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Article MASONIC ADDRESS , ← Page 2 of 4 →
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Masonic Address ,
with one another , but that does not take Masonry , as a social and moral system , out of the perpendicular of its fair proportions , any more than one or many Judasses deteriorate the divine character of Christianity . It is now ten years since I had the privilege of being made an Entereil Apprentice ; . and I can most conscientiously say , that I have never had reason for one moment to regret taking that step in my career . On the contrary , I hail the recollection of it with peculiar happiness as the primary
cause of my finishing this day—the proudest and-happiest of my lifeone of the Masonic duties laid upon me in the ceremony of my initiation . We might tell almost , in the language of romance , of the magical offices of Masonry : how , in the din of battle , it has stayed the uplifted sword ready to descend upon the head of a fallen foe , when he discovers himself , by the mystic sign , to be a Brother ; how it has succoured and
released from the prisons of war an entire ship s crew , from happening to have amongst them a Freemason , who , as they were being marched up the streets to their dungeon , hailed his invisible Brethren with a peculiar sign of distress , shouting in the language of the country—Help to the widow ' s son ! An old naval friend of mine related this fact to me . His frigate was captured during the late war and taken to Martinique , where they were all cast into dungeons , suffering the loss of everything . Providentiallya Freemason was among their messmatesand through
, , his secret agency they were all comfortably provided for , and a ship actually chartered , which conveyed them home to England . My friend was so struck with this marvellous phenomenon , that he took the first opportunity afterwards , in Scotland , to become one of our ancient Craft . We might boast of the hospitality and introduction into respectable
society which the Masonic Fraternity commands upon the Continent . I have been credibly informed by a foreign Brother who is present , that at Gottenburg , in Sweden , there resides a wealthy physician of high reputation , whose mansion is daily open to entertain his Brother Masons , provided they have not soiled the honourable distinction of their spotless badge . But why travel abroad for proof ' s of the utility and benefit of Freemasonry to mankind ? We may gather superabundant testimony at home . We knowand may lory in the factthat it has its institutions
, g , for the maintenance and education of the Mason ' s orphan , patronised by a Royal Mason ' s widow , the good Queen Adelaide ; institutions conferring incalculable advantage upon the community at large , among whom the children are eventually thrown by their various pursuits in life . There is also the grand Fund of Benevolence , through the fraternal aid of which I alone , as Master of my Lodge this year , have been
enabled to relieve a very aged and distressed Brother of our district , to a considerable amount . Then , again , there is the Worthy Aged and Decayed Masons' Asylum , whose eminent , benevolent , and talented founder , Dr . Crucefix , we welcome as an honoured guest at our festive board . That foundation will prove a college of refuge and solace to the worthy old indigent Brother . May the great Architect of the Universe prosper its most humane design ! It rejoices my heart to announce to
you , that our R . W . Grand Master has pledged himself to preside at the next annual festival of the Asylum in June , ft received the cordial support of his honourable mother , the Viscountess Anson , and it deserves the support of every generous being . To that new channel of our Masonic benevolence are we indebted for its twin-sister , the Royal Masonic Annuity Fund , by the agency of which I am again happy lo acknowledge , as Master of my Lodge , I had the privilege of assisting VOL . i . : > , u
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Address ,
with one another , but that does not take Masonry , as a social and moral system , out of the perpendicular of its fair proportions , any more than one or many Judasses deteriorate the divine character of Christianity . It is now ten years since I had the privilege of being made an Entereil Apprentice ; . and I can most conscientiously say , that I have never had reason for one moment to regret taking that step in my career . On the contrary , I hail the recollection of it with peculiar happiness as the primary
cause of my finishing this day—the proudest and-happiest of my lifeone of the Masonic duties laid upon me in the ceremony of my initiation . We might tell almost , in the language of romance , of the magical offices of Masonry : how , in the din of battle , it has stayed the uplifted sword ready to descend upon the head of a fallen foe , when he discovers himself , by the mystic sign , to be a Brother ; how it has succoured and
released from the prisons of war an entire ship s crew , from happening to have amongst them a Freemason , who , as they were being marched up the streets to their dungeon , hailed his invisible Brethren with a peculiar sign of distress , shouting in the language of the country—Help to the widow ' s son ! An old naval friend of mine related this fact to me . His frigate was captured during the late war and taken to Martinique , where they were all cast into dungeons , suffering the loss of everything . Providentiallya Freemason was among their messmatesand through
, , his secret agency they were all comfortably provided for , and a ship actually chartered , which conveyed them home to England . My friend was so struck with this marvellous phenomenon , that he took the first opportunity afterwards , in Scotland , to become one of our ancient Craft . We might boast of the hospitality and introduction into respectable
society which the Masonic Fraternity commands upon the Continent . I have been credibly informed by a foreign Brother who is present , that at Gottenburg , in Sweden , there resides a wealthy physician of high reputation , whose mansion is daily open to entertain his Brother Masons , provided they have not soiled the honourable distinction of their spotless badge . But why travel abroad for proof ' s of the utility and benefit of Freemasonry to mankind ? We may gather superabundant testimony at home . We knowand may lory in the factthat it has its institutions
, g , for the maintenance and education of the Mason ' s orphan , patronised by a Royal Mason ' s widow , the good Queen Adelaide ; institutions conferring incalculable advantage upon the community at large , among whom the children are eventually thrown by their various pursuits in life . There is also the grand Fund of Benevolence , through the fraternal aid of which I alone , as Master of my Lodge this year , have been
enabled to relieve a very aged and distressed Brother of our district , to a considerable amount . Then , again , there is the Worthy Aged and Decayed Masons' Asylum , whose eminent , benevolent , and talented founder , Dr . Crucefix , we welcome as an honoured guest at our festive board . That foundation will prove a college of refuge and solace to the worthy old indigent Brother . May the great Architect of the Universe prosper its most humane design ! It rejoices my heart to announce to
you , that our R . W . Grand Master has pledged himself to preside at the next annual festival of the Asylum in June , ft received the cordial support of his honourable mother , the Viscountess Anson , and it deserves the support of every generous being . To that new channel of our Masonic benevolence are we indebted for its twin-sister , the Royal Masonic Annuity Fund , by the agency of which I am again happy lo acknowledge , as Master of my Lodge , I had the privilege of assisting VOL . i . : > , u