E. H. ADDINGTON

170 PROCEEDINGS OF THE GRAND LODGE
least fifty thousand years old, and were of the same race as the present
Indians of Peru. Considerable controversy followed this report relating
to the bones and conjecture as to their age.
Profesor Bowman, of Yale, after an examination of the place where
the bones were found, and the character of the soil, was of opinion that
.they were human remains of a very ancient race—at least fifty thousand
years.
It is quite evident from what has been discovered that this race of
people were not identical with the Mound Builders of North America.
Up to the date of the present no human remains of ancient man, either in
North or South America, have been found, except in Yucatan and Peru.
Much time is being spent in this work by intelligent archaeologists, and
much is expected from their labors ere long. The discoveries so far,
however, do not give much promise of intellectual advancement by ancient
man in the Americas.
At the close of the first millennium of the Christian era it was believed
throughout Christendom that the world was coming to an end in
a short time. This belief had its influence on Europe and induced a
great number of people to turn their minds earnestly to religion. Large
sums were devoted to the building of churches, grand cathedrals, etc.,
and Christian work filled the minds of zealous Christians. It was in a
season like this that the Builders' arts would be naturally called into
service. But the period of Christian zeal passed in a few decades, and
it was then the Masons suffered many trials and persecutions. In
Europe, so grievous were the afflictions that many abandoned their
homes and their countries and sought domiciles elsewhere. In this way
was founded the colony that landed on Plymouth Rock. Here was laid
by the Pilgrim Fathers the foundation which, finally, with other colonies
made up the Union of the Thirteen Colonies. The differences with
the mother country and these colonists became serious, and finally
culminated in the union of all the colonies; they declared for independence,
and united themselves into one nation under the stars and stripes.
It was a period of serious import. The men who prepared the Declaration
of Independence and who formed the Constitution will live in history.
They were the type of men who were born to greatness; and by
their determined purpose .achieved it. They had the courage of their
convictions, and were determined to put all on the hazard of war and
their ability to maintain and retain liberty for themselves and their
posterity.
It was the opinion of a few of the men at that time that the mother
country was so great in numbers and materials, and the colonies few in
numbers and illy provided for so hard a struggle, that the latter would
be speedily overwhelmed and defeated. But in that convention there
were men who doubted if, alone, numbers always succeeded. The ring
of their words has, to this day, no uncertain sound in our ears. They
believed three millions of people, armed in a just cause, could not be
' defeated. Their inspiring words and brave example fired wavering