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Article MASONIC MEMOIR. ← Page 7 of 9 →
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Masonic Memoir.
the favours of Heaven may be continued to him who has so well deserved them : and that your Royal Highness may long rule in health and happiness over a grateful and united Brotherhood . " Freemason ' s Hall , 35 th April , A . L 5842 . "
" The offering was raised upon an elevation behind the Chair , and covered with white cloth ; the recess in which it was placed was covered with purple cloth , and a vast body of light was thrown upon the spot . When his Lordship presented the little volume descriptive of the offering , to his Royal Highness , Brothers Crucefix and Norris , who supported the drapery , suddenly withdrew it , ancl tbe Offering burst into view
amidst general approbation . Lord John Churchill was much affected while reading tbe Address , and the honoured object of its acceptance betrayed considerable emotion . The Committee were ranged behind the Chair , so as to face the company . " After the applause had subsided , His ROYAL HIGHNESS rose and spoke as follows : —
" Brother R , W . Deputy Grand Master , Provincial Grand Masters , Officers of the Grand Lodge , and Brethren , —I rise under feelings of intense interest , and , if I may use the expression , amid a warfare of feelings , to utter my humble and sincere thanks for the kindness evinced to me on the present occasion . It is not the trifle that is offered , but the sensation that it has produced , which affects me ; it is of a mingled nature , and consequently very difficult to express . " Surrounded by so many faces , seeing so many kind friends , and yet
marking vacancies , crowded as the tables are , which cast a shade upon thought , it is impossible to feel very lively , or that I should express myself as I ought . You have kindly noticed the past period of twenty-five yearsaye , to me twenty-five years of great anxiety—I have presided over you with fidelity , yet sometimes with feelings of oppression . Your kindness has given vigour , and I feel renovated ; and from that kindness I have derived my confidence . In my career I have met with many and severe trials , trials
to which human nature ought to be exposed , and which , as a Mason , it was my duty to bear up against . I have observed many a kind head has been laid low , and my account must be rendered up . On the mercy of God I have ever relied , and in the rectitude of my conscience I shall lay my head down in peace . That is a subject which every morning a Mason ought to call to mind when he supplicates his Maker , and when he closes his eyes . " When the profane , who do not know our mysteries , are carried ' away by
prejudice , and do not acknowledge the value of our Society , let them , by our conduct , learn , that a good Mason is a good moral man , and as such will not trifle with his obligation . " The principles of morality I am bound to enforce , and did I not , I should betray the confidence you repose in me . For myself , I want no compliment , no favour . Deeply as I am indebted to the Brethren , yet I could not receive a compliment out of the fund of the Grand Lodge . Twice
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Memoir.
the favours of Heaven may be continued to him who has so well deserved them : and that your Royal Highness may long rule in health and happiness over a grateful and united Brotherhood . " Freemason ' s Hall , 35 th April , A . L 5842 . "
" The offering was raised upon an elevation behind the Chair , and covered with white cloth ; the recess in which it was placed was covered with purple cloth , and a vast body of light was thrown upon the spot . When his Lordship presented the little volume descriptive of the offering , to his Royal Highness , Brothers Crucefix and Norris , who supported the drapery , suddenly withdrew it , ancl tbe Offering burst into view
amidst general approbation . Lord John Churchill was much affected while reading tbe Address , and the honoured object of its acceptance betrayed considerable emotion . The Committee were ranged behind the Chair , so as to face the company . " After the applause had subsided , His ROYAL HIGHNESS rose and spoke as follows : —
" Brother R , W . Deputy Grand Master , Provincial Grand Masters , Officers of the Grand Lodge , and Brethren , —I rise under feelings of intense interest , and , if I may use the expression , amid a warfare of feelings , to utter my humble and sincere thanks for the kindness evinced to me on the present occasion . It is not the trifle that is offered , but the sensation that it has produced , which affects me ; it is of a mingled nature , and consequently very difficult to express . " Surrounded by so many faces , seeing so many kind friends , and yet
marking vacancies , crowded as the tables are , which cast a shade upon thought , it is impossible to feel very lively , or that I should express myself as I ought . You have kindly noticed the past period of twenty-five yearsaye , to me twenty-five years of great anxiety—I have presided over you with fidelity , yet sometimes with feelings of oppression . Your kindness has given vigour , and I feel renovated ; and from that kindness I have derived my confidence . In my career I have met with many and severe trials , trials
to which human nature ought to be exposed , and which , as a Mason , it was my duty to bear up against . I have observed many a kind head has been laid low , and my account must be rendered up . On the mercy of God I have ever relied , and in the rectitude of my conscience I shall lay my head down in peace . That is a subject which every morning a Mason ought to call to mind when he supplicates his Maker , and when he closes his eyes . " When the profane , who do not know our mysteries , are carried ' away by
prejudice , and do not acknowledge the value of our Society , let them , by our conduct , learn , that a good Mason is a good moral man , and as such will not trifle with his obligation . " The principles of morality I am bound to enforce , and did I not , I should betray the confidence you repose in me . For myself , I want no compliment , no favour . Deeply as I am indebted to the Brethren , yet I could not receive a compliment out of the fund of the Grand Lodge . Twice