Page:History of the University of Pennsylvania - Montgomery (1900).djvu/227

Of Franklin's success in this appeal, history makes full record; but as the colonists alleged they did not know General Braddock, or what dependence might be had on his promise, insisted on my bond for the performance, which I accordingly gave them . Franklin was in Philadelphia by the meeting of 13 May; and on 24 June attended the Grand Lodge of Masons, of which he was Deputy Grand Master, held in their new Lodge, from which the body proceeded to Christ Church, where the Rev. William Smith, who had been a Mason before he came to America, preached a Sermon, 2 entitled An earnest Exhortation to Religion, Brotherly Love and public Spirit, in the present Dangerous State of Affairs; which forms the second of his published Discourses, the text of which is, Love the Brotherhood; fear God; honor the King. In this the young Provost earnestly pleaded for a proper resistance to the enemy and defence of one's home, and struck the key note of those who blamed the Quakers in the Assembly who scrupled to defend the Province by armed resources; The doctrine of Non resistance, * * * is now sufficiently exploded; and may it be for ever treated with that sovereign Contempt, which it deserves among a wise and virtuous people. God gave us Freedom as our Birthright, and in his own government of the world he never violates that Freedom, nor can those be his Vicegerents who do. To say they are, is blaspheming his holy name, and giving the lie to his righteous authority. The Love of Mankind and the Fear of God, those very principles from which we trace the divine original of just government, would lead us, by all probable means, to resist every tryant to destruction, who should attempt to enslave the free-born Soul, and oppose the righteous will of God, by defeating the happiness of Man * * * Suffer me now to apply what has been said, by earnestly charging every one of this audience to a conscientious observance of these duties; for if there ever was a people, in a more peculiar manner, called to observe them, we who inhabit these colonies are that people. Being yet in our infancy, and surrounded 2 " Forty years will this day have finished the long period, since I first addressed from this pulpit, a grand Communication of Brethren, with our great fellow-laborer, the venerable Franklin, at their head." Dr. Smith's Sermon in St. Peter's Church, 24 June, 1795. Works, ii. 74. But Dr. Smith overlooked, at this long interval, the fact that the early sermon was in Christ Church. Works, ii. 27. St. Peter's Church was not then existing.