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Article PROVINCIAL. ← Page 7 of 17 →
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Provincial.
public and in private ; but on no former occasion , that I can recollect , have I been placed in circumstances of so peculiar a nature as at the present moment . Standing in the presence of a venerable parent who gave me Masonic birth , —standing on the very spot where 1 was first regenerated with the spirit of Freemasonry , I feel a degree of hesitation which I fear will prevent the arrangement of my ideas—will prevent me from addressing you in language ivhich may be congenial with my
feelings . But I should be deficient in the respect which is due from a son to a mother , from whom I have derived more than a mere physical existence , —from whom I have derived an insight into that beautiful system of morality , ivhich though veiled in allegory , is illustrated by symbols , —were I to conceal the important truth , that this knowledge has lightened the cares of an eventful life , and pointed the way to another and a better world —( hear , hear ) . It was said of the Egyptian
Isis , who was the mother of the Spurious Freemasonry , that she was all that was , and is , and shall be ; and that no mortal was able to remove the veil that covered her . My Masonic Mother , the St . Peter ' s Lodge , has acted toivards me a kinder and more maternal part . She removed the veil of darkness and ignorance which blinded my eyes and clouded my understanding ; displaying to my delighted view all the charms of her philosophyher moralityher science ; displaying to my delighted
, , view a new world of splendour and surpassing beauty , where Faith , Hope and Charity form a gradual ascent to the Grand Lodge above ; enlightening the studies of geometrical science by the practice of Temperance , the exercise of Fortitude , Prudence , and Justice , and cheering the road to Heaven by the charms of Brotherly Love , Relief , and Truth—( hear , hear ) . I am grateful to the Lodge of St . Peter for
having conferred on me the title of a Master Mason ; a title which , like our glorious badge of innocence , I consider to be more ancient than the Golden Fleece or Roman Eagle , more honourable than the Star and Garter , or any other order under the sun , that could have been conferred upon me , at that time , or any other , by king , prince , or potentate , except he were a Mason . I trust I have never disgraced the confidence which was then reposed in me . I have ever considered Freemasonry
as the best and kindest gift of Heaven to man—subordinate only to our most holy religion . I consider it to be an institution where men of all opinions , and all shades of opinion in religion and politics , may meet , and exchange the right hand of fellowship ; may pursue their mental researches into the regions of science and morality , without fearing any collision from hostile opinions , ivhich may sever the links of harmony and brotherly love , by ivhich their hearts are cemented and knit together .
This peculiarity—the absence of all discussion connected with politics , or modes of religious faith , has a direct tendency to recommend the science of Freemasonry to the favourable consideration of mankind . A Mason ' s Lodge is a sanctuary where religious discord , or political dissention can never be suffered to prevail ; and however these plaguespots in society may vex and disturb all other communities , there is a line drawn by Alasonry round the external avenues of every
wellconstituted Lodge , which proclaims , ' Thus far shall ye come , but no farther ! ' In these times , marked as they are by the irritation of party feeling , Freemasonry constitutes a desirable point of attraction , where an eveniug may be spent in harmony and social enjoyment , uninterrupted by any of those disputes which usually proceed from the madness of party feeling . Freemasonry is neutral " ground . It is au VOL . i . s
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Provincial.
public and in private ; but on no former occasion , that I can recollect , have I been placed in circumstances of so peculiar a nature as at the present moment . Standing in the presence of a venerable parent who gave me Masonic birth , —standing on the very spot where 1 was first regenerated with the spirit of Freemasonry , I feel a degree of hesitation which I fear will prevent the arrangement of my ideas—will prevent me from addressing you in language ivhich may be congenial with my
feelings . But I should be deficient in the respect which is due from a son to a mother , from whom I have derived more than a mere physical existence , —from whom I have derived an insight into that beautiful system of morality , ivhich though veiled in allegory , is illustrated by symbols , —were I to conceal the important truth , that this knowledge has lightened the cares of an eventful life , and pointed the way to another and a better world —( hear , hear ) . It was said of the Egyptian
Isis , who was the mother of the Spurious Freemasonry , that she was all that was , and is , and shall be ; and that no mortal was able to remove the veil that covered her . My Masonic Mother , the St . Peter ' s Lodge , has acted toivards me a kinder and more maternal part . She removed the veil of darkness and ignorance which blinded my eyes and clouded my understanding ; displaying to my delighted view all the charms of her philosophyher moralityher science ; displaying to my delighted
, , view a new world of splendour and surpassing beauty , where Faith , Hope and Charity form a gradual ascent to the Grand Lodge above ; enlightening the studies of geometrical science by the practice of Temperance , the exercise of Fortitude , Prudence , and Justice , and cheering the road to Heaven by the charms of Brotherly Love , Relief , and Truth—( hear , hear ) . I am grateful to the Lodge of St . Peter for
having conferred on me the title of a Master Mason ; a title which , like our glorious badge of innocence , I consider to be more ancient than the Golden Fleece or Roman Eagle , more honourable than the Star and Garter , or any other order under the sun , that could have been conferred upon me , at that time , or any other , by king , prince , or potentate , except he were a Mason . I trust I have never disgraced the confidence which was then reposed in me . I have ever considered Freemasonry
as the best and kindest gift of Heaven to man—subordinate only to our most holy religion . I consider it to be an institution where men of all opinions , and all shades of opinion in religion and politics , may meet , and exchange the right hand of fellowship ; may pursue their mental researches into the regions of science and morality , without fearing any collision from hostile opinions , ivhich may sever the links of harmony and brotherly love , by ivhich their hearts are cemented and knit together .
This peculiarity—the absence of all discussion connected with politics , or modes of religious faith , has a direct tendency to recommend the science of Freemasonry to the favourable consideration of mankind . A Mason ' s Lodge is a sanctuary where religious discord , or political dissention can never be suffered to prevail ; and however these plaguespots in society may vex and disturb all other communities , there is a line drawn by Alasonry round the external avenues of every
wellconstituted Lodge , which proclaims , ' Thus far shall ye come , but no farther ! ' In these times , marked as they are by the irritation of party feeling , Freemasonry constitutes a desirable point of attraction , where an eveniug may be spent in harmony and social enjoyment , uninterrupted by any of those disputes which usually proceed from the madness of party feeling . Freemasonry is neutral " ground . It is au VOL . i . s