Newspapers / The North-Carolina Star (Raleigh, … / Sept. 12, 1849, edition 1 / Page 1
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TUOS. J. LEMAY, Epitor L PROHniETon. ".fitfrrh. Caroliw-potottfal totattitot m bo:nf9f our tKtnim THREE DOLLARS P Avxtm. A, VOL XL. RALEIGH, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1849. - J NO. S6 JDDIICSS OF MR, BLACKJIER '' DELIVERED - ' IN LEXINGTON, N. C, ON THE Anniversary of St. John I ho Baptist, 1549. BROTiints axd Fhif.xos: - From (he fierce turmoils and hot strifes of the, passing day. I come at your bidding, to, spend an hour with you in the in terchange of quiet thoughts,. returiiiiig-n the morro w to my wont--ed sphere and calling. . .The object for a-hich you have assembled is one of a high and noble import. You have assembled for the purpose of renewing your attachment and red raiding your zeal in behalf of the greatest and most worthy of all human institutions. Nor is it in this place alone, that Freemasons have forsaken .the study, the office, the counting-room, the workshop and the plough: -throughout the length and breadth of our land from Maine to Mexico, from the "Atlantic oast . to ftie utmost verge of pioneer life in every place where Masons dwell, they are seen, to-day, to th:b'.v aside the 'Implements of. their usual avocations, ar.-ny them selves in the regalia of their order, and unite in ebnifti.emoratitig the day we c -lehrate. Nor is this spectacle confined toour. nhores alone : in other lands, far across the waters, where our language is not spoken, -beside the old highways of Europe, -amid the mournful ruins of Asia, ujoi: the- torrid sand of Africa, in the islands of 'the i Sea, OceauiiNul'olv new ami Australia, Masons are to-day assembled, the King from his throne, the Feasant from his toil ; all actuated by the same motives that actuate us. S'eareh Oil inid a parallel to the spectacle which the votaries of Masonry this day wejhib "assemble "by thousands around oiie common altar. '.their'" hearts beating in nnisOn,' tlieir thoughts, their wishes anil their aspirations ttll the- samts Nt. John the Baptist, whose memory we this dav comme morate, was the immediate herald of Christ, a zealous adherent of .Masonry, and one of the niont conspicuous exemplars of meek ness and humility the world has ever produced. T Such a man, , to whom was given the sublime and holy mission of announcing fo a fallen world the advent of an nll-mericful Kedecmcr, dioiightj 1 IIDf UHWftrtWy itWBattt'U ItHUwIf among the sons of Masonry, to act with them an efficient part in alleviat ing the want anil misery to which so large a portion of the hu man family "haw ever bml iuhjci'ted.. What day, then, more appropriate Tor a Masonic; Festival, thanTffe aTTniretTTTrr tf Hi. ohojhe. ,PpRUlpJMi8'sUttJon. shwm rfMBMiivcBWyf. their origin for the season of public display and rejoicing. " They can point with unerring certainty to the origin of their institutions, while ours iaJiLdiknJiy the misis-of agosT-'-AV-regd-ii the mv- tho tence from the brain of Jupiter, full formed and beautiful : so of Masonry j at the earliest account we have, it was in the pride of full maturity. If we attempt to find the origin of our institution, we wilt get bewildered and lost in the labyrinthian mazes of re mote antiquity, for when Alexander took Babylon, Calis.thcncs, the philosopher who accompanied lfflu thither, found the principles- -of Alasonry jnltirspwrecd throughout thcitJuUttyproiini tables and, observations, which they had kept for 1903 years, carrying us back as far as the 1 15th year after the flood, and 15 years after the building of the Tower of Babel. And it is well that the sons of Masonry should thus assemble in peace and quietness, apart Trbhi the annoying scenes .of litis to renew their vows of love and devotion to this venerable institution, which in the pride of its ma ture years beheld the -earliest evenis of which an historical re cord lift been preserved; --It i well they should rejoice at ils pres.- cnt prosperity ; it is well tliey should consult logeincr concerning the best measures for advancing its future glory It is not my intention to discuss the principles of Masonry at large, to lift the veil from one of those sacred mysteries that 1iave come down to us from early t.me; or to say a word that shnll in the least enlighten the most" perceptive mind respecting the hidden tinners of our fraternity. Perhaps there are some persons before me who expect to hear some of the secrets of our order revealed -To'stich-p make a revelation, purporting to be of the secrets of Masonry, you would not believe me ; you would reason at once, that one who could be so devoid of principle as to reveal a secret which he had obligated himself to retain inviolate, would not be worthy of credence; and you would regard, my pretended revelation, in no other light than that of an idle tide, told for tho mere gratiiica lion of an eiurcr curiosity. Concerning the secrets of Masonry, I believing- or pretendine tor beftw-lffial one Mason was bouiuf hi- a horrid oath to support a brother lor an v office, and that when "a Mason was arraigned before a court of justice to answer for the most daring telony, it tie had a brother on the jury, he was safe, for that brother w as sworn to free hfm ! Are such statements as these true, or are they mere conjectures, originating in the dis torted ianey of some weak minded individual, who in his great simplicity oetieved that Masonry was a monster capable ot anni hilating nations by a single motion of its magic wand T . Some en emies of the institution say it has a tendency to corrupt the mor als of its members, and to foatet-a spirit of. irroligion. Thin ob jection is art false as it U absurd. False, because no institution tti the world inculcates a more strict course of moral rectitude, or a more implicit faith in Ood as the rewarder of virtue and the aven ter of crime ; absurd, because, in the first place, they know nothing about it, have no possible means of knowing, and in all probability they never will have the privilege of knowing; and in the se cond place, in bringing such an aocusauVm against the , institution, they charge, many of our "'most' exemplary" christians "with the vilest hypocricy. Some say we make great pretensions to chari ity, but never exhibit any evidence of our willingness to bestow alms trptnnhe needy and digressed cTonr order. What ! shall an unfortunate brother, who goes, in his great need, before the Lodge and craves assistance, have his misfortunes and his want exposed to, a gossipping world ? Surely, that would not be charity; and for uiyself, 1 ivouhl sooner starve than accept of as sistance from ""one who gave, as too many do give, only for the purpose ot making it known to the world how very charitable he was. To such persons we say, read your Bibles, and there learn ine MJiut .mu mehce ol charity, ot which , you are yet ignorant ; learn "not to give your alma before men to be seen, of them," learn V-nJjLJgJjci But another says there are some-bad men" among "Masons'. r We confers, il ; there are'those who do not conduct themselves as well meditative ages; the work of strong minded men, Jft'ltoso bosoms, drrahjfrs!? founding darkness and gaze upon "the friendly features of truth. But the attempt, was vain. How rich in foliage the viuo they aa4hw-JHijt"f- those who -do-nowmoH -irtif th,-howk-gnmrl--its--sia-t-4)itt7-altts-;- with the elevated position that Masonry confers upon them, and in some instances they degrade themselves, degrade their. associates, and bring 4 ho Fratwn iy- into disrepute. N o otic regrets such eon-' duet as titnch as we ; no one strives to work a reformation in such a man so much as his brothers. This objection, howev is of no weight will wlownmiTrrTirrfff principled men have not gained admission. Why dont you admit iho ladies, asiis another, it your institution be really so moral and pure T and in this objection, I am sorry to say, many of our fair friends jomVAVtertercr Teerir;tlw''sanciiimTfTlie ladiesTs sure pfjimeccssj almost insuperable ybstiide to contend with. I wonder mneh thai any gentleman should raise such an objection, since the ladies lataxxdwhaLc. in nearly all organized bodies in the world. For gentlemen, who raise such an objection against our institution, I have no answer ; I will permit them to remain in the quiet enjoyment of their opin ion ; but the ladies 1 cannot treat so cavalierly. 1 must have a little talk with them, and endeavor to pacify them ; even if I fail of convincing them that it is just as it should be. We would not wish you to think that the reason why you are not admitted to' our Lodges is because we deem you incapable vf keeping secrets ; secrets of our fraternity, but individual secrets,) to permit us to entertain such an opinion. No person is solicited to join a Lodge ; every Mason in the world has solicited a Lodge to grant him the favor of admitting him ; and 1 very much doubt whether the la dies, who are so inueii accustomcu 10 near our prayers, would ite willing to reverse the process and pray to us. - Were you' to ask me why you are not permitted to enlist ns soldier. , and )cpd mr tniui's'lo'liaiilc, I sh iuld say, because it is not proper; and the same answer 1 make for Masonry. ' If the ladies could proprly appreciate Masonry, they would become its most zealous advo cates, and make membership an indispensable requisite in every young gentleman who offers himself as a candidate for theirsmiles. Ladies, those of you who are so fortunate as to have relatives who are Masons. to vou. nermit me to say, Masonry is voltr best friend. Should poverty and want ever be your lot, and a selfish kwnrld tnm rtty liCvitc, leaving you to perish Irorn the intensity ol your imallcvia ted misery, vou have only to make yourselves known to a Mason, nnd he will unhesitatingly and joyfully become the good Samari tan. Should one of you receive an injury, or an insult, a thou sand generous hearts would espouse your cause, a thousand strong hands" would strike in your defence. When Elizabeth ascended the throne of England she vlaimed the privilege enjoyed by the ions monarchs ; and as they had been Oram! Masters of all leicney on xmt nart. vou Kriit t;M.u .i ' - stitution and all her memtyers. Vo.i 1 .:.:. 1 ,tBht' nTii(Bn i tcrnis-of Quality a;id brotlierhood with those filling an huinblernphcre. W ho i j tmre that will coolly and dispassionately contemplate the vast age ot- Masonry, the innumerable defeats of error and triumphs of truth which it has witnessed, and behold it stiU n c hangiahly.lpi same as it exwicd oii the hills of Judea and the plains of bhmar, without Wing compelled to admit that an insti tution which has survived the wrecks of eo many thousand cen turies. cjiibody many. of the .great principles of eternal, im- the full matritr:-of-!as6Kte'.'& .;.if ."?n?'- tllose viatiims. fTom passed awat. Ao institution which the vital principles of the Christian Religion can be enduring. Iladtt bnanoMible for Pagan . Philosophy, by dim of unparal leled ctlort, to sad the way of truth, the counje of Time, would not, as it is, be strewn with ruins uf mind . M origin, on plains of Judea, of a philosophy which has been honored witf jHe esperienee.of more than thirty cc-muries,fi.w4 the history of mat philosophy, nnd mark if"t,n. w-u- lnstitutions making pretensions to sober wisdom, the world has n-eLy?DmiQUeJttfflW rcphtiitli-f was absurdities thatt-Orictrtat i niiosophy ; and jet, excepting tins ot ours, no human institation carries tho mind bark so far in the world's history. It flourished in youthful vigor while the Ark was yet seen resting on the cliffs of Ararat ; it was seen, on the plains of Jhinor, and in the full maturity of its m.mhood it guided the wise men of the East to the city of David, llad it been the ephemeral creation of a modern novelist, its gross absurdities inigat be extenuated snd palliated by the menial imbecility and vitiated taste of the author. But it sprung not up assuddenly as Jonah's tjotivd : it was the result ot u,.v. . u , your oounuen duty to act Well your part. " Show hn , r yrtlTy n'Bh-"""" reer, you arc like him who strove (o chn.b to ihe Eagle's Eyrie, while those less bold were ca chmg Linnets at the Twt of the precipice. The eyes of rf.3 world arc uponyou, for every one knows that Masonry takes her members only from the most respectable part of community. 1 o be a Mason is, t herelore, prinva faciejaiih-Bce otbeing Wn- mnnrand tijose slight Aviations, from the path of a-ctiTuJi " jffUU" oi sociery pass Dv -unuoticed, iu vou are subject to. the severest scrutiny. Let hitual drunkard enter a grog shop, nnd no one- deems it an event worth noticing t but let the clergyman of thp parish, or. soma, other exemplar of virtue enter the same place and call for a dra.n, in one short hour every tiiui, rjuai in town win navo heard of it. In order that you may the more fully appreciats the relations JiJl'" wI'irh JMtk your posuion i Tilovf wJtfr one oi tiintiing interest and awrul responsibility. A few short months since, and the whole world was agitated With wars and ru mors of wars. Our country has retired from il.o 'i;u.i c.a.i ...i, . CN "" SO. how destitute of fruit t Like an icicle, it could be formed only in a frigid atmosphere. It soon entwined itself for support around oriental idolatry,' and botir arc" how "fast hastening to decay along the banks of tlit CJanges. The philosojhy of the refined nnd cunning Greek, was like a iili a 'reasonable person, for fhcrfe has nevejjwenlfinel aTllfTeTHWTiumau brTvTne, Id 'w'ntcu' vile' ' im.jto"iIiow wjiat might have been the beauty of the whole; but, like hi i own Mytiologieal Heavens, it was peopled with bright, hut iiincronsnue ufiiics. ins unatueu reason could not drive error from its favorite rt'trGaljthouh hia philosophy rniii"jinp,l.in iiy nf ffic pniicipTes of truth. Takinir his elements from Eirvnt and Indiit, with. aaui:e-indepeiulBjice, he... created, a philosophy of his own, and stamped it legibly, nay, indellibli, with the impress of his own slrontr. inventive renins : and ninnr brillinnt nnd fat anu piaycu aromd Us spreading iomeiiut Us -beauty was the beauty ot the miJnight meteor, flying through the heavens, h av ing no shining mark, and fillinjr the enrtli with terror and dread. The structure he reared was as massive and grand as human rea son could erect, ad the oracles he uttered from it were heard with reverence in the porticos of Rome, and obeyed in the learned monasteries of Lurope. Vet a Dainful uncertainty enshrouded 1 . .. 1 . . . . . . . - ins conclusions anu in the dimness with which he elt himse f in. ff - f ? -btyamo idgt ' ift . flic . dark . maiel ''kf .Hi.! ,.:j;t-t'- T ami this raillmr nftalilimen'T TnX His philosophy, Ulte nis iiuuic , -. ... f . ,V .-.TiiPnrrffAa'affyrTte aveu me lntcueciuai - r : r i , . . ." and most of the laws by which he long sway world are now as silent as the Uracics ol Ueipiu. Jiiier systems, . . . . .i , .i.i occupying m their time a large space in tne worm s mougni, nave had their origin, have nourished and passed away since me mil maturity i)f Masoury I but the examples given, the most remark able the world has ever produced, and tho decay that has ovcrta- ...r ui ara. uur couniry lias retired Jroru the listed field wber nation strives against, nation,- al -the-iliw branehTio wave from the dome of her (It.pitol. But in other lands it is not st IN early nil iMirottn ,4 iiicinnmtinHi ,, . ... ...j ..,.. ........,., , j,u,iin:a, rai.uron is Doiling most vehemently, and its bubUings portend a frightful commotion of the elements. Germany is agitated from cpntre to circumfer- ruus iiiiu 111 an. iicrpriivimvs tin wpint nrninTrcBtion iorifo. nrmiesof France are thundering at the gates of Rome, and we wiih lite minions of ?tie hiost detestable tvrant in t a people struggling for the rights of self government.' The Hun- gartan Avar is ORSiiming-an aspect of irrienseiiiii?M,flilB,uit J H a - -f . - 1 nrii iitH .vustria, the hauirlHieSt nower 111 r.nrrtnp ul,n it ..: sons of Kodolph .wielded her sceptre, now hes humbled, at the mwey -one-of her revot encc, she has boen torced into a degrading alliance with the Auto- cr.11 oi me ionn, wnoso warlike legions are now oourinir in now pouring into the revolted province in such numbers as to vie with ih Irsiintmit -.C "rhrfftrtnrirrTanu '"Tfiii irmntimT r Northern Barbarians" Jias called forth the opposition of England and 1 ranee, which, if followed by vigorous measures, will load to a war us general as when the powers of Eitronecuiuluil i-.j.- ThnrMgtTy power whTciriiail east its shadow over nil their thrones. 11 you turn your nttem warlike coin mdtloiis, other and more heart ronding spsetdcleit wilt -present themselves. B ahold the starvinjpiien and women of tho western Island Erin! Erin, rich in her leirends "iniiiliT "havi " t.s--...r.;:. . ;r:r.i..i .1.. . . f. 111 I IIUUUU , with famine, country, sung Dctr Hrp of my eountry, In ilarknru I lounJ thw, - Ths coM ch iui of tilcnre had hang oVr thus Ion?." , . , jy'1"1 hall the fatiire bard sing as he take U10 national Ilarp if -Ireland t V hat strain too mournful to tell nf thi wiihnnn r.m;.. . T :z ': !'."' mi- ihiuiiiv 1; that fend, tlie gem of the oceatu has long been wasted ne. Ulorious Tom Moore, as he took the Harp of his ,. . 0 ... -.'u... i I. ..... k , nrcne w 111 on . v say, mere is ... .,,. r .. . .y . - . - d , rf , f beCQ (, , cissfully communicated, and that is within the body of a just and ' s s lawfully constituted Lodge, by means of skillful and competent Mistress, as a prcrogauve o. ro d.uv. .p ofliS There U t thoseck who wish to know what Ma'sonry on f.rmer bas.s than her throne, and she fou:,d those brave ba- triword.y,thedWH-be readily and Jihomo were ever ready.. '"1KJ J gl'u' re.g", to opVncd for then, ; but' if they are unworthy, let them rectify their iHeAmthe-jrt ... Iv."l-rfsotule ami unyielding in '-'uiiiv ui wi ivv t.- r I . J .. Vi propriety in their character, they may rest assured that Masonry uonyuig .er ruin w. . -v. .. , ..-u..u piiljiii.1; in ..... . ' t . 1 , ,. , J ' wl ,m mm In at t , whole or.li-r. . makinir It a criminal oflence for spcuK 01 some "v- . . ' a, , ., . , , . . . I n na0An,hLi tn t inopAT ,iiii,ni.r I innn inin inn tftnv nnd c n-! " K" t -- --- j 1 -j j r .1 will continue to be a scaled book to them. I shall of the objections that have been raised against the . order. dcavor to show that they are unfounded, and of some of the great e irdinal virtues that are inculcated to all her votaries. Some bad persons may, and have, gained-admission to the rights of Masonry ; but such persons ever have, anil ever will find t'icmselves placed in the most Uncomfortable position they could have chosen. Let htm who thinks he can make Masonry a shield for crime beware how he enters those virtuous retreats, for from the moment his name is enrolled among the accepted ones, he is placed under obligations -to Uvea life of rectitude which are para mount to all other earthly ones. My object will be to present .Masonry to you as a great and moral institution the alleviator of human misery an ..all its., varied forms ; the uncompromising enemy of vice in every shape, and the patron and friend of virtue and uprightness. It is, however, a difficult and delicate task to ppeak of Masonry before the uninitiated, for there k no communi ty where it exists in which its violent eno-'ues may not bo found ; to such persons, no wclL informed Mason would presume to f peak of its beauties : he would permit them to remain in the quiet enjoyment oftheir erroneous opinions, for no one should suffer his zeaffor the instiuilion tq lead him into argument with those who tlirouirh iimorance mav riducule it. The causes which induce pwplg h-beeofflfr enemies of MasorffyHrrc--arious. Among the most violent are those who, through a desire of becoming mem bers, have presented their petitions and have been so unfortunate as to have then) rejected. Others object to it 011 the ground of its hiing a powerful engine which emm$tffa$ may make subservient x ms eountry I'iist by such a motive, except it be to make him - more stern in -theihrg htrduty; "BdleWr snnry has been a most successful humbug by which unprincipled political demagogues have elevated themselvesJo;power, Iany beVpesent ran rcco'ltect, and others- of us have read, of; the great X!:itemcnt occasioned by tlie altenmttd disclosures of Morgan. I'have heard of Anti-Masons in that day-htrperoritted iheifTpre--j 1 f run nt high a to rofjse all? int9r?irs.8' ,with'; Masons ; if. thect is th? r 9-j p J cncinics - of SJciciy ant. 'he country ; fore we. who, if possessed of the power, would be so tyrannical If there is, I would say to her that her mandate would bo as harm less as was that of England's haughty Queen, who was compelled to humble herself before her nobles, revoke her mandate, and grant to them the right of managing the internal affairs of Masonry en- lirely independent ot government. 1 o inose lauics wno are so unfortunate as not to be connected with Masons, I would say, as others have said before me, lose no time in forming an alliance with the great ibrotherhood of Masons. 1 he more violent enemies of the order have been so unkind as Uncharge it with being dan gerous to our country's liberty. How foolish, how wilful a slander is this Jn every strife of the American arms on the stormy heights of Bunker's Hill, in the deadly charge at laindy's Lane at the brilliant victory of INew Orleans, and on each red field of Mexico, a Mason was ever found ."Whsrsths danger was greatest,, , ' And our Country most needed s life." The bravest defenders of" our country's Hag of stars," on land or sea, have been of our brotherhood. And when, at Detroit, our national pride was humbled by the disgrace of her escutcheon, Ma sonry Was enabled to say, with jusFprtdc, Hull was not a-sorrof mine. " 1 sent him not forth to conquer or to flic, llad he-been one of the chosen ones, whose patriotism had been taught to ex pand by the teachings given within my sacred precincts, he would never have sacrificed his country honor. : Let the noble, the laid in wiser principles than theirs. Vv'e confess there is a painful uncertainty 'enshrouding 'the origin tl rmr institution. Turning backward in the course of time, nnd partially lifting the veil from the eternity of the past, we behold Iter the osly luminary of benighted Europo iii the middle ages ; we recognize her emblems on the imperial purple ot the eternal city; she dwelt amid the classic groves of (ireece ; and she 'be--heid "the1 Krm'"bT tlbd'susp the seat of Empires, once the most august, now depopulated, and so utterly in ruins that scarce one stone remains upon another ; amid generations who once regaled ,in the halls of pleasure, or were marshalled at the note of war, all homo Irom the scenes where now only reeds and rushes grow ; scenes once enlivened by the glad shout of millions of voices, now hushud in a, silence broken only by the wild bird s scream ' " Whrre once he dwelt, All non is dmoUllon cold. Th desnrt Mrpent dwolU alone ' Whert gr&M (Vgrowt firh mnuldraiug stot-o, , And stone! tliemwlven, tit 'uinjjrowti, Ar grey ind dpath-like old !" What wise Champollion will decipher from the illegible hvero- glyphics of the past, the era that gave birth to Masonry ! Who. win produce tnat record 01 primeval 1 nne, and give to ns the name of him who conceived the vast and comprehensive' design, and designate that portion of the "earth from whence she was sent forth to exert so conspicuous an inHunco upon the destiny of' universal man T J.ct him who craves the meed ol linmortalilv accomplish the task, nnd his name will be as enduring as Time. The mind reels in its attempt to solve those problems it staggers like a drunken man, and nppresand with iho fiuMimiiv of. ifiai which has baflled the most zealous inquiry, j-it retires from Jhe labyrinth of useless investigation, speculating upon the possibility of a divine origin for an institution that has survived the wrecks ot so many thousand centuries. Much more might be said, perhaps with propriety, about Ihe history of our ord.er, and its more marked peculiarities. But from further comment 1 abstain, and turn with pleasure to diflerent topics, on which I can speak more explicitly. It is universally known that Masonry inculcates a refined and pure system of mo rality that it ever frowns upon vice and smiles upon virtue. But our enemies imeet us here with the objection, that if such are the teachings of our fraternity, very many members- come short of exemplify imflthose teachings in that portion of their conduct which is subjeiit to tlie scrutiny of the world. That some of tmr members come short of living up to their high-privilege, I am- ! . .1 1' . 1.. T ..l Kf rtnlAiMAnr I M'l.I T llitirl '-bao een4wov witgj ,"...." ;danffcrous both to the moral ml ilitical welfare of. the and McKee ; of Butter, Yell and Baxter; and pi, tne thousands 1 i.ir.Hnnit.mrn a Miinir h i,f in Ti .lcnci' I in ine oi oilier nairiois ituuiii .iianuuii nu bciii mini ,ki uirai o defenders, whose bones lie bleeehing on every- battte field from fximrton to the walk of Mexko. refuto iw. sile charg .But if other examples are .wanting, we point with pride to our list of Ulustrinus. I'resiucnis, among wiwuu uii um iwvjmve tnr jwwn written on tlie viewless tablets of our order. And if we turn to the old world, we find the kings of Prussia and Haiiover, and the Emperor of Austria, Grand Masters of the order within their respective realms ; whilo .Princes and Barons and the titled No bility of every lah-l, hnv.? f Sgerly.sovght to lay is'dp thcemblerns pained to sayfc is true. But were the person who urges such an objectiou a mcmlier of a Christian Church, and were I disposed to retaliate, I might point him to examples there that would silence forever his objection. Christ -hose twelve Apostles to be in stnieted in the principles of that salvation which bis ignominious death was to seal ; and among that number, small as it was, one Judas was found. An objection raised against an Institution be cause vile men sometimes gain admission; and make ihetr meniber ship a cloak , for tlwiif iniquities frailty of human nature should be taken into consideration, and the difficulty any Iwdy :fcf jnctt inust experience in. scanning the -clwrac-Wir of thosa-whrt preBcnt ihemservcs tor membcrshrrn- rnirrTiucrrTOjef -tions, trirliarit-.ble as thcy arc, have beeri, and will heT raised against our order, so lor.g ,as the fault-finder can detect the slightest blemish' in the ehararjVofJbJSTTJiis should induce you to 'adopt the most rigid co.urs of moral rerlirude, rineniltering tint lie of 4niertcati charity ling scenes wldch Ireland has witnessed, are soon to be surpassed by those ol greater liorror and misery than any shP has yet sul- furcd. ""'" """" ""' " "'"' ," L'nhsppy Ireland needs no tortus to toll The rsiikllng woof (hat in her lineoia swsll , '.' - 4'hy "spwa thm'n ga,tt4w4btekly wl-,- And tell of poyerty, serviludo tnd toih" ." We who have the enviable privilege .of enjoying tho blessings of liberty nnd plenty in the New World," should look with th eyes of philanthropy to the suffering millions of, the Old. The hc-acon fires, that burn so brightly on our shores, have cast their light across the M aters, to dissipate the darkness of Lastcrn i)es- fioLauu,, ing our shores to hew down our forests, to make the wilderness smile, and to become good citizens of our common country while those who remain behind are striving to belter their condition by forming a government after tho model of our -own.! It' becomesi ' your duty then, to furnish those who remain at home such an u example, of moral and civil virtue as will enable thorn to achieve -. tlieir liberation from the thraldom of tyrants 5 and for those who make America their home, let such happiness be in store as will not permit them to be " homesick for their native land." And more than this the recent startling achicremen.'s oA njind have almost added an impetus to narure : and still its career is onward, i1H.tHi:Pw'?rli ypiratloha crrr yeamMgJwilikA paiwiiMis ' ale fondness towards some distant, bright ideal, a more lovely f-F.gt'ria-tltan. ilm-woodland a p p ar itiun.of, ATJinia How- shall l-4e- hue this centre, towards which the gigantic energies of mind are rapidly converging I I may only present it to your consciousness, the effort to clothe it in a formula of words is balled. All must feel that there is a fitness and harmony of things W hich tnuy be reached, far transcending their present discords and collisions ( : that there is a language of Nature and-commou Humanity, which. when listened to aright, is recognized as the voice of universal Truth; that there is a pervading spirit, whichwhen permitted t f rule, will unite, by the electric charm ot sympathy and love, earth to man. man to mind, mind to Heaven, and all to God, Tho il lustration of Hits nrmti, hs airurdcit tn the progress of m ind, is slart- lingly sublime. V c gaze upon the ideal forms of beauty as they feTrowd the canvass, or awake the marble. Front thedeserts of Palmyra, the lombs orEgypt, Iho groves of Greece and tlie im. . perid hills of her who was the stern and haughty spoiler of them nil -from the banks of the A mo, the galleries of nhe XaUvrc, the Escurial and Windsor, and even from the humble studios of our own forest land, how gorgeous the train that sweeps before the eye of Fancy ! And yet these, the proudest triumphs of im agination, all fail of reaching that, perfectibility to which mind will ere long attain. The mighty energies for the accomplish ment of this object are at work ; their intluence is every whero . perceptible. Improvement so soon succeeds invention that wo seem rapidly approaching a state of perfection. The world feci the influence of the great physical powers recently ' developed. itself," and each seems treading onward like a giant in therjrreat- ness of its power. With a course which winds and waves scarce ly rebuke, ihey bear the vessol oyer the sea ; with a rapidity sur passing the Eagle in its flight, they hurry our produce, from th( inland field to the ocean strand ; and seizing our. thoughts in the moment of utterance, they transfer them in an instant to the ex treme, of the nation.- Ocean murmurs her allegiance to man. Earth bows her rugged front in obedience to his mandate, and even the air will not long gamliol and shout in derision of his ma tery. -;-.''' ""-"' ; ' . ;.; ;" :t ' ' ix --mmtm an agir as this it4a yours to live, ;lt is yours to ef.--J !r1velharyou7l)e not unworthy of your privileges, your, country, your generation, and above all, of the venerable instiuilion to which you belong, .Think not, because your position may be compar atively humble, your iru1uenjReisjipt to be JtdL., !l'he..-world'. grestest benefsctorshave" come, riot frorrTpaTneesnnd titled aneo : e -I wi-. " ' SVit.'Jf SX.-11H WSISSP '
The North-Carolina Star (Raleigh, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Sept. 12, 1849, edition 1
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