IMAGE EVALUATrON TEST TARGET (MT-3) &?/ #/- A 1.0 I.I 1.25 2.5 . I IIIIIM 1 2,0 lis U 111.6 ^^ ^ /2 / ^3 •c^ S- # ^^ O^ Photographic Sciences Corporation 73 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 ^ '^J^^^^x^. ^\. "^Qy ri? CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHM/ICMH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques \ ^. Technical and Bibliographic Notes/Notes techniques et bibitographiques The Institute has attempted to obtain the best original copy available for filming. 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This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ Ce document est film^ au taux de reduction indiqud ci-dessous. 10X 14X 18X 22X y 12X 16X 20X 26X 30X 24X 28X J 32X tails du The copy filmed here has been reproduced thanks to the generosity of: Bibliotheque natlonale du Quebec L'exemplaire fiimd fut reproduit grAce d la g6n6rosit6 de: Bibliothdque nationale du Quebec The images appearing here are th? best quality possible considermg the condition and legibility of the original copy and in keeping with the filming contract specifications. Les images suivantes ont 6t6 rrproduites avec le plus grand soin. compte tenu ue la condition et de la nettet6 de l'exemplaire filmd, et en conformity avec les conditions du contrat de filmage. Original copies in printed paper covers are filmed beginning with the front cover and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, or the back cover when appropriate. Ail other original copies are filmed beginning on the first page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impression. The last recorded frame on each microfiche shall contain the symbol —^' (meaning "CON- TINUED"), or the symbol V (meaning "END"), whichever applies. Les exempiaires originaux dont la couverture en papier est imprimie sont fiimis en commengant par le premier plat et en tarminant soit par la dernlAre page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration, soit par le second plat, selon le cas. Tous les autres exempiaires originaux sont film6s en commen9ant par la premiere page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par la derniire page qui comporte une telle empreinte. Un des symboles suivants apparaftra sur la dernidre image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: le symbole — »> signif ie "A SUIVRE ", le symbole V signifie "FIN". Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at diff<)rent reduction ratios. Those too large to be etttlreiy included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre film6s d des taux de reduction diff6rents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul cliche, 11 est fiimd A partir de Tangle sup6rieur gauche, de gauche d droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images n6cessaire. Les diagrammes suivants iliustrent la mdthode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 c FI By 'UBI Sap lei A N ORATION Delivered at the Dedication of FREE-MASON's HALL IN THE City of Q^U E B E C, . By ALEX": SPARK, A. M. '^ tl !>■ Published at the Reqjjest of the SOCIETY. Saplentia adiJica'uitDomum/uam', excidit Columnas fuas./eptem, Solomon. ■**> • • • ' I I . < I > • t • < < • • • • > *, ' • It t ' ' ' ' . • ' • ♦ * ' ' • • • . < • r CL U E B E C: Printed by WILLIAM BROWN, M,DCC,LXXXV1I. ^ ■>4 hel the • * . 4 • « • • • • • • « , • • • »• • ( • • • • • • • • ••• « • ' • • • be fo di( Si to to P i^^-^^^^^^^^ rsfir Quebec, ^d Nov. 17^7^ AT a general Meeting of the Society of Free and Accepted Masons, held this Day at Free-Mason's Hall in the City of Quebec. Refolved, That theThanks of this Society be given to the Reverend Brother Spark, for the Oration delivered by him at the De- dication of this Hall; and that the Grand Secretary do v^ait upon Brother Spark to communicate to him this Refolution, and to requeft a Copy of the Oration for the Prefs. 146219 T O T H E MM RIGHT WORSHIPFUL, THE OFFICERS O F T H E PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE, AND THE SOCIETY OF Free and Accepted MASONS Of the City of QJLJEBEC: In Tejlmony of the nvarmeji Acknowledgement for the Honor they have been pleafed to confer upon the Author, the following ORATION is refpeSlfully infcribed, by their afeBionate Brother, And mofl obedient humble Servant ^ Belmont, 12th Nov. ONT, 1 2th Nov. 7 1787. J ALEX^: SPARK, I ^ J'i r^ \\\ A N S |0 R A T I O N Delivered at the Dedication op FREE-MASON's HALL I N T H E City of Quebec. /- I [-R. ^. Grand Mnfier, Brethren all, and illuf^ trious Hearers, N every Art two things fecm peculiarly defer/- ing of attention, its Origin, and its Defign, And perhaps there is none that can boaft an 'rigin more ancient and venerable, or a Defign iore benevolent than that of Mafonry. Whex m ( 6 ) When the Almi-hty Fiat firfl: bade this vifible Creation exiR, as the facred page informs us, it was without Form and void, and darknefs was up- on the face cf the Deep : it was yet a rude and ihzpcMs Chaos. But the Divine Archited ftrctch- ed out tlie Line upon it, and reduced it to Sym- metry and Order, fo that we now behold the whole Fabric (land confeft, a (lupendous Monument of eternal Wifdom— its pillars invefted with Strength and adorned with Beauty. Executed with Skill mi- nute even below the Sight of the Philofophic Eye, and vaft beyond the bounds of Imagination, it pro- nounccth its Author to be Divine. Such was the original Defign of the Eternal Mind— and fuch we now behold the fair and magnificent Fabric of the Univerle. But had the Divine A rchite6l here (lopt fliort— had he not alfo given Being to another Sy Item, name- ly, one of an intt'lieclual kind, not only had the moft glorious and excellent part of the Divine Work- nianlhip been left unfiniflied, but even that which was w ( 7 ) was created might have remained for ever unnotic- ed and unadmired. Tho' the Fabric was beautiful and ftupendous, it had been but like a defcrted Manfion, without Inhabitant. Tho' the Piflure was fair, and the Colours exquifite, yet none had been confcious of its Beauty, but he alone wlio fni]: de- figned and made it. As an Inhabitant, therefore, of this vifiblc Cre- ation, and a Witnefs of its Beauty and Magnifi. cence, the great Author of Nature gave Being alfj to the intelledlual Syftem — he bade the human In- telligence exift, and be confcious of Good and Evil, of Beauty and Deformity, of Virtue and Vice. As the former Syflem was made the grand Model of vifible Order, of Meafure and Proportion, lo was this laft the Subjed of moral Beauty and Rcifli- tude. The one is the Objefl of Science and the other of Morality : and thefe, if I miltake nor, are the two grand Pillars of the Mafonic Art. On thefe its Iblid Bafis refts, and hath ever refted un- iliaken and unimpaired. Thus, it claims an Ori- i' h gin ( 8 ) ain coeval with the World ; and its profcffcd Do. \\un is to promote Civilization, and to adorn hu- man Life with every fcientific and moral Accom- plifhment. By what remote Caiife — or by what Chain of Caufes or Accidents, Mankind originally formed for Virtue and Society, were led to pervert the in- tention of their Nature, and to lofe the proper Means of Improvement — how they were firft divid- ed amongll themfelves, became rude in their Man- ners, hoftile to their own Species, ignorant and un- fociable,it is not our prefent bufinefs to enquire; fuf- fice it here to obferve that the Fadt itfelf is unquefti- cnable, and that the immediate vifible Caufe is the negleft of Science and Cultivation. Almoft in e- very Nation, at fome particular period of its Hif- tory. Men have been found rude as the Marble in the Qiiarry -, pofTcffing indeed a Capacity of moral Beauty, and of the fairefl proportions of Virtue, but requiring the fkilful Hand of Art and Culture to form and polifli them. Such we are informed, were ( 9 ) were tlie ancient Inhabitants of Greece (afterwards the moa poliOicd Nation in the World) before its favage Tribes were tamed by the harmonious Lyre of an Orpheus. And fuch are the Inhabitants of e- very Nation, while yet unenlightened by Science- untaught and unexperienced in the exalted Virtue of Benevolence— and unconfcious of the facred Bonds of focial Union. Wild as the Woods in which they roan:, and fierce as the Animals with which they herd— their clothing the Spoils of ihe Chafe, and Dens their only Shelter. Such is the Pidure of hu- man Life unenlightened by Science, and unadorn- ed by Art and Cultivation. In the midft of this Chaos of intelledual Nature, behold Mafonry, whofe talk it is to enlighten and to adorn — ^behold the Heaven-born Virgin appear, bearing in her Hand the Lamp of Science, the Mir- ror of Truth, with the various Enfigns of Art ; — Joy fmiling in her Countenance, the fair femblance of Virtue and internal Peace. Steadily regarding the Beauty and Symmetry of the Divine Work- B manlliip, u r hi H\ ( 10 ) manfiiip, both in the vjfible and intelledual World, and fired with a noble Enthufiafm to examine and to imitate; from the former Ihe derives the various Arts and Ornaments of Life, and from the latter the Rules of focial Duty. She tcacheth Mankind to perceive that they were formed for Society, and that there their Nature can reach the highell Perfeflion and Happinefs. She bids them lay afide the fiercc- nefs of an hoftile Difpofition, — and teacheth Men of every Nation, of every different Faith, and of every Rank in Life, overlooking the Prejudices and DiIlin6lions, which Education or Fortune may have eltablifhed, to embrace one another like Brethren, and to give the Soul to Harmony and Love. Union adds Strength toEntcrprife, and Fire to Genius and Invention. Under the Culture of her Hand, we therefore, foon perceive the various Arts and Embeliifhments of Life, improved and difle- minated. Where lately all was Wade and Defor- mity, we now behold the ftately Dome arife, and difi^lay its magnificent Ornaments. The rude and fliapclefs ( n ) Ihap'elefs Marble aflumes Form and Proportion, and ^ Nature's faireft Tints feem to live on the Canvas* Lol Mufic alfo^ attended by foft Poefy her Sifter Art, gives to Harmony the trembling Strings, and wakes the Soul to ecftafy'i whilftthe mighty Tide of bold majeftic Vcrfe tames the Savage Breaft, and forms it to Humanity and Love. This is the La- bour, and this the Pride of Mafoary, by fuch Arts as thefe to adorn Life> and to humanize the Tem- per Heaven, wellplcafed, firftview'd the bold and oenerous Defign, with a look of foft Complacency, then blelTed the Enterprife, and bade the Virgin proceed and profper. Attended by Soft-eyed Cha- rity her infeparable Companion, we now therefore behold her travelling down the Vale of Time, hung round with the moft venerable Relicks of hoary Antiquity, and crowned with the richeft honors of every preceding Age, that with the fame Munifi- cence, and the fame benevolent Hand, Ihe may yet blefs and adorn Fofterity. This, if"', ■\ ' ■ I » I1 I, I !■•» ) V I 4 i ( .,•'£, ( 12 ) This, my worthy Brethren, and illuftrious Hear-* ers, is but a faint and general Outline of the Ori- gin and DeHgn of the Mafonic Art. Time would fail me to defcend. to particulars. But could it \^ thought requifite, in order to reflet honor on a Society fo ancient and venerable, I might yet men- tion the many diftinguilhed Charaders who have compofed and patronized it, in every Age. From the wife King of Ifrael, who, on Mafonic Principles, firft built a Temple to the God of Jacob, down to the prefent time, it boafts a Line of Worthies,— of Kings and Heros— of the great, the good and the wife in every Nation, whofe Names would do ho- nor to any Society. To rehearfe them here would be tedious, and it is unnecefTary. But every Ma- fon of this Affembly will doubtlefs confider it as a fortunate and pleafing Circumftance, that under an Officer of the Royal Blood,* the moft important Office belonging to Mafonry, within the Realm of Great Britain, fhould, at this Day, be difcharged * Duke of Cumberland Grand Maftcr of England. by ■H ~ i\ ( 13 ) by a Nobleman of the moft diftinguiflied Charac- ter,! fo nearly allied to the Noble Lord who pre- fides over this part of the Britilh Empire, and who now honoreth us with his Prefencc and Patronage. ■ tX«.- U-C- Jw r-tH^c- Were It neceflary that I fhould here fpecify any particular Example of that charitable Difpofition, which hath ever charaderized the Fraternity as a colleftive Body, I fhould, my worthy Brethren, mention your own late Exertions in raifing a Fund of Charity in this City, as a recent Example of a Benevolence truly Mafonic. And I gladly embrace this Opportunity to congratulate you on the prcfent advanced State of that Charity, and the pleafing Profpea of feeing it foon completed. This Houfe'^ now dedicated to Mafonry, to Virtue, and to uni ' " verfal Benovelence, and appropriated folely as a Fund for the relief of Indigence, will ferve as ary additional and recent Tcftimony to the World, of the humane Difpofition which aftuates a Society of t Earl of Bffinghatn. Free- ,1 '*'! ( 14 ) Free-MasoMs. But it mud often alfb recall to your Remembrance the irreparable Lofs, which you in particular, and the Society in general have fuftain- cd, by the much lamented Death of our late worthy. Right Worfhipful Grand Mailer,* by whom this Charity was chiefly promoted. To his Adivity and Zeal, under the Bleffing of Heaven, the Poor are principally indebted for the Benefit and AfTif- tance which, it is hoped, they will long derive from it. While Mafonry, therefore, holds her fage Af- femblies, or celebrates her myftic Rites, under this Roof, Ibe Ihall mention his Name with Delight, and often confecrate a Tear to his Memory. Permit me farther, my Brethren, to tongratu- late you on the Satisfadion which every one of you muft now feel, at having in any degree contributed to fo laudible a Defign. Surely to be in any mea fure inftrumental in removing Sorrow from the Hearts of our fellow Creatures— in fhielding the > Col. Cai-l«wn UtQ Provincial Grand Mafter of Canada. Innocent 1: g; ( 15 ) Innocent from Infult and Opprefilon— or in wipin the Tear from the Eye of Mifery, cannot but upon Befledion, yield the mod folid Delight. What can contribute more to our own Enjoyment of ourfelves than to fee others made happy by our Mean^ ? The Joy and Savisfadion arc reciprocal. What we be- ftow in Charity well applied, we receive in Self-com- placency, and in the approbation of Conicience, which pours upon the Soul the joy and radiance of Heaven! Thus haft thou, great God of Nature! annexed the moft folid Joy and Happinefs to Virtue, and e- ver clofely united our Duty with our Intereft. With one Heart, and one Accord, we nov/ therefore lift up our Eyes unto thee, thou Sovereign Difpoier of Events, humbly imploring thy Divine Blefling, and mod gracious Affiftance, to fecond all our Endea- vours to alleviate the Diftre/Tes of the Indigent, and to difpenfe Joy and Happinefs to our fellow Crea- rures. Oh! thou Parent of Goodneis, make us truly fenfible of tlie exalted Fieafure of doincr Good. and f y\ tii • t * t * t. .11 ( i6 ) and let our Labour of Love be crowned with abun- dant Succefs. To thee we look for Affiftance and Direaion in all our Undertakings; and our Souls rejoice in thy Dominion. « Hail univerfal Lord, be bounteous flill " To give us only Good" And—* « To thee whofe Temple is all Space, " Whofe Altar, Earth, Sea, Skies, « One Chorus let all Being raife, " All Nature's Incenfe rife.** # ' .?«^, \ ?. .^4 FINIS, -a-^- 2 J*^„& - -.A.''* "^X. "ftT ..^^ r¥" .'••^./•n. o ^ • • • • • • . » I / |.4 I abuti- ice and ir Souls liU l«l: