Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Ninth Anniversary Festial Of The Asylum For Aged And Decayed Freemasons.
also gentlemen , not of the Order , continue to illustrate the princip le of Masonic charity by practical example , and the committee congratulate the friends ofthe Institution on such a disinterested proof of its utility . The committee have to report that since the last festival one of their aged friends , Brother Thomas Horth , a most estimable man , together with his wife , have paid the debt of nature , in the full hope of a blessed eternity
. Lastly . The committee beg to observe with unmixed satisfaction , that however the final object of their wishes may have been deferred , yet the gradual approach to it has been marked by such a union of the Masonic virtues as to stimulate them to prosecute their labours with the humility that FAITH directs , the cheerfulness that HOPE inspires , and the confidence that CHARITY encourages . ' 'In that report , Brethren , there is an important reference to the
bequest of an amiable and benevolent lady , the widow of a Mason , which is an additional proof , were any wanting , that Freemasonry is highly esteemed by that better sex , without ivhose powerful aid this 1 nstitution could never have reached its present state . Do not all our festivals record subscriptions from the wives and daughters of Freemasons ? Are not our balls , to us a very productive source of income , patronised by them ; and do they not always show an anxiety to be present in the gallery , to approve our labours and reward us by their smiles ? He said well , who apostrophised woman , as the morning-star of our
youth , the day-star of our manhood , the evening-star of our age . We know that her first duty is to mould the plastic mind of early youth to virtuous conduct , and that on the cultivation of her mind depends the wisdom of man ; and it was Sheridan , I believe , who truly observed , that it is by woman that Nature herself writes ou the heart of man—( great cheering ) . Brethren , I must draw your attention for a moment to the first bequest to this Charity , and to remark that it has flowed
from the benevolence of woman—not in the moment when she was sharing in joy like the present , but when communing with herself on the graver contemplation of a change of worlds —( hear , hear ) . Brethren ,- —I must dwell a little longer on this subject , and I hope , without fatiguing you . Among other ladies , who took our cause in hand , was the venerable mother of our present Chairman—the Dowager Viscountess Anson—the daughter and mother of Provincial Grand
Masters , who , approving , nay , blessing the cause of the Asylum , on finding that the late Brother Horth was a deserving object , personally canvassed the subscribers , and succeeded in placing him on the list . The protectress and the protected now sleep in peace . Brethren , I will not weaken the effect ivhich the presence of our honourable and gallant Brother in the chair , must exercise on this meeting . I am certain he will not be offended when I say , that the cause
which such a mother has blessed , will not only entitle the son to your respect , but endear him to your affection —( great cheering ) . Brethren , is it not time that we should be honest to the other sexsomewhat more unselfish in ourselves ? Should we not endeavour to
repay some small instalment ofthe great debt we owe to our best friend —whether we view her in the character of sister , wife , or above all , in that of mother ? Is it not hi gh time to remove those moral stains from our Masonic escutcheon—a disregard for her interests , and a selfishness for our own ? From this moment may there go forth an ennobling sentiment that shall swell into one burst of universal acclamation in
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Ninth Anniversary Festial Of The Asylum For Aged And Decayed Freemasons.
also gentlemen , not of the Order , continue to illustrate the princip le of Masonic charity by practical example , and the committee congratulate the friends ofthe Institution on such a disinterested proof of its utility . The committee have to report that since the last festival one of their aged friends , Brother Thomas Horth , a most estimable man , together with his wife , have paid the debt of nature , in the full hope of a blessed eternity
. Lastly . The committee beg to observe with unmixed satisfaction , that however the final object of their wishes may have been deferred , yet the gradual approach to it has been marked by such a union of the Masonic virtues as to stimulate them to prosecute their labours with the humility that FAITH directs , the cheerfulness that HOPE inspires , and the confidence that CHARITY encourages . ' 'In that report , Brethren , there is an important reference to the
bequest of an amiable and benevolent lady , the widow of a Mason , which is an additional proof , were any wanting , that Freemasonry is highly esteemed by that better sex , without ivhose powerful aid this 1 nstitution could never have reached its present state . Do not all our festivals record subscriptions from the wives and daughters of Freemasons ? Are not our balls , to us a very productive source of income , patronised by them ; and do they not always show an anxiety to be present in the gallery , to approve our labours and reward us by their smiles ? He said well , who apostrophised woman , as the morning-star of our
youth , the day-star of our manhood , the evening-star of our age . We know that her first duty is to mould the plastic mind of early youth to virtuous conduct , and that on the cultivation of her mind depends the wisdom of man ; and it was Sheridan , I believe , who truly observed , that it is by woman that Nature herself writes ou the heart of man—( great cheering ) . Brethren , I must draw your attention for a moment to the first bequest to this Charity , and to remark that it has flowed
from the benevolence of woman—not in the moment when she was sharing in joy like the present , but when communing with herself on the graver contemplation of a change of worlds —( hear , hear ) . Brethren ,- —I must dwell a little longer on this subject , and I hope , without fatiguing you . Among other ladies , who took our cause in hand , was the venerable mother of our present Chairman—the Dowager Viscountess Anson—the daughter and mother of Provincial Grand
Masters , who , approving , nay , blessing the cause of the Asylum , on finding that the late Brother Horth was a deserving object , personally canvassed the subscribers , and succeeded in placing him on the list . The protectress and the protected now sleep in peace . Brethren , I will not weaken the effect ivhich the presence of our honourable and gallant Brother in the chair , must exercise on this meeting . I am certain he will not be offended when I say , that the cause
which such a mother has blessed , will not only entitle the son to your respect , but endear him to your affection —( great cheering ) . Brethren , is it not time that we should be honest to the other sexsomewhat more unselfish in ourselves ? Should we not endeavour to
repay some small instalment ofthe great debt we owe to our best friend —whether we view her in the character of sister , wife , or above all , in that of mother ? Is it not hi gh time to remove those moral stains from our Masonic escutcheon—a disregard for her interests , and a selfishness for our own ? From this moment may there go forth an ennobling sentiment that shall swell into one burst of universal acclamation in