nnocence and happiness, Thou
didst leave him the powers of reasoning, and capacity of
improvement and of pleasure. We thank Thee, that amidst the pains
and calamities of our present state, so many means of refreshment
and satisfaction are reserved to us while traveling the RUGGED
PATH of life: especially would we, at this time, render Thee our
thanksgiving and praise for the institution, as members of which
we are, at this time, assembled, and for all the pleasures we have
derived from it. We thank Thee, that the few here assembled before
Thee, have been favored with new inducements, and been laid under
new and stronger obligations of virtue and holiness. May these
obligations, O Blessed Father! have their full effect upon us.
Teach us, we pray Thee, the true reverence of Thy great, mighty,
and terrible name. Inspire us with a firm and unshaken resolution
in our virtuous pursuits. Give us grace diligently to search Thy
word in the book of nature, wherein the duties of our high
vocation are inculcated with divine authority. May the solemnity
of the ceremonies of our institution be duly impressed on our
minds, and have a happy and lasting effect on our lives! O Thou,
who didst aforetime appear unto Thy servant Moses IN A FLAME OF
FIRE OUT OF THE MIDST OF A BUSH, enkindle, we beseech Thee, in
each of our hearts, a flame of devotion to Thee, of love to each
other, and of charity to all mankind. May all Thy miracles and
mighty works fill us with Thy dread, and Thy goodness impress us
with the love of Thy holy name. May HOLINESS TO THE LORD be
engraven upon all our thoughts, words, and actions. May the
incense of piety ascend continually unto Thee from the altar of
our hearts, and burn day and night, as a sacrifice of
sweet-smelling savor, well pleasing unto Thee. And since sin has
destroyed within us the first temple of purity and innocence, may
Thy heavenly grace guide and assist us in rebuilding a SECOND
TEMPLE of reformation, and may the glory of this latter house be
greater than the glory of the former! Amen. So mote it be.

Q. After the prayer what followed? A. We were again caused to travel
three times around the room, during which the following passage of
Scripture was read, and we were shown a representation of the bush
that burned and was not consumed:

Exodus iii. 1-6. "Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro, his
father-in-law, the priest of Midian;