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Article PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF CORNWALL. ← Page 2 of 3 Article PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF CORNWALL. Page 2 of 3 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Provincial Grand Lodge Of Cornwall.
fully tho true meaning then . Tho hostile Jews ask in derision if he would rear again in threo days lliat which was forty-six years in building ? And this false meaning they nsed wheu they formulated their charge against the Holy One ; they perverted the words in assigning to Jesns the work of destruction , which IIo assigns to the Jews , charging Him with saying , " I am able to destroy , " or " I will
destroy this Temple , " while He who is the Resurrection and tha Life spoke of the restoration as His work , the destruction as theirs . Bnt that they comprehended the truo meaning of the words is proved by their telling Pontius Pilate thafc Jesus , while yet alive , had said , " after three days I rise again . " Our Lord ' s discip les realised the truth , " When therefore He was raised from the dead , His disciples
remembered that He spake this , and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesns said . " Tho striking comparison of the body to a temple or tabernacle was not an unusual or undesigned simile . Hezekiah says , " My life is struck and rolled up like a wandering shepherd ' s tabernacle , to vanish away from whore it has been . " St . Paul says , "We know that if our earthly house of this
tabernacle were dissolved we have a bnilding of God , a house not made with hands eternal in the Heavens , " and he repeatedly speaks of the bcdy as a temple . St . John iu the first chapter of his gospel says , , [ The word was made flesh and dwelt ( or as margin of revised version ' tabernacled' ) among us . " Using the very word in the original for thafc tent or tabernacle which was
erected by Moses , in accordance with Divine direction , and whioh afterwards proved to be the model or ground plan of that mosfc magni . ficent temple built by King Solomon . As we are accustomed to realise great troths which are veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols , let ns endeavour reverently to seo in what way the tabernacle and
temple were symbols of the human body . To get a true view of the meaning of this symbolism we must go back to the plan and pattern the Great Architect of the Universe hacl before Him in fche creation of man . God said , " Let us make man in our image after our likeness . " This points to the Divine pattern and architype after which man ' s nature was fashioned ? In the Old Testament the nature of
God is veiled in mystery , though it is illustrated by symbols . In the light of the Gospel wo know that God is love and the Gospel teaches us also that the one love reveals itself in a threefold personality—Father , Sou , and Holy Ghost . If we find this threefold personality in God , we must expect to find in man a threefold nature also . The Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground , breathed into his
nostrils the breath of life . Man became a living soul . Father , Son and Holy Ghost were the presiding and co-equal authors of a first creation of one who was to be an image of God . God fashions the plastic clay into tbe form of man , and moulds thoso features which , given by His hand , have descended to ns . Bending over the prostrate and inanimate statue , He breathes into the hollow nostrils the breath
of life ; rushing in , this mysterious power sets its organs into play , and as the heart begins to beat , and the current of blood to flow , Adam opens his eyes in life and on the world . But ere by this crowning act he closes the drama of Creation , addressing the Son on this hand and the Holy Spirit on that , the Father saith , " Let us make man in our image ; " and man
became a living soul . Man hacl nofc only a body and an animal life , but he had also that which no other animal on earth possessed—a spiritual nature which resembles God's nature . In fact , man was a compound of body , soul , and spirit ( I Thess . 5-23 ) . The mystical sphinx in which the human countenance rises out of the form of a savage animal significantly expressed to tho ancients that there was
a free spirit , free , but yet linked to an animal body and a natural life . Bnt this threefold personality of God and threefold nature of man was to be yefc more significantly illustrated by a divinely appointed symbol . God said to Mcseson Mount Sinai , "Let them make me a sanctuary that I may dwell among them according to all thafc I show thee , after the pattern of the Tabernacle . " Again and again in
" scripture we find the Tabernacle spoken of as having been made after the pattern God showed Moses on the Mount . The writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews says , " As Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the Tabernacle , for see , saith He , thafc thou mako it according to the pattern showed to thee in the Monnt . " I remember well the present Archbishop of Canterbury , commenting
on that passage , saying , " God threw into the mind of Moses the knowledge of great truths , and left him to convey and illustrate those truths to the people by symbols which they could understand . " In the construction of the Tabernacle the first thing tbat strikes is the threefold division—1 , the outer court ( within that ) 2 , the Holy Place 3 , the Holy of Holies . In comparing the Temple of King
Solomon with the labernacle we see that all the arrangements are identical , but the dimensions are exactly double those of tbo preceding structure . In the Temple of Zerubbabol , and again in thafc of Herod , we find the same mystical and yet suggestive threefold division . Ezekiel ' s vision of the Temple gives ns the same truths , which is also conveyed in our Christian churches by —( 1 ) the Body
of the Chnrch ; ( 2 ) the Chancel ; ( 3 ) the Sanctuary . The leading thoughts snggested are : — ( 1 ) The outer court symbolises the body . In that outer court the sacrifices wero offered , and it is bodily sacrifice that the great Architect of the human temple requires from us , the sacrifice of all the lusts of the flesh , tho renunciation of all carnal desires of tho body . Seo how clearly Sfc . Paul puts this , " I
beseech yon , brethren , by the mercies of God , that yo present yonr bodies a living sacrifice to God , which is yonr reasonable , service . " ( 2 ) The inner court , centre chamber , or Holy Place , symbolises tho human mind or reason . In this were placed the golden candlesticks that mainly speak to ns of Him who is tho light of the world , but it also symbolises the light of reason by which we must let our light
shine before men . The table of shewbread , which seems to tell us our mind , should be s-efc on Him who gives our daily bread , as our Lore ) , in tho Gospel for last Sunday , tells ns , " Our Heavenly Father knows we have need of all these things . The altar of incense symbolises the pure incense of prayer and praise thafc we should ever be offering mentally to God . ( 3 ) Separated by a thick veil from the centre chamber , or Holy Place , lay the Holy of Holies , whioh combined
Provincial Grand Lodge Of Cornwall.
the mercy seat , with the cherubim overshadowing ifc , and between fche cherubim the Ark of the Covenant containing the Tables of fche Law . How clearly this symbolises the Divine Spirit iu the human nature within and beyond reason . That Spirit , through which we hold communion with God and that spiritual union wifch Christ , and so draw near to the mercy seat by Him who is the Way , the Truth , and the
Life , and so coming to the Father , rest under the shadow of His Almighty wings . Thafc Spirit , through whioh we see in the Law , a schoolmaster to bring us to Christ . Bufc had I bodily strength and mental power to speak further to yon , brethren , on the symbolisms of these great mysteries , I feel that I have not sufficient spiritual in . sight ; to venture further now . I can ouly direct your thoughts to fche
great truth , thafc in the New Creation and Redemption of our fallen nature in the second Adam , Father , Sou and Holy Spirit operate together for us men and our salvation . The Father decrees Redemption , the Son procures ifc , the Holy Ghost applies it to individual souls . So it will be in the raising up again the Temple of the human body , the same Three in One , and One iu
Three will work in unison m the resurrection ot our bodily Temple when it has beeu destroyed . The preacher then went on to show how men do destroy the human temple , body , soul and spirit . 1 . Tho body — through intemperance ancl vice , or through reckless use of bodily power , as Matthew Webb . 2 . Tbo mind—by attempting to cultivate the , mind without regard to tho spirit ( illustrating this from a clever doctor who , setting hia
great mental power to disprove the existence of any spirit in man , lost the reason he misused and died the death of a mad dog in a lunatic asylum ) . 3 . The spirit by constantly grieving and finall y quenching it . Bufc destroy it as we may , this temple of our body will be raised again ; either to be cast into outer darkness , or to soar npward to the Heavenly Jerusalem , "Where there will be no temple , for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it . "
The collection , amounting to £ 9 15 s lOd , was given as follows : — Two-fifths to the Annuity Fund , two-fifths to the St . Austell Local Society , and one-fifth to tbe Vicar , for charity . On returning to the Market Hall , the Truro Cathedral Committee's report was read by the Treasurer to the fund , Bro . W . Tweedy . Since the last meeting of P . G . L . the following sums had been received : —Twelve months
dividend in Consols , £ 12 7 s 9 d ; St . Austell Loan , £ 2 2 s ; Liskeard , £ 10 10 s lOd ; "W . B . E . Holmes , £ 10 10 s ; donation £ 5 ; Falmouth Lodge , £ 9 10 s 6 d ; making wifch the balance , £ 9 16 s Id , total £ 55 19 s 4 d , and £ 46 4 s had been invested in the purchase of Consols , making , in the name of the Treasurer , £ 320 , leaving them in the hands of the Treasurer £ 9 19 s . The Prov . G . M ,,
addressing Bro . Hnghan , said he had a very pleasurable duty to perform , although ifc was accompanied with circumstances which all the brethren regretted ; which he himself regretted , Bro . Hnghan was about to leave the Province to reside elsewhere It was generally felt on that occasion they must do something to mark their appreciation of all the work he had done for
Freemasonry in the Province , as well as the regard iu which they held him themselves . It had accordingly been resolved to present him with a handsome gold P . P . G . Secretary ' s jewel . Ifc was one of beautiful workmanship , and there was with it a purse containing twohundred and seventy-five sovereigns . In addition to that , there would be au album , in which would be placed the names of all tbe
subscribers to the testimonial , and presented to Bro . Hughan , with an expression of their best wishes for his welfare , and a hope that he would have a happy future at whatever place he might go to reside . His lordship then pinned the jewel on Bro . Hughan ' s breast , and presented him wifch the gold thread purse and its contents ( 275 sovereigns ) . Bro . Hughan , in reply , said he was quite unable to express what he felt under tbe circumstances . He would
endeavour , however , to say a few words in recognition of the great kindness shown him . When he came into the Province , twenty years since , he was cot known to any Mason in the Province , nor one of them to him . His only introduction to his brother Masons was his certificate . From that time to now he had received nothing but kindness from all the brethren in the Province . As long as he lived his attachment to the Province of Cornwall would never cease . He had
previously received a P . M . ' s jewel from Lodge Fortitude , at Truro , and with that a centenary jewel of thafc Lodge . He should put the present jewel given him with those , and should never forget the continued kindness thus shown him . His lordship had been pleased to speak of his merits , but he believed they were overrated . He must thank the brethrenwho had formed tbe Committee for presenting
the testimonial just given him for their exertions in the matter . He believed he was much indebted to them for these exertions . I ' had been said , he bad done much for Masonry . What little he had clone he gratefully felt he was more than repaid for by the continued kindness shown him , ancl as long as he was able he shonld never ceaso to work for the Order . He was about to reside afc Torquay ,
but he wished the brethren to consider that as only a change of address—they had bufc to write to him afc Torquay instead of Truro , and he should be happy to reply to them promptly on any matter referring to their noble Institntion . Freemasonry in that Province bad rondo great advances since he first joined it . There were then onlsome 500 Masons in the Province . That number had
y now nearly trebled . Tho great majority of the subscribers to the testimonial must therefore have beeu men that he did not know nor they him . To all he would say , thafc they could nofc feel more warmly towards him nor think of him more highly than he could feel their kindness and appreciate their gift . Tbe jewel bore the folio * 7 " ing inscription : — " Provincial Grand Lodge , Cornwall . —Presented oi
to W . Bro . W . J . Hughan P . M . 131 , and Past Senior Grand Deacon England , ancl Past Provincial Grand Secretary , on his leaving t ^ county , by the brethren of the Province , together wifch a parse o sovereigns , as a token of their fraternal regard . " Tho following brethren were elected as officers of fcho Cornvva ^ Maaouic and Benevolent Fnnd . —W . Bros . Tweedy Treasure *(
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Provincial Grand Lodge Of Cornwall.
fully tho true meaning then . Tho hostile Jews ask in derision if he would rear again in threo days lliat which was forty-six years in building ? And this false meaning they nsed wheu they formulated their charge against the Holy One ; they perverted the words in assigning to Jesns the work of destruction , which IIo assigns to the Jews , charging Him with saying , " I am able to destroy , " or " I will
destroy this Temple , " while He who is the Resurrection and tha Life spoke of the restoration as His work , the destruction as theirs . Bnt that they comprehended the truo meaning of the words is proved by their telling Pontius Pilate thafc Jesus , while yet alive , had said , " after three days I rise again . " Our Lord ' s discip les realised the truth , " When therefore He was raised from the dead , His disciples
remembered that He spake this , and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesns said . " Tho striking comparison of the body to a temple or tabernacle was not an unusual or undesigned simile . Hezekiah says , " My life is struck and rolled up like a wandering shepherd ' s tabernacle , to vanish away from whore it has been . " St . Paul says , "We know that if our earthly house of this
tabernacle were dissolved we have a bnilding of God , a house not made with hands eternal in the Heavens , " and he repeatedly speaks of the bcdy as a temple . St . John iu the first chapter of his gospel says , , [ The word was made flesh and dwelt ( or as margin of revised version ' tabernacled' ) among us . " Using the very word in the original for thafc tent or tabernacle which was
erected by Moses , in accordance with Divine direction , and whioh afterwards proved to be the model or ground plan of that mosfc magni . ficent temple built by King Solomon . As we are accustomed to realise great troths which are veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols , let ns endeavour reverently to seo in what way the tabernacle and
temple were symbols of the human body . To get a true view of the meaning of this symbolism we must go back to the plan and pattern the Great Architect of the Universe hacl before Him in fche creation of man . God said , " Let us make man in our image after our likeness . " This points to the Divine pattern and architype after which man ' s nature was fashioned ? In the Old Testament the nature of
God is veiled in mystery , though it is illustrated by symbols . In the light of the Gospel wo know that God is love and the Gospel teaches us also that the one love reveals itself in a threefold personality—Father , Sou , and Holy Ghost . If we find this threefold personality in God , we must expect to find in man a threefold nature also . The Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground , breathed into his
nostrils the breath of life . Man became a living soul . Father , Son and Holy Ghost were the presiding and co-equal authors of a first creation of one who was to be an image of God . God fashions the plastic clay into tbe form of man , and moulds thoso features which , given by His hand , have descended to ns . Bending over the prostrate and inanimate statue , He breathes into the hollow nostrils the breath
of life ; rushing in , this mysterious power sets its organs into play , and as the heart begins to beat , and the current of blood to flow , Adam opens his eyes in life and on the world . But ere by this crowning act he closes the drama of Creation , addressing the Son on this hand and the Holy Spirit on that , the Father saith , " Let us make man in our image ; " and man
became a living soul . Man hacl nofc only a body and an animal life , but he had also that which no other animal on earth possessed—a spiritual nature which resembles God's nature . In fact , man was a compound of body , soul , and spirit ( I Thess . 5-23 ) . The mystical sphinx in which the human countenance rises out of the form of a savage animal significantly expressed to tho ancients that there was
a free spirit , free , but yet linked to an animal body and a natural life . Bnt this threefold personality of God and threefold nature of man was to be yefc more significantly illustrated by a divinely appointed symbol . God said to Mcseson Mount Sinai , "Let them make me a sanctuary that I may dwell among them according to all thafc I show thee , after the pattern of the Tabernacle . " Again and again in
" scripture we find the Tabernacle spoken of as having been made after the pattern God showed Moses on the Mount . The writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews says , " As Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the Tabernacle , for see , saith He , thafc thou mako it according to the pattern showed to thee in the Monnt . " I remember well the present Archbishop of Canterbury , commenting
on that passage , saying , " God threw into the mind of Moses the knowledge of great truths , and left him to convey and illustrate those truths to the people by symbols which they could understand . " In the construction of the Tabernacle the first thing tbat strikes is the threefold division—1 , the outer court ( within that ) 2 , the Holy Place 3 , the Holy of Holies . In comparing the Temple of King
Solomon with the labernacle we see that all the arrangements are identical , but the dimensions are exactly double those of tbo preceding structure . In the Temple of Zerubbabol , and again in thafc of Herod , we find the same mystical and yet suggestive threefold division . Ezekiel ' s vision of the Temple gives ns the same truths , which is also conveyed in our Christian churches by —( 1 ) the Body
of the Chnrch ; ( 2 ) the Chancel ; ( 3 ) the Sanctuary . The leading thoughts snggested are : — ( 1 ) The outer court symbolises the body . In that outer court the sacrifices wero offered , and it is bodily sacrifice that the great Architect of the human temple requires from us , the sacrifice of all the lusts of the flesh , tho renunciation of all carnal desires of tho body . Seo how clearly Sfc . Paul puts this , " I
beseech yon , brethren , by the mercies of God , that yo present yonr bodies a living sacrifice to God , which is yonr reasonable , service . " ( 2 ) The inner court , centre chamber , or Holy Place , symbolises tho human mind or reason . In this were placed the golden candlesticks that mainly speak to ns of Him who is tho light of the world , but it also symbolises the light of reason by which we must let our light
shine before men . The table of shewbread , which seems to tell us our mind , should be s-efc on Him who gives our daily bread , as our Lore ) , in tho Gospel for last Sunday , tells ns , " Our Heavenly Father knows we have need of all these things . The altar of incense symbolises the pure incense of prayer and praise thafc we should ever be offering mentally to God . ( 3 ) Separated by a thick veil from the centre chamber , or Holy Place , lay the Holy of Holies , whioh combined
Provincial Grand Lodge Of Cornwall.
the mercy seat , with the cherubim overshadowing ifc , and between fche cherubim the Ark of the Covenant containing the Tables of fche Law . How clearly this symbolises the Divine Spirit iu the human nature within and beyond reason . That Spirit , through which we hold communion with God and that spiritual union wifch Christ , and so draw near to the mercy seat by Him who is the Way , the Truth , and the
Life , and so coming to the Father , rest under the shadow of His Almighty wings . Thafc Spirit , through whioh we see in the Law , a schoolmaster to bring us to Christ . Bufc had I bodily strength and mental power to speak further to yon , brethren , on the symbolisms of these great mysteries , I feel that I have not sufficient spiritual in . sight ; to venture further now . I can ouly direct your thoughts to fche
great truth , thafc in the New Creation and Redemption of our fallen nature in the second Adam , Father , Sou and Holy Spirit operate together for us men and our salvation . The Father decrees Redemption , the Son procures ifc , the Holy Ghost applies it to individual souls . So it will be in the raising up again the Temple of the human body , the same Three in One , and One iu
Three will work in unison m the resurrection ot our bodily Temple when it has beeu destroyed . The preacher then went on to show how men do destroy the human temple , body , soul and spirit . 1 . Tho body — through intemperance ancl vice , or through reckless use of bodily power , as Matthew Webb . 2 . Tbo mind—by attempting to cultivate the , mind without regard to tho spirit ( illustrating this from a clever doctor who , setting hia
great mental power to disprove the existence of any spirit in man , lost the reason he misused and died the death of a mad dog in a lunatic asylum ) . 3 . The spirit by constantly grieving and finall y quenching it . Bufc destroy it as we may , this temple of our body will be raised again ; either to be cast into outer darkness , or to soar npward to the Heavenly Jerusalem , "Where there will be no temple , for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it . "
The collection , amounting to £ 9 15 s lOd , was given as follows : — Two-fifths to the Annuity Fund , two-fifths to the St . Austell Local Society , and one-fifth to tbe Vicar , for charity . On returning to the Market Hall , the Truro Cathedral Committee's report was read by the Treasurer to the fund , Bro . W . Tweedy . Since the last meeting of P . G . L . the following sums had been received : —Twelve months
dividend in Consols , £ 12 7 s 9 d ; St . Austell Loan , £ 2 2 s ; Liskeard , £ 10 10 s lOd ; "W . B . E . Holmes , £ 10 10 s ; donation £ 5 ; Falmouth Lodge , £ 9 10 s 6 d ; making wifch the balance , £ 9 16 s Id , total £ 55 19 s 4 d , and £ 46 4 s had been invested in the purchase of Consols , making , in the name of the Treasurer , £ 320 , leaving them in the hands of the Treasurer £ 9 19 s . The Prov . G . M ,,
addressing Bro . Hnghan , said he had a very pleasurable duty to perform , although ifc was accompanied with circumstances which all the brethren regretted ; which he himself regretted , Bro . Hnghan was about to leave the Province to reside elsewhere It was generally felt on that occasion they must do something to mark their appreciation of all the work he had done for
Freemasonry in the Province , as well as the regard iu which they held him themselves . It had accordingly been resolved to present him with a handsome gold P . P . G . Secretary ' s jewel . Ifc was one of beautiful workmanship , and there was with it a purse containing twohundred and seventy-five sovereigns . In addition to that , there would be au album , in which would be placed the names of all tbe
subscribers to the testimonial , and presented to Bro . Hughan , with an expression of their best wishes for his welfare , and a hope that he would have a happy future at whatever place he might go to reside . His lordship then pinned the jewel on Bro . Hughan ' s breast , and presented him wifch the gold thread purse and its contents ( 275 sovereigns ) . Bro . Hughan , in reply , said he was quite unable to express what he felt under tbe circumstances . He would
endeavour , however , to say a few words in recognition of the great kindness shown him . When he came into the Province , twenty years since , he was cot known to any Mason in the Province , nor one of them to him . His only introduction to his brother Masons was his certificate . From that time to now he had received nothing but kindness from all the brethren in the Province . As long as he lived his attachment to the Province of Cornwall would never cease . He had
previously received a P . M . ' s jewel from Lodge Fortitude , at Truro , and with that a centenary jewel of thafc Lodge . He should put the present jewel given him with those , and should never forget the continued kindness thus shown him . His lordship had been pleased to speak of his merits , but he believed they were overrated . He must thank the brethrenwho had formed tbe Committee for presenting
the testimonial just given him for their exertions in the matter . He believed he was much indebted to them for these exertions . I ' had been said , he bad done much for Masonry . What little he had clone he gratefully felt he was more than repaid for by the continued kindness shown him , ancl as long as he was able he shonld never ceaso to work for the Order . He was about to reside afc Torquay ,
but he wished the brethren to consider that as only a change of address—they had bufc to write to him afc Torquay instead of Truro , and he should be happy to reply to them promptly on any matter referring to their noble Institntion . Freemasonry in that Province bad rondo great advances since he first joined it . There were then onlsome 500 Masons in the Province . That number had
y now nearly trebled . Tho great majority of the subscribers to the testimonial must therefore have beeu men that he did not know nor they him . To all he would say , thafc they could nofc feel more warmly towards him nor think of him more highly than he could feel their kindness and appreciate their gift . Tbe jewel bore the folio * 7 " ing inscription : — " Provincial Grand Lodge , Cornwall . —Presented oi
to W . Bro . W . J . Hughan P . M . 131 , and Past Senior Grand Deacon England , ancl Past Provincial Grand Secretary , on his leaving t ^ county , by the brethren of the Province , together wifch a parse o sovereigns , as a token of their fraternal regard . " Tho following brethren were elected as officers of fcho Cornvva ^ Maaouic and Benevolent Fnnd . —W . Bros . Tweedy Treasure *(