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Article GRAND FESTIVAL OF THE ORDER. ← Page 2 of 4 →
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Grand Festival Of The Order.
The noble Brother returned thanks to the following effect : — ***¦ Brethren , the friendly , I may say the enthusiastic manner in which my name has been noticed , calls upon me most imperativel y to declare how grateful to my feelings is such a mark of your spontaneous approbation ; how cheering to my heart is the encouragement you thus offer me to continue a line of conduct that has met with your support . Although from my earliest I have been a Freemasonand I trust
years , not an unworthy one , yet my sphere of action having been confined to the province with which -1 am so immediately connected , I was but little known to my London Brethren until called upon to assist the Grand Master , when serious indisposition prevented him from acting as he himself could wish . Duty and affection equally prompted me to render myself useful to him and acceptable to you ; for , however gratifying the compliment may be considered , and I candidly confess I
esteemed it a mark of personal affection from the Grand Master , still I feel bound to declare , that nothing could have satisfied me had I not received these cordial ancl flattering proofs of your esteem . However light and easy it may be at any time to preside over a festive meeting , where mirth and good humour encourage a Chairman to proceed in the details of his office ivith comparative facility , it is a far different matter to preside over the deliberate assembl in Grand Lodgewhere
impory , tant subjects are discussed , and when the vital interests of our institution are to be gravely considered . Until latel y , the proceedings at those communications were mere promulgations and registrations of the edicts of the Grand Master ; but , Brethren , there has arisen of late a spirit of inquiry worthy of our glorious profession , that has found its way into
our legislative assembly , that has brought about discussions upon most important subjects , and this has been happily marked by an especial propriety of conduct , and by the exercise of great intellectual powers . I have sincere pleasure in stating my conviction , that the Grand Master , so far from viewing these proceedings with either distrust or jealousy , is gratified to know that they have taken place . As far as I am personally concerned , I trust I have filled the chair with fairness and
impartiality . It is my anxious wish to be much among you—it is my duty , and no distance , no consideration , shall prevent my attendance when my health shall permit . I congratulate you upon the very great advances ivhich Freemasonry is making amongst all classes of men ; in the metropolis it flourishes , and the Provincial Brethren vie with those in London , both in numbers and respectability . It appears to me to be our paramount duty to sustain and to support Freemasonry ; not simply because it is founded upon charity , benevolence , and piety , but because it enables men who are confessedly senaraterl bv velio-inns * liiftovpner-c m-
political dissention , conscientiously to meet in the calm serenity of an untroubled scene , whatever may be their creed or political bias . Freemasonry has , hoivever , a still nobler aim—it associates the poor and the rich upon terms of perfect equality , without a violation of decorum , without offering the slightest interference with the regulations of wellorganised society . Surely the prevalence of such principles must contribute to the prosperity of the countrybpromoting general harmony
, y , and uniting all classes in the strictest , the closest bonds of concord . " The Earl of Durham ' s address excited the most intense interest , was listened to with deep attention , and received with that applause to ivhich its importance and sincerity so justly entitled it . " Thc Grand Masters of Scotland and Ireland , " received a merited
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Grand Festival Of The Order.
The noble Brother returned thanks to the following effect : — ***¦ Brethren , the friendly , I may say the enthusiastic manner in which my name has been noticed , calls upon me most imperativel y to declare how grateful to my feelings is such a mark of your spontaneous approbation ; how cheering to my heart is the encouragement you thus offer me to continue a line of conduct that has met with your support . Although from my earliest I have been a Freemasonand I trust
years , not an unworthy one , yet my sphere of action having been confined to the province with which -1 am so immediately connected , I was but little known to my London Brethren until called upon to assist the Grand Master , when serious indisposition prevented him from acting as he himself could wish . Duty and affection equally prompted me to render myself useful to him and acceptable to you ; for , however gratifying the compliment may be considered , and I candidly confess I
esteemed it a mark of personal affection from the Grand Master , still I feel bound to declare , that nothing could have satisfied me had I not received these cordial ancl flattering proofs of your esteem . However light and easy it may be at any time to preside over a festive meeting , where mirth and good humour encourage a Chairman to proceed in the details of his office ivith comparative facility , it is a far different matter to preside over the deliberate assembl in Grand Lodgewhere
impory , tant subjects are discussed , and when the vital interests of our institution are to be gravely considered . Until latel y , the proceedings at those communications were mere promulgations and registrations of the edicts of the Grand Master ; but , Brethren , there has arisen of late a spirit of inquiry worthy of our glorious profession , that has found its way into
our legislative assembly , that has brought about discussions upon most important subjects , and this has been happily marked by an especial propriety of conduct , and by the exercise of great intellectual powers . I have sincere pleasure in stating my conviction , that the Grand Master , so far from viewing these proceedings with either distrust or jealousy , is gratified to know that they have taken place . As far as I am personally concerned , I trust I have filled the chair with fairness and
impartiality . It is my anxious wish to be much among you—it is my duty , and no distance , no consideration , shall prevent my attendance when my health shall permit . I congratulate you upon the very great advances ivhich Freemasonry is making amongst all classes of men ; in the metropolis it flourishes , and the Provincial Brethren vie with those in London , both in numbers and respectability . It appears to me to be our paramount duty to sustain and to support Freemasonry ; not simply because it is founded upon charity , benevolence , and piety , but because it enables men who are confessedly senaraterl bv velio-inns * liiftovpner-c m-
political dissention , conscientiously to meet in the calm serenity of an untroubled scene , whatever may be their creed or political bias . Freemasonry has , hoivever , a still nobler aim—it associates the poor and the rich upon terms of perfect equality , without a violation of decorum , without offering the slightest interference with the regulations of wellorganised society . Surely the prevalence of such principles must contribute to the prosperity of the countrybpromoting general harmony
, y , and uniting all classes in the strictest , the closest bonds of concord . " The Earl of Durham ' s address excited the most intense interest , was listened to with deep attention , and received with that applause to ivhich its importance and sincerity so justly entitled it . " Thc Grand Masters of Scotland and Ireland , " received a merited