Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Ninth Anniversary Festial Of The Asylum For Aged And Decayed Freemasons.
with them in prosperity , and to erect an asylum which might vie with the other institutions which we see around us in various parts of this great metropolis —( Cheers ) . There could not be any doubt ( continued the Honourable and AA orshipful Brother ) , that if they looked around and within the circle of the spot on which they were assembled , they ivould find many institutions which had been established , and were now flourishing , which had commenced under circumstances of difficulty as
great as those in which they bad been placed —( Hear , hear ) . Those institutions excited our admiration , and the admiration of every foreigner who visited our shores —( cheers)—and was it not natural that so ancient a body as the Freemasons —a bod y foremost in the cause of benevolence , and ivhose very foundations were based upon the distresses of human nature —( cheers)—and united the people of every clime and countrywas it not naturalhe askedthat they should be anxious to see a -
, , per manent establishment founded , which should be handed down to future ages as really worthy of the principles they professed ?—( Loud cheers . ) There was no doubt that every one had a perfect right to exercise his benevolence in the manner best suited to his own views , and most beneficial to the purposes for which it was intended . He ivould not quarrel with the manner in which any one chose to exercise his benevolence , nor would he deprive another charity of one single shilling which was
requisite for the purposes which its founders had in view —( Hear , and cheers ) . But , suppose they were to announce that the project for building was at an end ; why , not one sixpence the more would be added to the funds of any ofthe long-standing charities ofthe lA'Iasonic body —( Loud cheers ) . The stream of charity would not flow stronger in other
channels because theirs was closed up—( Cheers ) . Those who mi ght be disappointed by such a course , would reserve the distribution of their alms until some other object in accordance with their views presented itself —( Hear , hear ) . He knew it ivould be presumption to offer any advice , or to Jay down any rule for their guidance ; but , at the same time , standing there as he did among a number of gentlemen , with ivhom he was not acquainted before , occupying that chair , he declared
himself the fearless advocate of the cause which had been presented to his notice . He flattered himself that , although this was the beginning of his connexion with the asylum , it would not be the end —( Cheers ' . He flattered himself that , at some future time , he might see many others associate with him , not only attending to advocate ivhat they had in view , but taking an active part permanently to establish the same—( Cheers ) . Let them all be united in their one objectandb
-, , y perse verance , by cordiality , and by a softening of those asperities , which might haye crept in among the advocates of this charity , and some other Freemasons , they would , doubtlessly , succeed in accomplishing their great and good object —( Loud cheers ) . But , without union and some concession , such an object was difficult of attainment . There was , hoivever , that good sense among Englishmen which would always guide them to the goal at which it was desirable to arrive— .
( cheers)—and when they once got funds sufficient to enable them to lay the first stone of their edifice , from that moment all doubt as to its ultimate success and speedy completion would be at an end —( Renewed cheers ) . He concluded by thanking them for the kind manner in ivhich they had received tbe few observations he had ventured to address to them . —( Great cheering . )
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Ninth Anniversary Festial Of The Asylum For Aged And Decayed Freemasons.
with them in prosperity , and to erect an asylum which might vie with the other institutions which we see around us in various parts of this great metropolis —( Cheers ) . There could not be any doubt ( continued the Honourable and AA orshipful Brother ) , that if they looked around and within the circle of the spot on which they were assembled , they ivould find many institutions which had been established , and were now flourishing , which had commenced under circumstances of difficulty as
great as those in which they bad been placed —( Hear , hear ) . Those institutions excited our admiration , and the admiration of every foreigner who visited our shores —( cheers)—and was it not natural that so ancient a body as the Freemasons —a bod y foremost in the cause of benevolence , and ivhose very foundations were based upon the distresses of human nature —( cheers)—and united the people of every clime and countrywas it not naturalhe askedthat they should be anxious to see a -
, , per manent establishment founded , which should be handed down to future ages as really worthy of the principles they professed ?—( Loud cheers . ) There was no doubt that every one had a perfect right to exercise his benevolence in the manner best suited to his own views , and most beneficial to the purposes for which it was intended . He ivould not quarrel with the manner in which any one chose to exercise his benevolence , nor would he deprive another charity of one single shilling which was
requisite for the purposes which its founders had in view —( Hear , and cheers ) . But , suppose they were to announce that the project for building was at an end ; why , not one sixpence the more would be added to the funds of any ofthe long-standing charities ofthe lA'Iasonic body —( Loud cheers ) . The stream of charity would not flow stronger in other
channels because theirs was closed up—( Cheers ) . Those who mi ght be disappointed by such a course , would reserve the distribution of their alms until some other object in accordance with their views presented itself —( Hear , hear ) . He knew it ivould be presumption to offer any advice , or to Jay down any rule for their guidance ; but , at the same time , standing there as he did among a number of gentlemen , with ivhom he was not acquainted before , occupying that chair , he declared
himself the fearless advocate of the cause which had been presented to his notice . He flattered himself that , although this was the beginning of his connexion with the asylum , it would not be the end —( Cheers ' . He flattered himself that , at some future time , he might see many others associate with him , not only attending to advocate ivhat they had in view , but taking an active part permanently to establish the same—( Cheers ) . Let them all be united in their one objectandb
-, , y perse verance , by cordiality , and by a softening of those asperities , which might haye crept in among the advocates of this charity , and some other Freemasons , they would , doubtlessly , succeed in accomplishing their great and good object —( Loud cheers ) . But , without union and some concession , such an object was difficult of attainment . There was , hoivever , that good sense among Englishmen which would always guide them to the goal at which it was desirable to arrive— .
( cheers)—and when they once got funds sufficient to enable them to lay the first stone of their edifice , from that moment all doubt as to its ultimate success and speedy completion would be at an end —( Renewed cheers ) . He concluded by thanking them for the kind manner in ivhich they had received tbe few observations he had ventured to address to them . —( Great cheering . )