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Article PROVINCIAL. ← Page 15 of 20 →
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Provincial.
execrable successors do IIOAV . We have had in modern times our Pharoahs . Perjured tyrants have honoured Masonry by denouncing it , and denouncing us as " Negroes , constitutionalists , and Freemasons . " We laugh them and their fulminations to scorn . We mock their impotent rage . Can they catch and imprison the electric fluid ? Can they chain the Avinged Avinds of heaven ? Can they bend the arch of the all-glorious Iris to their -will ? When they can , let them hope to extirpate Masonry and put doAvn
The craft that ' s braved three thousand years Time and the tyrant ' s rage . ( Great cheering . ) Masonry can neA'er be injured but by ourselves . They may tear our hearts out in searching for the secrets of our lodges , but " though near at hand , they would not find them . ( Cheers ) Many of the uninitiated Avould denounce Masonry as leading to drunkenness and debauchery . They know it not . Wherefore Avear Ave this apparel ? Whthose
y emblems ? What mean those jewels ? Does not every word , sign , ancl circumstance of Masonry teach morality ? It is true there may be brethren AVIIO forget their duties Avhen they leaA'e £ their lodges ; Avhat then ? Is that the fault of Masonry ? Pope says of the great luminary of the
heavens—EA'en from the sun may livid deaths descend . Masonry is a great social compact , uniting men of almost all classes , all tongues , and all complexions together , —giving an universal language , offering an universal fellowship , leading fo the fulfilment of great moral duties , and effecting all these by mystical means of knowledge and fraternization . Such is Masonry ; and if , in its true spirit , it fill your hearts and influence your lives , —it Avill advance you up the steps of that temple Avhere the Great Master and builder , so eloquently described by your Chaplain , is Avaitiug to receive you ; and you may exclaim , in the language of the poet , —
Should fate command us to the farthest verge Of the green earth—to distant barbarous climes—Rivers unknown to song—ivhere first the sun Gilds Indian mountains , or his setting beams Flame on the Atlantic isles— 'tis nought to us , Since HE is ever present , ever felt , In the void AA-astes as in the city full !
Wishing you the Masonic benediction , of corn and wine and oil , I thank you for the patience Avith ivhich you have heard my humble explanation of Masonry . fGreat cheering . ) The Chairman . —After Avhat Ave haA'e heard , it Avill be unnecessary to use a single Avord in proposing the health of . Brother Northhouse . ( Drank ivith Masonic honours repeated . ) The Masters , Officers , aud Brethren of the different lodges present were then drank in succession , according to seniority , for Avhich thanks Avere returned ; and the Deputed P . G . M ., with several Officers of the P . G . L ., after giving the Ladies of the Province , retired about SOA ' o ' clock .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Provincial.
execrable successors do IIOAV . We have had in modern times our Pharoahs . Perjured tyrants have honoured Masonry by denouncing it , and denouncing us as " Negroes , constitutionalists , and Freemasons . " We laugh them and their fulminations to scorn . We mock their impotent rage . Can they catch and imprison the electric fluid ? Can they chain the Avinged Avinds of heaven ? Can they bend the arch of the all-glorious Iris to their -will ? When they can , let them hope to extirpate Masonry and put doAvn
The craft that ' s braved three thousand years Time and the tyrant ' s rage . ( Great cheering . ) Masonry can neA'er be injured but by ourselves . They may tear our hearts out in searching for the secrets of our lodges , but " though near at hand , they would not find them . ( Cheers ) Many of the uninitiated Avould denounce Masonry as leading to drunkenness and debauchery . They know it not . Wherefore Avear Ave this apparel ? Whthose
y emblems ? What mean those jewels ? Does not every word , sign , ancl circumstance of Masonry teach morality ? It is true there may be brethren AVIIO forget their duties Avhen they leaA'e £ their lodges ; Avhat then ? Is that the fault of Masonry ? Pope says of the great luminary of the
heavens—EA'en from the sun may livid deaths descend . Masonry is a great social compact , uniting men of almost all classes , all tongues , and all complexions together , —giving an universal language , offering an universal fellowship , leading fo the fulfilment of great moral duties , and effecting all these by mystical means of knowledge and fraternization . Such is Masonry ; and if , in its true spirit , it fill your hearts and influence your lives , —it Avill advance you up the steps of that temple Avhere the Great Master and builder , so eloquently described by your Chaplain , is Avaitiug to receive you ; and you may exclaim , in the language of the poet , —
Should fate command us to the farthest verge Of the green earth—to distant barbarous climes—Rivers unknown to song—ivhere first the sun Gilds Indian mountains , or his setting beams Flame on the Atlantic isles— 'tis nought to us , Since HE is ever present , ever felt , In the void AA-astes as in the city full !
Wishing you the Masonic benediction , of corn and wine and oil , I thank you for the patience Avith ivhich you have heard my humble explanation of Masonry . fGreat cheering . ) The Chairman . —After Avhat Ave haA'e heard , it Avill be unnecessary to use a single Avord in proposing the health of . Brother Northhouse . ( Drank ivith Masonic honours repeated . ) The Masters , Officers , aud Brethren of the different lodges present were then drank in succession , according to seniority , for Avhich thanks Avere returned ; and the Deputed P . G . M ., with several Officers of the P . G . L ., after giving the Ladies of the Province , retired about SOA ' o ' clock .