Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Foreign.
and you , Brethren , will , I doubt not , agree with nie that the toast is an appropriate one on Avhich to append a brief ( and I promise you a very brief ) address on such a topic , when you consider that this Loclge not only holds its warrant under the United Grand Lodge of England , but that it derives its title from the Most Worshipful the Grand Master , whose name cannot fail to be familiar even to our foreign Brethren , as that of a great and good ornament to manhood as well as to Masonry at the present day . To many whom I see around me as experienced Masonsany words that I may
, offer will appear trite and unnecessary ; but they Avill bear with me while I attempt to shoAV to others the extent and importance of Masonry—while I endeavour to give heart to such of the less experienced as may be , in their intercourse with the unitiated , accustomed to hear the disparaging remark and the uncomplimentary jest , Avhen the Masonic Brotherhood becomes the subject of conversation . Eor myself , when thus unpleasantly placed , if I see that the ordinary weapons of reason Avould be vainl y Avielded , I bow in silence to the disparagement , and I essay to blunt the point of the jest by a ready and cheerful acquiescence with the
jester . And such , or somewhat similar , according to circumstances , is the course that I would recommend to all the Brethren ; fori hold that it does not , as I have already said , become us to parade our excellence before strangers . I hold that it is not necessary for any Mason before strangers to defend , or indulge in panegyric on a Society , so Avell and widely reputed as ours , existing from the earliest ages , spread over the universal globe , known and valued in every civilized nation , —a Society , not bounded by heaven ' s concave , nor by earth's centre—that reaches " from Indus to the Pole ; " that provides for its disciple
" Rest ana repose , a Brother and a friend , " whether under the burning sun of the tropics , or the chilling snows of a northern sky . Yes—a Society that rears its head in truth ubiquitous—that stretches forth its arms of love from the genial south to the inclement north , from where that bright Masonic luminary the sun rises from the eastern wave to Avhere the west receives him in his parting splendour , —an organized system by which , although a Brother may in his journey through life be cast in distress among a people , not a syllable of whose language he can articulateand of whose manners
, and customs lie is entirely ignorant , he still finds himself in possession of a universal language of mystic union , which is no sooner expressed by tbe lips than responded to by the heart ; he quickly receives consolation to his soul , and refreshment to his wearied frame , and is enabled to pursue his lonely path in a foreign land with renovated strength , and rejoicing;—a system , let me say , that is patronized by the pulpit , by the bench , and by the throne ; that is honoured and protected by princes of every rank , and by civil governors of every title—a fraternity that is graced by the allegiance of sages and of Avarriois , of poets and of
patriots , of legislators , philosophers , and divines—a Brotherhood that can boast among its members the mighty ones of all ages and of all lands ; for as our R . W . Brother , the Prov . Grand Master , remarked on a memorable occasion , we can proudly "point to a long list of worthies , eminent for rank , station , talent , and moral worth , whom we have numbered , and still do number , under our banners . " And , Brethren , to that I will boldly add , that amongst all these , there is not one , however hi gh his rank , however proud his name , though boundless tbe
wealth that AOAVS into bis coffers , though the floodgates of pleasure fly open at his command , —there is not one to whom Masonry cannot offer some charmthere is not one but will freely acknoAvledge that he derives some true happiness from that mystic tie that binds him to our fold . And , Brethren , Avhile endeavouring to place before you , however feebly , the grandeur and importance of our Order , it may not be unbecoming , ivith reference to one of the toasts already given Avithout comment , to call your attention to tbe fact that her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen , whom may T . G . A . O . T . U . long preserve , — -the Queen—in whose dominions and under Avhose protection we British Masons knoiv ourselves secure—Avas preceded on the throne of Britain by
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Foreign.
and you , Brethren , will , I doubt not , agree with nie that the toast is an appropriate one on Avhich to append a brief ( and I promise you a very brief ) address on such a topic , when you consider that this Loclge not only holds its warrant under the United Grand Lodge of England , but that it derives its title from the Most Worshipful the Grand Master , whose name cannot fail to be familiar even to our foreign Brethren , as that of a great and good ornament to manhood as well as to Masonry at the present day . To many whom I see around me as experienced Masonsany words that I may
, offer will appear trite and unnecessary ; but they Avill bear with me while I attempt to shoAV to others the extent and importance of Masonry—while I endeavour to give heart to such of the less experienced as may be , in their intercourse with the unitiated , accustomed to hear the disparaging remark and the uncomplimentary jest , Avhen the Masonic Brotherhood becomes the subject of conversation . Eor myself , when thus unpleasantly placed , if I see that the ordinary weapons of reason Avould be vainl y Avielded , I bow in silence to the disparagement , and I essay to blunt the point of the jest by a ready and cheerful acquiescence with the
jester . And such , or somewhat similar , according to circumstances , is the course that I would recommend to all the Brethren ; fori hold that it does not , as I have already said , become us to parade our excellence before strangers . I hold that it is not necessary for any Mason before strangers to defend , or indulge in panegyric on a Society , so Avell and widely reputed as ours , existing from the earliest ages , spread over the universal globe , known and valued in every civilized nation , —a Society , not bounded by heaven ' s concave , nor by earth's centre—that reaches " from Indus to the Pole ; " that provides for its disciple
" Rest ana repose , a Brother and a friend , " whether under the burning sun of the tropics , or the chilling snows of a northern sky . Yes—a Society that rears its head in truth ubiquitous—that stretches forth its arms of love from the genial south to the inclement north , from where that bright Masonic luminary the sun rises from the eastern wave to Avhere the west receives him in his parting splendour , —an organized system by which , although a Brother may in his journey through life be cast in distress among a people , not a syllable of whose language he can articulateand of whose manners
, and customs lie is entirely ignorant , he still finds himself in possession of a universal language of mystic union , which is no sooner expressed by tbe lips than responded to by the heart ; he quickly receives consolation to his soul , and refreshment to his wearied frame , and is enabled to pursue his lonely path in a foreign land with renovated strength , and rejoicing;—a system , let me say , that is patronized by the pulpit , by the bench , and by the throne ; that is honoured and protected by princes of every rank , and by civil governors of every title—a fraternity that is graced by the allegiance of sages and of Avarriois , of poets and of
patriots , of legislators , philosophers , and divines—a Brotherhood that can boast among its members the mighty ones of all ages and of all lands ; for as our R . W . Brother , the Prov . Grand Master , remarked on a memorable occasion , we can proudly "point to a long list of worthies , eminent for rank , station , talent , and moral worth , whom we have numbered , and still do number , under our banners . " And , Brethren , to that I will boldly add , that amongst all these , there is not one , however hi gh his rank , however proud his name , though boundless tbe
wealth that AOAVS into bis coffers , though the floodgates of pleasure fly open at his command , —there is not one to whom Masonry cannot offer some charmthere is not one but will freely acknoAvledge that he derives some true happiness from that mystic tie that binds him to our fold . And , Brethren , Avhile endeavouring to place before you , however feebly , the grandeur and importance of our Order , it may not be unbecoming , ivith reference to one of the toasts already given Avithout comment , to call your attention to tbe fact that her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen , whom may T . G . A . O . T . U . long preserve , — -the Queen—in whose dominions and under Avhose protection we British Masons knoiv ourselves secure—Avas preceded on the throne of Britain by