Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
India.
to circumstances , upon the share you have taken this evening in the discharge of your masonic duties in laying this corner-stone for an hospital for the poor . I venture to express to this assembly the high admiration I felt upon learning , from the records of the Indian Government , of the liberality of this community in contributing so princely a fund to the laudable and admirable purpose of founding a charity Fever Hospital for the poor of this land ; and I beg to offer the tribute of my humble
but just and sincere admiration , to the honourable gentleman who placed so large and munificent a donation at the disposal of the Government , and , upon the part of the Government , to tender to him my warmest thanks for the ready and cheerful acquiescence whicli he gave to its being applied in furtherance of the project of founding a Fever Hospital for Calcutta . "
His Lordship then explained that he had proposed that the funds left at the disposal of the Government should at once be added to the contributions realised for the Calcutta Fever Hospital , so that the aggregate might be adequate for the completion of the building . " Now that the corner-stone has been laid , " said his Lordship , " I hope that , when I return among you after the temporary separation which the exigences of the public service require , I shall find that the edifice itself will have
far advanced towards completion , holding out an object of emulation to the wealthy inhabitants of Calcutta , as an institution which we help to spread the bed for the poor in sickness , afforded a home to the houseless , give skilful friends to the friendless , and extend the hand of succour and protection to the afflicted and forlorn . ( Hear . ) The implement , Right Worshipful Grand Master , which you have presented to me , 1 shall retain with great and constant satisfaction ; and if it shall please
God to preserve my life , it shall serve to recal , years hence , the grateful memory of the imposing and most interesting ceremony of the laying of the corner-stone of a public Fever Hospital for the capital of British India , which I have witnessed this evening . " ( Loud cheers . ) At the conclusion of his address , his Lordship was conducted by the Grand Master and his brethren to bis carriage , as was the Bishop and Sir John Littler ; and the assembldispersed .
y The ceremony must , altogether , have been a splendid spectacle . In the Indian News , whence we have condensed our report of the proceedings , it is stated that "the concourse of people collected on the occasion was immense . The scene that presented itself was altogether highly picturesque and imposing , and must have been particularly so to those who had never before witnessed any thing of the kind . The masonic brethren , all arrayed in their richest costumes , with the setting
sun glittering upon their various decorations ; the thousands of natives grouped around them ; and , though last not least , the ladies , ivho , seated in a raised pavilion , graced the ceremony with their presence , all combined to produce an effect which it is easier to imagine than describe . "
The preceding report has been abridged from the Illustrated News whose journal gave a portrait of the Lord Patron of Freemasonry in India , with a splendid engraving of the proceedings .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
India.
to circumstances , upon the share you have taken this evening in the discharge of your masonic duties in laying this corner-stone for an hospital for the poor . I venture to express to this assembly the high admiration I felt upon learning , from the records of the Indian Government , of the liberality of this community in contributing so princely a fund to the laudable and admirable purpose of founding a charity Fever Hospital for the poor of this land ; and I beg to offer the tribute of my humble
but just and sincere admiration , to the honourable gentleman who placed so large and munificent a donation at the disposal of the Government , and , upon the part of the Government , to tender to him my warmest thanks for the ready and cheerful acquiescence whicli he gave to its being applied in furtherance of the project of founding a Fever Hospital for Calcutta . "
His Lordship then explained that he had proposed that the funds left at the disposal of the Government should at once be added to the contributions realised for the Calcutta Fever Hospital , so that the aggregate might be adequate for the completion of the building . " Now that the corner-stone has been laid , " said his Lordship , " I hope that , when I return among you after the temporary separation which the exigences of the public service require , I shall find that the edifice itself will have
far advanced towards completion , holding out an object of emulation to the wealthy inhabitants of Calcutta , as an institution which we help to spread the bed for the poor in sickness , afforded a home to the houseless , give skilful friends to the friendless , and extend the hand of succour and protection to the afflicted and forlorn . ( Hear . ) The implement , Right Worshipful Grand Master , which you have presented to me , 1 shall retain with great and constant satisfaction ; and if it shall please
God to preserve my life , it shall serve to recal , years hence , the grateful memory of the imposing and most interesting ceremony of the laying of the corner-stone of a public Fever Hospital for the capital of British India , which I have witnessed this evening . " ( Loud cheers . ) At the conclusion of his address , his Lordship was conducted by the Grand Master and his brethren to bis carriage , as was the Bishop and Sir John Littler ; and the assembldispersed .
y The ceremony must , altogether , have been a splendid spectacle . In the Indian News , whence we have condensed our report of the proceedings , it is stated that "the concourse of people collected on the occasion was immense . The scene that presented itself was altogether highly picturesque and imposing , and must have been particularly so to those who had never before witnessed any thing of the kind . The masonic brethren , all arrayed in their richest costumes , with the setting
sun glittering upon their various decorations ; the thousands of natives grouped around them ; and , though last not least , the ladies , ivho , seated in a raised pavilion , graced the ceremony with their presence , all combined to produce an effect which it is easier to imagine than describe . "
The preceding report has been abridged from the Illustrated News whose journal gave a portrait of the Lord Patron of Freemasonry in India , with a splendid engraving of the proceedings .