Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Ireland.
one of uninterrupted satisfaction and enjoyment ; my vanity has been flattered , my amour propre has been gratified , and my knowledge of our sublime art greatly increased . ( Loud applause . ) Boimd as I am , my Brethren , both by duty and inclination , to advocate the extension , and set forth tho praise of our Order , no person has been more called upon to do so , for I behove no one has received more benefit , —more pleasure , —or more advantage from it than I have . Abroad , during tho vicissitudes of my in-ofessional career , it has been of signal utility to me , when I required the aid and comfort of friendship and consolation At homeits honours have been
. , dealt out to mo with no sparing hand , having been , by the unanimous voice of tho Brethren , raised to the highest grade a citizen can enjoy , that which I now hold as Provincial Grand Master of this important Province . ( Loud cheers . ) Masonry , my friends , is not only tho most ancient , but the most moral institution that ever existed , as every character , —figuro , —and emblem depicted in our Lodges has a moral tendency , and leads to incidcate the practice of virtue . Of its antiquity there cannot be the smallest doubt . Some date its origin from the building of the Tower of Babel , A . M . 2247 , which woidd give the Order an existence of 4099 others and
years ; ( perhaps the opinion most worthy of credence ) date it from the building of Solomon ' s temple , B . c . 1008 , which would give the antiquity to our Order of 2 S 60 years ; but as this difference of opinion is not of very great importance , I must leave it to be decided by the more learned in antiquarian lore . However , I may venture to assert , that our Order , if not of Divine origin , is doubtless of Divine inspiration ; our Masonic legends—our different ceremoniesour recognitions—our emblems—the form of our Lodges—can easily be traced to tho volume of the Sacred Law , and all our pass-words are derived from tho Hebrew tongue . Somehoweverthere arewho altogether deny iving
, , , g any antiquity to our Order ; but as those assertions are made by persons , who consider the Temple of Solomon a splendid fiction , and the history of the Jewish nation a pleasingly-told and agreeable allegory ; their opinions aro in my mind not worth a thought . ( Hear , hear . ) Faith , Hope , and Charity , " those sisters throo , "—those theological virtues , are evidently of heavenly orisrin . Faith in
the Great Architect of the Universe—Hope in salvation—and Charity with all men—these , with Brotherly kindness , form our chief attributes , which all who study tho volume of the Sacred Law must readily acknowledge . Fearing I may detain you too long ( cries of No , No ) , I shall abstain from remarking on the two first Divine attributes ; but as the two latter more immediately come homo to our views in the celebration of our mysteries , with your permission , I will for a moment dwell upon them . ( Hear . ) Wo aro told , my Brethren , in the most imposing part of our ceremonies , that Charity ( the distinguishing characteristic of the Mason ' s heart ) has the approbation both of heaven and
earth , and like her sister Mercy , "blesses him that gives , as well as him who receives : " and how beautifully are her attributes described by the inspired apostle St . Paul , in the 1 st Corinthians xiii . I shall not quote the whole chapter , but he tells us , "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels , and have not charity , I am become as sounding brass , or a tinkling cymbal ; " and thus concludes that charming description , " And now abideth faith , hope , charity , these three ; but the greatest of these is charity . " St . Paul also , in his Epistle to theColossians , iii . 14 : "And above all these things put on charity , which is the bond of
perfeotness . " ( Hear , hear . ) We are not , my friends , to imagine that the charity which contributes to tho peoimiary wants of our Brothron in distress is hero alono meant , great as is that virtue ; but it also embraces that charity of the heart , which enables us to view the failings and faults of others with a lenient and benevolent eye , recollecting we ourselves aro frail . Modern writers also sing the praises of this heavenly virtue"But Charity , fair Charity , she stands confess'd . For ever blessing , and for ever bless'd . " ( Long and loud applause . ) Now friendsas regards brotherlloveI must
, my , y , again refer you to the volume of the Sacred Law , which abounds with scenes descriptive of this endearing quality ; and where can we find a more perfectl y faithful picture of this truly Masonic characteristic than in the 1 st book of Samuel , relating that which existed between David and Jonathan , preserved steadfast , regardless ' of the threats of an infuriated parent—regardless of the loss of a mighty empire—regardless of the charms , "the pomp , the circumstance " of kingly power—regardless of the paternal taunts , warnings , and
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Ireland.
one of uninterrupted satisfaction and enjoyment ; my vanity has been flattered , my amour propre has been gratified , and my knowledge of our sublime art greatly increased . ( Loud applause . ) Boimd as I am , my Brethren , both by duty and inclination , to advocate the extension , and set forth tho praise of our Order , no person has been more called upon to do so , for I behove no one has received more benefit , —more pleasure , —or more advantage from it than I have . Abroad , during tho vicissitudes of my in-ofessional career , it has been of signal utility to me , when I required the aid and comfort of friendship and consolation At homeits honours have been
. , dealt out to mo with no sparing hand , having been , by the unanimous voice of tho Brethren , raised to the highest grade a citizen can enjoy , that which I now hold as Provincial Grand Master of this important Province . ( Loud cheers . ) Masonry , my friends , is not only tho most ancient , but the most moral institution that ever existed , as every character , —figuro , —and emblem depicted in our Lodges has a moral tendency , and leads to incidcate the practice of virtue . Of its antiquity there cannot be the smallest doubt . Some date its origin from the building of the Tower of Babel , A . M . 2247 , which woidd give the Order an existence of 4099 others and
years ; ( perhaps the opinion most worthy of credence ) date it from the building of Solomon ' s temple , B . c . 1008 , which would give the antiquity to our Order of 2 S 60 years ; but as this difference of opinion is not of very great importance , I must leave it to be decided by the more learned in antiquarian lore . However , I may venture to assert , that our Order , if not of Divine origin , is doubtless of Divine inspiration ; our Masonic legends—our different ceremoniesour recognitions—our emblems—the form of our Lodges—can easily be traced to tho volume of the Sacred Law , and all our pass-words are derived from tho Hebrew tongue . Somehoweverthere arewho altogether deny iving
, , , g any antiquity to our Order ; but as those assertions are made by persons , who consider the Temple of Solomon a splendid fiction , and the history of the Jewish nation a pleasingly-told and agreeable allegory ; their opinions aro in my mind not worth a thought . ( Hear , hear . ) Faith , Hope , and Charity , " those sisters throo , "—those theological virtues , are evidently of heavenly orisrin . Faith in
the Great Architect of the Universe—Hope in salvation—and Charity with all men—these , with Brotherly kindness , form our chief attributes , which all who study tho volume of the Sacred Law must readily acknowledge . Fearing I may detain you too long ( cries of No , No ) , I shall abstain from remarking on the two first Divine attributes ; but as the two latter more immediately come homo to our views in the celebration of our mysteries , with your permission , I will for a moment dwell upon them . ( Hear . ) Wo aro told , my Brethren , in the most imposing part of our ceremonies , that Charity ( the distinguishing characteristic of the Mason ' s heart ) has the approbation both of heaven and
earth , and like her sister Mercy , "blesses him that gives , as well as him who receives : " and how beautifully are her attributes described by the inspired apostle St . Paul , in the 1 st Corinthians xiii . I shall not quote the whole chapter , but he tells us , "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels , and have not charity , I am become as sounding brass , or a tinkling cymbal ; " and thus concludes that charming description , " And now abideth faith , hope , charity , these three ; but the greatest of these is charity . " St . Paul also , in his Epistle to theColossians , iii . 14 : "And above all these things put on charity , which is the bond of
perfeotness . " ( Hear , hear . ) We are not , my friends , to imagine that the charity which contributes to tho peoimiary wants of our Brothron in distress is hero alono meant , great as is that virtue ; but it also embraces that charity of the heart , which enables us to view the failings and faults of others with a lenient and benevolent eye , recollecting we ourselves aro frail . Modern writers also sing the praises of this heavenly virtue"But Charity , fair Charity , she stands confess'd . For ever blessing , and for ever bless'd . " ( Long and loud applause . ) Now friendsas regards brotherlloveI must
, my , y , again refer you to the volume of the Sacred Law , which abounds with scenes descriptive of this endearing quality ; and where can we find a more perfectl y faithful picture of this truly Masonic characteristic than in the 1 st book of Samuel , relating that which existed between David and Jonathan , preserved steadfast , regardless ' of the threats of an infuriated parent—regardless of the loss of a mighty empire—regardless of the charms , "the pomp , the circumstance " of kingly power—regardless of the paternal taunts , warnings , and