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DISCOURSE XII.

ON RESIGNING THE OFFICE OF CHAPLAIN TO THE GRAND
LODGE of MASSACHUSETTS, DECEMBER 27, 1799.

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As the time has now arrived, my brethren, when I am to retire from the office with which I have for feveral years been honored, and fhall not again addrefs you in public; I am defirous of leaving with you, now, my last counfels and my best wishes.

As Chaplain to the GRAND LODGE, I have been repeatedly called upon, both to lead the devotional exercises, and to perform the preceptive duties on public confecrations and feftivals. During the course of this service I have endeavored, to the best of my abilities, to illuftrate the genius and to vindicate the principles of our institution; and, while inculcating upon the members a regard to its duties, to imprefs the community at large

with a favorable opinion of its defign and tendency. And you have not only listened to my inftructions with attention, but have expreffed, in the most flattering terms, your acknowledgment of my fidelity and your approbation of my zeal. To have acquitted myself, in any degree, to your fatisfaction, in my addreffes to you, and in my public vindication of the Fraternity, is a circumstance upon which I fhall reflect with grateful fenfibility fo long as I live.

DESIROUS of improving the interest I have obtained in your regards for the purpose of animating you to a spirit and conduct becoming the antient and honorable inftitution to which you belong, I beg your attention to a few parting counfels upon feveral topics of great importance to your credit and your happiness as MASONS.

WITH this view I have, according to clerical cuftom, felected a text for my difcourfe from the facred fcriptures. As pertinent to my fituation and my design, I shall make use of that paffage inserted in the

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2 COR. XIII. II.

FINALLY, BRETHREN, FAREWELL. BE PERFCT. BE
OF GOOD COMFORT. BE OF ONE MIND. LIVE IN
PEACE; AND THE GOD OF LOVE AND PEACE
SHALL BE WITH YOU.

*

THIS is the affectionate farewell which the Apostle Paul took of his chriftian friends at Corinth. Its import is this: May all joy and happiness ever attend you! That this may be the cafe, make it your care to amend whatever is amifs among you, and rise to the greatest perfection in virtue. Support and help one another in affliction : and may you be yourfelves comforted with those ftrong confolations which true christianity fuggefts. Cultivate for each other an endeared attachment, and retain an intire unanimity. And let me urge it upon you that ye be peaceable in your demeanor, and charitable in your fentiments; for then the GOD of love and peace will graciously own and bless you, and be your prefent helper and everlasting portion.

IN like terms, and with like cordiality, would I apply this pathetic counsel to you,

my most valued friends, and echo these pious wishes on your behalf. But, as your chrif tian duties are inculcated on other occafions, there is no propriety in my dwelling particularly on them now; I fhall confine myself principally to those that are mafonic.

In the kowledge and obfervance of these alfo, Brethren, BE PERFECT.

1. To be thoroughly inftructed in the lectures, well acquainted with the ceremonies, and complete in the degrees of FREE masonry, is the ambition of all. But by this very incli nation, laudable as it undoubtedly is, fome are prompted to a more rapid progress through its forms than is confiftent with a clear and a 'equate comprehenfion of its principles. Hence they gain but a fuperficial, or at beft only a theoretical and speculative knowledge of its fublime arcana: and, not applying to practice its fymbols and its rules, they do not live in its influence nor exhibit its effects. They miftake the process for the refult; and reft in the means, without attaining the end.

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