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Article PROVINCIAL. ← Page 14 of 19 →
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Provincial.
Master . The business of the morning having been gone through , the procession formed , and proceeded to the Abbey Church , where a large concourse of people had assembled . The banners of each Lodge , and the whole paraphernalia being displayed , the coup d ' ail was splendid and imposing . The jirocession having entered the church , which was thronged with company , the prayers were most impressively read by the Rev . Brother
Gunner , of Winchester ; after which the D . P . G . Chaplain , Brother the Rev . AV . H . Brookfield , preached a most eloquent and appropriate sermon , in which our religious and social duties were impressively set forth , and the words of the text applied to the principles of Masonry . The text was from Galatians , chap . vi . verse 10— "As we have therefore opportunity , let us do good unto all men . " We have not space to follow the eloquent preacher through the whole
of his discourse ; but the conclusion was to the following effect : — If any one has expected ujion this occasion a panegyric upon or apology for Freemasonry—if any one has thought to hear an elaborate tissue of Masonic technicalities—if any one has looked for an exhibition of ingenuity , instead of an attempt at Scriptural instruction , he will have been disappointed . It is now for some time that the engrossing responsibilities of my profession have withheld meand are
, likely to do . from much conversance with your ancient Craft ; but even if I had come prepared to address you in a more technical fashion , a sight of the immense concourse assembled in these sacred walls , would , 1 think , have changed my purpose to one I trust more generally profitable . But , for as much as I cannot be ignorant that aspersions are
sometimes cast upon your Order , both of immorality and irreligion , because the secrecy of the ceremonial you adojit , I think a manly straightforwardness requires that I should say this much in vindication . To require that any merely human institution should necessarily make its members unexceptionable characters , would be asking too much ; and if it cannot entirely shut out irregularities , when men are wilful enough to practice them , I think those irregularities ought to lie at the door of the individuals and not at the door of the fraternity .
But I can most sincerely say that I have never myself bad the misfortune to witness anything within the walls of a Lodge which could offend the most fastidious . But with regard to the charge of imjiiety , as imjiuted to your mystic ceremonial , you shall this day be your own vindicators . I will but make this ajijieal , to which you must answer as your conscience will permit , and not otherwise . If you , in the secrecy of your heartsbelieve that there is anything in the
, theory of Freemasonry at variance with the strictest rule of Christianity —if you have ever been present at a Lodge which has not opened and closed with most solemn invocation of the Divine blessing , and which invocation has heen listened and responded to ivith an apparent devotion , at least , that I wish were always to be witnessed elsewhere—then be silent to what I shall say , and put me to ojien shame before this multitude for asserting too much . But ifon the other hand , you believe
, that without the favour of God all our doings are nothing worth——if you look for no repose in life—no comfort in the hour of deathno safety in the day of judgment without the presence and support of the holy spirit , —then , and in that case , I ask you , while I solemnly implore the blessing of God upon every work and labour of love—while I solemnly beseech Christ for the benefit of his advocacy at
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Provincial.
Master . The business of the morning having been gone through , the procession formed , and proceeded to the Abbey Church , where a large concourse of people had assembled . The banners of each Lodge , and the whole paraphernalia being displayed , the coup d ' ail was splendid and imposing . The jirocession having entered the church , which was thronged with company , the prayers were most impressively read by the Rev . Brother
Gunner , of Winchester ; after which the D . P . G . Chaplain , Brother the Rev . AV . H . Brookfield , preached a most eloquent and appropriate sermon , in which our religious and social duties were impressively set forth , and the words of the text applied to the principles of Masonry . The text was from Galatians , chap . vi . verse 10— "As we have therefore opportunity , let us do good unto all men . " We have not space to follow the eloquent preacher through the whole
of his discourse ; but the conclusion was to the following effect : — If any one has expected ujion this occasion a panegyric upon or apology for Freemasonry—if any one has thought to hear an elaborate tissue of Masonic technicalities—if any one has looked for an exhibition of ingenuity , instead of an attempt at Scriptural instruction , he will have been disappointed . It is now for some time that the engrossing responsibilities of my profession have withheld meand are
, likely to do . from much conversance with your ancient Craft ; but even if I had come prepared to address you in a more technical fashion , a sight of the immense concourse assembled in these sacred walls , would , 1 think , have changed my purpose to one I trust more generally profitable . But , for as much as I cannot be ignorant that aspersions are
sometimes cast upon your Order , both of immorality and irreligion , because the secrecy of the ceremonial you adojit , I think a manly straightforwardness requires that I should say this much in vindication . To require that any merely human institution should necessarily make its members unexceptionable characters , would be asking too much ; and if it cannot entirely shut out irregularities , when men are wilful enough to practice them , I think those irregularities ought to lie at the door of the individuals and not at the door of the fraternity .
But I can most sincerely say that I have never myself bad the misfortune to witness anything within the walls of a Lodge which could offend the most fastidious . But with regard to the charge of imjiiety , as imjiuted to your mystic ceremonial , you shall this day be your own vindicators . I will but make this ajijieal , to which you must answer as your conscience will permit , and not otherwise . If you , in the secrecy of your heartsbelieve that there is anything in the
, theory of Freemasonry at variance with the strictest rule of Christianity —if you have ever been present at a Lodge which has not opened and closed with most solemn invocation of the Divine blessing , and which invocation has heen listened and responded to ivith an apparent devotion , at least , that I wish were always to be witnessed elsewhere—then be silent to what I shall say , and put me to ojien shame before this multitude for asserting too much . But ifon the other hand , you believe
, that without the favour of God all our doings are nothing worth——if you look for no repose in life—no comfort in the hour of deathno safety in the day of judgment without the presence and support of the holy spirit , —then , and in that case , I ask you , while I solemnly implore the blessing of God upon every work and labour of love—while I solemnly beseech Christ for the benefit of his advocacy at