Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Installation Of Lord Tenterden Prov. G.M. For Essex.
and one step further than it has already achieved , we shall be ablo to hand down to thoso who come after ns quite aa great and fine a heritage as we havo received from our forefathers ( cheers ) . Brethren , iu every Province it is necessary to have a high standard before us . In this Province yon havo had good traditions , and you now have at your head one who is fully competent to give those traditions
practical life aud effect . Let me congratulate him upon being placed iu this chair ; let me congratulate you upon having so good a Provincial Grand Master ruling over you . I beg to propose his health . Let mo wish to him long life and success in tho devotion of the name qualities to this Province that ho has already given to his country , and let me wish for you all tho happiness , aud all tho good fortune ,
and all tho success that can flow from the Aviso , aud temperate , and kindly , and conciliatory vale of yonr present Provincial Grand Master . Tho Provincial Grand Master in reply said : Brethren , —I havo to thank onr Pro Grand Master for the too flattering and complimentary terms in Avhich he has been good enough to propose my health to your notice , and I have to thank you , brethren of the
Province of Essex , for the welcome that you have been good enough to accord to me on this occasion . Onr Pro Grand Master has spoken of the organisation of Freemasonry . I am pretty confident that I am not wrong in supposing that in this toAvn of Chelmsford at this very moment thero aro numbers of people who are asking tho question , " What is it that all these gentlemen , wearing whito ties and
evening coats in the day time , have invaded our quiet neighbourhood for , with their little black bags and their tin boxes ? " And , brethren , I do not doubt that to many the question has been put Avhich has on this and other occasions been very frequently addressed to myself . " What is it that all you people are about ? If you want to subscribe to schools and to asylums Avhy don't yon send your Post Office order
and your cheques without all this fuss and paraphernalia ? " Now , a lady told me the other day that sho had discovered the secret . She said , " The fact is yon men arc so vain . You love to dress yourselves np ; that is why the soldiers all Avear red coats , and noAV the volunteers are going to Avear red coats , aud as for you people with the blue aprons , Avhy you are no better . " Other people say we are mere knife
and fork philanthropists . Others again saj ' , " the real fact is , thero is nothing in it at all . " Now , that reminds me of the story with regard to tho Drnces on Mount Lebanon . His lordship then proceeded to relate the story of ono of a number of peeping bnsybodies Avho Avent into tho Temple of tho Drnces , and finding it empty , returned and reported that thero was " nothing in it , " whereupon he was told that
his story Avas disbelieved , and was ignominionsly kicked out of the village . His lordship proceeded : Now , brethren , it cannot be said that there is nothing in onr Lodges , for there is something in onr Lodges—something Avhich constitutes the v ery basis of our Masonic structure , and that is tho Volume of the Sacred Law .
Although with universal toleration we admit men of all creeds to the Craft , provided they aro good men—I have myself initiated Persians , Parsees , Mussulmnns , and Hindoos—yet all our work is begun , continned and completed in the name of Him whom we address in the spirit of that universal prayer written by our great poot Pope , a Roman Catholic : —
" Father of all , in every age , In every clime adored By saint , by savage , and by sage , Jehovah , Jove , and Lord . To Him Avhoso temple is all space , Whoso altar—earth , sea , skies , One chorus let all beings raise ,
All Nature ' s incense rise . " It is , brethren , this spirit of toleration , this feeling of universal brotherhood nnder one great Heavenly Father , which constitutes as I deem it , the true object , the true principle of Freemasonry . It was for this object that Freemasonry was founded , and it is for this that it now claims to be maintained . Without going too far
into the uncertainties of tradition , AVO are at all events sure of thisthat tho original object of Freemasonry Avas to provide a home , amongst their fellow brethren and Masons , where those skilled craftsmen who wandered in the pursuit of their craft might find in their travels a ready Avelcome . It was thus , brethren , that Freemasonry iu former ages was tho first to break down that barrier of
distrust and exclusiveness which severed countries and provinces , and even towns . It is noAV of equal use , for Freemasonry , excluding as it does subjects of political and religious controversy , forms a neutral ground on Avhich men of all classes , countries , and creeds may meet on the level and part npon the square . Brethren , that exclnsivenessof which I have spoken has to some extent penetrated
oven to the present day . Most of you , I daro say , recollect the drawing of poor John Leech ' s two navvies , ono of whom says to the other " Who bo that , Bill ? " and upon the other replying , " A stranger , " he says , " ' cave ' alf a brick at him . " Well , brethren , that spirit was at one time very common amongst us . The other day 1 Avas reading the biography of ono of our great naval heroes at the
commencement of tho present century . His creed Avas , "Fear God , honour tho King , aud hate the French . " Now , brethren , we do , I hope , the two former , but the days for hatred of tho French aro happily passed away , and I trust may never come again . How littlo Ave now hate the French is shown iu tho chord of sympathy which has been touched iu every English heart , in every
English home for that nnhappy lady Avho is now mourning for her gallant son slain in the English cause in South Africa . This spirit of universal brotherhood may perhaps by some bo considered no longer of any moment in this country , but this is not so . Although political and religious rancour is happily no longer rife amongst us , there
are many subjects np in which all men must differ , and by excluding those questions upon vhich men too frequentl y do differ , we aro doing that which i am sure s of grant good to this country ; aud I havo seen myso ^ f a vi ry remar : able instance of that in the United States of America wl ere civil A ar had done its worst to scathe tho land . Yet tho brethren from tho North could meet tho brethren from tbo South
Installation Of Lord Tenterden Prov. G.M. For Essex.
after the war , and clasp tho hands of Freemasonry in brotherhood which had so recently been raised to shed each other's blood . I fool with our Pro Grand Master that Freemasonry has a great future before it , a great future , I venture to say , in this feeling of universal toleration and brotherhood , a great future not only in this country , but in all countries , in pacifying hostilities , in creating
friendships , in linking together men of all countries , of all classes , of all religions , all races , and all creeds . And , brethren , wo cannot do better than take tho advico of our Pro Grand Master as to how AVC should best extend and promote this , which I venture to say is a noblo object , of which Freemasons in this Province and all over tho world may bo justly proud . The way to
promote it , brethren , is , to use an expression familiar to all of us , that we should show ourselves to bo good Masous and good men , not only in our words and in our emblems , but in our acts—that wo should in truth show ourselves to be men to whom tho afflicted may pour forth their sorrows and find consolation , to whom tho distressed may pour forth thoir suit and find relief—whoso hands aro guided by jnstico ,
ancl whoso hearts aro expanded by benevolence . I onco moro thank yon most cordially for the kind welcome which has been given to mo in this Province . I always felt that although I Avas not known to many amongst yon it would be so—that ono whoso heart was in Freemasonry would never fail a warm welcome at tho hands of Freemasons .
The Provincial Grand Master then said : —The Pro Grand Master has desired me to express hia extreme regret that ho has been obliged to leave before tho end of onr festivities . I have now devolving on mo tho very agreeable task of proposing the health of tho Deputy Grand Master , Rev . S . R . Wigram P . G . C , and the rest of tho Prov . Grand Officers Present aud Past . I have for a long timo had tho
pleasure of knowing our Bro . Wigram as distinguished iu tho Craft , distinguished as one of tho Grand Chaplains , and distinguished , as I also know he has been , by his Avorking at tho Priory Lodge , at Southend ; and it is with extreme gratification to mo that ho has accepted the position to which he has this day been appointed . You must all know that very much of tho success of tho Province
depends on the Depnty of tho Province . As tho Pro Grand Master has told you , in tho most flattering terms , I am engaged the bulk of my time , and must therefore leave tho greater part of my duties to the brother who has this day been appointed my Deputy . We havo among us in onr Lodgo the Past D . Prov . G . M . Bro . Matthew Clark , and I am especially pleased to seo him . I feel sure that you
also appreciate his services from tho satisfaction with which yon all agreed to tho voto of thanks which has been passed upon him in Lodge . Ho is , with me , a Past Master of tho Lodgo of Harmony at Richmond , and has for many years past shared with mo tho duties of Secretary of that Lodgo . I know from my personal experience that he is a good man , and you all
know that he is a good Mason . We havo to-day also invested several others who are Avorthy of the position to which they have been appointed . It was at tho Lodge of Hope and Unity , at Romford , that I first received my early Masonic instruction . A friend of mine used to belong to that Lodge , and I Avas fre" | uoutIy present th <; re a- ! a visitor , and have on several occasions acted ns ono of its OiKeers ,
it is therefore with extreme pleasure that I have this day pl-iced tho W . M . of that , Lodgo iu the chair of . Senior' Warden of the Province . The other Prov . Grand Ollicers are , I believe , equally well known to the Craft of Essex . I havo done my best that the honours should bo distributed to every point of our Provincial compass , aud I hope that the various appointments will give satisfaction . I havo
pleasure in coupling with the toast the namss of Bros . S . R . Wigram Depnty Prov . Grand Master , and Bro . Matthew Clark P . P . D . G . M . Bro . Wigram in reply said : I have to thank you , both on my own behalf and on behalf of the other Prov . Grand Officers . The honour I havo received this day has come to me most acceptably . I am an Essex man , son of an Essex man , received the Masonic light in an
Essex Lodge , and am a Past Master of two Essex Lodges . If AVO aro spared to meet again at the end of twelve months , I hope yon . will receive this toast with as great cordiality as it has met to-night . We ask yon to bo to our virtues very kind , and to our follies ever blind . Bro . Clarke also offered a few remarks . The Deputy Prov . G . Master stated that tho Prov . Grand Master
had entrusted to him the proposal of tho next toast . He said : — I could at this moment express two wishes , one that tho toast had fallen into better hands , and another that it had been placed earlier on the list so that it might have been given before those numerous visitors who have honoured ns with their presence had been obliged to leave us . We have to-day beeu honoured with Masons conversant
Avith tho Craft , I may say in every part of the world . We are always proud to see our brethren among us , and tender them a hearty welcome . All we can do now is to honour thoso brethren Avho have to-day visited us by drinking heartily to the toast . Bro . Rev . C . J . Martyn iu his reply tendered his thanks for tho hearty reception accorded tho toast . lie hoped that he should have
tho pleasure of seeing several of the Essex brethren at tho mooting of tho Provincial Grand Lodge of Snffolk on Monday next . IIo expressed the regret of the Master of hia Province that ho Avas utiablo to attend the meeting of to-day . Tho health of the Ollicers of the Province , was acknowledged by Bro . Rev . F . Shepherd P . M . 276 . Bio . Yeroy proposed the Masonio
Charities , and Bro . J . Terry Sec . Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution replied . A just compliment was paid by tho Prov . Grand Master to tho Committee of the Chelmsford Lodge , who had beeu entrusted with the arrangements of the day , and on the W . M . of that Lodgo being called upon to respond , he expressec the thanks of his Lodgo to thoso
Prov . Grand Officers who had assisti 1 him , moro especially lie wished to thank Bro . Railing tho Prov . <¦ Sec . who , ho said , had been preseut at every meeting of the Coe nittee . Bro . Speight acted as toastmastci During the evening a selection of music Avas performed , under the c rection of Bro . W . Gaia , by Bios , John Hodges , Faulkner Leigh , 0 . B ckett , and Thurley Beale .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Installation Of Lord Tenterden Prov. G.M. For Essex.
and one step further than it has already achieved , we shall be ablo to hand down to thoso who come after ns quite aa great and fine a heritage as we havo received from our forefathers ( cheers ) . Brethren , iu every Province it is necessary to have a high standard before us . In this Province yon havo had good traditions , and you now have at your head one who is fully competent to give those traditions
practical life aud effect . Let me congratulate him upon being placed iu this chair ; let me congratulate you upon having so good a Provincial Grand Master ruling over you . I beg to propose his health . Let mo wish to him long life and success in tho devotion of the name qualities to this Province that ho has already given to his country , and let me wish for you all tho happiness , aud all tho good fortune ,
and all tho success that can flow from the Aviso , aud temperate , and kindly , and conciliatory vale of yonr present Provincial Grand Master . Tho Provincial Grand Master in reply said : Brethren , —I havo to thank onr Pro Grand Master for the too flattering and complimentary terms in Avhich he has been good enough to propose my health to your notice , and I have to thank you , brethren of the
Province of Essex , for the welcome that you have been good enough to accord to me on this occasion . Onr Pro Grand Master has spoken of the organisation of Freemasonry . I am pretty confident that I am not wrong in supposing that in this toAvn of Chelmsford at this very moment thero aro numbers of people who are asking tho question , " What is it that all these gentlemen , wearing whito ties and
evening coats in the day time , have invaded our quiet neighbourhood for , with their little black bags and their tin boxes ? " And , brethren , I do not doubt that to many the question has been put Avhich has on this and other occasions been very frequently addressed to myself . " What is it that all you people are about ? If you want to subscribe to schools and to asylums Avhy don't yon send your Post Office order
and your cheques without all this fuss and paraphernalia ? " Now , a lady told me the other day that sho had discovered the secret . She said , " The fact is yon men arc so vain . You love to dress yourselves np ; that is why the soldiers all Avear red coats , and noAV the volunteers are going to Avear red coats , aud as for you people with the blue aprons , Avhy you are no better . " Other people say we are mere knife
and fork philanthropists . Others again saj ' , " the real fact is , thero is nothing in it at all . " Now , that reminds me of the story with regard to tho Drnces on Mount Lebanon . His lordship then proceeded to relate the story of ono of a number of peeping bnsybodies Avho Avent into tho Temple of tho Drnces , and finding it empty , returned and reported that thero was " nothing in it , " whereupon he was told that
his story Avas disbelieved , and was ignominionsly kicked out of the village . His lordship proceeded : Now , brethren , it cannot be said that there is nothing in onr Lodges , for there is something in onr Lodges—something Avhich constitutes the v ery basis of our Masonic structure , and that is tho Volume of the Sacred Law .
Although with universal toleration we admit men of all creeds to the Craft , provided they aro good men—I have myself initiated Persians , Parsees , Mussulmnns , and Hindoos—yet all our work is begun , continned and completed in the name of Him whom we address in the spirit of that universal prayer written by our great poot Pope , a Roman Catholic : —
" Father of all , in every age , In every clime adored By saint , by savage , and by sage , Jehovah , Jove , and Lord . To Him Avhoso temple is all space , Whoso altar—earth , sea , skies , One chorus let all beings raise ,
All Nature ' s incense rise . " It is , brethren , this spirit of toleration , this feeling of universal brotherhood nnder one great Heavenly Father , which constitutes as I deem it , the true object , the true principle of Freemasonry . It was for this object that Freemasonry was founded , and it is for this that it now claims to be maintained . Without going too far
into the uncertainties of tradition , AVO are at all events sure of thisthat tho original object of Freemasonry Avas to provide a home , amongst their fellow brethren and Masons , where those skilled craftsmen who wandered in the pursuit of their craft might find in their travels a ready Avelcome . It was thus , brethren , that Freemasonry iu former ages was tho first to break down that barrier of
distrust and exclusiveness which severed countries and provinces , and even towns . It is noAV of equal use , for Freemasonry , excluding as it does subjects of political and religious controversy , forms a neutral ground on Avhich men of all classes , countries , and creeds may meet on the level and part npon the square . Brethren , that exclnsivenessof which I have spoken has to some extent penetrated
oven to the present day . Most of you , I daro say , recollect the drawing of poor John Leech ' s two navvies , ono of whom says to the other " Who bo that , Bill ? " and upon the other replying , " A stranger , " he says , " ' cave ' alf a brick at him . " Well , brethren , that spirit was at one time very common amongst us . The other day 1 Avas reading the biography of ono of our great naval heroes at the
commencement of tho present century . His creed Avas , "Fear God , honour tho King , aud hate the French . " Now , brethren , we do , I hope , the two former , but the days for hatred of tho French aro happily passed away , and I trust may never come again . How littlo Ave now hate the French is shown iu tho chord of sympathy which has been touched iu every English heart , in every
English home for that nnhappy lady Avho is now mourning for her gallant son slain in the English cause in South Africa . This spirit of universal brotherhood may perhaps by some bo considered no longer of any moment in this country , but this is not so . Although political and religious rancour is happily no longer rife amongst us , there
are many subjects np in which all men must differ , and by excluding those questions upon vhich men too frequentl y do differ , we aro doing that which i am sure s of grant good to this country ; aud I havo seen myso ^ f a vi ry remar : able instance of that in the United States of America wl ere civil A ar had done its worst to scathe tho land . Yet tho brethren from tho North could meet tho brethren from tbo South
Installation Of Lord Tenterden Prov. G.M. For Essex.
after the war , and clasp tho hands of Freemasonry in brotherhood which had so recently been raised to shed each other's blood . I fool with our Pro Grand Master that Freemasonry has a great future before it , a great future , I venture to say , in this feeling of universal toleration and brotherhood , a great future not only in this country , but in all countries , in pacifying hostilities , in creating
friendships , in linking together men of all countries , of all classes , of all religions , all races , and all creeds . And , brethren , wo cannot do better than take tho advico of our Pro Grand Master as to how AVC should best extend and promote this , which I venture to say is a noblo object , of which Freemasons in this Province and all over tho world may bo justly proud . The way to
promote it , brethren , is , to use an expression familiar to all of us , that we should show ourselves to bo good Masous and good men , not only in our words and in our emblems , but in our acts—that wo should in truth show ourselves to be men to whom tho afflicted may pour forth their sorrows and find consolation , to whom tho distressed may pour forth thoir suit and find relief—whoso hands aro guided by jnstico ,
ancl whoso hearts aro expanded by benevolence . I onco moro thank yon most cordially for the kind welcome which has been given to mo in this Province . I always felt that although I Avas not known to many amongst yon it would be so—that ono whoso heart was in Freemasonry would never fail a warm welcome at tho hands of Freemasons .
The Provincial Grand Master then said : —The Pro Grand Master has desired me to express hia extreme regret that ho has been obliged to leave before tho end of onr festivities . I have now devolving on mo tho very agreeable task of proposing the health of tho Deputy Grand Master , Rev . S . R . Wigram P . G . C , and the rest of tho Prov . Grand Officers Present aud Past . I have for a long timo had tho
pleasure of knowing our Bro . Wigram as distinguished iu tho Craft , distinguished as one of tho Grand Chaplains , and distinguished , as I also know he has been , by his Avorking at tho Priory Lodge , at Southend ; and it is with extreme gratification to mo that ho has accepted the position to which he has this day been appointed . You must all know that very much of tho success of tho Province
depends on the Depnty of tho Province . As tho Pro Grand Master has told you , in tho most flattering terms , I am engaged the bulk of my time , and must therefore leave tho greater part of my duties to the brother who has this day been appointed my Deputy . We havo among us in onr Lodgo the Past D . Prov . G . M . Bro . Matthew Clark , and I am especially pleased to seo him . I feel sure that you
also appreciate his services from tho satisfaction with which yon all agreed to tho voto of thanks which has been passed upon him in Lodge . Ho is , with me , a Past Master of tho Lodgo of Harmony at Richmond , and has for many years past shared with mo tho duties of Secretary of that Lodgo . I know from my personal experience that he is a good man , and you all
know that he is a good Mason . We havo to-day also invested several others who are Avorthy of the position to which they have been appointed . It was at tho Lodge of Hope and Unity , at Romford , that I first received my early Masonic instruction . A friend of mine used to belong to that Lodge , and I Avas fre" | uoutIy present th <; re a- ! a visitor , and have on several occasions acted ns ono of its OiKeers ,
it is therefore with extreme pleasure that I have this day pl-iced tho W . M . of that , Lodgo iu the chair of . Senior' Warden of the Province . The other Prov . Grand Ollicers are , I believe , equally well known to the Craft of Essex . I havo done my best that the honours should bo distributed to every point of our Provincial compass , aud I hope that the various appointments will give satisfaction . I havo
pleasure in coupling with the toast the namss of Bros . S . R . Wigram Depnty Prov . Grand Master , and Bro . Matthew Clark P . P . D . G . M . Bro . Wigram in reply said : I have to thank you , both on my own behalf and on behalf of the other Prov . Grand Officers . The honour I havo received this day has come to me most acceptably . I am an Essex man , son of an Essex man , received the Masonic light in an
Essex Lodge , and am a Past Master of two Essex Lodges . If AVO aro spared to meet again at the end of twelve months , I hope yon . will receive this toast with as great cordiality as it has met to-night . We ask yon to bo to our virtues very kind , and to our follies ever blind . Bro . Clarke also offered a few remarks . The Deputy Prov . G . Master stated that tho Prov . Grand Master
had entrusted to him the proposal of tho next toast . He said : — I could at this moment express two wishes , one that tho toast had fallen into better hands , and another that it had been placed earlier on the list so that it might have been given before those numerous visitors who have honoured ns with their presence had been obliged to leave us . We have to-day beeu honoured with Masons conversant
Avith tho Craft , I may say in every part of the world . We are always proud to see our brethren among us , and tender them a hearty welcome . All we can do now is to honour thoso brethren Avho have to-day visited us by drinking heartily to the toast . Bro . Rev . C . J . Martyn iu his reply tendered his thanks for tho hearty reception accorded tho toast . lie hoped that he should have
tho pleasure of seeing several of the Essex brethren at tho mooting of tho Provincial Grand Lodge of Snffolk on Monday next . IIo expressed the regret of the Master of hia Province that ho Avas utiablo to attend the meeting of to-day . Tho health of the Ollicers of the Province , was acknowledged by Bro . Rev . F . Shepherd P . M . 276 . Bio . Yeroy proposed the Masonio
Charities , and Bro . J . Terry Sec . Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution replied . A just compliment was paid by tho Prov . Grand Master to tho Committee of the Chelmsford Lodge , who had beeu entrusted with the arrangements of the day , and on the W . M . of that Lodgo being called upon to respond , he expressec the thanks of his Lodgo to thoso
Prov . Grand Officers who had assisti 1 him , moro especially lie wished to thank Bro . Railing tho Prov . <¦ Sec . who , ho said , had been preseut at every meeting of the Coe nittee . Bro . Speight acted as toastmastci During the evening a selection of music Avas performed , under the c rection of Bro . W . Gaia , by Bios , John Hodges , Faulkner Leigh , 0 . B ckett , and Thurley Beale .