-
Articles/Ads
Article COMMEMORATION AT DURHAM. ← Page 2 of 2 Article COMMEMORATION AT DURHAM. Page 2 of 2
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Commemoration At Durham.
Sir Hedworth Williamson , Bart ., at their head . Canon Tristram , D . D ., Past Grand Chaplain of England and Deputy Provincial Grand Master of the Province of Durham , who , with the aid of two sticks , ascended the dais to a seat near Sir Hedworth shortly after the opening of the proceedings , was accorded hearty applause , which the Provincial Master , stopping in the course of his speech , supplemented by a warm handshake .
In opening the meeting Prov . G . M . Sir Hedworth Williamson said that was hardly the time or the place for him to detain them wifch any lengthy observations . He had not the slightest doubt that one and all of them , if they had not seen a great deal of what had been going on during the last week or ten days , at all events no doubt had read and heard about it , and therefore it
was not necessary for him to describe at any length what they had seen and heard . Before he said any more he must express his satisfaction and astonishment at that extraordinary gathering of the Masons of the Province . He never expected anything of the sort ; he did not even expect half the number there that day . It was very gratifying to him to find that the Masons of the
county of Durham had responded in such great numbers to the circular that had been sent out . They had met there that day to add their humble meed of praise and thanksgiving for the succeessful end of the sixtieth year of Her Majesty ' s reign . He did not know how many of them were present—he knew some of them were—at that great assembly that took place last
week or the week before in Albert Hall , when their Eoyal Grand Master and Brother , and most of the distinguished Freemasons of England and Scotland , and from all over the world , were gathered together . He should like , if he possibly could , to emulate the proceedings of that day , but his oratorical powers were nothing to be compared with those of His Royal Highness
and Grand Master , and his Eoyal brother the Duke of Connaught . He was perfectly certain that everybody who assisted at that ceremony must have been struck , astonished , and delighted at the words , the few words , but the weil-chosen words which fell from their lloyal Grand Master , and at the way that every point seemed to take by tbe vast audience in the hall . He
was almost certain , so beautiful in diction were the words of those Eoyal Princes , that every word they said was heard in the uttermost parts of the building . He had heard His Eoyal Highness was most struck with the universal display of loyalty not only over all England , but in all parts of the world . The Freemasons of England had shown no lukewarmness or want of
feeling , and His Eoyal Highness alluded to the Freemasons of England as being as loyal as any portion of Her Majesty ' s subjects . He ( Sir Hedworth ) ventured to say that the Freemasons of Durham were equal in loyalty to any of the Freemasons in England . They met there that day to go in procession to their noble Cathedral , there to return thanks for
60 years of blessed rule under their Sovereign . If any woman in the world deserved thanks and gratitude from the Freemasons of England , it was their gracious Sovereign . No one had more zealously , judiciously , humbly , and kindly exercised the two great virtues that distinguished their Order , those of charity and sympathy with the afflicted ; no one in the length and breadth
of this kingdom had ever been less wanting in showing her sympathy with the distressed . He thanked the authorities of the University and Cathedral for their great courtesy in putting that noble room at their disposal , and also their worthy friend who had just come in ( Canon Tristram ) for the great trouble he had taken to make that meeting a success . He thought he also ought to thank their Brother , Canon Kynaston , for he believed
it was in him that the idea of that meeting arose . Having thanked these gentlemen , he now asked them to accompany him to their noble Cathedral , and there to return thanks for the sixty years of Her Majesty ' s Eeign , hoping that she might long continue to reign over them , and also to offer a humble prayer to the Almighty that He would continue to bless their Royal Sovereign .
The Brethren then marched in procession to the Cathedral , where the special service was held . The sermon was preached by the Very Eev . Arthur Perceval Purey-Cust , D . D ., Dean of York Past Grand Chaplain of England , who took for his text St . Luke xix , 42 , " If thou hadst known , even thou , at least in thy day , the things which belong unto thy peace ! "
In the course of his remarks the Dean said : Amongst benevolent Institutions , our ancient fraternity , my brethren of the Craft , has borne no insignificant share in the happy results . Iu these days when " Secret Societies" are mentioned with alarm and are the scourge of other lands , it is easy for us to demonstrate that the veil which is so wisely dra % vn over our
proceedings simply shields our legitimate though quaint method of cultivating mutual edification and promoting works of charity from the criticism and ridicule of those who would cast but a cursory glance at our proceedings , without attempting to unravel the significance of what commends itself to us as sagacious and practical . But there are not lacking tokens which even those who run may read , if they care to do so , which will assure them
Commemoration At Durham.
that there is nothing within unworthy of us , as citizens and fellow subjects , as regards our loyalty . Not only is that pledged by your gathering here at such a time , but also by the fact that the Queen herself is the patron of our Order , as many of her predecessors back to the days of Athelstan have been members of our society , as are her sons to-day , even the Heir-Apparent of
the Crown , our Worshipful Grand Master . The best token of our utility is the fact that our girdle of fellowship embraces 2 , 073 British Lodges , containing about 100 , 000 members , and that we are in close communion with Lodges and members of almost every nation under heaven . We may also fearlessly assert that in all the troubles of days gone by our Craft has ever been found
on the side of loyalty and order , and its secret organisation has never been perverted to foment sedition or disaffection . Our alms , though done in secret and unparaded in flaunting reports and attractive advertisements , provide substantial and ready help for the unfortunate and indigent , especially in the grades of society which are the most difficult to assist—for widows in their
bereavement , for Brethren in their decrepitude , and sound education for the children of both grades of those who are unable to provide it for their little ones themselves . We draw together men of all opinions , religious and political , of all ranks and callings , in one harmonious fellowship . We meet on common ground . We require no compromise of anything which each may hold . We lay aside for the season our divergencies in rank and
thought , and cultivating together the points on which we sympathise and the common objects which we hold in view , we learn to know each other as Brethren , not as enemies . We part to exercise our future duties as citizens influenced by such happy intercourse not a whit the less zealously than before , because devoid of that bitterness and mistrust which so often arise from the simple fact that men are strangers to each other .
I fearlessly assert from the long experience of 50 years that Freemasonry , rightly understood and practised , is one of the things , and not the least amongst them , which belong to our peace , and I venture to regard it as no feeble instrument in our national prosperity . But , my brethren of the Craft , if we know these things we must seek to make them more known amongst
our fellow countrymen . This Diamond Jubilee should be an epoch in all the constituted portions of our national peace , directing our attention to them , reminding us of the value of them , and stimulating us to develop and improve them , even more than heretofore . Let this be our aim . Our Graft , like every other human institution , has its shortcomings , and has had its abuses
and blemishes in days gone by . They had been to us , as they have been to all , causes of reproach . We have suffered from false Brethren and unworthy Brethren . The object of our fraternity has been disregarded , its purpose abused . But I venture to say that no institution has made greater strides in improvement during the last sixty years than our own . The Freemasonry of 1897 stands out in bright contrast to the
Freemasonry of 1837—both in number of members and character of work . Let us seek , not merely to maintain this but to increase it . Remember , we can best disarm suspicion , silence foolish cavilling , and enlarge our borders by making our principles realities , and showing by our life and conversation that it helps us to be better citizens , better Christians , better members of society , whatever position we may be called upon to fill .
Men will lose their antipathies in proportion as they see that it is something more than mere secret conclaves , something more than mere social banquets , and we ourselves will find that in a genuine co-operation for mutual brotherhood , edification and benevolence , we are cheered and supported , refreshed by society , which has no after-taste of evil , invigorated by the
enjoyment of larger and more varied sympathies than we could find in any other community of men , and by the happiest of all happy occupation—that of doing good . Our society represents an effort which is almost coeval with the first existence of the human race , to cultivate and attain these happy ends . Throughout each succeeding age we can trace its course—struggling in
times of darkness , when men had as yet no light ( or but little light ) to show this to them elsewhere ; and now that a brighter and purer radiance shines upon us we seek not to exalt it as a substitute for the Holy Faith which we profess—for be it remembered that the open Bible holds the chief and most honoured place in every Lodge , but simply to use it as a humble
handmaid to help us in carrying out the principles which God has revealed to us , and which we know His Grace can alone make us to accomplish . Christianity alone can enable us to attain to the true ideal of Freemasonry . Let the thought that we have the means to this end , which past generations lacked , make us the more diligently use them . Let the contemplation of the aims
and purposes which men in far distant ages propounded and sought to accomplish only show us the more clearly how the Gospel is indeed the glad tidings which supplies to the full the cravings and yearnings of humanity , and requires nothing more of us but what every thoughtful and intelligent mind perceives to be " a reasonable service . "— " Durham County Advertiser . "
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Commemoration At Durham.
Sir Hedworth Williamson , Bart ., at their head . Canon Tristram , D . D ., Past Grand Chaplain of England and Deputy Provincial Grand Master of the Province of Durham , who , with the aid of two sticks , ascended the dais to a seat near Sir Hedworth shortly after the opening of the proceedings , was accorded hearty applause , which the Provincial Master , stopping in the course of his speech , supplemented by a warm handshake .
In opening the meeting Prov . G . M . Sir Hedworth Williamson said that was hardly the time or the place for him to detain them wifch any lengthy observations . He had not the slightest doubt that one and all of them , if they had not seen a great deal of what had been going on during the last week or ten days , at all events no doubt had read and heard about it , and therefore it
was not necessary for him to describe at any length what they had seen and heard . Before he said any more he must express his satisfaction and astonishment at that extraordinary gathering of the Masons of the Province . He never expected anything of the sort ; he did not even expect half the number there that day . It was very gratifying to him to find that the Masons of the
county of Durham had responded in such great numbers to the circular that had been sent out . They had met there that day to add their humble meed of praise and thanksgiving for the succeessful end of the sixtieth year of Her Majesty ' s reign . He did not know how many of them were present—he knew some of them were—at that great assembly that took place last
week or the week before in Albert Hall , when their Eoyal Grand Master and Brother , and most of the distinguished Freemasons of England and Scotland , and from all over the world , were gathered together . He should like , if he possibly could , to emulate the proceedings of that day , but his oratorical powers were nothing to be compared with those of His Royal Highness
and Grand Master , and his Eoyal brother the Duke of Connaught . He was perfectly certain that everybody who assisted at that ceremony must have been struck , astonished , and delighted at the words , the few words , but the weil-chosen words which fell from their lloyal Grand Master , and at the way that every point seemed to take by tbe vast audience in the hall . He
was almost certain , so beautiful in diction were the words of those Eoyal Princes , that every word they said was heard in the uttermost parts of the building . He had heard His Eoyal Highness was most struck with the universal display of loyalty not only over all England , but in all parts of the world . The Freemasons of England had shown no lukewarmness or want of
feeling , and His Eoyal Highness alluded to the Freemasons of England as being as loyal as any portion of Her Majesty ' s subjects . He ( Sir Hedworth ) ventured to say that the Freemasons of Durham were equal in loyalty to any of the Freemasons in England . They met there that day to go in procession to their noble Cathedral , there to return thanks for
60 years of blessed rule under their Sovereign . If any woman in the world deserved thanks and gratitude from the Freemasons of England , it was their gracious Sovereign . No one had more zealously , judiciously , humbly , and kindly exercised the two great virtues that distinguished their Order , those of charity and sympathy with the afflicted ; no one in the length and breadth
of this kingdom had ever been less wanting in showing her sympathy with the distressed . He thanked the authorities of the University and Cathedral for their great courtesy in putting that noble room at their disposal , and also their worthy friend who had just come in ( Canon Tristram ) for the great trouble he had taken to make that meeting a success . He thought he also ought to thank their Brother , Canon Kynaston , for he believed
it was in him that the idea of that meeting arose . Having thanked these gentlemen , he now asked them to accompany him to their noble Cathedral , and there to return thanks for the sixty years of Her Majesty ' s Eeign , hoping that she might long continue to reign over them , and also to offer a humble prayer to the Almighty that He would continue to bless their Royal Sovereign .
The Brethren then marched in procession to the Cathedral , where the special service was held . The sermon was preached by the Very Eev . Arthur Perceval Purey-Cust , D . D ., Dean of York Past Grand Chaplain of England , who took for his text St . Luke xix , 42 , " If thou hadst known , even thou , at least in thy day , the things which belong unto thy peace ! "
In the course of his remarks the Dean said : Amongst benevolent Institutions , our ancient fraternity , my brethren of the Craft , has borne no insignificant share in the happy results . Iu these days when " Secret Societies" are mentioned with alarm and are the scourge of other lands , it is easy for us to demonstrate that the veil which is so wisely dra % vn over our
proceedings simply shields our legitimate though quaint method of cultivating mutual edification and promoting works of charity from the criticism and ridicule of those who would cast but a cursory glance at our proceedings , without attempting to unravel the significance of what commends itself to us as sagacious and practical . But there are not lacking tokens which even those who run may read , if they care to do so , which will assure them
Commemoration At Durham.
that there is nothing within unworthy of us , as citizens and fellow subjects , as regards our loyalty . Not only is that pledged by your gathering here at such a time , but also by the fact that the Queen herself is the patron of our Order , as many of her predecessors back to the days of Athelstan have been members of our society , as are her sons to-day , even the Heir-Apparent of
the Crown , our Worshipful Grand Master . The best token of our utility is the fact that our girdle of fellowship embraces 2 , 073 British Lodges , containing about 100 , 000 members , and that we are in close communion with Lodges and members of almost every nation under heaven . We may also fearlessly assert that in all the troubles of days gone by our Craft has ever been found
on the side of loyalty and order , and its secret organisation has never been perverted to foment sedition or disaffection . Our alms , though done in secret and unparaded in flaunting reports and attractive advertisements , provide substantial and ready help for the unfortunate and indigent , especially in the grades of society which are the most difficult to assist—for widows in their
bereavement , for Brethren in their decrepitude , and sound education for the children of both grades of those who are unable to provide it for their little ones themselves . We draw together men of all opinions , religious and political , of all ranks and callings , in one harmonious fellowship . We meet on common ground . We require no compromise of anything which each may hold . We lay aside for the season our divergencies in rank and
thought , and cultivating together the points on which we sympathise and the common objects which we hold in view , we learn to know each other as Brethren , not as enemies . We part to exercise our future duties as citizens influenced by such happy intercourse not a whit the less zealously than before , because devoid of that bitterness and mistrust which so often arise from the simple fact that men are strangers to each other .
I fearlessly assert from the long experience of 50 years that Freemasonry , rightly understood and practised , is one of the things , and not the least amongst them , which belong to our peace , and I venture to regard it as no feeble instrument in our national prosperity . But , my brethren of the Craft , if we know these things we must seek to make them more known amongst
our fellow countrymen . This Diamond Jubilee should be an epoch in all the constituted portions of our national peace , directing our attention to them , reminding us of the value of them , and stimulating us to develop and improve them , even more than heretofore . Let this be our aim . Our Graft , like every other human institution , has its shortcomings , and has had its abuses
and blemishes in days gone by . They had been to us , as they have been to all , causes of reproach . We have suffered from false Brethren and unworthy Brethren . The object of our fraternity has been disregarded , its purpose abused . But I venture to say that no institution has made greater strides in improvement during the last sixty years than our own . The Freemasonry of 1897 stands out in bright contrast to the
Freemasonry of 1837—both in number of members and character of work . Let us seek , not merely to maintain this but to increase it . Remember , we can best disarm suspicion , silence foolish cavilling , and enlarge our borders by making our principles realities , and showing by our life and conversation that it helps us to be better citizens , better Christians , better members of society , whatever position we may be called upon to fill .
Men will lose their antipathies in proportion as they see that it is something more than mere secret conclaves , something more than mere social banquets , and we ourselves will find that in a genuine co-operation for mutual brotherhood , edification and benevolence , we are cheered and supported , refreshed by society , which has no after-taste of evil , invigorated by the
enjoyment of larger and more varied sympathies than we could find in any other community of men , and by the happiest of all happy occupation—that of doing good . Our society represents an effort which is almost coeval with the first existence of the human race , to cultivate and attain these happy ends . Throughout each succeeding age we can trace its course—struggling in
times of darkness , when men had as yet no light ( or but little light ) to show this to them elsewhere ; and now that a brighter and purer radiance shines upon us we seek not to exalt it as a substitute for the Holy Faith which we profess—for be it remembered that the open Bible holds the chief and most honoured place in every Lodge , but simply to use it as a humble
handmaid to help us in carrying out the principles which God has revealed to us , and which we know His Grace can alone make us to accomplish . Christianity alone can enable us to attain to the true ideal of Freemasonry . Let the thought that we have the means to this end , which past generations lacked , make us the more diligently use them . Let the contemplation of the aims
and purposes which men in far distant ages propounded and sought to accomplish only show us the more clearly how the Gospel is indeed the glad tidings which supplies to the full the cravings and yearnings of humanity , and requires nothing more of us but what every thoughtful and intelligent mind perceives to be " a reasonable service . "— " Durham County Advertiser . "