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Article PROVINCIAL. ← Page 10 of 21 →
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Provincial.
persons Masonry is a dead letter . Others will probably possess sufficient industry to make themselves master of the forms and ceremonies and technicalities of Masonry , without enquiring into their origin or ultimate design . To these Freemasonry unfolds but half its beauties . A few there are—alas ! how few—who view the Order with a philosophic eye ; who see it in all its bearings , and trace it through all its ramifications . To these Masonry is a substantial blessing . The evils of this frail state
are ameliorated through its genial influence—the heart is filled with pure and unfeigned Charity ; they pass down the hill of life smoothly and gradually , without dreading the sting of death or the victory of the grave . Let us then—let all who desire to reap benefit from the system into which they have been initiated—emulate the possession of something more than the mere technicalities of Masonry . The full lory of the
g harvest is before us , let us not be satisfied with the wretched gleaning of the grapes after the vintage is done . Then may we live in peace , harmony , and Brotherly love with all mankind ; and in the closing moments of our career we may be comforted with bri ght and cheerful hopes that
rest more sweet and still . Than ever nightfall gave ; Our yearning hearts shall fill In the world beyond the grave There shall no tempests blow ,
No scorching noontide beat ; There shall be no more snow No weary wandering feet . So we lift our trusting eyes From the hills our fathers trod , To the quiet of the skies , To the Sabbath of our God .
The Rev . Dr . sat down amidst loud and continued cheering . The W . M . then proposed Bro . Norton , P . G . S . W . ; who answered by saying that he had received much instruction from the speech of the Rev . Bro . who preceded him . He considered that Freemasonry had been eminently useful in the infancy of the world in the civilization of man . The first state of society , when men passed a solitary existence in dens and caves of the earth , was a state of fear , anxiety , and
wretchedness . The strong preyed upon the weak ; and a consciousness of insecurity was the reigning sentiment of every man ' s heart . In this state of things Freemasonry appeared as the friend and benefactor of man ; and pointed out the blessing of union and mutual confidence . Contiguous dwellings were then erected for habitation and defence ;—Operative Masonry teaching mankind the art of constructing these domestic edifices on such a principle as to combine comfort with beauty
and utility ; while Speculative Masonry , by a gradual but sure process , conferred the happiness and security arising from the establishment of civil and social institutions . The same principle of Freemasonry continues to be of the greatest utility even in the present times of mental enlightenment , and refined knowledge . The Mason ' s Lodge is an arena on which all men may meet , as on neutral ground , whatever be their religious opinions , or their political bias . ( Cheers ) This is an immense advantage , which is possessed by scarcely any other institution . We
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Provincial.
persons Masonry is a dead letter . Others will probably possess sufficient industry to make themselves master of the forms and ceremonies and technicalities of Masonry , without enquiring into their origin or ultimate design . To these Freemasonry unfolds but half its beauties . A few there are—alas ! how few—who view the Order with a philosophic eye ; who see it in all its bearings , and trace it through all its ramifications . To these Masonry is a substantial blessing . The evils of this frail state
are ameliorated through its genial influence—the heart is filled with pure and unfeigned Charity ; they pass down the hill of life smoothly and gradually , without dreading the sting of death or the victory of the grave . Let us then—let all who desire to reap benefit from the system into which they have been initiated—emulate the possession of something more than the mere technicalities of Masonry . The full lory of the
g harvest is before us , let us not be satisfied with the wretched gleaning of the grapes after the vintage is done . Then may we live in peace , harmony , and Brotherly love with all mankind ; and in the closing moments of our career we may be comforted with bri ght and cheerful hopes that
rest more sweet and still . Than ever nightfall gave ; Our yearning hearts shall fill In the world beyond the grave There shall no tempests blow ,
No scorching noontide beat ; There shall be no more snow No weary wandering feet . So we lift our trusting eyes From the hills our fathers trod , To the quiet of the skies , To the Sabbath of our God .
The Rev . Dr . sat down amidst loud and continued cheering . The W . M . then proposed Bro . Norton , P . G . S . W . ; who answered by saying that he had received much instruction from the speech of the Rev . Bro . who preceded him . He considered that Freemasonry had been eminently useful in the infancy of the world in the civilization of man . The first state of society , when men passed a solitary existence in dens and caves of the earth , was a state of fear , anxiety , and
wretchedness . The strong preyed upon the weak ; and a consciousness of insecurity was the reigning sentiment of every man ' s heart . In this state of things Freemasonry appeared as the friend and benefactor of man ; and pointed out the blessing of union and mutual confidence . Contiguous dwellings were then erected for habitation and defence ;—Operative Masonry teaching mankind the art of constructing these domestic edifices on such a principle as to combine comfort with beauty
and utility ; while Speculative Masonry , by a gradual but sure process , conferred the happiness and security arising from the establishment of civil and social institutions . The same principle of Freemasonry continues to be of the greatest utility even in the present times of mental enlightenment , and refined knowledge . The Mason ' s Lodge is an arena on which all men may meet , as on neutral ground , whatever be their religious opinions , or their political bias . ( Cheers ) This is an immense advantage , which is possessed by scarcely any other institution . We