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Article PROVINCIAL. ← Page 12 of 21 →
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Provincial.
moment the splendid band of the 73 rd regiment , which had been lent for the occasion b y Colonel Vandermulen—for which kindness the Brethren feel deeply indebted to that gallant officer—entered the room , and took their station at the lower end , opposite the Master ' s chair . The number of ladies furnished with tickets being more than could be accommodated in the gallery , the doors of the Lodge were opened to
them , and they took their places between the forms occupied by the Brethren and the walls , where a considerable space had been reserved for that purpose . The room was now filled , except the centre , and the Brethren and the fair visitants were delighted by the performance of the band , which played several airs for their entertainment . About half-past ten o ' clock a flourish of trumpets was heard outside , when it was announced that the Provincial Grand Lodge of Bristol had arrived .
The dedication of the Silurian Lodge , and the installation of the Master being to be celebrated by the Right Worshipful the Provincial Grand Master of Bristol , at the instance and request of the Right Worshipful the Provincial Grand Master for Monmouthshire , that distinguished Brother and his grand officers , accompanied by the Royal Sussex and Royal Clarence Lodges , from Bristol , and the Brethren of the other Bristol Lodges , came over by packet , and were
received on their arrival by a deputation from the Silurian , who conducted them to the Council-house , where , in a convenient room , they opened . Having in due time assumed the chair , the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master rose , and observed he was happy to meet so very numerous and respectable an assemblage of the Brethren , particularly on an occasion so interesting . He was glad to perceive that the ladies
had been admitted . It was not usual to admit ladies into Masonic Lodges , but for his own part , he knew not why . The Brethren were by no means personally opposed to the presence of the fair sex ; but the founders , of the Order bad made certain laws , by which ladies were excluded ; and these laws—like those of the Medes and Persians—were unalterable . He heard that the reason of their exclusion was—they could not keep a secret—( loud laughter ) . Thathoweverhe did not
, , receive as true ; for he believed that ladies could as well keep secrets as some Masons—( hear , hear ) . He remembered once hearing that a titled lady was on one occasion curious enough to secrete herself in a Masonic Lodge-room , that she might become possessed of a knowledge of Masonic mysteries . But the Brethren discovered her in her hidingplace , and made a Mason of her ; and a good and true Freemason she proved as long as she lived—( bearhearand laughter ) . With this
, , instance before him , he for one could most readily exonerate the sex from the charge of not being able to keep a secret —( cheers ) . But , as he before told them , they had received their laws from their forefathers , by which they were bound to abide , and which they could not alter ; aud in accordance with those laws , a portion of the ceremony which it would be his duty to perform , could be gone through only in the presence of the Brethren . This portionhoweverwould not
, , occupy much time , and he should he happy to have the presence of the fair visitors at church , where they would all attend , to submit themselves with humility to the great Architect of the universe , humbly beseeching Him to bless their labours , and to grant them grace to walk in His holy ordinances . Arrangements had also been made to accommodate such
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Provincial.
moment the splendid band of the 73 rd regiment , which had been lent for the occasion b y Colonel Vandermulen—for which kindness the Brethren feel deeply indebted to that gallant officer—entered the room , and took their station at the lower end , opposite the Master ' s chair . The number of ladies furnished with tickets being more than could be accommodated in the gallery , the doors of the Lodge were opened to
them , and they took their places between the forms occupied by the Brethren and the walls , where a considerable space had been reserved for that purpose . The room was now filled , except the centre , and the Brethren and the fair visitants were delighted by the performance of the band , which played several airs for their entertainment . About half-past ten o ' clock a flourish of trumpets was heard outside , when it was announced that the Provincial Grand Lodge of Bristol had arrived .
The dedication of the Silurian Lodge , and the installation of the Master being to be celebrated by the Right Worshipful the Provincial Grand Master of Bristol , at the instance and request of the Right Worshipful the Provincial Grand Master for Monmouthshire , that distinguished Brother and his grand officers , accompanied by the Royal Sussex and Royal Clarence Lodges , from Bristol , and the Brethren of the other Bristol Lodges , came over by packet , and were
received on their arrival by a deputation from the Silurian , who conducted them to the Council-house , where , in a convenient room , they opened . Having in due time assumed the chair , the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master rose , and observed he was happy to meet so very numerous and respectable an assemblage of the Brethren , particularly on an occasion so interesting . He was glad to perceive that the ladies
had been admitted . It was not usual to admit ladies into Masonic Lodges , but for his own part , he knew not why . The Brethren were by no means personally opposed to the presence of the fair sex ; but the founders , of the Order bad made certain laws , by which ladies were excluded ; and these laws—like those of the Medes and Persians—were unalterable . He heard that the reason of their exclusion was—they could not keep a secret—( loud laughter ) . Thathoweverhe did not
, , receive as true ; for he believed that ladies could as well keep secrets as some Masons—( hear , hear ) . He remembered once hearing that a titled lady was on one occasion curious enough to secrete herself in a Masonic Lodge-room , that she might become possessed of a knowledge of Masonic mysteries . But the Brethren discovered her in her hidingplace , and made a Mason of her ; and a good and true Freemason she proved as long as she lived—( bearhearand laughter ) . With this
, , instance before him , he for one could most readily exonerate the sex from the charge of not being able to keep a secret —( cheers ) . But , as he before told them , they had received their laws from their forefathers , by which they were bound to abide , and which they could not alter ; aud in accordance with those laws , a portion of the ceremony which it would be his duty to perform , could be gone through only in the presence of the Brethren . This portionhoweverwould not
, , occupy much time , and he should he happy to have the presence of the fair visitors at church , where they would all attend , to submit themselves with humility to the great Architect of the universe , humbly beseeching Him to bless their labours , and to grant them grace to walk in His holy ordinances . Arrangements had also been made to accommodate such