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Article PROVINCIAL. ← Page 8 of 25 →
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Provincial.
what gymnastic exercises were to the body—they caused it to become well developed avid vigorous . A'et scoffers might say the practice in the gymnasium was nothing but entwining the legs upon polls , and fatiguing the arms by weights : forgetting that this was a sure means of acquiring strength and agility , which would be useful to man , in whatever situation he might be placed . Indeed , there were but few even of the physical sciencesthat were useful in themselves abstractedly : it
, was when they were applied , that they became aids to the comfoit and happiness of mankind . So with us , it is not merely what occurs in Lodge which is Masonry ; it is rather the effect which the solemnities and virtuous exercises of Lodge have upon the conscience ; and tlie practical application of the precepts learnt in Lodge governing , in some degree , our transactions with our brother men , that he claimed as the essential good of Masonry .
" Many of us had seen in this neighbourhood good buildings , erected with perfect angles and true perpendiculars , undermined by the trading operations of the district , and drawn out of the square , until they became cracked , distorted , and even unsafe to the neighbourhood ; in fact , dangerous members of the ( building ) community , in which they lived . So in like manner , unfortunately , did our intercourse with society in its present state , tend more or less , according to the situation in which we may be placed , to take the ground from under men ' s
consciences , to warp and distort them . It was to the Masonic Lodge , then , he could come periodically , and feel the plumb-line of honour and virtue put to his conscience , to secure him against any deviations from the square . The only thing 1 have heard , since I have been initiated in any one degree of the Craft , at all to shake my faith in the excellence of Masonry , is what I have heard concerning the treatment of our illustrious guest . It is much to be lamented that any such misunderstanding should occur in a bodythe very stability of
, which is ils compactness . " There must be something unmasonic in any proceedings which could for a moment ruffle so distinguished and benevolent a Mason as Dr . Crucefix . He , for one , extremely regretted it ; and believed if the principles of Masonry were carried out in their spirit , such a consequence would be impossible . Again he begged to assure them of the pleasure St . Peter ' s Lodge had in receiving them that day , and on behalf of the
members of the Lodge , he thanked them for the honour they had done them . "—( Bro . Kettle resumed his seat amid general cheering . ) Dr . CRUCEFIX then rose , as an honorary member of St . Peter ' s Lodge , and addressed the meeting : " Brethren , since I accepted your generous invitation , the Masonic horizon has become enshrouded by a death-like darkness . The demon of malignity has dared to point an envenomed shaft at our ' Star in the East / and to offend and insult the master-mind of Freemasonry . A time has come , and the satrap of a day can prove that it is
" The fate of guilt to make slaves tools . " But we are not met to chant a lament;—no , we have a nobler object—to declare our admiration of the resplendent character of our Masonic friend , brother , and protector , the R . ev . Dr . Oliver—( loud cheers , bravo ! bravo!)—a learned man , a minister—the historian of our Order . It is your duty to act as it becomes you and him , and I know you thank me i ' or the opportunity I am affording you to do him honour and justice
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Provincial.
what gymnastic exercises were to the body—they caused it to become well developed avid vigorous . A'et scoffers might say the practice in the gymnasium was nothing but entwining the legs upon polls , and fatiguing the arms by weights : forgetting that this was a sure means of acquiring strength and agility , which would be useful to man , in whatever situation he might be placed . Indeed , there were but few even of the physical sciencesthat were useful in themselves abstractedly : it
, was when they were applied , that they became aids to the comfoit and happiness of mankind . So with us , it is not merely what occurs in Lodge which is Masonry ; it is rather the effect which the solemnities and virtuous exercises of Lodge have upon the conscience ; and tlie practical application of the precepts learnt in Lodge governing , in some degree , our transactions with our brother men , that he claimed as the essential good of Masonry .
" Many of us had seen in this neighbourhood good buildings , erected with perfect angles and true perpendiculars , undermined by the trading operations of the district , and drawn out of the square , until they became cracked , distorted , and even unsafe to the neighbourhood ; in fact , dangerous members of the ( building ) community , in which they lived . So in like manner , unfortunately , did our intercourse with society in its present state , tend more or less , according to the situation in which we may be placed , to take the ground from under men ' s
consciences , to warp and distort them . It was to the Masonic Lodge , then , he could come periodically , and feel the plumb-line of honour and virtue put to his conscience , to secure him against any deviations from the square . The only thing 1 have heard , since I have been initiated in any one degree of the Craft , at all to shake my faith in the excellence of Masonry , is what I have heard concerning the treatment of our illustrious guest . It is much to be lamented that any such misunderstanding should occur in a bodythe very stability of
, which is ils compactness . " There must be something unmasonic in any proceedings which could for a moment ruffle so distinguished and benevolent a Mason as Dr . Crucefix . He , for one , extremely regretted it ; and believed if the principles of Masonry were carried out in their spirit , such a consequence would be impossible . Again he begged to assure them of the pleasure St . Peter ' s Lodge had in receiving them that day , and on behalf of the
members of the Lodge , he thanked them for the honour they had done them . "—( Bro . Kettle resumed his seat amid general cheering . ) Dr . CRUCEFIX then rose , as an honorary member of St . Peter ' s Lodge , and addressed the meeting : " Brethren , since I accepted your generous invitation , the Masonic horizon has become enshrouded by a death-like darkness . The demon of malignity has dared to point an envenomed shaft at our ' Star in the East / and to offend and insult the master-mind of Freemasonry . A time has come , and the satrap of a day can prove that it is
" The fate of guilt to make slaves tools . " But we are not met to chant a lament;—no , we have a nobler object—to declare our admiration of the resplendent character of our Masonic friend , brother , and protector , the R . ev . Dr . Oliver—( loud cheers , bravo ! bravo!)—a learned man , a minister—the historian of our Order . It is your duty to act as it becomes you and him , and I know you thank me i ' or the opportunity I am affording you to do him honour and justice