the Republic. Let them know and feel that as Americans they are a common brotherhood, a single family, and that any principle or proposition that would regard the interests or advantages of the few to the detriment of the many is not American in its character, but is hostile to American institutions, and must be destructive of our peace. May the watchword of the nation ever be "UNION," and let the prayer ascend from every American heart that it may ever be preserved! May this pile, sacred in memorial to the Father of his country, be the central point of union for the north and the south, the east and the west. And when the people of every section of the land shall look upon it, or think of it, may they feel that they are Americans, fellow citizens with the venerated Washington, and strike hands and hearts together in the pledge that everything shall fall before the federal union of the States shall be dissolved!

Direct us, O Lord, in all our doings with Thy most gracious favor, and further us with Thy continued help. While we acknowledge Thee to be the Lord our God, and offer Thee the services of our lips, may our hearts be devoted to Thee, that we may bring forth the fruits of holiness in our lives, and show by our deeds that we are Thy faithful servants! Be pleased to perpetuate our free government, and continue its blessings to mankind. When the men of the present generation shall have passed away, may it be firmer and stronger than it was when committed to their hands, and so may it continue, in the succession of perpetual generations, the blessing of the American people, the envy and admiration of the world. Endue us with wisdom and innocency of life, and, when we shall have served Thee in our generation, may we be gathered to our fathers having the testimony of a good conscience in communion with Thy church; in the confidence of a certain faith; in the comfort of a reasonable, religious, and holy hope; in favor with Thee our God, and in perfect charity with all the world. All these mercies and blessings we ask in the name and mediation of Jesus Christ, our most blessed Lord and Saviour. Amen.

ADDRESS

OF

BENJAMIN B. FRENCH, Esq.,

(FURNISHED for PUBLICATION AT THE REQUEST OF THE SOCIETY.)

My respected Brethren of the Masonic Fraternity, and FellowCitizens:

WHY have we assembled here to-day? What means this immense crowd around us ? For what, beneath a July sun, on this anniversary of the birth-day of a nation, has this vast multitude come up, as came Israel of old to the dedication of the Temple of the Lord?

We are here to perform a duty, which, were it possible, twenty millions of people would, without a whisper of dissent, assemble here to-day to witness, for it would be but the homage due to the memory of one, whose name shall live in every American bosom as long as our great and glorious Union shall exist.

We are about to lay the foundation stone of a National Monument, here, in the city that bears his name, at this seat of the General Government, which his exertions established, to be consecrated to the memory of GEORGE WASHINGTON.

"The world-the whole civilized world," says a most worthy and eloquent writer,* in an address on the Masonic character of Washington, "bows with admiration to that name as the exponent of all that is great in patriotism and lovely in public example. The furthest nations of the earth take up praise when that name is syllabled in their ear, as if his virtue were their inheritance. The broadest empires of Europe, while they shut out the light of republican truths, acknowledge the lustre which our country's father has thrown around the name of MAN; and the little republic of San Marino, situated above the clouds that play about the mid-height of Mount Urbino-a republic too poor to have jewels-too small to boast of a treasury-she cherishes, among the

* Joseph R. Chandler, Esq.

valuables of her public possessions, the name and simple portrait of Washington."

It is peculiarly appropriate that the solemn and interesting ceremony, of laying this corner-stone, should be performed by us, my Masonic brethren, for he, whose name is to make it a great national landmark for all future time, was a Freemason. The soldier, the statesman, the great and good man, upon all proper occasions, clothed himself in the regalia of our order, took his place among the craft, and avowed to the world his affection and regard for our ancient institution.

We have all about us, my brethren, the evidences that Washington was a Mason, and of his devotion to the craft. The Lodge from Fredericksburg, Virginia, is present, and its members bear with them the ancient, and interesting records of their proceedings, wherein is recorded the entering, passing, and raising of "Mr. George Washington," and upon which may be seen the handwriting of the Father of his Country. This apron and this sash, which I now have the honor to wear, were Washington's, and were worn by him while President of the United States, at the laying of the corner-stone of the Capitol, at which ceremony he used this gavel, which I shall use in the ceremony of laying this corner-stone. The chair upon the stand opposite, which has been occupied by the gifted orator who has just addressed you in words of eloquence, which shall be as immortal as the fame of him whom he has so nobly eulogized, is the property of Alexandria Washington Lodge, No. 22; it was purchased for that Lodge by Washington, and occupied by him during the time in which he presided over its deliberations. These sacred and invaluable relics are owned, the gavel by Potomac Lodge, in Georgetown, the other articles by Alexandria Washington Lodge.

We come here, then, to-day, on this Sabbath of our national existence, not only in the presence of this immense concourse of human beings, but in the presence of the Almighty, whose blessing we have invoked, to commence, in behalf of a great nation, the performance of a duty which that nation owes to the memory of Washington.

The superstructure which is to rise above this corner-stone, will bear such emblems as shall be calculated to remind the millions who may look upon it hereafter, not only of the Father of his Country, but of the country of which he was the father.

A circular colonnade is to form the main feature of the structure, from which, pointing to heaven, will spring a plain obelisk, five hundred feet in height. Near the apex of that obelisk is to be placed, in alto relievo, a single star. Like that star of old, which gathered the

wise men at Bethlehem, in Judea, may this be the guiding point to gather together the wise men of this land, should danger ever threaten the existence of our beloved and cherished Union!

I feel, my fellow-citizens, while standing here on this consecrated spot, set apart, as it has been, by the Congress of the United States for a sacred purpose, as if I were almost inspired by the spirit of prophecy when I say, that this Union shall be perpetual; for here, in this vast crowd, among all these banners that are floating and waving about me, nothing is seen but the emblems of union. The glittering arms, that flash back the sunlight, are for protection and defence. Men of all parties, and all Christian creeds, here stand side by side, shoulder to shoulder, a single brotherhood, ready to defend this Union in one united mass, should ever that defence be necessary. Who, then, can doubt its perpetual integrity? Who shall dare to predict that our constitution, fraught with so many blessings to mankind, will ever be broken in fragments, and scattered abroad? If there be a single speck upon our political horizon-if the faintest shadow of portending danger is to be seen, there are in the North, in the South, in the East, and in the West, patriots, statesmen, great, and gifted, and good men, the descendants of the fathers of this Republic, who will stand by, and defend, and preserve, this citadel of liberty whole, entire, perfect, as it now is, to be the glory of after ages, as it is of this.

First, in the name of the Most High, and next, in that great human name, to manifest respect to which we have met here to-day-in the name of George Washington-let us, all here assembled, as the voice of one man, pledge ourselves anew to maintain the constitution, which Washington so powerfully aided in establishing; and let us also implore upon our common country, perpetuity, happiness, and peace.

It is very common, upon the erection of monuments to the dead, to say that they are erected to commemorate the persons whose name they bear; and, in most instances, this is said with truth. But the erection of a marble monument, for no other purpose than to perpetuate the memory of Washington, would be a vain and useless task. He has a monument that can never die, where his name shall never be forgotten; it was indelibly engraved upon the hearts of five millions of people; now it is upon the hearts of twenty millions; hereafter it shall upon the hearts of hundreds of millions.

be

We shall all be gathered to our fathers, as the generations which have preceded us have been gathered to theirs. They taught us to pronounce, and venerate the name of the Father of his Country. It was a holy lesson-and I say it with the utmost reverence, and with