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indignantly does the latter plead his fair reputation upon
'Change； and insist that his operations； by their magnificence of
scope； were removed into quite another sphere of morality than
those of his pitiful companion！ But let him cut the connection if
he can。 Here comes a murderer with his clanking chains； and pairs
himselfhorrible to tellwith as pure and upright a man； in all
observable respects； as ever partook of the consecrated bread and
wine。 He is one of those； perchance the most hopeless of all
sinners； who practise such an exemplary system of outward duties；
that even a deadly crime may be hidden from their own sight and
remembrance； under this unreal frostwork。 Yet he now finds his
place。 Why do that pair of flaunting girls； with the pert；
affected laugh and the sly leer at the by…standers； intrude
themselves into the same rank with yonder decorous matron； and
that somewhat prudish maiden？ Surely these poor creatures； born
to vice as their sole and natural inheritance； can be no fit
associates for women who have been guarded round about by all the
proprieties of domestic life； and who could not err unless they
first created the opportunity。 Oh no； it must be merely the
impertinence of those unblushing hussies； and we can only wonder
how such respectable ladies should have responded to a summons
that was not meant for them。
We shall make short work of this miserable class； each member of
which is entitled to grasp any other member's hand； by that vile
degradation wherein guilty error has buried all alike。 The foul
fiend to whom it properly belongs must relieve us of our
loathsome task。 Let the bond servants of sin pass on。 But neither
man nor woman； in whom good predominates； will smile or sneer；
nor bid the Rogues' March be played； in derision of their array。
Feeling within their breasts a shuddering sympathy； which at
least gives token of the sin that might have been； they will
thank God for any place in the grand procession of human
existence； save among those most wretched ones。 Many； however；
will be astonished at the fatal impulse that drags them
thitherward。 Nothing is more remarkable than the various
deceptions by which guilt conceals itself from the perpetrator's
conscience； and oftenest； perhaps； by the splendor of its
garments。 Statesmen； rulers； generals； and all men who act over
an extensive sphere； are most liable to be deluded in this way；
they commit wrong； devastation； and murder； on so grand a scale；
that it impresses them as speculative rather than actual； but in
our procession we find them linked in detestable conjunction with
the meanest criminals whose deeds have the vulgarity of petty
details。 Here the effect of circumstance and accident is done
away； and a man finds his rank according to the spirit of his
crime； in whatever shape it may have been developed。
We have called the Evil； now let us call the Good。 The trumpet's
brazen throat should pour heavenly music over the earth； and the
herald's voice go forth with the sweetness of an angel's accents；
as if to summon each upright man to his reward。 But how is this？
Does none answer to the call？ Not one： for the just； the pure；
the true； and an who might most worthily obey it； shrink sadly
back； as most conscious of error and imperfection。 Then let the
summons be to those whose pervading principle is Love。 This
classification will embrace all the truly good； and none in whose
souls there exists not something that may expand itself into a
heaven； both of well…doing and felicity。
The first that presents himself is a man of wealth； who has
bequeathed the bulk of his property to a hospital； his ghost；
methinks； would have a better right here than his living body。
But here they come； the genuine benefactors of their race。 Some
have wandered about the earth with pictures of bliss in their
imagination； and with hearts that shrank sensitively from the
idea of pain and woe； yet have studied all varieties of misery
that human nature can endure。 The prison； the insane asylum； the
squalid chamber of the almshouse； the manufactory where the demon
of machinery annihilates the human soul； and the cotton field
where God's image becomes a beast of burden； to these and every
other scene where man wrongs or neglects his brother； the
apostles of humanity have penetrated。 This missionary； black with
India's burning sunshine； shall give his arm to a pale…faced
brother who has made himself familiar with the infected alleys
and loathsome haunts of vice in one of our own cities。 The
generous founder of a college shall be the partner of a maiden
lady of narrow substance； one of whose good deeds it has been to
gather a little school of orphan children。 If the mighty merchant
whose benefactions are reckoned by thousands of dollars deem
himself worthy； let him join the procession with her whose love
has proved itself by watchings at the sick…bed； and all those
lowly offices which bring her into actual contact with disease
and wretchedness。 And with those whose impulses have guided them
to benevolent actions； we will rank others to whom Providence has
assigned a different tendency and different powers。 Men who have
spent their lives in generous and holy contemplation for the
human race； those who； by a certain heavenliness of spirit； have
purified the atmosphere around them； and thus supplied a medium
in which good and high things may be projected and
performedgive to these a lofty place among the benefactors of
mankind； although no deed； such as the world calls deeds； may be
recorded of them。 There are some individuals of whom we cannot
conceive it proper that they should apply their hands to any
earthly instrument； or work out any definite act； and others；
perhaps not less high； to whom it is an essential attribute to
labor in body as well as spirit for the welfare of their
brethren。 Thus； if we find a spiritual sage whose unseen；
inestimable influence has exalted the moral standard of mankind；
we will choose for his companion some poor laborer who has
wrought for love in the potato field of a neighbor poorer than
himself。
We have summoned this various multitudeand； to the credit of
our nature； it is a large oneon the principle of Love。 It is
singular； nevertheless； to remark the shyness that exists among
many members of the present class； all of whom we might expect to
recognize one another by the freemasonry of mutual goodness； and
to embrace like brethren； giving God thanks for such various
specimens of human excellence。 But it is far otherwise。 Each sect
surrounds its own righteousness with a hedge of thorns。 It is
difficult for the good Christian to acknowledge the good Pagan；
almost impossible for the good Orthodox to grasp the hand of the
good Unitarian； leaving to their Creator to settle the matters in
dispute； and giving their mutual efforts strongly and trustingly
to whatever right thing is too evident to be mistaken。 Then