Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Ireland.
an anxiety to execute any and every commission which we trouble him with . I shall , Sir , avail myself of the first opportunity of acquainting his Lordship , of the manner in which the announcement of his health was received . Toast— " The Grand Master ' s Lodge . " Brother John Norman , P . D . G . M ., briefly returned thanks I oast— " The Master , AVaidens , and Members of Lodge No 2 ' Brother Joh
n Jones , Master of the Lodge , spoke as follows : — _ Allien I look round and see so many of my distinguished fellowcitizens , known to possess every quality that can adorn and dignify the human character , men whose station and acquirements command the approbation of the discriminating and the good , and when I reflect that by certain mystic ties , we are all united in one firm , strong and indissoluble bond of fraternal regard , I feel a pride and a gratification winch a Aerxes might envy .
It has sometimes struck me , Sir , that if a philosophershould drop of a sudden into this world and witness the dissensions by which society is torn asunder , he would fancy mankind were all Ishmaelites , that they were all descendants of him , whose " hand was against every man and every man ' s hand against him " -when he would see avarice exercisiii" - an almost universal sway and corrupting the fountains , the very source ' s ot human kindness—when he would see political estranniii"
rancour - man from man , and extending its baneful influence through all gradation ' s of society from the court to the cottage-when he would see reli gion itself , the very essence of which is love , the love of God and of our neighbour—when he would see reli gion perverted from its original purpose , and made an incentive to contention , an engine of enmity instead of peace —when he would see all these things , he would be ready to exclaim with
Cowper" Oh for a I . od ^ e some vast wilder :, c = s , S mie lonely contiguity of shade" — to screen me from such scenes . But , Sir , I would not take him to a Lodge in a wilderness , but I would bring him to a Lodge in the bosom of that Society of which he so much complained . I would bring him into a Masonic Lodge and let him witness the contrast which it would exhibit . Here he would find neace , love , and harmony in their full force without the slightest mixture of alloy—here he would find real
, genuine , disinterested kindness without any agitating or conflicting passion to man—here he would find that the acerbity of political feeling is unknown , and as to reli gion , he would find that Masons recognize hut one—they all worshi p and adore the one Great Architect of the Universe , and consider each Brother as equally the object of His goodness and His bounty . Yes , Sir , our philosopher before the dose of the first evening among us would appreciate the excellence and sublimity of the Institution , and would cordiall y join in that beautiful and inimitable anthem to which we have just listened with so much deli
ght" Hail mystic light divine , JUuy ' st thnn nc ' tr cease to shi ; , e Oil this our land . " I could dilate , Sir , on these interesting topics—each of which mi < -ht serve for a text ; hut I will not trespass farther on your attention . ° _ I o you , Sir , and the Brethren of Lodge , No . 4 , for your kindness in inviting us , for the hospitality with which you have entertained us , and the particular and marked manner in which you have honoured us we
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Ireland.
an anxiety to execute any and every commission which we trouble him with . I shall , Sir , avail myself of the first opportunity of acquainting his Lordship , of the manner in which the announcement of his health was received . Toast— " The Grand Master ' s Lodge . " Brother John Norman , P . D . G . M ., briefly returned thanks I oast— " The Master , AVaidens , and Members of Lodge No 2 ' Brother Joh
n Jones , Master of the Lodge , spoke as follows : — _ Allien I look round and see so many of my distinguished fellowcitizens , known to possess every quality that can adorn and dignify the human character , men whose station and acquirements command the approbation of the discriminating and the good , and when I reflect that by certain mystic ties , we are all united in one firm , strong and indissoluble bond of fraternal regard , I feel a pride and a gratification winch a Aerxes might envy .
It has sometimes struck me , Sir , that if a philosophershould drop of a sudden into this world and witness the dissensions by which society is torn asunder , he would fancy mankind were all Ishmaelites , that they were all descendants of him , whose " hand was against every man and every man ' s hand against him " -when he would see avarice exercisiii" - an almost universal sway and corrupting the fountains , the very source ' s ot human kindness—when he would see political estranniii"
rancour - man from man , and extending its baneful influence through all gradation ' s of society from the court to the cottage-when he would see reli gion itself , the very essence of which is love , the love of God and of our neighbour—when he would see reli gion perverted from its original purpose , and made an incentive to contention , an engine of enmity instead of peace —when he would see all these things , he would be ready to exclaim with
Cowper" Oh for a I . od ^ e some vast wilder :, c = s , S mie lonely contiguity of shade" — to screen me from such scenes . But , Sir , I would not take him to a Lodge in a wilderness , but I would bring him to a Lodge in the bosom of that Society of which he so much complained . I would bring him into a Masonic Lodge and let him witness the contrast which it would exhibit . Here he would find neace , love , and harmony in their full force without the slightest mixture of alloy—here he would find real
, genuine , disinterested kindness without any agitating or conflicting passion to man—here he would find that the acerbity of political feeling is unknown , and as to reli gion , he would find that Masons recognize hut one—they all worshi p and adore the one Great Architect of the Universe , and consider each Brother as equally the object of His goodness and His bounty . Yes , Sir , our philosopher before the dose of the first evening among us would appreciate the excellence and sublimity of the Institution , and would cordiall y join in that beautiful and inimitable anthem to which we have just listened with so much deli
ght" Hail mystic light divine , JUuy ' st thnn nc ' tr cease to shi ; , e Oil this our land . " I could dilate , Sir , on these interesting topics—each of which mi < -ht serve for a text ; hut I will not trespass farther on your attention . ° _ I o you , Sir , and the Brethren of Lodge , No . 4 , for your kindness in inviting us , for the hospitality with which you have entertained us , and the particular and marked manner in which you have honoured us we