iwifi Kff /lafonic brethren, by whofe invitation I am prefent on this occafion. BRETHREN AND FRIENDS. Ycu are this day to be conftituted, agreeably to Mafomc forms, a Society of brother?.. May brother- ly iove cement your union, and difFufe its fweet favor through all your deportment. The principles of Mafonry, and the rules by which the members of this ancient and honorable Fraternity profc'ifed)}' regulate their conduct, fo far as they appear in their prime 1 works, are calculated, if duly regarded, to make good citizens and good men. With the fecrets of your Order, not being my- felf a Mafon, I am of coutfe ignorant. It is hoped that, however unprofitable they are to thofe xuithoi:l. MASONIC SERMON. 21 they are innocent and ufeful to thofe within. We pre fume they are thought tobefo by every true Ma- fun, or they would in c/iarity, which is a high Ma- Tonic duty be divulged for the benefit of others. Secret tranfa&ions, fuch is the conftitution of the? human mind, always excite curiofdy and frequently Jitfpicion in the uninitiated. It is for you, rny friends, by your good works, to allay a\\fufpicions,if you can- not gratify our curiofdy. The fccret fprings and movements of your inftitution being kept out of fight, we have no other criteria by which we may judge of the nature and value of your inftitution, than, hy your fruits. According as thefe (hail, in general, be good or bad, the world will, and have a right to, think well or ill of Free Masonry. By thete criteria we do, and mull, judge of ail inftitu- tions, the Cbriftian Church not excepted. The pureft aud mof: ufeful inflations are Iiable,in times of great and general depravity, to become corrupt and have been grofsly corrupted, and its members have depar'ec* effentially from original principle > *n fuch cafes all innovations will be disavowed by the true and pure members, fo that the corruptions, and not the pure principles of the original inftitu. tfdri, will be the objefts of cenfure. From the many refoeaable and diflinguiilicd- characters who have been, and ftiU are, members o| :±iis fraternity, and from its fnms in this free mi -•- 22 DR. MORSE'S lighted country, we have reafon to judge favorably of the institution, as it exifts among us. It is in your power, my brethren, as Chriftians, as Men and as Mafons, to do much good in the feveral ways men- tioned in the foregoing difcourfe. The peculiar con- ftru£tion| and regulations of your Society, and the intimate connexion and intercourfe of its branches., enable you to be of great advantage to one another, mid to the community, in cherilhing the friendly, benevolent and focial feelings ; in communicating to the relief of the needy and diftreffed; in promoting civil order and due fubordination to lawful author- ity j in {lengthening the hands of good rulers ; in checking the growth and fpread of diforganizing principles ; in diffufing a patriotic fpirit; in fupport- ing all wife and ufeful institutions, whether of a reh\ gious, focial or literary kind ; in countenancing and encouraging among your members, induflry, econo- my and temperance, and in difcouraging the oppo- site vices of idlenels, intemperance, gaming, profan- ity, andlicentioufnefso From the charge you receive at your initiation, it appears that you hold yourfelves " bound to a ftrict obfervance of the moral law as contained in the T :oly writings ; — to confider thefe writings as the un- erring (landard of truth andjuftice;" and that you come under obligations to " regulate your lives and aflions by their divine precepts, and to be cjuiet and MASONIC SERMON. 2.3 peaceable fubje&s, true to your government and juH to your country." You are fblemnly cautioned againft every thing which tends to the "corruption of good manners." You are exhorted " on every occafion to beware of thofe who may artfully endeav- or to infmuate therofelves into your eileenf, with a view to betray your virtuous refolutions, or make you fvverve from the honorable principles of your inflitution ; — not to furTerintereft, favor or prejudic- es to bias your integrity, or to influence you to be guilty of a wicked or dilhonorable action, and that the whole feries of your conduct be regular and uni- form, and your deportment fuitable to the dignity of your laudable profeffion." Adhere ftricily to thefe principles ; fulfil with fidelity thefe obligations ; re- gard attentively thefe cautions, and you will aiTuredly be good Mafons, good Men and good Christians. Finally, brethren, let me exhort you, as be- cometh Christians, to exercife yourfelves to " have always a conference vcid of offence towards God and towards men." " By patient continuance in well doing, feek for glory and honor and immortality.** So will you befl honor your inititution, in the view of the world ; vindicate it againit fufpicious and evil reports j promote your own individual comfort and happinefs in this life; be moll ufeful to your friends, your country, and mankind ; and what is more than all, in humble reliance on the merits of the divine $4 P R, MO^$g^J^(Wir JSER NJONT. Saviour, be fair candidates for admiflion into thai! beautiful and glorious city above, •' whofe ftreetsare gold, whofe gates are pearl, and whofe foundations are precious flones." AMEN. REV. BROTHER RIPLEY'* PRAYER AT THE FOREGOING INSTALLATION. TO Tilt Etg|>t Worshipful MASTER, WARDENS, OTHER OFFICERS & BRETHREN OF Corintinau SoUjj^ BRETHREN, THE approbation, which you have exprefed, of my publk performance, on the day of Inf dilation, far ex- ceeds my expectation. I confent to its publication in com.' pany with Doctor Morse's excellent difcourfe, in deference to the opinion and polite attention of the Lodge, to whom I am an obliged brother, and very humble Servant, EZRA RIPLEY. PRAYER. \J^ THOU fupreme Architect and Lord of the univerfe, we adore thee, as infinitely great and good : And while thy greatnefs impreiTes us with the pro- founded reverence and awe, thy goodnefs infpires us with ardent hope and love towards thee, our God. Thou art the eternal Source of light and wifdom, of truth and love : Thou didft, at firft, command light toftiine out of darknefs ; thou giveft man underftand- ing; thou required of him truth in heart and life; and by the unparalleled difplay of thy love, thou haft indiffolubly obligated and powerfully conftrained him to love his Maker and his fellow-men. Under an im- pieflive fenfe of divine love, we would now. by the aid of the eternal Spirit, as men, as Mafons, and as Chriftians, follow up its delightful dreams, through thy holy Son jelus, to thyfelf, the inexhauilable Fountain, with the pureft fentiments of devotion and praife, of which we are capable. 4 ^ BR. RIPLEY'S Almighty Makes, of heaven and earth, wifdorh, Jlrengtd and beauty characterize ail thy works, and by thcfe immutable pillars the vaft temple of nature is fuppoited. All thy works praife thee, and thy faints blcfsthee! Thou haft ftretched out the canopy of the heavens, as a curtain j thou haft ine*fured the earth, and bounded the feas. With pleafing won-: cier and devout admiration, we contemplate the or- der and harmony, grandeur and utility of thy works, and celebrate the praifes of the great Creator for his, niatchlefs {kill and immenfe benevolence. We offer thankf^-ving to God for our rational exigence and Jocial faculties j that we are deftmed for ufeful and i ■eligious cxercife and fublime enjoyment ; and that thou haft made our duty and our happinefs toconfif^ < -Lentially in love to thee and love to men. \Ve are ibankful for the evidences of thy being and perfec- tions, which are im.prefied on aj.1 the works and ope? rations of thy hands, and that by thefe we are daiiy inltructed, apd inceifantly recalled from the creature to the Creator. We thank thee, that in our moral nature we feel fentiments of Deity, «« a peculiar ref? ervation lor God," and difpoiition to devotion.. Our immortality and mortality, the weaknefles and the energies of our nature, unite to direct our fouls to the Author of our exiltence, as cur pre fen t help and future falvation. We admire and rejoice in thofe divine eftablifhrnents in the natural and moral world^ ••hich attach man to Deity, and man to man, ancj MASONIC PRAYER. 5 which teach us in language the moll perfpicuous and fimple, thatfincere piety and a&ive benevolence con- du€t to happineis, to heaven and to God. We rejoice in thy benignity, O God, in that thou haft difpofed men to combine and afibciate, the more effectually to fecure individual and focial en- joyment, to fupply the wants of the neceffitous, and to erect barriers againft the corrupt lufts and paffions of the wicked. With gratitude we acknowledge the fmiies of Heaven on the fociety of Free and Ac- cepted Masons from the morning of time to the prefent day. With facred joy we behold the prin- ciples of Masonry emanating from Deity, and un- folded in his works and communications; at a view of which, in the firfl dawn of light and time, the morning flars fang together, and the fons of God fhouted for joy. We praife the Lord for ail the benefits, that hath refuked to individuals and to mankind from this ancient and benevolent inftitution : And at the fame time, we lament before thee every defec- tion of Mafons from their noble principles and proper charader. O our God, infpire the Fraternity through the world, individually and colleS] vely, with the genuine fpirit of piety and charity, truth and righteoufnefs, that others.feeing their good works, may glorify God, and may have no juft occafion to fpeak evil of them, or of thofe myfteries, which they 4o not underlland. Let a continual exhibition of f BR. RIPLEY'S 1g£ univerfal piety- and' philanthropy fecure the approba- lion of the wife and good, fijence the tongue of flan- der, and foften the mind of prejudice. Most . gracious God, we befeech thee to grant thy benediction to all Mafons good and true, particu- larly to the Lodges in this country, and in an efpecial manner, to the ont in this place. Gracioufly {mile on its infant date, and by thy light, truth and grace, guide us in the peaceful and ufeful paths of wifdoin rmd honor, of reafon and religion, until we fhall be qualified for, and admitted into the Grand Celes^ n al Lodge above, where perfect love cafteth out fear, unclouded truth forbids error, confummate wif- Jora banilhes ignorance, and eternal day difpels dark- .nefs ; where there is no need of the light of the fun, nor moon, for the glory of God doth lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. Supreme Lord of providence, be propitious to this affembly, Sc grant divine aid and approbation to the iolemn and joyful tranfattions of this day. May our work be done with order, our rejoicing with rea- fon, and our teltivity with temperance. May we live in an mfluencial belief of thine All-feeing Eye, and with a wife reference to a future flate. Ever bleffed God, afford thy prefence and grace to thy fervant, who is to inftru£fc us from that great light of the moral world, thy holy word ; and to j^im, who is to lead in the confecrating and clofing prayers, and to thofe, who are to give charges of ft« I MASONIC PRAYER, delity to their brethren. Difpofe us all to receive and obey the truth, and ever to take thy word for a light to our feet, a lamp to our path, a pcifect rule of faith and practice : and when thou (halt make ap thy jewels, may we be found among them clothed in the robes of righteoufnefs and glory. Our heavenly Father, blefs, we pray thee, thy church and people in this place, Blefs, we beieech thee, the land in which we live. O thou guardian God of America, we pray thee to take thefe States United and individual under thy holy protection. Save us from foreign influence and invafion. and from domeftic diffenftons. Preferve to us our na- tional independence and privileges civil and facreu\ Great fource of wifdom and power, continue, we humbly pray thee, to enlighten and ttrengthen our TT n- Prefident : direct and blefs the councils of the ion, and of the States. Unite, profper and blefs the people of all ranks ; incline their hearts to ierve t\ and make things go well in all our land. Father of lights, fend forth thy light and truth. to heal and fave the nations of the world. Lfet the fwori of war no longer drink the blood of men ; but may fmiling peace, with her joyful train of ineftima- blebleflings, vifjt every country : let knowledge be univerfally diftufed, " liberty with order/' and pure religon be every where enjoyed, and the whole world be filled with tyuman happinefs and divine glory. 8 BR. RIPLEY'S MASONIC PRAYER. Most merciful God, we implore the forgiveneij of our manifold offences, and complete redemption thro the blood of Jesus Christ ; and wherein wc have done iniquity, let us do fo no more. Enable us to walk before thee in love, and in all goodnefs, until we (ball attain that chriftian perfection, which is enjoined on us by divine authority, and be actually prepared for thy blifsful prefence in endlefs glory. Now unto the GRAND MASTER BUILDER of the univerfe, to the only wife GOD our SAVIOR, be glory and majefty, dominion and power, both now and ever. AMEN.