Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Testimonial To Brother Robert Thomas Crucefix , M.D.
all the impurities which attach themselves to considerations of party distinctions , petty jealousies , aud national antipathies , —how , in very truth , it throws a heavenly radiance over all the common thoughts , feelings , and occupations of life , —refining what is gross , and redeeming what is low ancl impure . Persuaded that their conduct will , on all occasions , tend to the accomplishment of this great object , and thereby reflect honour our mystic communityI beg most heartily to propose
upon , " the health of the Worshipful Master of the Bank of England Lodge . " Bro . J . LEE STEVISNS . the Worshipful Master , rose to acknowledge the toast . He first thanked the V . W . Chairman , and the Brethren , for the cordial manner in which the mention of his name had been received . He feared he was valued at a standard infinitely hig her than his real worth , and he hacl therefore to express his gratitude for the little that was his dueand to remain their debtor for the great excess . To him
, that day had been one of unmingled satisfaction : nor was it less so to every individual member of the Bank of England Lodge —( cries of hear , hear ) . It was a day of triumph to one who had suffered more in the cause of charity than any other Mason in the world —( cheers ) ;—to one , who , as the editor of the Freemasons' Quarterly Review , had brought him ( Bro . Stevens ) , back to the fold of Freemasonry;—to one who had been his warmest and firmest friend in every mutation of fortune;—to
one who had abided by him in good repute , and in that which might have been termed bad repute , but that it had been proved there was no evil to warrant it;—( loud cheers)—to one to whom all Lodges owed so much , and , perhaps , the Bank of England Lodge more than any —( hear , hear ) ;—to one , in short , with whom it had been his ( Bro . Stevens' )
honour to share the envied privilege of Masonic martyrdom —( repeated cheers ) . Aye , ancl it was not more singular than gratifying for him to reflect , that what had been intended by the wayward and unwise to effect his ( Bro . Stevens' ) Masonic degradation , had contributed to his Masonic glory—so inscrutable were the ways of Providence—so certain was the ultimate victory of truth !—( cheers ) . For had he not been most unjustly suspended , for a few months , from his Masonic privileges , it would not
have been deemed imperative that he should fill the -Master ' s chair of the Bank of England for two consecutive years , and he should not then have enjoyed the proud station assigned to him that day —( loud cheers ) . At so late a period of the evening he would not detain the Brethren on a subject upon which there existed such unanimity of opinion ; but he would venture to solicit their patience for a moment , whilst he mentioned the substance of two or three toasts which it would now be impossible
to propose in due order . It ivould be most ungrateful to forget the absent subscribers to the Testimonial resident in the metropolis ancl the provinces —( hear , hear)—still more ungrateful would it be to those scattered throughout every quarter ancl clime in the world —( hear , hear ) . Each presidency in India had sent its contributions — the coast of Africa , Australasia , America , and the West Indies , hacl respectively sent theirs—Turkey , France , and other foreign countries had not been
less anxious to partake of the compliment—and Ireland and Scotland had fairly emulated England in the fraternal struggle —( hear , hear ) . To recount many names , under such circumstances , would be impossible ; but the R . W . Brothers Dr . Stephenson , Prov . G . M . for Grenada ; Dr . Burnes , Prov . G . M . for Western India ; Robt . Neave , Deputy P . G . M . for Bengal ; Ewart , P . D . G . M . for Northampton ; Dr . Sully , P . D . P . G . M . Somerset . The Provincial Grand Wardens were well represented
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Testimonial To Brother Robert Thomas Crucefix , M.D.
all the impurities which attach themselves to considerations of party distinctions , petty jealousies , aud national antipathies , —how , in very truth , it throws a heavenly radiance over all the common thoughts , feelings , and occupations of life , —refining what is gross , and redeeming what is low ancl impure . Persuaded that their conduct will , on all occasions , tend to the accomplishment of this great object , and thereby reflect honour our mystic communityI beg most heartily to propose
upon , " the health of the Worshipful Master of the Bank of England Lodge . " Bro . J . LEE STEVISNS . the Worshipful Master , rose to acknowledge the toast . He first thanked the V . W . Chairman , and the Brethren , for the cordial manner in which the mention of his name had been received . He feared he was valued at a standard infinitely hig her than his real worth , and he hacl therefore to express his gratitude for the little that was his dueand to remain their debtor for the great excess . To him
, that day had been one of unmingled satisfaction : nor was it less so to every individual member of the Bank of England Lodge —( cries of hear , hear ) . It was a day of triumph to one who had suffered more in the cause of charity than any other Mason in the world —( cheers ) ;—to one , who , as the editor of the Freemasons' Quarterly Review , had brought him ( Bro . Stevens ) , back to the fold of Freemasonry;—to one who had been his warmest and firmest friend in every mutation of fortune;—to
one who had abided by him in good repute , and in that which might have been termed bad repute , but that it had been proved there was no evil to warrant it;—( loud cheers)—to one to whom all Lodges owed so much , and , perhaps , the Bank of England Lodge more than any —( hear , hear ) ;—to one , in short , with whom it had been his ( Bro . Stevens' )
honour to share the envied privilege of Masonic martyrdom —( repeated cheers ) . Aye , ancl it was not more singular than gratifying for him to reflect , that what had been intended by the wayward and unwise to effect his ( Bro . Stevens' ) Masonic degradation , had contributed to his Masonic glory—so inscrutable were the ways of Providence—so certain was the ultimate victory of truth !—( cheers ) . For had he not been most unjustly suspended , for a few months , from his Masonic privileges , it would not
have been deemed imperative that he should fill the -Master ' s chair of the Bank of England for two consecutive years , and he should not then have enjoyed the proud station assigned to him that day —( loud cheers ) . At so late a period of the evening he would not detain the Brethren on a subject upon which there existed such unanimity of opinion ; but he would venture to solicit their patience for a moment , whilst he mentioned the substance of two or three toasts which it would now be impossible
to propose in due order . It ivould be most ungrateful to forget the absent subscribers to the Testimonial resident in the metropolis ancl the provinces —( hear , hear)—still more ungrateful would it be to those scattered throughout every quarter ancl clime in the world —( hear , hear ) . Each presidency in India had sent its contributions — the coast of Africa , Australasia , America , and the West Indies , hacl respectively sent theirs—Turkey , France , and other foreign countries had not been
less anxious to partake of the compliment—and Ireland and Scotland had fairly emulated England in the fraternal struggle —( hear , hear ) . To recount many names , under such circumstances , would be impossible ; but the R . W . Brothers Dr . Stephenson , Prov . G . M . for Grenada ; Dr . Burnes , Prov . G . M . for Western India ; Robt . Neave , Deputy P . G . M . for Bengal ; Ewart , P . D . G . M . for Northampton ; Dr . Sully , P . D . P . G . M . Somerset . The Provincial Grand Wardens were well represented