Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Ireland.
address you , will long have been mouldering in the oblivion of the grave , the name of " Mant " will be a password amongst the A'lasons of the North ; because , from his character , services , and opinions , he has shown that Alasonry has been , is , and ought to be honoured and cherished by the wise and virtuous , the intellectual ancl philanthropic . But , brethren , much remains for you to do in assisting our Grand Aiaster to revive the building of mankind ' s hihest cathedral" brotherllove . "
g , y The province is now a masonic pillar . You , brethren , form the base ; the Grancl Master and his Grand Lodge the shaft , and I need not look further than to our lovely visitors in the gallery for a graceful and beautiful capital . AVhen I look around this great assembly , where so much variety of character ancl different shades of opinion must exist , ranged under one banner , there is a feeling arising therefrom very amelioratory to the heart . Brethren , let every lodge and every brother
strive to erect one temple— " truth . " I know that to arrive at perfection is impossible , but our covenant demands much of its disci ples . We live in extraordinary times—full of a desire of change , and disaffection . It may be asked , what has Alasonry to do with this ? First , then , let it be a warning to us to preserve " peace in our borders "—not to outstep our landmarks , but to evince a constant desire to understand the spirit of our Order . Let " wisdomstrengthand beauty" stand
-, , pre eminently erect in your lodges , teaching you that there is for all men one future better life , and for all but one way of obtaining it . This the rudest child of nature , the savage and the uncultivated , acknowledge . Thus , Masonry may be made , indeed , a means of enabling us to obey the will of the Great Architect of the universe , at the same time
proclaiming love and toleration free ; for Masonry disturbs no man in his religion or politics , but , on the contrary , stimulates every one to the performance of his duties , and teaches us that we should never turn in anger from an honest man because he differs in opinion from us about ordinances and institutions men have made . Masonry progresses silently , unostentatiously , but surely ; not asking one what system he follows , or another the colour of his decoration , or bow many degrees he hasbut looks to his understanding the spirit of the institution .
There-, fore , brethren , we ought not to rest satisfied with mere ceremonies , however beautiful and captivating they may be , but endeavour to understand them in their mystic sense . If we look around and view the various institutions that decorate the moral ancl social hemisphere of humanity , we shall find Freemasonry the purest , loveliest , and best . I consider it an institution of Divine origin—a pure and unadulterated stream , flowing from the throne of Omnipotence , from which the
Almighty has said to man , " Drink , ancl be happy . " It may be asked , what are our principles ?—Charity ; for to us it is commanded to dry the widow ' s tears—to soothe the sigh that would rend the orphan ' s breast—to throw the mantle of comfort ancl of peace over the declining form of decrepitude ancl age—to assist the brother whose hands would never have been raised to ask the pittance of the passing Samaritan—to visit the captive in his celland lay before him the bright chart of a
, future world of immortality , as a reward for sorrows and for suffering here . Excuse the tedium , I trust not intrusion —( cries of "No , no" ) —of these remarks . Remember , brethren , the faithful man , the zealous Christian , will also be the best Freemason . I need not say that this is the character of our Right AVorshipful and beloved Prov . Grand Aiaster . You will now join with me in drinking long life ancl prosperity to him ,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Ireland.
address you , will long have been mouldering in the oblivion of the grave , the name of " Mant " will be a password amongst the A'lasons of the North ; because , from his character , services , and opinions , he has shown that Alasonry has been , is , and ought to be honoured and cherished by the wise and virtuous , the intellectual ancl philanthropic . But , brethren , much remains for you to do in assisting our Grand Aiaster to revive the building of mankind ' s hihest cathedral" brotherllove . "
g , y The province is now a masonic pillar . You , brethren , form the base ; the Grancl Master and his Grand Lodge the shaft , and I need not look further than to our lovely visitors in the gallery for a graceful and beautiful capital . AVhen I look around this great assembly , where so much variety of character ancl different shades of opinion must exist , ranged under one banner , there is a feeling arising therefrom very amelioratory to the heart . Brethren , let every lodge and every brother
strive to erect one temple— " truth . " I know that to arrive at perfection is impossible , but our covenant demands much of its disci ples . We live in extraordinary times—full of a desire of change , and disaffection . It may be asked , what has Alasonry to do with this ? First , then , let it be a warning to us to preserve " peace in our borders "—not to outstep our landmarks , but to evince a constant desire to understand the spirit of our Order . Let " wisdomstrengthand beauty" stand
-, , pre eminently erect in your lodges , teaching you that there is for all men one future better life , and for all but one way of obtaining it . This the rudest child of nature , the savage and the uncultivated , acknowledge . Thus , Masonry may be made , indeed , a means of enabling us to obey the will of the Great Architect of the universe , at the same time
proclaiming love and toleration free ; for Masonry disturbs no man in his religion or politics , but , on the contrary , stimulates every one to the performance of his duties , and teaches us that we should never turn in anger from an honest man because he differs in opinion from us about ordinances and institutions men have made . Masonry progresses silently , unostentatiously , but surely ; not asking one what system he follows , or another the colour of his decoration , or bow many degrees he hasbut looks to his understanding the spirit of the institution .
There-, fore , brethren , we ought not to rest satisfied with mere ceremonies , however beautiful and captivating they may be , but endeavour to understand them in their mystic sense . If we look around and view the various institutions that decorate the moral ancl social hemisphere of humanity , we shall find Freemasonry the purest , loveliest , and best . I consider it an institution of Divine origin—a pure and unadulterated stream , flowing from the throne of Omnipotence , from which the
Almighty has said to man , " Drink , ancl be happy . " It may be asked , what are our principles ?—Charity ; for to us it is commanded to dry the widow ' s tears—to soothe the sigh that would rend the orphan ' s breast—to throw the mantle of comfort ancl of peace over the declining form of decrepitude ancl age—to assist the brother whose hands would never have been raised to ask the pittance of the passing Samaritan—to visit the captive in his celland lay before him the bright chart of a
, future world of immortality , as a reward for sorrows and for suffering here . Excuse the tedium , I trust not intrusion —( cries of "No , no" ) —of these remarks . Remember , brethren , the faithful man , the zealous Christian , will also be the best Freemason . I need not say that this is the character of our Right AVorshipful and beloved Prov . Grand Aiaster . You will now join with me in drinking long life ancl prosperity to him ,