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Un des symboles suivants apparaltra sut la dernidre image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: le symbole — i^ signifie "A SUIVRE", le symbole y signifie "F9N ". Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre film^s A des taux de reduction diff^rents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul cliche, il est film6 A partir de Tangle sup6rieur gauche, de gauche d droite, et de haut en bas. en prenant le nombre d'images ndcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mdthode. irrata to palura, r. A D 32X 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 ■:;\ VI . Pi 11!''!*)*',! t\. ificfit!::. ;;!;!■. sNli^iillii ®|d$lktt $0EoJus|i|i: A SERMON 3!g;i;:;!;t;:,|f iiiiii c^ PREACHED ON ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST'S DAY, 1867, IN S. PAUL*S CHURCH, CHARLOTTETOWN, PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND, BEFORE THE orsl^ipfttl Mmitr antr ^retJ^rnt OF ST. JOHN LODGE OF FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS, ^ BY .T. HERBERT READ, D. D„ fffeaplain of ^htg iiram fobge, Ito. 821, g. (B. jiiuiihiui;:!!] ss&'^itliyB',, |ll5it!i:'.JqH ;?| I'-i-fc"!*" ! «H|Mi|Bi; '-M r>; tjiiftiiif. S» |uMisfod h^ ^i^mml S^qu^st. CHARLOTTETOWN, P. E. ISLAND. 1869. CO M to ch in Fr Ch J PREFACE. The Author deems it right to remark, that these sermons were never written with the design of their being published, but in compliance with the kind and repeated request of the WorshipftU Master and Brethren of St. John's Lodge, the manuscript is sent to the press, in the hope that it may be humbly instrumental in cherishing the Christian grace of Love among the Brethren, and in promoting the high moral principles of Ancient and Accepted Free Masonry. J. II. R, Charlottetown, P. E. I., April, 1869. -■,\n SERMON I. i'\*W^^^^^rf>/^WWN^*^*** ^^ If we walk in the lights as He is in the light, loc have fel- lowship one with another.^' — 1 JoHis, i. 7. The Bible is God's inestimable gift to man, as the rule of faith and practice. From its exhaustless treasury we may obtain such a measure of Divine knowledge, as will guide us safely through the journey of life, and fit us for the pure and sinless worship of that glorious tem- ple, ^'not made with hands, eternal in the heavens," where every true Christian looks for a home and a rest ; when the labor of life is ended. Our assembling here to day is a public acknowledg- ment of our faith in God, and oux belief in the inspira- of His holy Word, which is the great beacon light, to show us our duties and our dangers. It is the only safe and unerring directory to the realms of everlasting glory, by taking heed to which, our path will be "as the shining light, that shineth more and more, unto the per- fect day." Light and darkness — truth and error — holiness and sin, ,are the great antagonistic influences in the moral world. To infuse light into the soul dar- kened with the mists of sin, — to recover man from the error of his way, by indoctrinating his mind with Scrip- ture truths, — to correct evil influences, which are natural to the human heart, by imparting desires after holiness, is the Divine mission of " the Gospel of the ever blessed God." Il ' I ! St. John tells us in the context that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. If wo say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth ; but if v^e walk in the light, as He is in the light we have fellowship one with another " and the blood of Jesus Christ his son cleanseth us from all sm. a I do not intend to enter into a detailed exposition of the text, which was brought to our notice in the Epistle for the day ; but I purpose to make use of it, as sugges- tive of thoughts appropriate to the occasion which has brought us together this morning in God's House of Prayer. The term Light, in Scripture language, is a figurative expression, signifying knowledge, pm'ity, holiness and glory, which, in their highest acceptation^ are attributes of the Sovereign Euler of the Universe, and, as Ohi'istians, we are to seek their attainment. By cul- tivating the graces that adorn the Christian character, we become more and more like our Divine Master, who has left us a command to walk in His footsteps. Of all the tests whereby we may know if we have passed from the darkness of sin into the pure light of the (xospel, the exhibition of the grace of Love is the truest. It is the brightest gem in Jehovah's crown. It shone most conspicuously in the Saviour's life, and obtained for St. John the Evangelist the high and honored distinction of the disciple " whom Jesus loved." History informs us that when the aged Apostle was unable to preach, or even to walk, he was carried each day into the congre- gregation, whom he addressed as little children, bidding them love one another ; and, it is said, they once asked him for something more, to wbich he replied: "nay. light, and ; we have e lie, and as He is her "and from all Dsition of 10 Epistle s sugges- t'hich has House of figurative iness and attributes and; as By cul- haracter, 3ter, who we have htofthe le truest, one moat 1 for St. jtinction informs •each, or congre- bidding !e asked : "nay. when I have toJd you that, I have told you all;'* and wo can scarcely read his epistles with attention, without, in some measure, being imbued with this all-excelling grace. St. Paul, in the thirteenth chapter of his first Epistle to the Corinthians, says that Charity or Love is the greatest of all the graces which adorn the Christian. Faith may fail — hope may become dim, but love, the sweetest chord on the golden harp, will survive the dis- solution of all things earthly, and flourish in celestial beauty and brightness when ages have passed away. God is love, and he that dvvelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in him : and if we walk in the light of this Divine grace we possess the truest bond of Christian fellowship, " without which, whosoever lives is counted dead before God." To suppose that there can be any true religion where love does not exist, is to imagine a body without a soul — a world without a sun. St. James teaches us that our religion, to be worthy of the name, must be practical, pervading our thoughts, words and works. " For, as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without '' works is dead also." Our Messed Master has given us a mark or description of character by which His people are known. '^ By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." St. John, echoing the sentiments of his Lord, says, "We know . that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren." Here you may observe that the be- loved disciple is speaking of a fact with which he, and all who were united in the fellowship of the Gospel, were familiar. If, then, the exercise of this Christian grace of love is the sure evidence of our divine relationship to ■ God, and that we are walking in the light of His beaming i-i-.^ 8 smilo, whoro, I ask, aro the proofs of it to bo found, in \j-. tho high-sounding profession of our times ? Wo may bo , useful members of society ; wo may give of our goods to feed the poor, and immolate our bodies upon the altar of ^ martyrdom ; but if lovo bo not tho moving principle in us, our works will bo regarded hy Ilim, who reads tho heart, as no bettor than the sounding brass, or tho tink- ling cymbal. If, my beloved brethren, wo are the servants of Christ, we must divest ourselves of selfishness — abound in ^ His work, and extend the right hand of fellowship to ^ all who love the Lord Jesus Christ. St. Paul well un- derstood this, when he said, " Let us consider one ano- ther, to provoke urto love, and to good works." And Holy Scripture has condensed the result of long experi- ence, where it says, " That as iron sharpeneth iron, so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend." To walk together, implies a union in sentiment and taste. Holy Scripture puts the enquiry, " How can two ^ walk together, except they be agreed, and what com- munion hath light with darkness ? " It is therefore essential to the prosperity of any society, and universal ° experience confirms the truth, that there should be a general agreement in all its principles, or there can be , brii 1 ^ee Pre ceri witi I «cli Goc whc neither [harmony nor fellovvship among its members What, but sin, has produced jarring interests in the^^ Church and the world? It has darkened all that is great and ennobling in man, and produced thorns where flow- ers of loveliness might grow in rich luxuriance. Sin bas*^ ^ sown broadcast throughout the world the seeds of envy . and hatred, which bear fruit, alas ! too abundantly, in ° can to i toL tho soil of the heart. To correct this dominant evil, the Christian rehgion directs us to the well-spring of our ligh anoi Aga or the tink- its of Christ, — abound in 9 ' . Heavenly Father's lovo, the Lord Jesus Christ, who came ^ into this world to destroy the works of the devil, and to ° „ plart in the hearts of His people the graces of the Spirit, . . . . which, if cultivated by watchfulness and prayer, will P 1 i.u fcring forth fruit abundantly to Jehovah's glory. Do we want an illustration of pure disinterested love? Bee it wondrously exhibited in the harmonies of Divine Providence, making the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sending rain upon thejust and the unjust. Yea, , . day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night ,/ certifieth to the knowledge of Him who (irowns the year Eiul well un- TT- J with His goodness. , . , But the manifestation of Divico love in creation is ' . eclipsed by the more glorious work of redemption, when , . God gave His dear Son to be a sacrifice for sin; whoae . T „ ' whole life may be summed up in the terse, yet expres- . ' , T sive language of St. Peter: ''He went about doing ffood." My brethren, if we will but take the blessed How can two® . -^ -j ^ i • xi. , Saviour as our pattern and our guide, studying the . , p lessons He wouiU have us learn, we shall walk in th^ 1 liffht of His countenance, and there awaits us after death md universal "^^ -, j - tu ^ c ^ j.- i , , , a blessed reward in the realnis or everlastmsr g-lorv. should be a ^ j.^ ^ ^n . . , it IS an unspeakable comiort to know, that we are not here can be . ,1 • ct-r ^-l i. • - -m , alone in the journey ot lite; that invisible agencies are .1 ensfaffed on our behalf. A heavenly Father's watchful srests in the *= ? ah -r a i x t <»re is over us. An aJl-prevailing Advocate ever lives °, to intercede for us, and the Holy Comforter is ever ready ^2. -I to help our infirmities (if we seek his aid,) whilst angel ^ bands, who execute the Eternal's behests, are minister- eeds 01 envy ... , . ing spirits to salvation's heirs ; so that if we v/alk in the •1,1 liffht, as God is in the lisfht, we have fellowship one with ant evil, the «^ ' ° ' ^ ,. another, and we may travel on, and tear no danger. ^ ° Again, our blessed Lord has taught us the benefit of a 10 mutual help, by sending fortb. His seventy disciples^ two and two, to preach the gospel. My brethren, com- c bined action is a felt necessity, whether it applies to the g government of the Church, or to civil institutions. It t is recog nized as one of the cardinal principles of oui p ancient and honorable fraternity, assembled together an this day for a sublime object — the worship of Almightj God, but not for the purposes attributed to it by ignor- ance and prejudice. I shall not attempt to refute these opinions, by entering into details in defence of our an- cient institution, The occasion demands better and holier thoughts ; but I would simply remark, that a so- ciety which begins and ends its deliberations with prayer; comes to church before it proceeds with its annual business ; and claims as its patrons such distinguished Chi'istian men as St. John the Baptist, and St. John the Evangelist, whose death on this day has been commem- orated for ages in the Christian Church, answers every objection to its being an irreligious institution. From the building of Solomon's temple, through every age and change in architecture, workmanship, and material, Ancient Freemasonry has stamped its mind and hand upon the grand and useful ; traces of which are to be found in many of our churches and cathedrals, which dot the mother country. The order is spreading far and wide, and numbers on its records thousands of gid the vasu human family, from the monarch on the throne are to those in the humbler walks of ?ife, who are associated she together in the bond of a common fellowship, for au( scientific investigatious; and for cherishing those truly Me Christian adornments, brotherly love, relief and truth. Ad It would occupy a longer time than could be permit- in ted me on this anniversary, in telling you how Fret;- is i Ii lil b( die tei sol rul am wa Fr: nc suf wi] wo Fr( lov ifelj of 11 ty disciples, ethren, com- ipplies to the itutions. It nples of oui led together of Almightj it by ignor- refute these ce of our an- better and k^ that a so- . with prayer; . its annua] listinguished St. John the jn commem- swers every on. From every age ad material, d and hand are to be rals, which [•eading far lousands of the throne associated )wship, for those truly and truth, be permit- how Free- masonry has released the martyr from persecution, the captive from his chains, and turned aside the warrior's sword from falling on his antagonist. It has soothed the sufterer on a sick bed, relieved the distressed from penury, the widow and orphan from destitution. Snch are some of the benefits which our ancient and honorable Institution has conferred on our fellow creatures ; and, like the good Samaritan^ it continues to dispense its bounty amid the selfishness of a cold and chilling world. Finally, brethren, permit me to remind you of those distinguished ornaments that mark your honorable fra- ternity : love to God and man. The Bible you are to solemnly regard, as the free gift of God to man, the rule of life and practice, the pillar and ground of truth ; and it is only by taking heed to its light, that we can walk securely through the dark valley, guided by that Friend that sticketh closer than a brother. Give a re- no ived proof this day of your continued sympathy for suffering humanity, by cheering stricken spirits with the wine and oil of your Christian benevolence; and let the world see, that if there is a threefold cor J which unites Free and Accepted Masons in the bonds of fraternal fel- lowship, they are not so unmindful of the wants of their fellow-creatures, as to wrap themselves in the garment of selfish indifierence, and pass by on the other side. Eemember, also, my Brethren, that whilst you are to fear God, you are to honor your Sovereign, and show by your example the beneficial effects of thd moral and religious training of your time-honored fraternity. May the words of one of the brightest ornaments of your Ancient Order, conveyed to us in the text, be treasured In all oar memories, that " If we walk in the light, asGod is in the light, we have fellowship one with another.' ■r: 12 I Let your benevolence this morning be the spontaneous gift of thankful and loving hearts ; and may God accept the service, and bless the giver, for His dear Son's sake, whose blood cleanseth from all sin, and whose grace alone can prepare us for the inheritance of the saints in light. PRE If J', * spontaneous y God accept . ir Son's sake, i whose grace * r the saints in A SERMON PREACHED ON MONDAY, DEC. 28tH, 18C8, IN ST. PAUL'S CHUKCH, CHAKLOTTETOWN, PRINCE EDWAED ISLAND, BEFORE THE Q^O 'C J) o OF ST. JOHN AND VICTORIA LODGES OF FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS, § BY J. HEIIBEKT READ, D. D. ^^Ijapluin of liing |jirat« fobgc. fo. 821, n, «. §nhMcA i|T ^jiutinl ieqit^st CHARLOTTETOWN, P. E. ISLAND. 1869. Il 'I noth I'H Dfth( exerc SERMON II. 4m»» ► r Beloved, if Ood so loved us, we ought also to u ve one yther,^* — 1 John, iv. 2. [n selecting a subject for the occasion which has JFOught us together this morning in the house of prayer, )iir thoughts are naturally drawn to the writings of St. ri^hn the Evangelist — one of your Patron Saints, of viiose death we were reminded yesterday. If we read ibe Gospel which the Beloved Disciple penned, or the Spistles that bear his name, we observe running through lis writings, like a golden thread, the grace of charity, )r love, which was so beautifully exemplified in the Mas- ier*s life and conversation ; the grace which shall one iay leaven the mass of humanity, when the Lord lesus shall appear in his second advent of glory, and a^ke all things new — " and there shall be new heavens Eiifed a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." My apethren,! have chosen a theme for our anniversary which iescribes in brief yet expressive language, the character 3f the Great Architect of the universe as the pattern for 3ur imitation; and we best attain the end for which man (vas created, when we endeavour, by the help of Divine ^race, sought for in earnest, faithful prayer, to follow, ihough at an immeasurable distance, the mind and will Df the Infinite. The Divine Word tells us that it is in the esprcise of the crowning grace of charity, we declare the ,i; 16 : fact of our belonging to Christ ; who has said, *' By tU^, shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye ha^^g^^j love one to another." S. John, echoing the spirit of Ujj Lord, says, " We know that we have passed from dea^ gj unto life, because we love the brcuhren ; " and in the co J^ j eluding verse of the chapter that contains the text, tlji^^i beloved Apostle asserts, ''This commandment have v^^ from God, that he who loveth God, love his broth^j^jg^ In the words before us, St. John commends to o^^^ notice the example of God, as worthy of our closest ii^j^d itation ; and the nearer we approach to the excelleniw-e of the Divine character of Jehovah, the more we sh ^j^^ , become what Adam was, when he was placed amid tl^^j^^ beauty and loveliness of Eden, ere sin had blunted tlQ|jj^ finer feelings of his nature, when he reflected, in eve^jj|g feature, the mind of his Creator. I will not attempt Qq^ describe the ruin of the noblest work of God by sii^^^ j^ and how he, who should have stood firm, as the pillar [^ q] truth, became a broken column, and ruin and wretchetjgAjj ness entered this world, bringing in their sad tray^^ Death and all our woe. I would rather occupy tt^^g, time permitted me, in suggesting for your prayerf^fc]^ consideration the adoption of those principles inculcate^g^ in the word of God, which assimilate our nature to tljggp Divine. jutac St. John has given us in the text a most cogent re:^|j,jj son why we should love one another : "because God htg||jg in such a wondrous manner manifested His love to ii r^_^ in sending His son to be the propitiation for omt sins|j gg If the infinite Jehovah, who dwells in light unap|j|^ proachable by mortal eye, surrounded with myriads '^^ ^^ sinless intelligences, the brightest and best, who p^j^a 17 said, By tigj. (Jevoutest homage before the Eternars throne, has 5ies, It ye ha^i^g^j beyond those radiant hosts, to this our sinful be spirit of l^j. pi^igj ^^an, toiling in the chains of the most ab^ jed from deaL| slavery, from which he could not liberate himself, and m the co:^ devised a scheme of deliverance from Satan's cruej IS tne text, tl^^age, at such a vast price, as no human arith- ment nave v^^ ^^^^ count, nor the utmost stretch of angel minds vo nis "roth^g-yg^ because human Eedemption could be accom- Lfiftied in no other way ; then we are presented with an mends to 0]|ixnent as powerful as it should be convincing, why 3ur closest ii^hould love God, and love one another. bhe excellen(|^Q 1^^^^ jug^ celebrated the Christmas Festival, that more we snyi^j^^jg ^g ^f ^ j^q wondrous incarnation of Deity, whose acea amia t^|^n^ ^^g carolled by angel choirs, in their sweetly re- id blunted tl^^ g^^^ ^^^^^ startled the watchers on the plain of cted, in eve^igi^gjjj . ^^^ ^i^^ burden of their song was, " Glory lot attempt q^^ -^ ^^^^ highest, and on earth peace, good-will to- iroa by sii^ men." Then followed, in the commemorations of as the pillar .^Qjjj.ig^i^jj year, the anniversary of St. Stephen's and wretcheij^^lj^ ^^3 fii.gt Christian martyr, who, like one of old, leir sad tra^^j ^^iq truth with his blood. Yesterday was the an- occupy tJgkj.g^j.y. Qf the death of your illustrious Patron, St. John our pi^ayeri||Jgyg^^gQljg|.^ whose life is worthy of your best and es mculcate^gt study, not only as being so richly imbued with lature to tljg|gp^,-|. ^f j^^g Master and Lord, but illustrating, in his )ntact with mankind, the winning grace which earned cogent re^j.,.j^-jj^ tjjg Qjjy-g^l^jQ distinction, "The Disciple whom ause God hig^g i^^e^ » love to i"^.day, we are reminded of the death of the Innocents |or owe sms|j Bethlehem and the surrounding coasts, by the cruel light unapii^ qI" Hei-od the Great ; and we may dimly pictm-e to myriads iiiiiniinds the sad wail of those Israelitish mothers at the st, who P''iBbarous slaughter of their little ones ; but the day that I IS I heard their cry of anguish on earth saw them rejoicii|^ei spirits in the Paradise of God. Thus we have singulaitics grouped together, in ho brief space of four consecutij daySj, what may be regarded as a too faithful deHneatii|ia( of human life, in which sorrow and joy are strang(Jiai blended together. I| I need not take up, link by link, the evidencfroi of God's love to man in creation and Provider i^k to prove to you how richly our Heavenly Father I pled provided for His creatures happiness and comfort in t ^ii loveliness of creation, the adornment of the intellec^Jjyj and all our varied mercies, social and religious : but |ur( would remind you of that wondrous exhibition of Divi ^ei love, the gift of a Savior, the greatest God could give ^ei man receive — which so astonished the angelic intel |^ v geuces, that it surpasses the utmost stretch of th Qier gifted minds to fathom its depths. If, then, God "beel loved the world as to eclipse all other of the Divi Jiibi manifestations, by the gift of His only Son to die i Rel man's salvation ; if the great and glorious Jehovah, w. |inii was supremely happy without us, moved by the pure are and most disinterested benevolence and love, made su full a vast sacrifice for man's happiness, temporally a; |"o1j spiritually, to which we had no claim, how it shoii fOu move us to pray for the help of Divine grace, to cul is i vate the spirit of charity or love to God and in our intf pre course with each other; and what a blessed change vvoi ^g] be effected in the habits of society in general if this heave ffcs ly grace were daily cherished in the hearts of men. He |b( altered would the world be, how smooth the path of lii >wt which sin has made rough and rugged, if men would b ftit strive to be followers of God as dear children, and lo liv one another. But until this heavenly grace influenc^a •m: il9 ens' hearts and minds, In vain may we hope for prac- have smgulaitical illustrations of the apostolic exhortation in the text, our consecuti«icl this world will continue to be what sin and Satan have nful delineati Aade it, the scene of envy, hatred, malice, and all un- r are strang(^aritableness. I need dwell no longer on the advantages that accr ue the evidenc |j«ora the practice of this cardinal grace of love. Reason nd Provider gnd Revelation combine in declaring " how good and ily Father \ pleasant a thing it is for brethren to dwell together in I comfort in t unity. It is a fulfilling of the new commandment — the r the intelle jioyal law of love. It unites God to His intelligent crea- eligious : but ^res^ and His people to Him ; and confederates toge- wtion of Divi ^er minds of kindred character. To promote the d could give exercise of this Divine quality, and its cognate virtues, angelic intel ^^ ^ell as the pursuit of scientific knowledge, your an- retch of thi ^ent and honorable Order has been instituted ; and we , then, God l^eet commend its principles to the world, when we ex- of the Divi hibit, in our intercourse with each other, Brotherly Love, on to die J Relief and Truth. Let the high moral character of your Jehovah, wi Hhie-honored fraternity, whose landmarks to the initiated by the pur6 are neither obscure nor doubtful, be maintained in its )ve, made su jSillest integrity. Follow your illustrious Patrons, S. S. mporally a: 4"ohn, as they followed Christ, and you shall walk the low it shoii pound of life's pilgrimage supported by the Friend who "ace, to cu! is more than a Brother, until you are brought into the d in our intt presence chamber of the King of Kings ; where, in the change won Ught of the glorious temple not made with hands, we if this heave wiall have explaiaed to us the way in which we were led, of men. He ^d learn from the Master Himself those mysteries, lepathoflii >which are now hidden in the impenetrable depths of nen would b ftiturity. Let 1-jve to God and man mark your daily •en, and lot JKves. Then you will have the evidence that you have \QQ influenci^assed from death unto life, encouraged in the exercise 20 of this fraternal grace by a sense of gratitude to Al- mighty God for His love to man, in sending His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. In conclusion, my Brethren, let the period of the year at which we have arrived remind us that the sands of life's glass are fast ebbing out, and time is bearing us on its ever-flowing stream to the ocean of eternity. In a few brief hours and 1868 will have mingled with the past. Another portion of the handbrepdth of our ex- istence will be gone for ever; and how little may remain to each of us ! So uncertain is the tenure of our lives that we cannot tell what will be on the morrow. How many of our brethren, during the year that is now almost gone, have reached the bourne whence no traveller returns ? and, ere 1869 shall have been succeeded by a new date, you and I may enter the house appointed for all living. By all that is solemn in life, in death ^and eternity, strive to cultivate more diligently those graces of the spirit. Faith, Hope and Love. Make sure, my beloved brethren, that you are in the endeared remembrance of of the Lord our Shepherd, then, as you enter the dark valley, you may confidently affirm " I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me,'' for He who " has the keys of hell and of death" says to all who ha/e taken Him for their Elder Brother and their Friend ^'I will never leave thee nor forsake thee," and on the morning of the Eesur- rection He, who once came in the flesh as a frail and fe eble infant for man, (yet mighty to save,) will appear at His second advent as the Lion of Judah's tribe, by whose almighty power His people shall be raised from their graves to share in the undying, fraternal love of Heaven, where the exercise of this all-excelling grace is the delight of the perfected. m'Mi !I if-'"' iiiiyi; ■■■; pis!;' ■'.