writings of Preston, Harris, Webb, and Cross. To these authors, and to the book of constitutions, I must refer those, who, without initiation into our sublime mysteries, wish to become acquainted with the principles of freemasonry. Nor shall I undertake to furnish you, with a history of an order, which has existed through all ages of the world, and in every country where the arts and sciences have been nursed.* Addressing myself to persons, standing in the centre of an ancient, open temple, erected by a people evidently acquainted with astronomy, trigonome-vel to Egypt, to Tyre, to Jerusalem? try and many of the arts and sciences, need I attempt to prove to you, the great antiquity of freemasonry? The circles and squares, triangles, and other mathematical figures, so often found among the works of that people, who raised in the early ages of mankind, the open lodge, whose walls now surround us, demonstrate that their authors were acquainted with the " al art." Works like these, are uniformly situated either on the highest hills, or in the lowest vales. Where we find square lodges, are they not situated due east and west? Behold this circular, and that square work! Here, at the centre, once stood a funeral pyre: is it not now represented on our carpets by the blazing star? This funeral pyre, used also as an altar, had a semicircular, Mosaic pavement on the east side of it, the remains roy * See Archæologia Americana, article Circleville, where the antiquities of the place are described. The court house, where this address was delivered, is at the centre of a round work. Adjoining this round work, on the eastern side, is a square work. It is impossible to convey an idea of these works without a plate, which is in the book above referred to. Are our proofs less ancient than theirs, or less conclusive? The very reverse is the real fact. Our proofs, how simple, yet how sublime! Through what a long lapse of time have they withstood his dilapidating hand! How venerable appear they, in their decay! How afflicting the idea, that they will soon disappear before us, so that not even a trace shall tell where they once were! The working tools of the craft are often found in them; several of which I have seen, and can entertain no doubt as to their authors, nor of the uses to which they were put. All I can do, is to call your attention to a subject, which has occupied my mind for some time past, assuring the FRATERNITY, that, should they demand it, a memoir on this subject, will, in due time, be laid before them. My Brethren-this day is dedicated to departed, worthy masons. In every age, in every country, mankind have observed stated anniversaries. Before a knowledge of letters became general among men, this custom was necessary, in order to preserve the recollection of important events in the history of nations. But, though the knowledge of letters, through the in vention of the art of printing, is widely diffused, yet, from the very constitution of the human mind, the observance of stated anniversaries is almost as necessary now, as it was formerly. Need we not to be reminded of duties to be performed, of principles to be regarded, of vices to he shunned! This festival is kept by us, in honour of a great patron of freemasonry, St. John the Baptist. He was the immediate forerunner of Jesus Christ. Though he was not the true light, that lighteth every man that cometh into the world, yet he came to bear witness of that light;" to point out to his countrymen, Jesus, as the Saviour of the world, and as a herald to proclaim his near approach. A great prophet, he foretold the coming of the Messiah, a great reformer of mankind; he called on them to repent and be baptized. Austere and exemplary, his food was locusts and wild honey; his bed was the earth, his covering the cloudy canopy of heaven, his drink the limpid rill, his clothing sackcloth, his usual abode amidst the shady bowers of Enon's hill, his company the thousands who followed him, to hear his eloquent discourses; nightly, his meditations were on heaven and heavenly things; daily, his discourses pointed out to man his duty to himself, his neighbour, and his God. His zeal, his temperance, his truth, his justice, his courage, his fortitude, his fidelity, his love to God, and man, deserve our reverence, our admiration, gratitude, and esteem. Undaunted by the terrors with which he was surrounded; unawed by the difficulties with which he was compelled to encounter; unappalled by the dangers which threatened his ruin, he moved on in his course, dispensing light to the spiritually blind, life to those who were dead in sin. If the vassals of despots celebrate the birth-day of a tyrant's babe, surely we ought not to be condemned for setting apart a day in honour of so good a man, so great a prophet, so successful a preacher of repentance, so great a mason, a saint so eminent. Virtues so scarce, so exemplary, so honourable to himself, so useful to mankind, so acceptable to God, are worthy of being for ever remembered. He forgot his own ease, amidst his indefatigable labours; he sighed not for comforts amidst the multitudes who foilowed his footsteps, and listened to his eloquence. What Thrown into a dungeon by a brutal tyrant, he neither forgot his duty, nor feared to perform it: he reproved | Herod for his incestuous life; a life so contrary to the principles of freemasonry: a courtezan demanded his head in a charger, as a reward for her dancing, and a tyrant granted the demand. Thus fell our great patron, in consequence of the faithful performance of his duty: his soul ascended to God, his fame fills the world. an example of courage, of constancy, of zeal, of fidelity, of fortitude in the performance of our duty, has he left to us! Like his, our path may be rough, our fare hard, our perils many, our labours severe; a cruel and capricious tyrant may take away our lives, but zeal, courage, fidelity, fortitude, patience, and perseverance in the performance of our duty, will bring fame here, and everlasting felicity hereafter. Though we need not anticipate trials as numerous and severe as were those of our great patron, yet the same virtues, to a ceextent, are as necessary for us as they were for him. Destitute of those virtues, what is man? If in the full possession and constant exercise of them, man is but a little lower than the angels above; without them, he is far beneath the reptile below. Let us then, my brethren, practise those virtues, as we are commanded, with frequency, fervency, and zeal, so shall our lives be useful on earth, and acceptable in heaven. In the path of duty let us walk on, regardless of opposition from ungodly men; fearing nothing but disobedience to the commands of our Grand Master above. Such is the important lesson taught us by the example of John the Baptist. In the school of virtue may we commit it to memory, and often repeat it by the way, as we are travelling home to the Grand Lodge above. But although this day is dedicated to the recollection of the worthy Baptist, it is not improper to recollect other brethren, who, like him, have deserved well of the craft, received honour from men, and been highly blessed by heaven. Our own beloved country has produced brethren, whose memory we are bound to honour, whose virtues we ought to imitate. To mention them all, would occupy too much time, and will not be attempted. But who was it, that, quitting the peaceful shades of Vernon's hill; all the pleasures which wealth could purchase, friendship offer, or domestic felicity afford-placing himself at the head of our armies, at the unanimous call of his countrymen, and contended many a year for our liberties and independence, until victory crowned his efforts with success? It was WASHINGTON, who was a freemason, and delighted to meet his brethren upon the level, and to part with them upon the square, So may we always meet and part, my breth ren. Who was it, in fine, that "snatched the lightnings from heaven, and the sceptre from tyrants? It was FRANKLIN, who was at the head of freemasonry in Pennsylvania. Washington, Warren, and Frank. lin were freemasons, whose virtuous labours in public and private life, in the field, and in the cabinet, deserve our esteem, our admiration, and our gratitude. Compared with these brethren, how sink the monarchs of Europe? Though they despised the gewgaws of princes, they gloried in wearing our jewels. The simplicity and sublimity of such characters are only estimated by the craft, and will be honoured and revered by mankind, as long as patriotism, courage, constancy,. fidelity, perseverance, and all the amiable and heroic virtues find culo. gists and admirers. We need not the illustrious examples of other ages, and distant countries, to excite us to the performance of every duty, to the practice of every virtue, while Washington, Warren, and Franklin are remembered. FREEMASONRY, they were thine! COLUMBIA, they were thy shield, thy boast, and thy glory, To nations, tossed on the tempestu. ous sea of liberty, they stand as BEACONS, to light the mariner over quicksands, and through whirlpools, to a Who was it, that, quitting the pur-safe anchorage and a secure harbour. suits of private life, an useful, honour-Assuming the principles of our order, able, and lucrative profession, assumed the sword, and fell in defence of our liberties on Bunker's Hill? It was WARREN, who was our brother, and at the head of our order in his native state, when he fell. Whe was it, that, by his discoveries in electricity, gained a high place, as a philosopher in fame's temple? Who, by his indefatigable exertions, raised himself from the humblest walks of life to the highest eminence as a statesman? Who, from poverty, became rich, by his industry, economy, and prudence? Whose writings are read in every part of the civilized world? which teach us, that all men are born upon a level, and ought to walk upon the square, they built up here a government, whose sole object is the promotion of the peace, the order, and the happiness of the whole community. How simple in theory, how sublime in practice, is such a government, when compared with the governments of Europe? There, government is founded on the principle that the many are made to be governed by the few; here, rulers are the mere agents of the people; and at short, stated periods, they are entirely divested even of this agency, and so remain, mless reinvested with authority by the people from whom it emanated. others, conquered the best appointed armies Britain ever sent into the field. Patriots of every age and country, shall repeat the story to their children, while every freemason shall rejoice, that the principal actors, in those days of peril, were our brethren. Let us honour their memories, by preserv | While in service, they asked for pay, and continental rags were given to Such is the government founded by them. Of late years, an act was passthe patriots of the revolution. How ed for their relief, and soon afterwards glorious are its principles, how illus- an other was enacted, in order to detrious its founders; how happy are fraud them out of it. With soldiers those who live under it, provided they thus treated, our brethren, Washingfaithfully administer it! ton, Montgomery, Warren, Clinton, Freemasonry! thy sages, thy phi-Gates, Lee, Scammel, La Fayette, and losophers, thy warriors, and thy statesmen of our country, who have fought, and toiled, and bled, and died in our defence, are this day remembered with gratitude by thy sons, wherever they are assembled. History has raised a monument to their fame more durable than marble, which shall stand firm, and its inscriptioning the government which they foundcontinue undefaced, while the world shall stand. Patriots of every country, read the inscription upon this pillar, dedicated to patriotism, and to virtue. Tell us not of European heroes, for they are covered with the blood of their fellow-citizens. Tell us not of modern statesmen, for they mounted aloft upon ambition's ladder, the principal rounds of which, are flattery, falsehood, and intrigue. Their object is self-aggrandizement, and they have attained it. But the patriots of the revolution, guided by the eternal principles of justice, truth, and patriotism, sought to exalt their country, and they succeeded in the attempt. How sickening to the eye of every genuine patriot, are the courtiers of this silken age, compared with those, who in an iron age, endured every privation, passed through all manner of perils, toiled, and bled, and died, for their country! How sink the potent patriots of these days, when compared with those, who, during our struggle for independence, might have been tracked by the blood, which at every step, distilled in crimson cur rents from their weary feet! Their clothes, consisting of "shreds and patches" of every colour, barefoot and hungry, they redeemed us from sla-ous, enlightened, and patriotic men; very. A peculiar fatality seems to have attended them, from first to last. ed, as it came from their hands. Let us resist, by all constitutional means, every attempt to abridge our rights, by the insidious doctrines of impli cation and necessity. These doctrines belong to tyrants, and ought not to be transplanted into our soil. As freemasons, we cannot meddle with political affairs, but as CITIZENS, it is our duty to do so, whenever our vote, or our exertions can be of any service to our country. Let us, then, honour the memory of our departed brethren, who, under Heaven, made us a nation, by an adherence to their principles; by practising those virtues, moral and social, public and private; the possession of which rendered them so good, so amiable, so great and illustrious. Thus shall we become blessings to ourselves, our families, our friends, and our country; be an hon our to freemasonry and to human nature. Though, from a variety of causes, we cannot equal Warren, Franklin, Washington, and Clinton, in extensive usefulness to our own country, and the world at large, yet, by practising the same virtues, we may be useful, honoured, and happy. We can promote the welfare of our country, by electing into office virtu by holding up to scorn, the ignoramus who aspires to honours which he |