CHURCH FELLOWSHIP. People of the living God, I have sought the world around, Paths of sin and sorrow trod, Peace and comfort no where found; Now to you my spirit turnsTurns, a fugitive unblest; Brethren, where your altar burns, O receive me to your rest. Lonely, I no longer roam, Like the cloud, the wind, the wave, Where you dwell shall be my home, Where you die shall be my grave. Mine the God whom you adore, Your Redeemer shall be mine; Earth can fill my soul no more, Ev'ry idol I resign. Tell me not of gain and loss, Ease, enjoyment, pomp, and power; Welcome poverty and cross, Shame, repr , affliction's hour. Follow me, I know thy voiceJesus, Lord, thy steps I see; Now I take thy yoke by choice, Light thy burthen now to me. J. MONTGOMERY. MARRIED. Oh the 9th of November, by the Rev JONATHAN LYON, Mr JOHN HARPER, Printer, of the firm of J. & J. Harper, to Miss TAMMISIN HIGGINS, daughter of Mr. Abner Higgins, all of this city. On the 11th of November, by the Rev. SETH CROWELL, Mr. BENEDICT BOLMORE, Printer, of the firm of Hoyt and Bolmore, to Miss HENRIETTA MARIA BREWSTER, daughter of the late Dr. Elisha Brewster, . all of this city. The edition of life, may they work off complete, On the press of affection and love. May picks, monks, and friars, be free from each sheet, And the points of esteem never move. When death at the last shall throw into pie, And imposed on the stone of free grace. OBITUARY. Died on the 17th October, JOHN R. SHAW, Esq. in the 30th year of his age. Mr. Shaw was a native of Maryland, and was educated for the profession of the law. At the commencement of the late contest, he received the appointment of Purser in the U. S. Navy, and entered as such, on board the Essex, under captain Porter. In he-memorable cruise of that frigate, he was distinguished alike for his activity and firmness. He enjoyed, to a high degree, the confidence of his gallant commander, and in the numerous captures which occurred in the Pacific ocean, he received the appointment of prize-master of the whaling ship New Zealander. In that novel capacity, his sound discretion more than counterbalanced his inexperience in the practical duties of a sailor, and enabled him to perform a service so foreign to his profession, to the perfect satisfaction of his superior officer. After the war he was transferred to the Hornet, but in consequence of ill health, he left that vessel during a cruise, and was never afterwards in active service. In disposition, Mr. Shaw was open, candid, and benevolent. Free from dissimulation himself, he reposed unlimited confidence in others, and not unfrequently to the disadvantage of his own interests. His generosity was unbounded, and he rejected no application, when in his power to relieve it. His feelings were extremely ardent, but his resentments were of short duration. "When much enforced, they show'd a hasty spark, Which straight was cold again." His deportment to the world at large, was strictly conformable to the injunctions of the Craft, and to the last moments of his existence, he entertained the utmost respect for the Order to which he was attached, and in which he at the time, held a station of high responsibility and trust. S. T. HOYT & BOLMORE, PRINTERS. AMERICAN MASONIC REGISTER, AND Ladies' and Gentlemen's Magazine. BY LUTHER PRATT. Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, until seven times; but, until seventy times seven. St. Matthew xviii. 21, 22. [No. V.] FOR JANUARY, A. D. 1821. A. L. 5821. [VOL. I.] MASONIC. ANCIENT CEREMONIES. CEREMONY OBSERVED AT LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONES OF PUBLIC STRUCTURES. This ceremony is conducted by the grand master and his officers, assisted by the members of the grand lodge. They are accompanied by the officers and brethren of neighbouring lodges, and such other Masons as can conveniently assemble on the occasion. The chief magistrate, and other civil officers of the place where the building is to be erected, generally attend. The ceremony is thus conducted: At the time appointed, the grand lodge is convened at some convenient place, approved by the grand master. Music is provided, and the brethren appear with the insignia of the order, and with white gloves and aprons. The lodge is opened by the grand master, and the rules for forming the procession to and from the place at from the chair, and the lodge is adjourned after which they move in procession to the place for the foundation of the building. A triumphal arch is usually erected at the place where the ceremony is to be performed under which the brethren pass, and repair to their stations, and the grand master and his officers take their place on a temporary platform, covered with a carpet. An ode, suited to the occasion, is then sung. The grand master commands silence, and the necessary preparations are made for laying the stone, on which is engraven the year of Masonry, with the name and titles of the grand master, &c. &c. The workmen's tools are presented to the grand master; who applies the square, plumb, and level, to the stone, in their proper positions, and pronounces it to be "well formed, true, and trusty." The stone is next raised up, by means of an engine erected for that purpose, and the grand chaplain repeats the following prayer. "May the Grand Architect of the Universe grant a blessing on this foun which the ceremony is to be perform-dation stone, which we have now laid; ed, are read by the grand secretary, and committed to the grand marshal. The necessary cautions are then given W and by his providence enable us to finish this and all our works with skill and success." of these lodges may accompany their officers in form. in All the brethren should appear decent mourning; dressed in white stockings, gloves, and aprons, the usual clothing of master Masons. The officers should appear with the badges of the lodge, and such as have holden offices, may wear the badges of their former stations, provided that the brethren actually in office are distinguished by sashes &c. The brethren should first assemble, if possible, in their lodge room, and open in due form, and remain standing during the first part of the service, which may, in common cases, be performed in their hall, with the usual ceremonies. A procession is then formed; the lodges move according to seniority, excepting that the lodge, of which the deceased was a member, moves nearest to the corpse. In the graveyard, the brethren proceed to the grave, and then entering at its foot, open so that the master may stand at the head of the grave, and the mourners may halt at the foot, while the brethren encircle it. Whilst the prayers are reading at the grave, the brethren may slowly approach it, till they are as near as they can with comfort stand. If no part of the service has been already performed in the lodge, or some public building, with proper ceremouies, then it is here rehearsed; or such as may be substituted by the direction of the master. The service may be performed by responses, or by one voice at discretion. Write it here! We will write it in our hearts. [Here strew flowers.] It shall live in his virtues, which shall live in us and in every brother. Was he worthy? We will live like true brethren, and our last end shall be in peace. He was indeed our brother. But, who hath done this? The Lord gave, and the Lord taketh away. Let us then bless the name of the Lord. EJACULATION. What is our life! It is a shadow! a dream! We once were—but what were we ? Whither are we going? what shall we become? Who is poor? Who is rich? The king and the beggar lie down togeth er. Our brother hath forsaken us! He is no longer one of ourselves! Every connection of life has ceased ! The form is no longer beautiful! He stretcheth not his hands to us. The hour of death has overtaken him! -Shall not some friend comfort us? An oration may here be delivered; but if one has not been prepared for the occasion, the following may an swer: "Here we view a striking instance of the uncertainty of life, and the vanity of all human pursuits. The last offices paid to the dead, are only use The master speaks, or the chaplainful as lectures to the living; from them by his direction, Where is now our brother? we are to derive instruction, and consider every solemnity of this kind, as a "summons to prepare for our approaching dissolution. "Notwithstanding the various mementos of mortality with which we daily meet, notwithstanding death has established his empire over all the works of nature, yet, through some un accountable infatuation, we forget that we are born to die. We go on from one design to another, add hope to hope, and lay out plans for the employment of many years, till we are suddenly alarmed with the approach of death, when we least expected him, and at an hour which we probably concluded to be the meridian of our existence. "What are all the externals of majesty, the pride of wealth, or charms of beauty, when nature has paid her just debt? Fix your eyes on the last scene, and view life stript of her ornaments, and exposed in her natural meanness; you will then be convinced of the futility of those empty delusions. In the grave all falacies are detected, all ranks are levelled, and all distinctions are doue away. "While we drop the sympathetic tear over the grave of our deceased friend, let charity incline us to throw a veil over his foibles, whatever they may have been, and not withhold from his memory the praise that his virtues may have claimed. Suffer the apologies of human nature to plead in his behalf. Perfection on earth has never been attained; the wisest, as well as the best of men, have erred. His meritorious actions it is our duty to imitate, and from his weakness we ought to derive instruction. whose dread tribunal no culprit can escape. "Let us, while in this stage of existence, support with propriety the character of our profession, advert to the nature of our solemn ties, and pursue with assiduity the sacred tenets of the order: then, with becoming reverence, let us supplicate the divine grace, and insure the favour of that eternal Being, whose goodness and power know no bound; that when the awful moment arrives, be it soon or late, we may be enabled to prosecute our journey, without dread or apprehension, to that far distant country, from which no traveller returns. By the light of the divine countenance, we shall pass, without trembling, through those gloomy mansions where all things are forgotten; and at the great and tremendous day of trial and retribution, when we are arraigned at the bar of divine justice, let us hope that judgment will be pronounced in our favour, and that we shall receive our reward, in the possession of an immortal inheritance, where joy flows in one continued stream, and no mound can check its course." The following invocations are then to be made by the master, and the usual honours to accompany each. Master. "May we be true and faithful; and may we live and die in love!" "Let the present example excite || our most serious thoughts, and strengthen our resolutions of amendment. As life is uncertain, and all earthly pursuits are vain, let us no longer post-bly to our profession." pone the important concern of preparing for eternity; but embrace the happy moment, while time and opportunity offer, to provide against the great change, when all the pleasures of this world shall cease to delight, and the reflections of a virtuous life yield the only comfort and consolation. Thus our expectations will not be frustrated, nor shall we be hurried, unprepared, into the presence of an all-wise and powerful judge, to whom the secrets of all hearts are known, and from Response. "So mote it be.” Master. "May we profess what is good, and may we always act agreea Response. "So mote it be." Master. "May the Lord bless us, and prosper us; and may all our good intentions be crowned with success!" Response. "So mote it be." The secretaries are then to advance, and throw their rolls into the grave with the usual forms, while the chaplain repeats, with an audible voice, "Glory be to God on high, on earth peace and good will towards men." Response. "So mote it be, now, from henceforth, and for evermore." ther, companion, master, and comman- || him, exclaims "My Father, my Fader, Colonel Thomas Smith Webb is ther! The chariot of Israel, and the no more! His obsequies have been per- horsemen thereof." Thereby implyformed in various parts of the Uniteding, that as the strength, beauty, granStates, and in unison with the brethren of our extensive fraternity, of which he was the head, guide, instructor, and efficient master, we would by the solemnity of funeral rites bear an humble testimony to the poignancy of our grief, at so great a loss. In scriptural biography, perhaps no incident is more sublime, interesting, and affecting, than that which occasioned the words, from the sacred oracles just read. Elijah, the champion of Israel, and the prophetic master of his time, having, in a degenerate age, arisen to the highest eminence in the service of his God, and having contended with principalities, and powers, and spiritual wickedness in high places; having borne a faithful testimony to the truth, and having dispensed his instructions to the fraternity of prophets, the sons of inspiration, he received intimation that his tiresome pilgrimage on earth was about to be terminated, and he translated to eternal felicity. He set out, with his successor, to the place of his translation; and in the way, appears to have exerted himself to remove the agony which tortured the disconsolate breast of his companion; and by the administration of divine cordials of consolation and instruction, to inspire him with heavenly fortitude, and zeal for the future prosperity and glory of the church militant on earth. In the midst of this interesting conversation, of which we have but little account, "behold! there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them asunder; and Elijah went up, by a whirlwind into Heaven!" The afflicted witness of this miraculous scene, the successor of this great prophet of the Lord, with wild consternation, and in the most poignant language of heart rending and astonished grief, seeing his master, and his head, thus suddenly taken away from deur, protection, and safety of the na tion of Israel, consisted in their chariots and horsemen, so Elijah had been as it were, the chariot and horsemen of the true Israel of God; that is, their protection, their strength, and their glory; and that it was now departed from them, he was gone forever, and they might now rend their garments, in the bitterness of grief, for they should see him no more. Our beloved and departed brother, whose memory we this day celebrate, was not only a member of that ancient fraternity which aims at the alleviation of human miseries, and cherishes the sentiments most congenial with charity and benevolence, but he was a resplendent luminary, who shed forth the rays of intelligence into every department of the society; he was its head, its leader, its father, its instructor, and its brightest ornament. And in the private walks of life, as well as in the eclat of public ceremony, he gave the strongest, and most unequivocal evidences of the full possession, and liberal exercise of those benevolent sentiments embraced in the Masonic institution. The refined powers and feelings of his mind, caused him to be an ardent lover of the arts, and of those systems of improvement which are so powerful in their nature and tendency for the amelioration of human misery, and for increasing the comfort and happiness of mankind, as well as to disengage from an ignominious thraldom the powers of the mind, and ennoble the sentiments of the soul. His genius was great for enterprise, affable for society, tender for friendship, and soothing for distress. In that monitor of which he was the author, and which has been extensively distributed through the world, he will, to the latest period, speak intelligence, instruction, and admonition to the attentive craftsmen. He was in |