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Article JUBILEE OF ST. GEORGE LODGE, BOMBAY. ← Page 2 of 3 Article JUBILEE OF ST. GEORGE LODGE, BOMBAY. Page 2 of 3 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Jubilee Of St. George Lodge, Bombay.
the Jubilee . The period might not appear long compared with the time immemorial during which their Fraternity had existed , nor could it be long in comparison with the history of the countries and races to which the } ' all belonged ; but at the same time it was a circumstance which did hot always
obtain in the case of all human institutions , and it was , therefore , a matter of great congratulation to themselves , and he hoped to the Fraternity generally , that they had been permitted during the last fifty years , and without any interruption , to carry on the work of Freemasonry in
Bombay . He would not detain the Brethren by any lengthly remarks , but he might , however , observe that it must have occurred to their minds , as it had occurred to his mind , that the experience of the last fifty years transcended the experience of a majority of the Brethren present that
evening , the long period carrying them back to the time when Bombay , and for the matter of that the whole of India , must have been in a very different condition than what they were in at present . The changes made in Bombay as regarded its buildings , its Government , its trade , and its
general advancement , must have been immense . As regarded its connection with the Western world , it should not be forgotten that in those days it took them a period of three or four months to accomplish the voyage which had now been reduced to a few days . The prosperity of the town , though
slightly eclipsed at the present moment , had advanced by leaps and bounds , and it was a matter for congratulation that side by side with the prosperity and general advancement of the town , Freemasonry had also taken a deep root in the city , and Lodge St . George had not only survived , but had
increased in its number and influence . He thought that they might fairly consider that while , on the one hand , it should inspire them with gratitude that Providence had enabled them to carry on the work of the Lodge for such a long period , they should , on the other hand , look forward with
confidence that if all the changes that had taken place during that time had resulted in an enormous spread of Freemasonry , they might also confidently believe that in the future the same progress might be continued . He then proposed that the Worshipful Master be asked to accept the congratulations
of the Lodge over which he had the good fortune to preside at a time when it had reached the fiftieth year of its existence , and that the members of the Lodge express their gratitude for favours received , and their confidence in the usefulness of the Lodge in the future .
Bro . H . J . Parsons seconded the resolution , and it was carried unanimously . The Lodge having been closed , dinner was served , covers being laid for about eighty members . The table was most tastefully and artistically decorated , being adorned with many of the silver trophies belonging to the W . M .
Bro . F . C . Allen W . M ., who presided at the banquet , gave the toast of the Queen-Empress and the Craft , which was cordially received . The W . M . then proposed the toasts of the H . R . H . the Prince of Wales Most Worshipful Grand Master , the Grand
Master Masons of Scotland and Ireland , H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught and Straithnairn District Grand Master of Bombay and its territories , H . E . Lord Sandhurst Pro District Grand Master of Bombay , and they were all duly honoured by the Brethren .
Bro . R . S . Brown next proposed the toast of the Grand Master and Officers of the Grand Lodge of All Scottish Freemasonry in India , observing that they were always welcome to Lodge St . George . Bro . J . W . Smith Past Grand Master of All Scottish
Freemasonry in India , in replying to the toast , said that Bro . Brown had taken the wind out of his sails , inasmuch as he said all that could be said about the Jubilee of Lodge St . George in the excellent oration which he delivered in the Lodge . Speaking for Lord Sandhurst the Grand Master of
All Scottish Freemasonry in India , he said that nothing could have given greater pleasure to his Excellency than to be present at the Jubilee of Lodge St . George , but that the exigencies and business of the State only had prevented him from visiting the Lodge .
The W . M . next proposed the toast of the Deputy District Grand Master and his Officers . He said that he was sure the name of Bro . Shields required no recommendation from him . He was known throughout the whole of India in the ranks of
Freemasonry , for the lively interest and constant thought that he had given to the Craft , not only in the present time , but also in the past . Bro . Shields had always lent the very greatest assistance , and had < enabled Freemasonry to attain the proud position that it had acquired in Bombay . His
Jubilee Of St. George Lodge, Bombay.
interest in Freemasonry had been far-reaching , and he could personally testify to the fact that his advice to him and other young Freemasons was of a most valuable kind ; he spared neither time nor trouble in furthering the interest of the Craft . In asking the assembly to drink to the health of Bro .
Shields , he asked them to drink to the health of a Brother who was distinguished for everything good in Freemasonry . Bro . Shields was surrounded by many worthy Officers , and the able way in which they assisted him to carry out his duties was proved by the very prosperous condition in which
Freemasonry in that Presidency stood at the present moment . Bro . Shields , in reply , said he thought the Worshipful Master in proposing his toast had somewhat overdrawn the picture which he had painted . He had always endeavoured ever since he came to Bombay , and long before he ever
accepted the important post he filled at the present time , to do whatever he could for Freemasonry and the various Lodges with which he had been connected . In his present position he was supported by a body of Freemasons who had long experience , who had served the Craft in various
capacities , and who had proved their ability in the chairs of various Lodges , and who now supported the Grand Master in his duties with great zeal and assiduity . The District Officers recently visited with him some of the Lodges in the mofussil at a great sacrifice of time and money , which showed that they had the interest of the Craft at heart .
The Worshipful Master then proposed the toast of the Past Masters of the Lodge , and in doing so referred to the long list of distinguished Brothers who had maintained the prestige and dignity of the Lodge . Bro . H . J . Parsons , in responding to the toast on behalf
of the Past Masters , remarked that the Lodge was particularly fortunate in always possessing a grand stock of Past Masters . When he entered the Lodge in the early eighties they were almost entirely Past Masters , and the Lodge was almost kept up by such . At that time Lodge St .
George was , if not the most hospitable , one of the most hospitable Lodges in Bombay . At the time when he entered the Lodge the late Bro . Tyrrel Leith , whom they all knew and held in high esteem , was the Grand Master ; since then they had had H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught at the head
of affairs , and now they had H . E . Lord Sandhurst for their chief—the latter two being members of Lodge St . George . Freemasonry in general was flourishing in Bombay , and Lodge St . George showed a record such as no other Lodge could show in regard to its charitable subscriptions , and its
subscription to the new Masonic Hall building , in the completion of which they all took so much interest . He hoped that the Lodge would continue to flourish , and he had no doubt whatever that everyone present there would have the happiest recollection of that evening .
Bro . I . M . Shields proposed the toast of success to Lodge St . George of Bombay , and the Worshipful Master , and in doing so he gave a sketch of its formation and early history , complimenting the Lodge upon the uniform support it had given to the Masonic Charities , and its services to
English Masonry , wnich it had been the means of fostering in Bombay . He concluded by saying that in the hands of its present Worshipful Master Bro . Allen , who had brought to his task of guiding the destinies of the Lodge during the current year energy , ability , and courtesy , equal to any of
his predecessors in the chair , there was every reason to believe that the Lodge would continue to prosper . The Brethren having duly honoured the toast , sang " For he is a jolly good fellow , " and gave three cheers for the Lodge , and one extra for its Worshipful Master .
Bro . F . C . Allen , in reply , said : —Brethren , —It is a proud privilege for so young a Mason as myself to be placed in the position of being able to return thanks to the toast which has been so eloquently proposed by Bro . Shields , and it is a still prouder privilege for the members of Lodge
St . George to welcome as their guests this evening so many prominent members of the Craft to assist in celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of the Warrant under which our Lodge has been permitted to work for the past half century in Bombay . Questions that have doubtless been put to many
of us at one time or another by the popular world who are not Masons are " What is the good of Freemasonry ? " and " What do you gain by becoming a member of the Brotherhood ? " Such questions are difficult' to answer in a
convincing manner , but I think that the present occasion is one which most of us might quote as pointing to an all powerful tie which , in spite of fifty years of vicissitude in a country which must of necessity see many changes in its European inhabitants—a tie which , I sav , has enabled a
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Jubilee Of St. George Lodge, Bombay.
the Jubilee . The period might not appear long compared with the time immemorial during which their Fraternity had existed , nor could it be long in comparison with the history of the countries and races to which the } ' all belonged ; but at the same time it was a circumstance which did hot always
obtain in the case of all human institutions , and it was , therefore , a matter of great congratulation to themselves , and he hoped to the Fraternity generally , that they had been permitted during the last fifty years , and without any interruption , to carry on the work of Freemasonry in
Bombay . He would not detain the Brethren by any lengthly remarks , but he might , however , observe that it must have occurred to their minds , as it had occurred to his mind , that the experience of the last fifty years transcended the experience of a majority of the Brethren present that
evening , the long period carrying them back to the time when Bombay , and for the matter of that the whole of India , must have been in a very different condition than what they were in at present . The changes made in Bombay as regarded its buildings , its Government , its trade , and its
general advancement , must have been immense . As regarded its connection with the Western world , it should not be forgotten that in those days it took them a period of three or four months to accomplish the voyage which had now been reduced to a few days . The prosperity of the town , though
slightly eclipsed at the present moment , had advanced by leaps and bounds , and it was a matter for congratulation that side by side with the prosperity and general advancement of the town , Freemasonry had also taken a deep root in the city , and Lodge St . George had not only survived , but had
increased in its number and influence . He thought that they might fairly consider that while , on the one hand , it should inspire them with gratitude that Providence had enabled them to carry on the work of the Lodge for such a long period , they should , on the other hand , look forward with
confidence that if all the changes that had taken place during that time had resulted in an enormous spread of Freemasonry , they might also confidently believe that in the future the same progress might be continued . He then proposed that the Worshipful Master be asked to accept the congratulations
of the Lodge over which he had the good fortune to preside at a time when it had reached the fiftieth year of its existence , and that the members of the Lodge express their gratitude for favours received , and their confidence in the usefulness of the Lodge in the future .
Bro . H . J . Parsons seconded the resolution , and it was carried unanimously . The Lodge having been closed , dinner was served , covers being laid for about eighty members . The table was most tastefully and artistically decorated , being adorned with many of the silver trophies belonging to the W . M .
Bro . F . C . Allen W . M ., who presided at the banquet , gave the toast of the Queen-Empress and the Craft , which was cordially received . The W . M . then proposed the toasts of the H . R . H . the Prince of Wales Most Worshipful Grand Master , the Grand
Master Masons of Scotland and Ireland , H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught and Straithnairn District Grand Master of Bombay and its territories , H . E . Lord Sandhurst Pro District Grand Master of Bombay , and they were all duly honoured by the Brethren .
Bro . R . S . Brown next proposed the toast of the Grand Master and Officers of the Grand Lodge of All Scottish Freemasonry in India , observing that they were always welcome to Lodge St . George . Bro . J . W . Smith Past Grand Master of All Scottish
Freemasonry in India , in replying to the toast , said that Bro . Brown had taken the wind out of his sails , inasmuch as he said all that could be said about the Jubilee of Lodge St . George in the excellent oration which he delivered in the Lodge . Speaking for Lord Sandhurst the Grand Master of
All Scottish Freemasonry in India , he said that nothing could have given greater pleasure to his Excellency than to be present at the Jubilee of Lodge St . George , but that the exigencies and business of the State only had prevented him from visiting the Lodge .
The W . M . next proposed the toast of the Deputy District Grand Master and his Officers . He said that he was sure the name of Bro . Shields required no recommendation from him . He was known throughout the whole of India in the ranks of
Freemasonry , for the lively interest and constant thought that he had given to the Craft , not only in the present time , but also in the past . Bro . Shields had always lent the very greatest assistance , and had < enabled Freemasonry to attain the proud position that it had acquired in Bombay . His
Jubilee Of St. George Lodge, Bombay.
interest in Freemasonry had been far-reaching , and he could personally testify to the fact that his advice to him and other young Freemasons was of a most valuable kind ; he spared neither time nor trouble in furthering the interest of the Craft . In asking the assembly to drink to the health of Bro .
Shields , he asked them to drink to the health of a Brother who was distinguished for everything good in Freemasonry . Bro . Shields was surrounded by many worthy Officers , and the able way in which they assisted him to carry out his duties was proved by the very prosperous condition in which
Freemasonry in that Presidency stood at the present moment . Bro . Shields , in reply , said he thought the Worshipful Master in proposing his toast had somewhat overdrawn the picture which he had painted . He had always endeavoured ever since he came to Bombay , and long before he ever
accepted the important post he filled at the present time , to do whatever he could for Freemasonry and the various Lodges with which he had been connected . In his present position he was supported by a body of Freemasons who had long experience , who had served the Craft in various
capacities , and who had proved their ability in the chairs of various Lodges , and who now supported the Grand Master in his duties with great zeal and assiduity . The District Officers recently visited with him some of the Lodges in the mofussil at a great sacrifice of time and money , which showed that they had the interest of the Craft at heart .
The Worshipful Master then proposed the toast of the Past Masters of the Lodge , and in doing so referred to the long list of distinguished Brothers who had maintained the prestige and dignity of the Lodge . Bro . H . J . Parsons , in responding to the toast on behalf
of the Past Masters , remarked that the Lodge was particularly fortunate in always possessing a grand stock of Past Masters . When he entered the Lodge in the early eighties they were almost entirely Past Masters , and the Lodge was almost kept up by such . At that time Lodge St .
George was , if not the most hospitable , one of the most hospitable Lodges in Bombay . At the time when he entered the Lodge the late Bro . Tyrrel Leith , whom they all knew and held in high esteem , was the Grand Master ; since then they had had H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught at the head
of affairs , and now they had H . E . Lord Sandhurst for their chief—the latter two being members of Lodge St . George . Freemasonry in general was flourishing in Bombay , and Lodge St . George showed a record such as no other Lodge could show in regard to its charitable subscriptions , and its
subscription to the new Masonic Hall building , in the completion of which they all took so much interest . He hoped that the Lodge would continue to flourish , and he had no doubt whatever that everyone present there would have the happiest recollection of that evening .
Bro . I . M . Shields proposed the toast of success to Lodge St . George of Bombay , and the Worshipful Master , and in doing so he gave a sketch of its formation and early history , complimenting the Lodge upon the uniform support it had given to the Masonic Charities , and its services to
English Masonry , wnich it had been the means of fostering in Bombay . He concluded by saying that in the hands of its present Worshipful Master Bro . Allen , who had brought to his task of guiding the destinies of the Lodge during the current year energy , ability , and courtesy , equal to any of
his predecessors in the chair , there was every reason to believe that the Lodge would continue to prosper . The Brethren having duly honoured the toast , sang " For he is a jolly good fellow , " and gave three cheers for the Lodge , and one extra for its Worshipful Master .
Bro . F . C . Allen , in reply , said : —Brethren , —It is a proud privilege for so young a Mason as myself to be placed in the position of being able to return thanks to the toast which has been so eloquently proposed by Bro . Shields , and it is a still prouder privilege for the members of Lodge
St . George to welcome as their guests this evening so many prominent members of the Craft to assist in celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of the Warrant under which our Lodge has been permitted to work for the past half century in Bombay . Questions that have doubtless been put to many
of us at one time or another by the popular world who are not Masons are " What is the good of Freemasonry ? " and " What do you gain by becoming a member of the Brotherhood ? " Such questions are difficult' to answer in a
convincing manner , but I think that the present occasion is one which most of us might quote as pointing to an all powerful tie which , in spite of fifty years of vicissitude in a country which must of necessity see many changes in its European inhabitants—a tie which , I sav , has enabled a