Sur ces infortunés rivages, Où l'africain brisa ses fers, Quelles clameurs, quels cris sauvages, Qu'elle affreuse ardeur de vengeance, A leur implacable furie, Ne sauroient-ils mettre aucun frein! C'est sur ce theatre du crime, L'or qui sur ce triste rivage, Sauve les jours d'une victime Là, des bras d'un monstre homicide, Il rachette un sexe timide, Toi qui desarmas du tonnerre, O M'Intosh, que ton exemple, Qui brule tonjours dans ton âme, Humanité, vertu sacrée ! Que devient la gloire homicide De ces soldats devastateurs, Qui n'ont pris du metier d'Alcide, Que les degoutantes horreurs? Elle fuit sans laisser de trace, Semblable à ce flambeau qu'on passe, Au milieu de l'obscurité ; Ou semblable au boulet rapide Mais toi de qui toute la vie, TRIBUTE OF FRATERNAL GRATITUDE. Lodge 51 of the Masonic Order, of this city, anxious to evince their approbation of the conduct of him who had proved himself a Mason, "in deed as well as in name," Resolved, that the name of BROTHER M'INTOSH be inscribed in the Rolls of the Order as HONORARY MEMBER of this Lodge. The Resolution of the Lodge was announced to Brother M'Intosh by a committee of three of its members, who were commissioned to present him his honorary Diploma; and, at the same time, to declare the high sense entertained by the brethren of his meritorious exertions in the cause of humanity. On this occasion, he was addressed by Brother Samuel F. Bradford, on the part of the committee, in the following words: SIR, AND BROTHER, The virtuous Patriot, and the enlightened Statesman find the rewards of their services in the pen of the Historian, or the chissel of the Sculptor; and the voice of Fame is loud in the praises of even those, misnamed heroes, whose march is in blood, and whose trophies are founded on the destruction of mankind. The Masonic Order, appreciating the milder virtues, and proud to rank you among the most distinguished of its votaries, has deputed us a committee of Lodge 51, to tender you the homage of its sincere attachment, and to pay that tribute of gratitude, which is your due as a Mason, and a man. Though we have never before been personally acquainted with you, yet we have known you in the records of our order; we have known you by report as a correct merchant, and an honourable man; and, above all, we have known you by the benedictions of the fugitives of Saint Domingo, and by the highest of titles-THE HERO OF HUMANITY! In the hour of death and desolation, when carnage, with indiscriminating fury, threatened destruction to the white population of that unfortunate Island, you stepped forth a guardian Angel; and, though your power was not commensurate with your wishes, your protecting shield saved thousands from an untimely fate. In this awful crisis, when your life was in constant jeopardy, and your treasure lavished with a prodigal hand in the cause of humanity, your exertions were unremitting and efficient. By those exertions, numbers, who believed the partners of their domestic felicity forever severed from them, are restored to their embraces; by those exertions, youthful love found the lost object of its affections on a foreign shore; children have clasped their supposed butchered parents; and parents bent with rapture over children, whom they had mourned as dead. You have your reward: the sweet reward of an approving conscience. You have " laid up treasures that fade not away," and "the blessings of thousands ready to perish rest on your head.” May your future days be prosperous and happy, as your past have been serviceable. Your acts shall be inscribed in the hallowed depository of our mysteries; they will ascend on high, borne on the incense of grateful hearts, and be recorded in the imperishable volume of that Lodge, "not made with hands, eternal in the Heavens." To the address, Brother M'Intosh made the following reply: MY RESPECTED BRETHREN, I received with great sensibility this affectionate mark of the friendship and attachment of the respectable Lodge, which you represent. The services it has been my lot to render to a number of my fellow creatures, in an hour of death and desolation, for which you have honoured me with such high commendation, were demanded of me by my obligations as a man, and a Christian, and in rendering them I have done no more than my duty. Yet I cannot deny that, while your goodness has too highly appreciated the part I have taken, in alleviating the horrors of the unfortunate and distressed inhabitants of St. Domingo, next to the approbation of my own conscience, no earthly recompense could be more grateful to my heart, than the applause of my Masonic Brethren, who would, I trust, individually, act the same part, on any occasion that might require it. Be pleased to convey to the Lodge, my sincere congratulations on their present state of harmony and prosperity, and my prayers for its long continuance. In the social delights of our humane and benevolent society, in the pleasing employment of dispensing charity to the destitute and needy, and in the fulfilment of the important duties of life, may your members be found preeminently conspicuous; and, whenever it shall please the Supreme Grand Master to close their labours, in this terrestrial Lodge, may they be advanced to well-merited honours in that Celestial Grand Lodge, for the enjoyment of which their conduct here has so well qualified and prepared them. |