1791] ^-^f' WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 347 



Like Newton sublimely he soar'd 



To a summit before unattained ; 

 New regions of science explorVl 



And the palm of philosophy gained. 



With a spark that he caught from the skies, 



He display'd an unparaliel'd wonder, 

 And we saw, with delight and surprise 



That his rod could protect us from thunder. 



Oh ! had he been wise to pursue 



The path which his talents design'd, 

 "What a tribute of praise had been due. 



To the teacher and friend of mankind! 



But to covet political fame 



Was in him a degrading ambition ; 

 A spark which from Lucifer came, 



Enkindled the blaze of sedition. 



Let candor then write on his urn — 



" Here lies the renowned inventor, 

 Whose flame to the skies ought to burn, 



Eut inverted, descends to the centre!" 



CHAPTER LV. 



Dr. Smith appointed by the Masonic Order of Pennsylvania to Prepare 

 AN Address to President Washington, which hf, does — He Receives an 

 Answer from the President — Dr. Smith to Jonathan Williams, Esq. — 

 Marriage of Dr. Smith's Daughter, Rebecca, with Mr. Samuel Blod- 

 GET, OF Boston — Mrs. Cadwalader to Mrs. Ridgely, giving an Account 

 OF the Wedding, etc. — Consecration of Bishop Claggett, of Maryland, 

 IN Trinity Church, New York — Dr. Smith Preaches at the Consecra- 

 tion E.XTRACTS FROM THE SeRMO.N ThE CONVENTION OF I792 OrDERS 



AN ADDlfcSS ON THE SUBJECT OF DOMESTIC MISSIONS — An AdDRESS PREPARED 



— Signed by Dr. S.mith — Authorship Uncertain. 



On St. John's Day, the 27th of December, 1791, at a meeting 

 of the Masonic Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, Dr. Smith and 

 the worshipful grand officers were appointed a Committee to pre- 

 pare an address to the illustrious Brother George Washington, 

 President of the United States, and they were requested to report. 

 Dr. Smith, at the next meeting, presented the following address, 

 which was adopted and forwarded : 



January 2d, i 792. 

 To George Washington, President of the United States: 



Sir and Brother: The Ancient York Masons of the jurisdiction of 



Pennsylvania, for the first time assembled in General Communication to 



