Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
India.
stiuited authorities , than the fraternity of free and accepted Masons , throughout the British Empire and Colonies . I now , my lord , with your kind permission , proceed to read the address I hold in my hand , signed by some thirty or forty Master Masons . "
To the Mont Worshipful the Right Honourable the Earl of Dalhousie , K . T . Governor-General of India . My Lortl , —On the part of the general fraternity of Freemasons in Bengal , and its territories , we , the undersigned Provincial Grand Master , Wardens , and other officers and members of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Bengal , as a deputation , beg to wait upon your lordship , in order to express how cordially we rejoice at your lordship ' s having been selected
to preside over the councils and to direct the destinies of the British Empire in the East . While hailing your advent among us , with feelings of the liveliest satisfaction , we beg most heartily to thank your Lordship , for so promptly and kindly granting us this opportunity , as members of an ancient antl honourable fraternity , to welcome among us , so distinguished a pillar , and ornament of the orderrecognizingas we doin your lordshi ' s
, , , p arrival in India , an event full of promise for the moral enlightenment and advancement of the country . Though Masonry , as your lordship is well aware , be a catholic institution , yet has it certain landmarks of nationality—accordingly each of the threefold divisions of the British Empire , has its own Grand Master , and Grand Lodge . Though officially , then , belonging to the institution of English Masonry , yet do we congratulate ourselves on the opportunity
of personally doing honour to so illustrious a Master of Scottish Masonry as your lordship is known to be ; it being a matter of historical , no less than of traditional testimony , that Scotland has always been looked up to , as a sure and orthodox asylum of the Craft . We cannot doubt , therefore , that your lordship will extend to Masonry in the East , a portion of that good will , which is so gratefully remembered in Scotland . It is a matter of honest pride to us , as Masons , to think , that of all the
governor-generals who have ruled in India , the only two who were members of our Order , were as distinguished philanthropists as statesmen . Indeed , the probability is , that the two characters , properly speaking , are one and intlivisable ; they assuredly may be considered so in this case . It is , therefore , my lord , with feelings of delight , and the most auspicious anticipations , that we behold the accession of your lordship to the chair erst occupied by the illustrious Marquis of Hastings . That nobleman , my lord , from first to last , took a lively interest in the welfare of the Craft , and never was it more prosperous than during his connection with India .
To one of your Lordship s experience and penetration , it were superfluous to more than hint , how an institution , whose chief aim it is , to promote good will and moral progress , is susceptible of being made subservient for social good in a country like this , standing greatly in need , even of latent aids and indirect means to benevolent purposes . We look , therefore , for that encouragement from your lordship which in some measure as a member of our ancient Order , it may not be deemed unbecoming in us to expect . Without being based upon practical principles of charity and beneficence , no one knows better than your lordship that Masonry were a hollow pretence . Your name alone , my lord , must be to us , a tower of strength , from
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
India.
stiuited authorities , than the fraternity of free and accepted Masons , throughout the British Empire and Colonies . I now , my lord , with your kind permission , proceed to read the address I hold in my hand , signed by some thirty or forty Master Masons . "
To the Mont Worshipful the Right Honourable the Earl of Dalhousie , K . T . Governor-General of India . My Lortl , —On the part of the general fraternity of Freemasons in Bengal , and its territories , we , the undersigned Provincial Grand Master , Wardens , and other officers and members of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Bengal , as a deputation , beg to wait upon your lordship , in order to express how cordially we rejoice at your lordship ' s having been selected
to preside over the councils and to direct the destinies of the British Empire in the East . While hailing your advent among us , with feelings of the liveliest satisfaction , we beg most heartily to thank your Lordship , for so promptly and kindly granting us this opportunity , as members of an ancient antl honourable fraternity , to welcome among us , so distinguished a pillar , and ornament of the orderrecognizingas we doin your lordshi ' s
, , , p arrival in India , an event full of promise for the moral enlightenment and advancement of the country . Though Masonry , as your lordship is well aware , be a catholic institution , yet has it certain landmarks of nationality—accordingly each of the threefold divisions of the British Empire , has its own Grand Master , and Grand Lodge . Though officially , then , belonging to the institution of English Masonry , yet do we congratulate ourselves on the opportunity
of personally doing honour to so illustrious a Master of Scottish Masonry as your lordship is known to be ; it being a matter of historical , no less than of traditional testimony , that Scotland has always been looked up to , as a sure and orthodox asylum of the Craft . We cannot doubt , therefore , that your lordship will extend to Masonry in the East , a portion of that good will , which is so gratefully remembered in Scotland . It is a matter of honest pride to us , as Masons , to think , that of all the
governor-generals who have ruled in India , the only two who were members of our Order , were as distinguished philanthropists as statesmen . Indeed , the probability is , that the two characters , properly speaking , are one and intlivisable ; they assuredly may be considered so in this case . It is , therefore , my lord , with feelings of delight , and the most auspicious anticipations , that we behold the accession of your lordship to the chair erst occupied by the illustrious Marquis of Hastings . That nobleman , my lord , from first to last , took a lively interest in the welfare of the Craft , and never was it more prosperous than during his connection with India .
To one of your Lordship s experience and penetration , it were superfluous to more than hint , how an institution , whose chief aim it is , to promote good will and moral progress , is susceptible of being made subservient for social good in a country like this , standing greatly in need , even of latent aids and indirect means to benevolent purposes . We look , therefore , for that encouragement from your lordship which in some measure as a member of our ancient Order , it may not be deemed unbecoming in us to expect . Without being based upon practical principles of charity and beneficence , no one knows better than your lordship that Masonry were a hollow pretence . Your name alone , my lord , must be to us , a tower of strength , from