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Article PROVINCIAL. ← Page 14 of 15 →
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Provincial.
Tlie Freemasons then surrounded the stone , and Deputy Grand Master , Brother AV . Done Bushell , applied the level to the stone , sprinkled corn , wine , and oil upon it , and called upon the architects to exhibit the plans , and the various officers to perform their several duties . Mr . A . II . Palmer , the Secretary , read aloud tbe inscription on the stone , and the Chaplain , the Rev . Caddell Holder having delivered an excellently worded
prayer , the Deputy Grand Master spoke as follows : — "I assure you , that it has afforded the Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons of this Province , great pleasure in accepting the invitation of the Restoration Committee to attend here this day , for the purpose of lending their assistance to fix the foundation-stone of the restoration of this magnificent structure of former ages . " It is an act strictly within their line of duty , and as they have recently assisted at similar ceremonies at the Guildhall and the Barracks , the Fraternity here consummate their labours by assisting to rebuild , and preserve from ruin , a temple dedicated to the worship of the Most High .
This , too , is not the first occasion on which Freemasons have worked in this building , for the experienced craftsman will readil y discover various marks and proofs of the labours of our ancient Brethren . " To no purpose more noble could we now lend our aid , for as Freemasonry totally discountenances impiety , immorality , and irreligion , so should we lend our warmest efforts to maintain a structure , wherein tlie ignorant may be taught , the vicious reclaimed , and the great and
eternal interests of Godliness promoted . " I congratulate the Mayor on his participation in such a delightful work , and to the Restoration Committee I would say , —Go on , and prosper in your doings ; may you live to see that whicli is now begun in harmony and peace conducted with order , and , I would most sincerely add , finally concluded in brotherly love . " The architects being then invited to address the meeting , Mr . Godwin accepted the offer , and delivered a most impressive and interesting address .
The following extract will convey some idea of his subject : — " The presence of the Freemasons on this occasion must be a source of pleasure to all who , like himself , had inquired into then- early history , and had found how much was owing to them . Even at a time when information was confined to a few , and the other sciences were in a low state , architecture flourished , and Europe was covered with wonderful edifices—hardly to be imitated . This was chiefly owing to the Freemasonswhowhen the clergy were sent into distant parts as missionaries
, , of religion , followed them as missionaries of art , and raised for them fitting temples . It was curious to note that one of the few ancient documents describing for the workmen the parts of the building , whicli remained , related to the doorway of St . Mary Redcliffe , and had been of great value in determining the meaning of many technical expressions . He would not detain them longer than to say he trusted all would unite to obtain the completion of the building , each in their several circles
, and he would ask them for three honest , hearty , English cheers for the Restoration Committee who had worked so well , to be received by them as thanks for what they had done , and encouragement for what they were going to do . " The cheers , which were taken up by the multitude , and prolonged for several minutes ., having subsided , Mr . Proctor , replied at some length in an address that was received with much cheering .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Provincial.
Tlie Freemasons then surrounded the stone , and Deputy Grand Master , Brother AV . Done Bushell , applied the level to the stone , sprinkled corn , wine , and oil upon it , and called upon the architects to exhibit the plans , and the various officers to perform their several duties . Mr . A . II . Palmer , the Secretary , read aloud tbe inscription on the stone , and the Chaplain , the Rev . Caddell Holder having delivered an excellently worded
prayer , the Deputy Grand Master spoke as follows : — "I assure you , that it has afforded the Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons of this Province , great pleasure in accepting the invitation of the Restoration Committee to attend here this day , for the purpose of lending their assistance to fix the foundation-stone of the restoration of this magnificent structure of former ages . " It is an act strictly within their line of duty , and as they have recently assisted at similar ceremonies at the Guildhall and the Barracks , the Fraternity here consummate their labours by assisting to rebuild , and preserve from ruin , a temple dedicated to the worship of the Most High .
This , too , is not the first occasion on which Freemasons have worked in this building , for the experienced craftsman will readil y discover various marks and proofs of the labours of our ancient Brethren . " To no purpose more noble could we now lend our aid , for as Freemasonry totally discountenances impiety , immorality , and irreligion , so should we lend our warmest efforts to maintain a structure , wherein tlie ignorant may be taught , the vicious reclaimed , and the great and
eternal interests of Godliness promoted . " I congratulate the Mayor on his participation in such a delightful work , and to the Restoration Committee I would say , —Go on , and prosper in your doings ; may you live to see that whicli is now begun in harmony and peace conducted with order , and , I would most sincerely add , finally concluded in brotherly love . " The architects being then invited to address the meeting , Mr . Godwin accepted the offer , and delivered a most impressive and interesting address .
The following extract will convey some idea of his subject : — " The presence of the Freemasons on this occasion must be a source of pleasure to all who , like himself , had inquired into then- early history , and had found how much was owing to them . Even at a time when information was confined to a few , and the other sciences were in a low state , architecture flourished , and Europe was covered with wonderful edifices—hardly to be imitated . This was chiefly owing to the Freemasonswhowhen the clergy were sent into distant parts as missionaries
, , of religion , followed them as missionaries of art , and raised for them fitting temples . It was curious to note that one of the few ancient documents describing for the workmen the parts of the building , whicli remained , related to the doorway of St . Mary Redcliffe , and had been of great value in determining the meaning of many technical expressions . He would not detain them longer than to say he trusted all would unite to obtain the completion of the building , each in their several circles
, and he would ask them for three honest , hearty , English cheers for the Restoration Committee who had worked so well , to be received by them as thanks for what they had done , and encouragement for what they were going to do . " The cheers , which were taken up by the multitude , and prolonged for several minutes ., having subsided , Mr . Proctor , replied at some length in an address that was received with much cheering .