M. P, Pres,— lUustrioTis Kjoight^ you desire to tad;©

THE 31ST DEGEEE OF THE A. AND A. EITE. 249
upon yourself an arduous responsible office. There is but one infallible, unerring Judge. All human judgment is at best uncertain; serious in its consequences it must often, when time develops its errors, produce regret and sometimes remorse. It is not wise to seek to Judge our fellow man, it is a stern duty and an unwelcome task to be performed, and not a privilege to be coveted, and woe unto that man who assumes the prerogative of judgment, and to some extent usurps the functions of God, not being himself just, upright, and impartial.
Subsequent to the dismissal of the Inquisition and pre- paratory to the lessons and warnings being given, music will be played.
Sonata — Beethoven.
5}^ ^ Jp
I was the just King Alfred of Saxon-England; I framed wise laws, made upright judges, independent of my will and that of the people, and caused just and speedy judg- ment to be given. In all my realm, justice and right were sold to none, denied to none, delayed to none. I slept little, I wrote much, I studied more. I reigned only to bless those over whom I had dominion. I have vanished into the thin past, and many ages have marched in solemn procession by my grave, yet I still hve in the memory of men. They call me great Xing, wise lawgiver, just judge, follow, then, my example, or shudder to sit in judgment on thy fellows.
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I was Socrates, the Athenian; I knew the holy mysteries, and reverenced God in nature. In the sacred groves of Athens I taught to young and old that God was one, and the soul of man immortal. I taught obedience to the laws and degrees of the people of Athens, and the council of five hundred. When I sat in the
250 THE 31ST DEGREE OF THE A. AND A. RITE.
court of the Areopagus, I swore by the paternal Apollo, by Ceres, and by Jupiter the King, that I would sentence uprightly and according to law — or when the law was silent to the best of my judgement, and that I would not receive gifts nor should any other for me, nor receive bribes from any passion, prejudice, or affection; nor allow any other person to do the like by any means, whether direct or indirect, to prevent justice in the court, and when by an unjust judgement the same court condemned me to death, I refused to flee and escape, lest I should bring the laws into disrepute, holding the good citizen bound to submit to even the unjust judgement of the State. If thou wouldest fain become a judge of others first prepare thyself by learning to obey the laws.
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I was Confucius, who read and interpreted to the people of ancient China the great laws engraved by the finger of God, in everlasting letters, upon the pages of the many leaved book of nature. I said to them desire not for your country any other benefit than justice; the great law of duty is to be looked for in humanity.
•'Justice is Equity," to render to every man that to which he is entitled. He who would stand above the ordinary level of man must be exempt from prejudices and self conceit and obstinacy, and be governed by the mandates of justice alone.
Hear much, reflect much, and say nothing superfluous. Let doubt of guilt be acquitted ; and presumption of innocence be solid proof. "That is the noblest recom- pence of human virtue ! Do thou strive so to hve and act, to obey and govern, and thou too may est live in the good opinion of men, after thou art dead, and thine influences may make the too a King over the minds of men.
THE 31ST DEGREE OF THE A. AND A. EITE. 251
I was Minos, the lawgiver of Crete. I taught the Cretans that the laws which I enacted were dictated by- Zeus, the Father; for all true and righteous laws and all human justice are but developements of that eternal and infinite justice that is of the essence of the Deity. He who assumes to judge his brethren clothes himself with the prerogative of God "Woe unto thee" if, being thyself vicious or criminal, thou dost assume to judge others; and still more if thou givest corrupt judgement, for then will thy memory be execrated and in all time it shall be the bitterest reproach to an unjust judge to call him by
thy name.
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I was Zoroaster, whose words became law to the Persians. I said he is the best servant of God whose heart is upright, who is hberal with due regard to what is just to all men ; who turns not his eyes towards riches and whose heart wishes well to everything that lives. He alone is just who is charitable and merciful in his judge- ments, and he alone is wise who thinks well and not evil of other men. Satisfy thine own conscience, and fear neither the outrages of fortune nor the injuries of enemies. Crime is not to be measured by the issue of events but by the bad intentions of the doer. Study therefore the dominion of thyself, and quiet thein own commotions, and hold it the noblest ovation to triumph over thy passions.
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I was Moses, the leader and lawgiver of the Israelites. I was initiated into the mysteries and wisdom of ancient Egypt ; and that wisdom dictated the Statutes by which Israel was governed. Thou shalt take no gift, for the gift blindeth the wise and perverteth the words of the righteous. Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment.
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Thou shalt not respect the person of the poor nor honor the person of the mighty. Ye shall hear the small as well as the great. Ye shall not fear the face of man, for judg- ment is of God.
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Sen. Councillor. — Thou hast heard the words of the great sages, lawgivers, and philosophers of antiquity. Behold ! the monogram of the greatest lawgiver that has ever come among men, and listen reverentially to his teachings. *'If ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your heavenly Father forgive your tres- passes; but if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you." With what judg- ment ye judge, ye shah be judged; and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. If thy Bro- ther trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone. K he shall hear thee thou hast gained thy Brother. Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment. If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him, and if he repent, for- give him, and if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee saying ** I repent" thou shalt forgive him. Blessed are the
merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
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You have heard the lessons of immortal wisdom once uttered by mortal Hps that have long since mouldered into dust. Through those lips God spake unto men; for of
Him alone cometh all wisdom.
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