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Article PROVINCIAL. ← Page 12 of 26 →
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Provincial.
bent of Church Kirk , near Accrington , then addressed the assembly as follows : — Brethren , we read in saerod history , that when tho Jews returned from Babylon , and began to rebuild tho walls of Jerusalem , then- work proceeded amidst both rejoicings and lamentations . God , in Iris mercy , had turned their captivity , as the rivers in tho south . Their harps , no longer hung upon tho willows that grew by tho waters of Babylon , could now utter forth tho Lord's
song in that land to which their posterity , even at this distance of time , look with greatest fondness . But , with so much cause of thankfulness , the eldor brothron wejjt when they thought of past greatness and departed glory , whon their city was the wonder and the praise of all tho earth . Such feelings , differing certainly in degree from the comparative importance of the two things , are not inconsistent with tho position which our ancient Institution holds at this time . It has been suffering from the inactivity of a long night ; and while wo look back with fond regret upon the greatness of its past history , we feel thankful that on every side there are unquestionable si that the day is again
gns about to dawn upon it , and that its sons may again deserve to be called " children of light . " Founded in the remotest antiquity—by whom we know not—how is it that this Order has survived the changes and chances of the world , which have overwhelmed everything , except that which we still hold supreme , the service of God , and the revelation which Ho has givon us ? Since its first existence , empires have been founded and have passed away ; systems of philosophy have arisen , and have become exploded ; various orders have been established , and that , too , by kings and potentates of the earth ; but they have into oblivionAnd what are we to conclude from all this ? Has
gone . not tho groat Father of all said , " Destroy it not , for there is a blessing in it ?" Let those who are unacquainted with tho annals of our Institution take its history , only so far as our own country is concerned , and they will be surprised to find that , from the time of the first British Christian martyr , St . Alban , for more than a thousand years onward , some of " the most distinguished scholars and benefactors of the kingdom were also distinguished members of our society ;
and that the most splendid foundations for learning , as well as tho most magnificent works of art , which command the gratitude and the admiration of the present age , owe their existence to our Grand Masters . In the past wo have indeed that which will vindicate Masonry from the sneers of erudition , and the irreverent sallies of wit . But what shall I say of the present time ? Has Masonry done its work successfully , adequately , during the past and present contm-y ? I humbly , but decidedly , answer , no . It has not kept pace with tho progress of society . These are wonderful days . We travel by vapour ; wo speak by lightning ; we paint with the sun . We are almost daily extorting
the secrets of nature . But deep and lasting as is the debt of gratitude- which the world owes to Masonry in past ages , it owes little , in a scientific point of view , to Masonry in modern times . I say in a scientific point of view , because in other respects it has not been unfruitful . But the very fact of its preservation proves to me that , in the Providence of God , it will again be used as an instrument of blessing to mankind . It is ramifying itself at the present moment in a most wonderful manner . Lodges are continually being formed in tho remotest parts of the earth . I may say that it exists almost wherever there are men to practise it . New Lodges are continually being formed in Great
Britain , while the existing ones are ever receiving fresh accessions , not of unreflecting persons , who are excited merely by a spirit of curiosity , but of men who , in then- several stations , are fitted to become an ornament and a blessing to any society . We have an organization and a discipline which is rarely to be met with in any other institution , and which is most powerful for good . There is , too , an expectation that higher things are to he sought and attained . And with such means and such opportunities , God forbid that we shoidd be wanting to the occasion . To the question proposed to me , "Why do you anticipate so much blessing from the revival of Order have you any ground for such
your ; anticipation ? " I answer , yes ; I do expect much from its prosperity , and why % Because of the objects at which it aims . It is that science which includes all others . It has , I know , been objected that our Order recognises that system only which may be called the religion of nature . This I emphatically deny . We do , indeed , commend the study of nature . We ask our Brethren frequently to turn their thoughts upon the fertility and beauty of nature ; and in so doing
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Provincial.
bent of Church Kirk , near Accrington , then addressed the assembly as follows : — Brethren , we read in saerod history , that when tho Jews returned from Babylon , and began to rebuild tho walls of Jerusalem , then- work proceeded amidst both rejoicings and lamentations . God , in Iris mercy , had turned their captivity , as the rivers in tho south . Their harps , no longer hung upon tho willows that grew by tho waters of Babylon , could now utter forth tho Lord's
song in that land to which their posterity , even at this distance of time , look with greatest fondness . But , with so much cause of thankfulness , the eldor brothron wejjt when they thought of past greatness and departed glory , whon their city was the wonder and the praise of all tho earth . Such feelings , differing certainly in degree from the comparative importance of the two things , are not inconsistent with tho position which our ancient Institution holds at this time . It has been suffering from the inactivity of a long night ; and while wo look back with fond regret upon the greatness of its past history , we feel thankful that on every side there are unquestionable si that the day is again
gns about to dawn upon it , and that its sons may again deserve to be called " children of light . " Founded in the remotest antiquity—by whom we know not—how is it that this Order has survived the changes and chances of the world , which have overwhelmed everything , except that which we still hold supreme , the service of God , and the revelation which Ho has givon us ? Since its first existence , empires have been founded and have passed away ; systems of philosophy have arisen , and have become exploded ; various orders have been established , and that , too , by kings and potentates of the earth ; but they have into oblivionAnd what are we to conclude from all this ? Has
gone . not tho groat Father of all said , " Destroy it not , for there is a blessing in it ?" Let those who are unacquainted with tho annals of our Institution take its history , only so far as our own country is concerned , and they will be surprised to find that , from the time of the first British Christian martyr , St . Alban , for more than a thousand years onward , some of " the most distinguished scholars and benefactors of the kingdom were also distinguished members of our society ;
and that the most splendid foundations for learning , as well as tho most magnificent works of art , which command the gratitude and the admiration of the present age , owe their existence to our Grand Masters . In the past wo have indeed that which will vindicate Masonry from the sneers of erudition , and the irreverent sallies of wit . But what shall I say of the present time ? Has Masonry done its work successfully , adequately , during the past and present contm-y ? I humbly , but decidedly , answer , no . It has not kept pace with tho progress of society . These are wonderful days . We travel by vapour ; wo speak by lightning ; we paint with the sun . We are almost daily extorting
the secrets of nature . But deep and lasting as is the debt of gratitude- which the world owes to Masonry in past ages , it owes little , in a scientific point of view , to Masonry in modern times . I say in a scientific point of view , because in other respects it has not been unfruitful . But the very fact of its preservation proves to me that , in the Providence of God , it will again be used as an instrument of blessing to mankind . It is ramifying itself at the present moment in a most wonderful manner . Lodges are continually being formed in tho remotest parts of the earth . I may say that it exists almost wherever there are men to practise it . New Lodges are continually being formed in Great
Britain , while the existing ones are ever receiving fresh accessions , not of unreflecting persons , who are excited merely by a spirit of curiosity , but of men who , in then- several stations , are fitted to become an ornament and a blessing to any society . We have an organization and a discipline which is rarely to be met with in any other institution , and which is most powerful for good . There is , too , an expectation that higher things are to he sought and attained . And with such means and such opportunities , God forbid that we shoidd be wanting to the occasion . To the question proposed to me , "Why do you anticipate so much blessing from the revival of Order have you any ground for such
your ; anticipation ? " I answer , yes ; I do expect much from its prosperity , and why % Because of the objects at which it aims . It is that science which includes all others . It has , I know , been objected that our Order recognises that system only which may be called the religion of nature . This I emphatically deny . We do , indeed , commend the study of nature . We ask our Brethren frequently to turn their thoughts upon the fertility and beauty of nature ; and in so doing