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Article PROVINCIAL. ← Page 13 of 19 →
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Provincial.
Masonic assiduity and science of our Right Honourable Frieiid . Let me recommend to you , therefore , to emulate his example , and study the true princi ples of Masonry as a legitimate science . Be not satisfied merely ivith the mechanical knowledge of a few hieroglyphics , or the simple routine of ceremonies , but dive into the pure fountain of Masonic philosophy . Then will you enjoy a rich repast of intelligence—you
will reap the full glory of the Masonic harvest , not the wretched gleaning of the grapes after the vintage is done . But I will no longer restrain your impatience to greet our Right Honourable Brother with the highest honours Masonry can bestow . " ( Enthusiastic cheers . ) The P . G . M ., after the customary Masonic preface , spoke as follows : " My worthy and reverend friend , the Prov . D . G . M ., has been
pleased to compliment me on the sacrifices which I am presumed to have made for the interests of Masonry in general , and of the province in particular over which I have the honour to preside . I cannot , however , consent to term that a sacrifice which emanates from a prescribed duty , and conveys unaffected pleasure to the mind . Whatever engagements I may have , or whatever pursuits inclination or business may
impose upon me , still the calls of Freemasonry are a relief which I arn ever inclined to hail with pleasure and satisfaction , for I consider Masonry and virtue to be synonymous . In executing the high office
with which it has pleased II . R . H . the Grand Master to invest me , I am not stimulated by the considerations of duty merely but delight ; and I can sincerely assure you . Brethren , that though the interests of Masonry are interwoven with that great system of mental amelioration and public virtue , ivhich I trust will at all times characterize my conduct , both in the world and on my own domestic hearth ; yet my
personal attentions are more particularly required amongst the Lodges and Brethren which have been placed more immediately under my own guardian care . To your interests and welfare I am devoted ; and no exertions will ever be considered by me as a sacrifice which can in any manner conduce to the advancement of either ; for I am persuaded that the moral improvement of man ' s mind is the certain and inevitable result
of reducing to practice the pure and unsophisticated principles of Masonry , the foundation of which is brotherl y love and charity . This is the social bond which distinguishes Masonry from every other human institution ; but it must be practised in its glorious and native purity , or it will be inefficient . We must not only do good , but we must have a pleasure in its performance . It must be the work of a
pure heart , or it will have more of self-love and ostentation than charity . Such a . grade of virtue may be denominated prudence or wisdom , but it is not goodness . An act of the most exalted beneficence proceeding from self-love may be proper—may be laudable—but cannot be generous . It may be faith—it may be hope—but it is not charity .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Provincial.
Masonic assiduity and science of our Right Honourable Frieiid . Let me recommend to you , therefore , to emulate his example , and study the true princi ples of Masonry as a legitimate science . Be not satisfied merely ivith the mechanical knowledge of a few hieroglyphics , or the simple routine of ceremonies , but dive into the pure fountain of Masonic philosophy . Then will you enjoy a rich repast of intelligence—you
will reap the full glory of the Masonic harvest , not the wretched gleaning of the grapes after the vintage is done . But I will no longer restrain your impatience to greet our Right Honourable Brother with the highest honours Masonry can bestow . " ( Enthusiastic cheers . ) The P . G . M ., after the customary Masonic preface , spoke as follows : " My worthy and reverend friend , the Prov . D . G . M ., has been
pleased to compliment me on the sacrifices which I am presumed to have made for the interests of Masonry in general , and of the province in particular over which I have the honour to preside . I cannot , however , consent to term that a sacrifice which emanates from a prescribed duty , and conveys unaffected pleasure to the mind . Whatever engagements I may have , or whatever pursuits inclination or business may
impose upon me , still the calls of Freemasonry are a relief which I arn ever inclined to hail with pleasure and satisfaction , for I consider Masonry and virtue to be synonymous . In executing the high office
with which it has pleased II . R . H . the Grand Master to invest me , I am not stimulated by the considerations of duty merely but delight ; and I can sincerely assure you . Brethren , that though the interests of Masonry are interwoven with that great system of mental amelioration and public virtue , ivhich I trust will at all times characterize my conduct , both in the world and on my own domestic hearth ; yet my
personal attentions are more particularly required amongst the Lodges and Brethren which have been placed more immediately under my own guardian care . To your interests and welfare I am devoted ; and no exertions will ever be considered by me as a sacrifice which can in any manner conduce to the advancement of either ; for I am persuaded that the moral improvement of man ' s mind is the certain and inevitable result
of reducing to practice the pure and unsophisticated principles of Masonry , the foundation of which is brotherl y love and charity . This is the social bond which distinguishes Masonry from every other human institution ; but it must be practised in its glorious and native purity , or it will be inefficient . We must not only do good , but we must have a pleasure in its performance . It must be the work of a
pure heart , or it will have more of self-love and ostentation than charity . Such a . grade of virtue may be denominated prudence or wisdom , but it is not goodness . An act of the most exalted beneficence proceeding from self-love may be proper—may be laudable—but cannot be generous . It may be faith—it may be hope—but it is not charity .