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Article PROVINCIAL. ← Page 13 of 13
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Provincial.
present may be summoned from this sublunary scene , the venerable and valuable brother to whom I have alluded , will have departed this life to render an account of that stewardship which has been so abundantly useful to you all ; may his reward be great hereafter for all his deeds of usefulness on earth—greater than even your attachment and kindness and gratitude may pray for , or your choicest wishes desire . How well we all know that after our worthy brother shall have been called hence
to a brighter and a happier existence , that his memory will live amongst us so long as we or the youngest man now present shall survive . But in Ringwood , when the deeds of heroes shall have been forgotten , and the influence of mere wealth and power is unknown , the name of this benefactor of his species will be remembered with gratitude , and the children , aye , and the childrens' children hereafter to be educated in this school , shall record his deeds with a glow of pleasure , and with pride and satisfaction uphold his venerated name . I have little to add
this day , beyond gratefully acknowledging your courteous attention to the ceremony performed , and especially to me personally , an attention that I cannot but feel to have been the more marked , inasmuch as you , the inhabitants of this neighbourhood , and we , the masonic body , have all been engaged in an object of one common interest , the promotion of education , and thereby the cultivation of the arts and sciences , an object the more honourable to you as inhabitants , as it is for the advantage of the poorer classes ; by it I pray they may grow up around you a
peaceable and a happy people , rendering , in their more educated condition , a proud satisfaction to this important district , and increasing largely and permanently its wealth and importance—may it bring personal and even pecuniary advantage to every one who now hears me , but especially to those much honoured individuals who have been the worthy and liberal promoters of the work , for whom , in conclusion , let me express an anxious hope and prayer , that whilst it may produce to them and to the poorer objects of their benevolence abundant blessings here , may it be remembered to their good and to their advantage in that brighter and happier world which I trust all of you may attain hereafter . "
WINCHESTER , June 26 . —A very splendid service of plate was presented to Bro . J . R . Stebbing , at the Prov . Grand Lodge . Bro . Stebbing has , for a series of years , actively devoted his time and talents to the service of the district , and few men have ever obtained a higher degree of respect among the brethren than the above gentleman . The salver bears the following inscription : ¦— " This salver , together with a service of plate , was presented in open Grand Lodge , at Winchester , to Brother
J . Rankin Stebbing , P . M ., P . G . S ., by the Free and Accepted Masons of Hampshire , in testimony of their high regard for his masonic and private worth , his excellence as a Mason , and his value as a friend , and a grateful tribute to one whose energy , ability , and perseverance as Grand Secretary of the Province , have so largely promoted the influence and successfully aided the distinguished position of the Grand Lodge of Hampshire , 5853 A . L ., 1849 A . D . " The value of the testimonial is estimated at two hundred guineas .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Provincial.
present may be summoned from this sublunary scene , the venerable and valuable brother to whom I have alluded , will have departed this life to render an account of that stewardship which has been so abundantly useful to you all ; may his reward be great hereafter for all his deeds of usefulness on earth—greater than even your attachment and kindness and gratitude may pray for , or your choicest wishes desire . How well we all know that after our worthy brother shall have been called hence
to a brighter and a happier existence , that his memory will live amongst us so long as we or the youngest man now present shall survive . But in Ringwood , when the deeds of heroes shall have been forgotten , and the influence of mere wealth and power is unknown , the name of this benefactor of his species will be remembered with gratitude , and the children , aye , and the childrens' children hereafter to be educated in this school , shall record his deeds with a glow of pleasure , and with pride and satisfaction uphold his venerated name . I have little to add
this day , beyond gratefully acknowledging your courteous attention to the ceremony performed , and especially to me personally , an attention that I cannot but feel to have been the more marked , inasmuch as you , the inhabitants of this neighbourhood , and we , the masonic body , have all been engaged in an object of one common interest , the promotion of education , and thereby the cultivation of the arts and sciences , an object the more honourable to you as inhabitants , as it is for the advantage of the poorer classes ; by it I pray they may grow up around you a
peaceable and a happy people , rendering , in their more educated condition , a proud satisfaction to this important district , and increasing largely and permanently its wealth and importance—may it bring personal and even pecuniary advantage to every one who now hears me , but especially to those much honoured individuals who have been the worthy and liberal promoters of the work , for whom , in conclusion , let me express an anxious hope and prayer , that whilst it may produce to them and to the poorer objects of their benevolence abundant blessings here , may it be remembered to their good and to their advantage in that brighter and happier world which I trust all of you may attain hereafter . "
WINCHESTER , June 26 . —A very splendid service of plate was presented to Bro . J . R . Stebbing , at the Prov . Grand Lodge . Bro . Stebbing has , for a series of years , actively devoted his time and talents to the service of the district , and few men have ever obtained a higher degree of respect among the brethren than the above gentleman . The salver bears the following inscription : ¦— " This salver , together with a service of plate , was presented in open Grand Lodge , at Winchester , to Brother
J . Rankin Stebbing , P . M ., P . G . S ., by the Free and Accepted Masons of Hampshire , in testimony of their high regard for his masonic and private worth , his excellence as a Mason , and his value as a friend , and a grateful tribute to one whose energy , ability , and perseverance as Grand Secretary of the Province , have so largely promoted the influence and successfully aided the distinguished position of the Grand Lodge of Hampshire , 5853 A . L ., 1849 A . D . " The value of the testimonial is estimated at two hundred guineas .