Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
A Charge, Delivered In St. George's Lodge At Taunton, In The County Of Somerset, On The Feast Of St. John The Baptist,
benevolence , can with the least propriety object to our ancient and venerable institution . For my oAvn part , ever since I have had the honour to be inrolled in the list of Masons , as I knew it was my duty , so 1 have made it my business , to become acquainted with the principles on which our g lorious superstructure is founded . And , like the miner , the farther I have advanced the richer has been my discovery ; and the treasure
constantly opening to my view has proved a full and satisfactory reward of all my labours . Conscious that the same pleasure would attend others in the same pursuits , I sincerely wished for the establishment of a Lodge in this town : but as wishes , without endeavours , are not the means of accomplishment , I became , therefore , actively concerned for the
completion of so valuable a design . And you , -and only you ,, who are masons in heart , can form the least idea of the joy I felt , when , upon inquiry , I found that this nei ghbourhood was not " destitute of faithful brethren ; brethren fired Avith an equal ardour for the prosperity of Masonry , and Avho , with equal alacrity and pleasure , embarked in the noble designandlike true craftsmenlaboured in this long
wished-, , , for fabric : the strength of whose basis , the beauty of whose- symmetry , the order of whose parts , have rendered it the admiration of some , the model of others , and the deli ght of ourselves . You Avill therefore give me leave most sincerely to congratulate the Lodge on the success that has attended our united labours for the
honour of the Craft in this town , as likewise on the return of this festival , the general day of instalment of new officers . May we all live to celebrate repeatedly this anniversary with increasing felicity and honour ; and may the true masonic spirit of generosity , kindness , and brotherly love , be our lasting cement . By the rules of this Lodge I am now to resign the chair . But I cannot do this with entire satisfactionuntil Ihave testified the
grate-, ful sense I feel of the honour I received in being adA'anced to it . Your generous and unanimous choice of me for your first Master demands my thankful acknowledgments : though at the same time I sincerely Avish that my abilities had been more adequate to the charge which your kind partiality elected me to . But this has always been , and still is my greatest consolation , that hoAveA'er deficient I may have been in
the discharge of my duty , no one can boast a heart more devoted to the good of the institution in general , and the reputation of this Lodge in particular . _ Though I am apprehensive I have already trespassed on your patience , yet , if I mi ght be indulged , I would humbly lay before you a few reflections adapted to the business of the daywhichbeing the
, , effusions of a heart truly masonic , Avill , it is hoped , be received with candour by you . Every association of men , as well as this of Freemasons , must , for the sake of order and harmony , be regulated by certain laws ; and for chat purpose proper officers must be appointed , and impowered to
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
A Charge, Delivered In St. George's Lodge At Taunton, In The County Of Somerset, On The Feast Of St. John The Baptist,
benevolence , can with the least propriety object to our ancient and venerable institution . For my oAvn part , ever since I have had the honour to be inrolled in the list of Masons , as I knew it was my duty , so 1 have made it my business , to become acquainted with the principles on which our g lorious superstructure is founded . And , like the miner , the farther I have advanced the richer has been my discovery ; and the treasure
constantly opening to my view has proved a full and satisfactory reward of all my labours . Conscious that the same pleasure would attend others in the same pursuits , I sincerely wished for the establishment of a Lodge in this town : but as wishes , without endeavours , are not the means of accomplishment , I became , therefore , actively concerned for the
completion of so valuable a design . And you , -and only you ,, who are masons in heart , can form the least idea of the joy I felt , when , upon inquiry , I found that this nei ghbourhood was not " destitute of faithful brethren ; brethren fired Avith an equal ardour for the prosperity of Masonry , and Avho , with equal alacrity and pleasure , embarked in the noble designandlike true craftsmenlaboured in this long
wished-, , , for fabric : the strength of whose basis , the beauty of whose- symmetry , the order of whose parts , have rendered it the admiration of some , the model of others , and the deli ght of ourselves . You Avill therefore give me leave most sincerely to congratulate the Lodge on the success that has attended our united labours for the
honour of the Craft in this town , as likewise on the return of this festival , the general day of instalment of new officers . May we all live to celebrate repeatedly this anniversary with increasing felicity and honour ; and may the true masonic spirit of generosity , kindness , and brotherly love , be our lasting cement . By the rules of this Lodge I am now to resign the chair . But I cannot do this with entire satisfactionuntil Ihave testified the
grate-, ful sense I feel of the honour I received in being adA'anced to it . Your generous and unanimous choice of me for your first Master demands my thankful acknowledgments : though at the same time I sincerely Avish that my abilities had been more adequate to the charge which your kind partiality elected me to . But this has always been , and still is my greatest consolation , that hoAveA'er deficient I may have been in
the discharge of my duty , no one can boast a heart more devoted to the good of the institution in general , and the reputation of this Lodge in particular . _ Though I am apprehensive I have already trespassed on your patience , yet , if I mi ght be indulged , I would humbly lay before you a few reflections adapted to the business of the daywhichbeing the
, , effusions of a heart truly masonic , Avill , it is hoped , be received with candour by you . Every association of men , as well as this of Freemasons , must , for the sake of order and harmony , be regulated by certain laws ; and for chat purpose proper officers must be appointed , and impowered to