Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Banquet.
attention . This principle is intended to show , not only that the legends , symbols , and lectures of Freemasonry bear an undoubted reference to the Messiah promised at the fall of man ; but also that the Order itself , in the earliest ages , was a legitimate branch of true religion . To establish these points , I have commenced a periodical work , the first numbers of ivhich are in your hands . Should my undertaking be successful , in the language of Shakespeare ' s enchanter , —
111 break my stafl " . Unry it certain fathoms in the earth , Ami deeper than ever plummet sounded , I'll drown my books 1 ( Continued clieerin- ; . ) Before I conclude , I shall take the liberty of laying before you a brief sketch of my connexion with the Provincial Grand Lodge of Lincolnshire—( Hear ) . I have already said that I was initiated a minor , and have made a few observations on my Masonic feelings at that period .
But it was not until the year 1813 that I attained provincial rank . In that year P . G . M . Peters made me a present of a Steward ' s apron . Three years afterwards , his successor , P . G . M . White , appointed me to the office of P . G . Chaplain , and I preached my first sermon before the P G . Lodge at Barton upon Humber . The next P . G . Lodge was held at Spalding , in 1818 , about which time I was taken into the councils of Bro . Barnett , D . P . G . M ., and the sole manager of Masonry in the
county ; for neither P . G . M . Peters , nor his successor , held a P . G . Lodge in my time . Theneeforivard Bro . Barnett neA-er convened a P . G . Lodge , or took any step in the execution of his office , without consulting me , although he did not ahvays folloAv my advice . It Avas , hoAvever , at my recommendation that annual P . G . Lodges were brought into operation ; and they were carried on with tolerable regularity until the appointment of the present P . G . Master . Thus a P . G . Lodge was held at Lincoln in 1820 , at Sleaford in 1821 , and at Grantham in 1822 .
Owing to the increasing infirmities of Bro . Barnett , these interesting meetings ivere obliged to be temporarily suspended ; and it was not until the year ] 825 that the D . P . G . M . found himself capable of convening another P . G . Lodge . It Avas holden at Boston on the petition of the Brethren of the Lodge of Harmony . About this time , Bro . D'Eyncourt was appointed to the office of P . G . Master ; and , owing to circumstances which he was probably unable to control , no P . G . Lodge was convened
for seven years . During this inauspicious period , Freemasonry declined so much that there was scarcely an efficient Lodge in the province . The St . Matthew ' s Lodge at Barton , the Doric at Grantham , the Apollo at Grimsby , and the Hope at Sleaford , had entirely discontinued their meetings ; and even the William , at Lincoln , and the Lodge of Harmony , at Boston , were extremel y feeble . At length , the P . G . M . saw the necessity of doing something : and accordingly lie convened a P . G .
Loelge at Lincoln in 1832 , and another at Horncastle in the following year , at which my Deputation was confirmed by patent —( Cheers ) . Thenceforward mine was an authorized interference , and I set myself seriously to the work of regenerating Masonry in the Province . And the process I adopted was this . The P . G . Officers had not been changed for years , ivhich constituted a just ground of complaint . I determined to reform this abuse . I then framed a code of bye-laws for the government of Masonry in the province ; and frequently held tivo provincial Grand Lodges within the year- , although I resided , for a great length of time , a hundred miles out of the province—( Cheers ) . I
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Banquet.
attention . This principle is intended to show , not only that the legends , symbols , and lectures of Freemasonry bear an undoubted reference to the Messiah promised at the fall of man ; but also that the Order itself , in the earliest ages , was a legitimate branch of true religion . To establish these points , I have commenced a periodical work , the first numbers of ivhich are in your hands . Should my undertaking be successful , in the language of Shakespeare ' s enchanter , —
111 break my stafl " . Unry it certain fathoms in the earth , Ami deeper than ever plummet sounded , I'll drown my books 1 ( Continued clieerin- ; . ) Before I conclude , I shall take the liberty of laying before you a brief sketch of my connexion with the Provincial Grand Lodge of Lincolnshire—( Hear ) . I have already said that I was initiated a minor , and have made a few observations on my Masonic feelings at that period .
But it was not until the year 1813 that I attained provincial rank . In that year P . G . M . Peters made me a present of a Steward ' s apron . Three years afterwards , his successor , P . G . M . White , appointed me to the office of P . G . Chaplain , and I preached my first sermon before the P G . Lodge at Barton upon Humber . The next P . G . Lodge was held at Spalding , in 1818 , about which time I was taken into the councils of Bro . Barnett , D . P . G . M ., and the sole manager of Masonry in the
county ; for neither P . G . M . Peters , nor his successor , held a P . G . Lodge in my time . Theneeforivard Bro . Barnett neA-er convened a P . G . Lodge , or took any step in the execution of his office , without consulting me , although he did not ahvays folloAv my advice . It Avas , hoAvever , at my recommendation that annual P . G . Lodges were brought into operation ; and they were carried on with tolerable regularity until the appointment of the present P . G . Master . Thus a P . G . Lodge was held at Lincoln in 1820 , at Sleaford in 1821 , and at Grantham in 1822 .
Owing to the increasing infirmities of Bro . Barnett , these interesting meetings ivere obliged to be temporarily suspended ; and it was not until the year ] 825 that the D . P . G . M . found himself capable of convening another P . G . Lodge . It Avas holden at Boston on the petition of the Brethren of the Lodge of Harmony . About this time , Bro . D'Eyncourt was appointed to the office of P . G . Master ; and , owing to circumstances which he was probably unable to control , no P . G . Lodge was convened
for seven years . During this inauspicious period , Freemasonry declined so much that there was scarcely an efficient Lodge in the province . The St . Matthew ' s Lodge at Barton , the Doric at Grantham , the Apollo at Grimsby , and the Hope at Sleaford , had entirely discontinued their meetings ; and even the William , at Lincoln , and the Lodge of Harmony , at Boston , were extremel y feeble . At length , the P . G . M . saw the necessity of doing something : and accordingly lie convened a P . G .
Loelge at Lincoln in 1832 , and another at Horncastle in the following year , at which my Deputation was confirmed by patent —( Cheers ) . Thenceforward mine was an authorized interference , and I set myself seriously to the work of regenerating Masonry in the Province . And the process I adopted was this . The P . G . Officers had not been changed for years , ivhich constituted a just ground of complaint . I determined to reform this abuse . I then framed a code of bye-laws for the government of Masonry in the province ; and frequently held tivo provincial Grand Lodges within the year- , although I resided , for a great length of time , a hundred miles out of the province—( Cheers ) . I