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Article NEW YORK'S AUSPICIOUS DAY. Page 1 of 3 Article NEW YORK'S AUSPICIOUS DAY. Page 1 of 3 →
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New York's Auspicious Day.
NEW YORK'S AUSPICIOUS DAY .
Address of Hro . Frank Ii . Lawrence , Past Grand Master , at the Laying of the Comer Stone of the Masonic Home of thc State of New York at Utica , < . 21 st May 1891 . Tj lOR geneiaticn * to come this day will stand
con-_ U spicnous ia Masonic annals . At this time , amid general prosperity and rejoicing , we begin the visible consummation of the stedfast purpose of half a century . In this happy hour we plant the foundation-stone of a
structure which , wheu completed , will typify the most exalted principles of humanity and of Freemasonry . Well may we all rejoice ! For when in all the centuries has the Craft enjoyed a moment more auspicious ?
Not with us , but with our Masonio fathers , did this grand design originate . For more than one generation the plan to establish this institution has been sanctified by the sacrifices of tho Fraternit y and ita members ; and we of to-day are privileged to partake in the triumphant
termination of the long struggle and enter upon the erection of this noble asylum , so long cherished , so long deferred upon a scale exceeding the largest expectations of those earlier brethren at whose instance the Fraternity first became engaged in this exalted work .
At this time it might well bo deemed appropriate to toll anew the familiar story of the Masonic Hall and Asylum Fund , from its inception and throngh its various stages . But its history has often been spread before the Craft , and our straggle to remove the great burden of debt and
brineabout tho event of thia hour is too recent to vender necessary a repetition of the many facts then indelibly impressed upon our memories . Yet the present moment shonld not
be allowed to pass without some brief glance at the state of the Craft at , and even before , the birth of this elevated purpose , and at the conditions under which it has been so faithfully pursued .
Masouic history in the State of New York has not always been bright or prosperous . In tbe period since the Grand Mastership of Chancellor Livingston , who daring tho last fifteen years of the eighteenth century presided
over the fraternity , both joy and sadness , prosperity and adversity , have in turn been tho lot of the Craft . We behold it at one time so highly esteemed , so much sought after , that the most distinguished sons of tho State
contended in its councua for the honours within its power to bestow ; while , at another period , bufc a few years separated from tho first , it had become the object of a prejudice so intense , a persecution so bitter that none save tho most devoted would acknowledge their adherence to Freemasonry .
When Livingston retired from office his successors were in turn an honoured Mayor of New York , and an illustrious Governor and citizen , De Witt Clinton , who presided over the Fraternity for the extended period of fonrteen years .
At the meeting of the Grand Lod ge in 1819 , the Governor of tho State and the Vice-President of the nation contended in friendly rivalry for tho office of Grand Master . Thus highly stood the Craft in general esteem . But
this was soon to change , for suddenly tho storm of anti-Masonry arose , and within a brief period our Fraternity , lately so honoured and exalted , was attacked , disrupted and pursued , with a violence so extreme as to threaten its total annihilation . Originating in our own State , the
conflict spread to other jurisdictions , while here in the place where it began the storm continued for years with unabated fury . Because of their adherence to the Craffc men were prescribed and driven from public station . Lodges wero abandoned , their lights extinguished , the
sacred volnme upon their altars closed to be re-opened no more . Only the true Masonic fires burning within the hearts of a comparatively small number o ? tho brethren , only their unwavering fealty to their plighted vows , saved our ancient Institution from utter destruction within this State dnring that long period of bitterness and gloom .
We have heard the words of our Grand Master concerning our revered brother and late Most Worshi pfnl John L . Lewis , and heartily we echo the merited tribute to that ripest scholar and most ardent Mason . But at this time we should remember also another of tho name , that brave old Revolutionary General , Judge and Governor ,
New York's Auspicious Day.
and of gratitude toward our Father , can ever forget in . Morgan Lewis , for thirteen years Graud Master of the State , who through the darkest days in all its modern history guided with wisdom and firmness tho destinies of
thc Craft , and then , as tho storm abated , in tho language of his later namesake , " wont tottering down to tho tomb , but holding the gavel of authorit y with tho firm grip of a Master Mason . "
Tho anti- 'Vlasonic agitation gradually passed away . The Craft regained and indeed surpassed ita former usefulness and respected position . For many years pasfc its
career has been ono of steadily increasing honour and respect , and to the present generation of Masons tho old anti-Masonic days seem as distant and unreal aa the stories of the persecutions in the middle ages .
It was near the closing days of the administration of Grand Master Morgan Lewis that the project for establishing tbe Masonio Hall and Asylnm Fnnd in substantially its present form was first presented to the Grand Lodge and accorded ita sanction . A project for the
building of a hall had been brought forward yeai's before ; but it does not appear to have embraced tho features of the present undertaking , which originated in , and not before , the year 1842 . Tho plan to establish tho Masonic Hall and Asylum
Fund originated at a period so near tho close of the conflict which had been waged so bitterly against tho Fraternity , thafc while the brethren who firsfc petitioned tho Grand Lodge in favour of its establishment merely declared themselves " impressed with the desire of placing our
institution in a position of permanent honour and usefulness . " It has long seemed to mo thafc this great benevolent idea may , in part , at least , have been conceived in a spirit of thanksgiving for fche then recent deliverance of the
Fraternity , coupled with a resolution to perform a work so great and unassailable , thafc nofc oven tho mosfc virulent of its enemies should longer find cause to attack tho usefulness of the Craft .
In 1843 the Grand Lodge received the original petition for the establishment of the Masonic HaU and Asylum Fnnd , coupled with a gift of money , which was placed in tho hands of tbe Trustees , and to whioh additions were made from year to year . Throngh the existence of a
schism in the Grand Lodge , tho struggles of rival Boards of Trustees , and other causes , delays arose ; but in 1870 the Fund had grown to three hundred and forty thousand dollars . The property at the corner of Twenty-third Street and Sixth Avenue in tbe city of New York was purchased ,
and the erection of the present Masonic Hall in that cit y was commenced . The Hall was completed in 1874 , aud was dedicated to Masonic uses during the following year . But it was so heavily encumbered with debt as to render impossible the application of any of its revenues to the charitable
purposes for which they were designed . During tho following ten years this state of affairs continued . The debt was diminished but littlo year by year , and the erection of the long promised Asylum seemed distant and improbable in a very high degree . In 1885 tho debt amounted to a little less than half a
million dollars , and an effort was begun to effect its payment . So weary and dispirited were the Craft that this task was generally deemed impossible ; yetdespite difficulties and discouragements , the endeavour—which , when once begun , was steadily persisted in—progressed so favourably
that within less than one year after its commencement the speedy and total extinguishment of the debt was seen to be quite within the power of the Craft to achieve . The Grand Lodge extended warmest encouragement . The Lodges and Brethren , under a fair system , generally and freely
contributed , and the work wont steadily forward until , on the 14 th of March 1889 , the Grand Master had the unbounded happiness to announce to tho Fraternity thafc the great task was done , that the lasfc dollar hnd been paid , that the freedom of the Craft had beeu completely achieved .
This happy event ; was celebrated on the 24 th day of April 1859 , in a manner never before attempted , perhaps never hereafter to be excelled , by tho holding , at an . appointed hour in every portion of the State , of meetings of the Lodges and their members , in many instances attended
by their families and friends , at which songs of praise were uttered by the lips , and prayers of thanksgiving to the great Architect of tho Universe wero echoed in the hearts of many , many thousands . Tho 24 th day of April 1889 is fresh in your memories ; and no one who took part in that great demonstration of lovo between the brethren ,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
New York's Auspicious Day.
NEW YORK'S AUSPICIOUS DAY .
Address of Hro . Frank Ii . Lawrence , Past Grand Master , at the Laying of the Comer Stone of the Masonic Home of thc State of New York at Utica , < . 21 st May 1891 . Tj lOR geneiaticn * to come this day will stand
con-_ U spicnous ia Masonic annals . At this time , amid general prosperity and rejoicing , we begin the visible consummation of the stedfast purpose of half a century . In this happy hour we plant the foundation-stone of a
structure which , wheu completed , will typify the most exalted principles of humanity and of Freemasonry . Well may we all rejoice ! For when in all the centuries has the Craft enjoyed a moment more auspicious ?
Not with us , but with our Masonio fathers , did this grand design originate . For more than one generation the plan to establish this institution has been sanctified by the sacrifices of tho Fraternit y and ita members ; and we of to-day are privileged to partake in the triumphant
termination of the long struggle and enter upon the erection of this noble asylum , so long cherished , so long deferred upon a scale exceeding the largest expectations of those earlier brethren at whose instance the Fraternity first became engaged in this exalted work .
At this time it might well bo deemed appropriate to toll anew the familiar story of the Masonic Hall and Asylum Fund , from its inception and throngh its various stages . But its history has often been spread before the Craft , and our straggle to remove the great burden of debt and
brineabout tho event of thia hour is too recent to vender necessary a repetition of the many facts then indelibly impressed upon our memories . Yet the present moment shonld not
be allowed to pass without some brief glance at the state of the Craft at , and even before , the birth of this elevated purpose , and at the conditions under which it has been so faithfully pursued .
Masouic history in the State of New York has not always been bright or prosperous . In tbe period since the Grand Mastership of Chancellor Livingston , who daring tho last fifteen years of the eighteenth century presided
over the fraternity , both joy and sadness , prosperity and adversity , have in turn been tho lot of the Craft . We behold it at one time so highly esteemed , so much sought after , that the most distinguished sons of tho State
contended in its councua for the honours within its power to bestow ; while , at another period , bufc a few years separated from tho first , it had become the object of a prejudice so intense , a persecution so bitter that none save tho most devoted would acknowledge their adherence to Freemasonry .
When Livingston retired from office his successors were in turn an honoured Mayor of New York , and an illustrious Governor and citizen , De Witt Clinton , who presided over the Fraternity for the extended period of fonrteen years .
At the meeting of the Grand Lod ge in 1819 , the Governor of tho State and the Vice-President of the nation contended in friendly rivalry for tho office of Grand Master . Thus highly stood the Craft in general esteem . But
this was soon to change , for suddenly tho storm of anti-Masonry arose , and within a brief period our Fraternity , lately so honoured and exalted , was attacked , disrupted and pursued , with a violence so extreme as to threaten its total annihilation . Originating in our own State , the
conflict spread to other jurisdictions , while here in the place where it began the storm continued for years with unabated fury . Because of their adherence to the Craffc men were prescribed and driven from public station . Lodges wero abandoned , their lights extinguished , the
sacred volnme upon their altars closed to be re-opened no more . Only the true Masonic fires burning within the hearts of a comparatively small number o ? tho brethren , only their unwavering fealty to their plighted vows , saved our ancient Institution from utter destruction within this State dnring that long period of bitterness and gloom .
We have heard the words of our Grand Master concerning our revered brother and late Most Worshi pfnl John L . Lewis , and heartily we echo the merited tribute to that ripest scholar and most ardent Mason . But at this time we should remember also another of tho name , that brave old Revolutionary General , Judge and Governor ,
New York's Auspicious Day.
and of gratitude toward our Father , can ever forget in . Morgan Lewis , for thirteen years Graud Master of the State , who through the darkest days in all its modern history guided with wisdom and firmness tho destinies of
thc Craft , and then , as tho storm abated , in tho language of his later namesake , " wont tottering down to tho tomb , but holding the gavel of authorit y with tho firm grip of a Master Mason . "
Tho anti- 'Vlasonic agitation gradually passed away . The Craft regained and indeed surpassed ita former usefulness and respected position . For many years pasfc its
career has been ono of steadily increasing honour and respect , and to the present generation of Masons tho old anti-Masonic days seem as distant and unreal aa the stories of the persecutions in the middle ages .
It was near the closing days of the administration of Grand Master Morgan Lewis that the project for establishing tbe Masonio Hall and Asylnm Fnnd in substantially its present form was first presented to the Grand Lodge and accorded ita sanction . A project for the
building of a hall had been brought forward yeai's before ; but it does not appear to have embraced tho features of the present undertaking , which originated in , and not before , the year 1842 . Tho plan to establish tho Masonic Hall and Asylum
Fund originated at a period so near tho close of the conflict which had been waged so bitterly against tho Fraternity , thafc while the brethren who firsfc petitioned tho Grand Lodge in favour of its establishment merely declared themselves " impressed with the desire of placing our
institution in a position of permanent honour and usefulness . " It has long seemed to mo thafc this great benevolent idea may , in part , at least , have been conceived in a spirit of thanksgiving for fche then recent deliverance of the
Fraternity , coupled with a resolution to perform a work so great and unassailable , thafc nofc oven tho mosfc virulent of its enemies should longer find cause to attack tho usefulness of the Craft .
In 1843 the Grand Lodge received the original petition for the establishment of the Masonic HaU and Asylum Fnnd , coupled with a gift of money , which was placed in tho hands of tbe Trustees , and to whioh additions were made from year to year . Throngh the existence of a
schism in the Grand Lodge , tho struggles of rival Boards of Trustees , and other causes , delays arose ; but in 1870 the Fund had grown to three hundred and forty thousand dollars . The property at the corner of Twenty-third Street and Sixth Avenue in tbe city of New York was purchased ,
and the erection of the present Masonic Hall in that cit y was commenced . The Hall was completed in 1874 , aud was dedicated to Masonic uses during the following year . But it was so heavily encumbered with debt as to render impossible the application of any of its revenues to the charitable
purposes for which they were designed . During tho following ten years this state of affairs continued . The debt was diminished but littlo year by year , and the erection of the long promised Asylum seemed distant and improbable in a very high degree . In 1885 tho debt amounted to a little less than half a
million dollars , and an effort was begun to effect its payment . So weary and dispirited were the Craft that this task was generally deemed impossible ; yetdespite difficulties and discouragements , the endeavour—which , when once begun , was steadily persisted in—progressed so favourably
that within less than one year after its commencement the speedy and total extinguishment of the debt was seen to be quite within the power of the Craft to achieve . The Grand Lodge extended warmest encouragement . The Lodges and Brethren , under a fair system , generally and freely
contributed , and the work wont steadily forward until , on the 14 th of March 1889 , the Grand Master had the unbounded happiness to announce to tho Fraternity thafc the great task was done , that the lasfc dollar hnd been paid , that the freedom of the Craft had beeu completely achieved .
This happy event ; was celebrated on the 24 th day of April 1859 , in a manner never before attempted , perhaps never hereafter to be excelled , by tho holding , at an . appointed hour in every portion of the State , of meetings of the Lodges and their members , in many instances attended
by their families and friends , at which songs of praise were uttered by the lips , and prayers of thanksgiving to the great Architect of tho Universe wero echoed in the hearts of many , many thousands . Tho 24 th day of April 1889 is fresh in your memories ; and no one who took part in that great demonstration of lovo between the brethren ,