OUR beft attachments are due to the craft. In its profperity we find our joy; and, in paying it honor, we honor ourselves. But its worth transcends our encomiums, and its glory will out-found our praise.

BRETHREN, it is our pride that we have our names on the records of Masonry: may it be our high ambition that they should shed a luftre on the immortal page!

THE Hall is alfo to be dedicated TO VIRTUE.

THIS worthy appropriation will always be duly regarded while the moral duties which our fublime lectures inculcate with affecting and impreffive pertinency, are cherished in our hearts and illuftrated in our lives.

As Free Masonry aims to enliven the spirit of philanthropy, and promote the cause of charity, fo we dedicate this Hall TO UNIVERSAL BENEVOLENCE; in the affurance that every brother will dedicate his affections and his abilities to the fame generous purpose: that while he difplays a warm and cordial affection to those who are of the Fraternity,

he will extend his benevolent regards and good wishes to the whole family of mankind.

SUCH, my brethren, is the fignificant meaning of the folemn rites we are now to perform, because fuch are the peculiar duties of every Lodge. I need not enlarge upon them now, nor fhew how they diverge, as rays from a centre, to enlighten, to improve, and to cheer the whole circle of life. Their import and their application is familiar to you all. In their knowledge and their exerercise may you fulfil the high purposes of the masonic inftitution!

How many pleasing confiderations, my brethren, attend the prefent interview. Whilft in almost every other part of the world political animofities, contentions, and wars, interrupt the progrefs of humanity and the cause of benevolence, it is our dif tinguished privilege, in this happy region of liberty and peace, to engage in the plans and to perfect the defigns of individual and focial happiness. Whilft in other nations

our order is viewed by politicians with fufpi cion, and by the ignorant with apprchenfion; in this country, its members are too much respected and its principles too well known, to make it the object of jealousy or mistrust. Our private affemblies are unmolested; and our public celebrations attract a more general approbation of the Fraternity. Indeed, its importance, its credit, and we truft its usefulness, are advancing to a height unknown in any former age. The present occafion gives fresh evidence of the increasing affection of its friends; and this noble apartment, fitted up in a ftile of elegance and convenience which far exceed any we have among us, does honor to Masonry, as well as the highest credit to the refpectable Lodge for whofe accommodation and at whofe expense it is erected.

We offer our beft congratulations to the worshipful MASTER, WARDENS, OFFICERS and MEMBERS of the COLUMBIAN LODGE. We commend their zeal, and hope it will meet with the most ample recompenfe. May their Hall be the happy refort of PIETY, VIRTUE,

and BENEVOLENCE! May it be protected from accident, and long remain a monument of their attachment to Masonry! May their Lodge continue to flourish; their union to strengthen; and their happiness to abound! And when they, and we all, fhall be removed from the labors of the earthly lodge, may we be admitted to the brotherhood of the perfect, in the building of GOD, the hall not made with hands, eternal in the heavens !

T

INVOCATION.

SUPREME ARCHITECT of all worlds! vouchfafe to accept the folemn dedication of this Hall, TO THE GLORY OF THY HOLY NAME! Make its walls salvation, and its arch praise! May the brethren who fhall here affemble, meet in unity, work in love, and part in harmony! May Fidelity keep the door, Faith prompt the duties, Hope animate the labors, and Charity diffuse the bleffings of the Lodge! May wisdom and virtue diftinguish the Fraternity, and Masonry become glorious in all the earth!

So mote it be!

AMEN!