Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Complimentary Dinner To Distinguished American Freemasons.
the . world , the better the world must become . I can only , therefore , ask you to join with me cordially in drinking " The Health of Grand Lodges of America , and the Present and P .. s : Grand Officers . " Bro . Meyer : Worshipful Sir and brother , I regret very much that a more suitable person has not been chosen from amongst the American brethren to respond to this
toast . As Bro . Gotwalts has already said , the Grand Lodges of America derive their existence from the Grand Lodge of England . The Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania , of which I am a member , and o ? which many of the brethren here are members , received its Masonic life in 1730 from the Grand Lodge of England . It * 1732 Benjamin Franklin , whom you all know , was the Provincial Grand
Master . From 1730 up to 1830 , a period of hundred years , Masonry slowly but surely progressed , but in 1830 a great Masonic excitement commenced , when Masons , or , at least , a great many brethren deserted , but by the few who remained firm and steady to the institutions of the Fraternity the Society was perpetuated , and Masonry from about 18 34 progressed . At that time there
were in the entire United States about 10 , 000 Masons . At the present time we have forty-five Grand Lodges , with a membership in the entire United States of very nearly 800 , 000 members . The Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania has 350 lodges and 40 , 000 Masons . The Grand Lodge of New York o \ er 500 lodges and very nearly 80 , 000 Freemasons . I may slate that each of these forty-five Grand
Lodges is sovereign and supreme in its own jurisdiction . Each one is the peer of the other , each one recognises the rights , ( territorial and jurisdictional ) , of tbe other , and the entire forty-five stand side by side with the Grand Lodge of England in maintaining the landmarks of Freemasonry . ( Cheers . ) At this time nearly every Grand Lodge ( I think I may say every Grand Lodge ) has
severed its connection with , and refused communication with the Grand Orient of France , and with Masons under its jurisdiction . ( Hear , hear . ) I thank you on behalf of the Present and Past Giand Officers of the Grand Lodges of America for the very cordial and Iraternal manner in which you h-evc received the toast . ( Cheers . ) Bro . Brackstone Baker , P . G . D .: Worshipful Sir , ' and
brethren , the observations that you have just heard from our Bro . Meyer form a most admirable introduction to the few words I am going to address to you . I am quite aware of the value and importance of brevity , as our Bro . Monckton has so well and ably expressed just now ; but the importance of this toast can scarcely be overrated , and perhaps you will allow me three or four minutes' extra
time in order , not to diute upon it , but to give expression to those feelings which rise for utterance to my lips . By the dictrine of natural selection I presume our excellent , worthy and hospitable nos" has chosen me to be the representative of the larger assembly to propose to you The Health of our American Visiting Brethren . " I happen—by chance , I suppose—to be the
representative in our Grand Lodge of the State of Alabama , of Illinois , of Missouri , of Oregon and Tennessee , besides two Grand Lodges of the Dominion ; and , therefore , I should suppose I should have more acquaintance with our American brethren from my official position than any of the brethren ; but if there is any possible occasion on which we ought to cordially welcome from thc other
side of the Altantic brethren coming here to visit us , as they do , under the hjspitable roof of our Bro . Kenning , it ought to be on this occasion . I suppose such a thing has never happened before , where one hundred English brethhave met to welcome a corps of American brethren and extend the right hand of fellowship , to tell them , as the emblems on our banquet hall show , that the stars and
stripes and the Union Jack shall be indissolubly bound together , and that the motto of " E pluribus utium , " and " Dieu et mon Droit , " shall be the guide of our Masonic existence . If we require any other incentive it would be in the knowledge that our brethren come mostly , and almost without exception , from Pennsylannia and Philadelphia—the city of brotherly love—that brotherly love ,
Philadelphian affection , I may say that we ought properly to extend , and we do extend to brethren in Masonry , we surely should extend to thc Philadclphians , who are brethren in Masonry and not merely in name . Let us remember the lines we have just heard . " Firm , united let us be , Rallying round our liberty ,
As a band of brothers joined , Peace and safety we shall find . " I cannot better introduce this toast than by citing the characteristics of our two nations well-known in a familiar expression of each of our countries . We Englishmen are known by " All right , " and Americans by " Go ahead . " With those phrases " All right " and " Go ahead "
we are sure to prosper . I will not detain you any longer except to ask you to do justice to the entertainment , the rich , the sumptuous entertainment , that our Bro . Kenning has spread before us to-day , by giving a hearty welcome to our Philadelphian brethren ; and , as our Bro . Gofswalts said just now , may they live long and prosper . We have heard that before on this dais . As long as we have
those sentiments so long will Masonry flourish . As long as Masonry maintains its course as it does at present so long shall we extend the right hand of fellowship to our brethren . The toast is " Welcome to our American Guests from the other s'de of the Atlantic . " The toast having been most warmly received , Bro . Sutter , in reply said : You have heard a great deal about Masonry , and I arr . ndlKgoing to tell you much
about it on this occasion ; what I am going to do is to tell you who we are , where we come from , a little story , and to thank you . We come from the State of Pennsylvania ( I suppose every Englishmen in this room will know was settled by Wm . Penn , the Quaker ) . We are not here to-night in our broad brims , having left them at home , but we are here with full hearts . From the time that we left home we have received nothing but kindness . We started
Complimentary Dinner To Distinguished American Freemasons.
from Philadelphia , came to New York , stayed there one night , had a reception and a God speed , and next morning , on our sailing , a large steamer accompanied us five miles out to sea , and the people on board gave us " Good bye , and God speed , " and the cordialjwelcomc which we have received here to-night will for ever be impressed on the hearts of our little party . The blessing of heaven
seems to have rested upon us ever since we left home . We were rocked on the gentle bosom of the deep , but we came over here safely , and the right hand of brotherhood was extended to us before we stepped on British soil . We have received nothing but kindness wherever we have been , in England , Ireland , and Scotland . Now I will tell you a little story . Bro . Meyer and I were in the Tower to-Jay ,
and it was broughtto my recollection that there was a legend in the town in which I was born , that an old blacksmith , living in Iron Work Hall , " made with his own hands a cannon out of hoops , that he took the cannon into battle , that it was captured by the troops of the mother government , and that it was to be seen in the Tower of London . I asked the old guard to let me see the cannon , and he
said to me , " My dear Sir , we have nothing in this Tower captured from America ; we do not want anything , and we do not expect to get anything . " Now , tbat made me feel very good . ( Cheers and laughter . ) In travelling through your country I have seen many relics of the past , in the shape of the abbeys and the chapels , and for the first time in my life I have seen the marks of
our ancient Masters . We have seen the rough and smooth ashlar with the mark of the maker on it in St . Mary ' s Chapel , York , and at Westminster Abbey . I see around me worthy descendants of those ancestors , and I have heard their remarks with very great pleasure . Our visit to Europe has done us great good . I will tell you a great secret , there is seated at the table amongst you an historian
wellknown to all of you , Fro . Hughan , and very near him are Bro . Whitehead and Bro . Ellis ; they have all met together for the first time to-night at the genial board of Bro . Kenning , well-known to all of us for a long time . ( Cheers . ) For this mark of his appreciation of our visit we are going to remember him until the Masonic candle goes out .
Bro . Meyer proposed " The Host , Bro . Kenning . " In doing so he said : Brethren , I have to give you , on behalf of the American brethren , the toast of the evening . As Bro . Sutter has said , from the time we set foot on the shores of Ireland we have received one continuous ovation , till to-night , in the greatest city in the world , it has reached its acme > lt can go no higher than it has to-night . I
would state to the American brethren , and to the English brethren , that Bro . Kenning is well known to us on the other side of the Atlantic as the publisher and proprietor ofthe Freemasim , which he established in the year 186 9 ; and 1 can say tiuly that it is appreciated and valued abroad , as much as it is at home h re with you , as the exponent of the Laws of the Grand Lodge of England .
( Hear , hear . ) Bro . Kenning is the cause , perhaps , directly and indirectly of this present meeting to-night—boih . It was first through the columns of the Freemason , published by Bro . Kenning , that we , on the other side of the Atlantic , came to know , to honour , and to respect , what we consider the great lights in Masonry , the historians , Bros . Hughan , Wooiford , Whitehead , Ellis , Lyon , and a host
of other good men and true . He has also brought before the profane , anti-Masonic world , the Masonic charities of England , of which he has been an exponent for this country and all over the world . Bro . Kenning has not it , not only by himself , but by those employed under him , only the respect of the Craft but also of the many hundreds of his employe ' s , to whom he lias always shown
the great characteristics of a gentlcmanand a Freemason . ( Hear , hear . ) Brethren , I give you the toast of the evening , on the American side , and also , I think , on the English side , " Our Brcther Kenning . " Bro . Kenning in reply , said : Brethren , I am extremely flattered by the kind way in which Bro . Meyer has proposed my health this evening . I am still more flattered by the
kindly manner in which it has been received . I am glad to see assembled around this board this evening distinguished members of the two countries , which I hope will ever live in peace and amity . As proprietor of the Freemason it has always been my earnest endeavour to advocate the cause of Masonic brotherhocd , and to spread peace and goodwill among men . Brethren , I thank you very much for the
honour you have done me . ( Cheers ) . Bro . Kenning then called on Bro . Muckley to propose a toast , but calling him " Mackley" at first , was corrected . Bro . Muckley , in proposing the toast of " The Masonic Press all over the world , " said , Bro . Chairman and brethren , I thank you very much for correcting my name . At the same time I remember distinctly a line or two of
Shakespeare in which he says . " A rose by any other name smells just as sweet . " Now , I don ' t pretend to say I have the odour of rose about me , but whether Muddey or Mackley it is just the same to Mrs . Muckley . Now , brethren for the toast allotted to me , "The MasonicPress all over the World , " and I know no special reason why it should be confided to such poor hands as mine , except that I have spent 3 6 years
of my life in the newspaper business ; but not a Masonic press business ; and when I remember as far back as 30 years in Masonry that a great many publications that should have been made in those days a strong use of their great work were kept back or kept away from the printers ' hands with as much care as if they were surreptitious matter , they made a mistake . To-day there is nothing which does the Order so much good as publishing to
the world the good that we do ; and I think if a man does good he should not hide his light under a bushel . I see to-night in the chair a gentleman and a brother whose name and fame as a publisher in Freemasonry is known all over the globe . ( Hear , hear . ) We know him in Philadelphia , and in fact in the United States , just as well as the brethren who meet with him once a week or once a month , at least I have felt so towards him , and I feel I am
Complimentary Dinner To Distinguished American Freemasons.
asserting that which every American Maso 1 feels . If we have good Masonic news , good and true , spread it to the world ; let our deeds be known by the only charities which are under your charge . In the City of London the sums of money you give to the education of children , both those * g who are o phans and those who are not , ate v . iy large . So d > jou in Masonry ,
and it is that which the profane cannot understand , but we do . We have the pulsation , the electrical pulsation in our hearts which binds us to the widows and the orphans . Then again , brethren , would we to night have been gathered together in this good , social , Masonic style if it had rc been for a Masonic journal ? ( Hear , hear ) . We are a 1 Masons , but I can assure you , brethren , that some of us
have not had lighter hearts than the others . Why it is I know not , for it is no use grumbling against the Almighty . If He makes a large body , He makes a large heart ; if He makes a small body , He makes a small heart , therefore , when I look at an English n , bleman , as I call your chair man , in form , and manly form , and see how much bigger he is than I am , I come to the conclusion that he has a
heart twice as large as I have . If he has not got tbat , I trust he may have a purse a thousand times larger , good luck , good fortune , long life , and good health . I trust that all of these may attend Bro . Kenning , and all of those who surround this board to-night to do him honour . This is my toast , " The Masonic Press all over the World . "
Bro . the Rev . A . F . A . Woodford in reply said , Bro . Chairman and brethren , before I commence the few remarks it is my great privilege to make to you to-night , I have been requested by a most distinguished brother of our Order , whose name is a " household word' ' among us—I allude to our esteemed Bro . John Havers ( cheers)—to state that through ill health , and being with
his family at Matlock , he is unable to be present , as he says , to-night , to thank Bro . Kenning for his patriotic and Masonic assembly , and to offer his hearty good wishes to his American brethren . ( Applause . ) Brethren , the toast to which 1 have been called upon to reply is one of no little difficulty . We all of us in this room to-night are agreed with regard to the advantages of a well-regulated
press . As the guardian of our liberties , as the upholder of civilisation , as the preacher of toleration , as the advocate of justice , —I do not think there is a brother around this table who is insensible to the advantages of a properly regulated press . Thos * of us who have studied the history of mankind will do justice to the principles of the press , proclaimed thoroughly in consonance with our
Masonic teaching , namely the advocacy of the sacred principles of justice and liberty , e . f toleration and truth . But when we come to the Masonic press the way is not so clear . Masonry is a peculiar system , and many of us have some hesitation in agreeing at once to a general and indiscriminate public-ition of all Masonic proceedings . But I venture , Sir , to say
to-night that so long as thc Masonic press continues , as our eloquent brother from America s * . ys , to advocate its own unchanging principles , to support our great Charitable Institutions , to vind cate alike legitimate auihoiity and the rights of the Craft , and yet to proclaim universal goodwill and brotherly love , hatred of persecution , and liberty of conscience , the Masonic press is eqoally a
blessing both to our Order and to the world . ( Cheers . ) _ I know of an admirable Masonic paper of America , for instance—a credit to Freemasonry and to its country—I allude to the Keystone , conducted by my esteemed brother and friend Clifford McCalla , which equally with the Freemason advocates the true and lasting principles of universal Freemasonry . I therefore venture to advocate on every
ground the value and utility of the Masonic press . Brethren , it has struck me to night that one of the advantages of the Masonic Press , as some of us have already said , has been to bring together by our hospitable host this goodly gathering . Here ivc are , English brethren and American brethren , met together in fraternal goodwill and amity ; and be it remembered that in that great struggle
which has been thrown upon us on the Continent by the unwise proceedings of the Grand Orient of France the whole of the American Masons are standing with the English Ma = ons side by side and shoulder to shoulder , advocating those noble principles which as our Pro Grand Master puts it are not only the distinguishing characteristic , but the eternal heritage of Freemasonry . ( Cheers . ) I
remember a story which I think is a very good one , and which illustrates our position as English and American Freemasons , and which some of us may call to mind ^ appeared in the pages of Blackwood , some years ago , in a most graphic account by the late Admiral Sherard Osborn . It was at the time our fleet attacked the ports in the Peiho River , under a very gallant officer , Admiral
Hope . The shells ivere flying , and some of our gun boats were in flames , and though the American sailors were told to remain perfectly neutral , yet they were to be seen leaving the vessel to help the English blue jackets to put out the fire . ( Cheers . ) But as the American Commodore said , " Blood is thicker than water . " ( Cheering . ) That , sir , I believe to be the principle you wish to inculcate
tonight , that" blood is thicker than water . ' ] The American Masons are bound together by pleasant ties of amity , affection , and goodwill with us . Yes , sir , I believe tbat in the kindly and glorious principles of Freemasonry we have found a bond of union which shall cement our two great countries more and more . A poet said in very beautiful words , which I take the liberty of adapting to the present occasion , and which I think we shall all heartily agree to ,
Their sons and ours have walked abreast as kinsfolk and as friends , As men who seek the same hig h goal and choose the same high ends ; Their sons and ours have sought to teach the world to Keep in awe The cloudless face of liberty , tbe level gauge of law .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Complimentary Dinner To Distinguished American Freemasons.
the . world , the better the world must become . I can only , therefore , ask you to join with me cordially in drinking " The Health of Grand Lodges of America , and the Present and P .. s : Grand Officers . " Bro . Meyer : Worshipful Sir and brother , I regret very much that a more suitable person has not been chosen from amongst the American brethren to respond to this
toast . As Bro . Gotwalts has already said , the Grand Lodges of America derive their existence from the Grand Lodge of England . The Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania , of which I am a member , and o ? which many of the brethren here are members , received its Masonic life in 1730 from the Grand Lodge of England . It * 1732 Benjamin Franklin , whom you all know , was the Provincial Grand
Master . From 1730 up to 1830 , a period of hundred years , Masonry slowly but surely progressed , but in 1830 a great Masonic excitement commenced , when Masons , or , at least , a great many brethren deserted , but by the few who remained firm and steady to the institutions of the Fraternity the Society was perpetuated , and Masonry from about 18 34 progressed . At that time there
were in the entire United States about 10 , 000 Masons . At the present time we have forty-five Grand Lodges , with a membership in the entire United States of very nearly 800 , 000 members . The Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania has 350 lodges and 40 , 000 Masons . The Grand Lodge of New York o \ er 500 lodges and very nearly 80 , 000 Freemasons . I may slate that each of these forty-five Grand
Lodges is sovereign and supreme in its own jurisdiction . Each one is the peer of the other , each one recognises the rights , ( territorial and jurisdictional ) , of tbe other , and the entire forty-five stand side by side with the Grand Lodge of England in maintaining the landmarks of Freemasonry . ( Cheers . ) At this time nearly every Grand Lodge ( I think I may say every Grand Lodge ) has
severed its connection with , and refused communication with the Grand Orient of France , and with Masons under its jurisdiction . ( Hear , hear . ) I thank you on behalf of the Present and Past Giand Officers of the Grand Lodges of America for the very cordial and Iraternal manner in which you h-evc received the toast . ( Cheers . ) Bro . Brackstone Baker , P . G . D .: Worshipful Sir , ' and
brethren , the observations that you have just heard from our Bro . Meyer form a most admirable introduction to the few words I am going to address to you . I am quite aware of the value and importance of brevity , as our Bro . Monckton has so well and ably expressed just now ; but the importance of this toast can scarcely be overrated , and perhaps you will allow me three or four minutes' extra
time in order , not to diute upon it , but to give expression to those feelings which rise for utterance to my lips . By the dictrine of natural selection I presume our excellent , worthy and hospitable nos" has chosen me to be the representative of the larger assembly to propose to you The Health of our American Visiting Brethren . " I happen—by chance , I suppose—to be the
representative in our Grand Lodge of the State of Alabama , of Illinois , of Missouri , of Oregon and Tennessee , besides two Grand Lodges of the Dominion ; and , therefore , I should suppose I should have more acquaintance with our American brethren from my official position than any of the brethren ; but if there is any possible occasion on which we ought to cordially welcome from thc other
side of the Altantic brethren coming here to visit us , as they do , under the hjspitable roof of our Bro . Kenning , it ought to be on this occasion . I suppose such a thing has never happened before , where one hundred English brethhave met to welcome a corps of American brethren and extend the right hand of fellowship , to tell them , as the emblems on our banquet hall show , that the stars and
stripes and the Union Jack shall be indissolubly bound together , and that the motto of " E pluribus utium , " and " Dieu et mon Droit , " shall be the guide of our Masonic existence . If we require any other incentive it would be in the knowledge that our brethren come mostly , and almost without exception , from Pennsylannia and Philadelphia—the city of brotherly love—that brotherly love ,
Philadelphian affection , I may say that we ought properly to extend , and we do extend to brethren in Masonry , we surely should extend to thc Philadclphians , who are brethren in Masonry and not merely in name . Let us remember the lines we have just heard . " Firm , united let us be , Rallying round our liberty ,
As a band of brothers joined , Peace and safety we shall find . " I cannot better introduce this toast than by citing the characteristics of our two nations well-known in a familiar expression of each of our countries . We Englishmen are known by " All right , " and Americans by " Go ahead . " With those phrases " All right " and " Go ahead "
we are sure to prosper . I will not detain you any longer except to ask you to do justice to the entertainment , the rich , the sumptuous entertainment , that our Bro . Kenning has spread before us to-day , by giving a hearty welcome to our Philadelphian brethren ; and , as our Bro . Gofswalts said just now , may they live long and prosper . We have heard that before on this dais . As long as we have
those sentiments so long will Masonry flourish . As long as Masonry maintains its course as it does at present so long shall we extend the right hand of fellowship to our brethren . The toast is " Welcome to our American Guests from the other s'de of the Atlantic . " The toast having been most warmly received , Bro . Sutter , in reply said : You have heard a great deal about Masonry , and I arr . ndlKgoing to tell you much
about it on this occasion ; what I am going to do is to tell you who we are , where we come from , a little story , and to thank you . We come from the State of Pennsylvania ( I suppose every Englishmen in this room will know was settled by Wm . Penn , the Quaker ) . We are not here to-night in our broad brims , having left them at home , but we are here with full hearts . From the time that we left home we have received nothing but kindness . We started
Complimentary Dinner To Distinguished American Freemasons.
from Philadelphia , came to New York , stayed there one night , had a reception and a God speed , and next morning , on our sailing , a large steamer accompanied us five miles out to sea , and the people on board gave us " Good bye , and God speed , " and the cordialjwelcomc which we have received here to-night will for ever be impressed on the hearts of our little party . The blessing of heaven
seems to have rested upon us ever since we left home . We were rocked on the gentle bosom of the deep , but we came over here safely , and the right hand of brotherhood was extended to us before we stepped on British soil . We have received nothing but kindness wherever we have been , in England , Ireland , and Scotland . Now I will tell you a little story . Bro . Meyer and I were in the Tower to-Jay ,
and it was broughtto my recollection that there was a legend in the town in which I was born , that an old blacksmith , living in Iron Work Hall , " made with his own hands a cannon out of hoops , that he took the cannon into battle , that it was captured by the troops of the mother government , and that it was to be seen in the Tower of London . I asked the old guard to let me see the cannon , and he
said to me , " My dear Sir , we have nothing in this Tower captured from America ; we do not want anything , and we do not expect to get anything . " Now , tbat made me feel very good . ( Cheers and laughter . ) In travelling through your country I have seen many relics of the past , in the shape of the abbeys and the chapels , and for the first time in my life I have seen the marks of
our ancient Masters . We have seen the rough and smooth ashlar with the mark of the maker on it in St . Mary ' s Chapel , York , and at Westminster Abbey . I see around me worthy descendants of those ancestors , and I have heard their remarks with very great pleasure . Our visit to Europe has done us great good . I will tell you a great secret , there is seated at the table amongst you an historian
wellknown to all of you , Fro . Hughan , and very near him are Bro . Whitehead and Bro . Ellis ; they have all met together for the first time to-night at the genial board of Bro . Kenning , well-known to all of us for a long time . ( Cheers . ) For this mark of his appreciation of our visit we are going to remember him until the Masonic candle goes out .
Bro . Meyer proposed " The Host , Bro . Kenning . " In doing so he said : Brethren , I have to give you , on behalf of the American brethren , the toast of the evening . As Bro . Sutter has said , from the time we set foot on the shores of Ireland we have received one continuous ovation , till to-night , in the greatest city in the world , it has reached its acme > lt can go no higher than it has to-night . I
would state to the American brethren , and to the English brethren , that Bro . Kenning is well known to us on the other side of the Atlantic as the publisher and proprietor ofthe Freemasim , which he established in the year 186 9 ; and 1 can say tiuly that it is appreciated and valued abroad , as much as it is at home h re with you , as the exponent of the Laws of the Grand Lodge of England .
( Hear , hear . ) Bro . Kenning is the cause , perhaps , directly and indirectly of this present meeting to-night—boih . It was first through the columns of the Freemason , published by Bro . Kenning , that we , on the other side of the Atlantic , came to know , to honour , and to respect , what we consider the great lights in Masonry , the historians , Bros . Hughan , Wooiford , Whitehead , Ellis , Lyon , and a host
of other good men and true . He has also brought before the profane , anti-Masonic world , the Masonic charities of England , of which he has been an exponent for this country and all over the world . Bro . Kenning has not it , not only by himself , but by those employed under him , only the respect of the Craft but also of the many hundreds of his employe ' s , to whom he lias always shown
the great characteristics of a gentlcmanand a Freemason . ( Hear , hear . ) Brethren , I give you the toast of the evening , on the American side , and also , I think , on the English side , " Our Brcther Kenning . " Bro . Kenning in reply , said : Brethren , I am extremely flattered by the kind way in which Bro . Meyer has proposed my health this evening . I am still more flattered by the
kindly manner in which it has been received . I am glad to see assembled around this board this evening distinguished members of the two countries , which I hope will ever live in peace and amity . As proprietor of the Freemason it has always been my earnest endeavour to advocate the cause of Masonic brotherhocd , and to spread peace and goodwill among men . Brethren , I thank you very much for the
honour you have done me . ( Cheers ) . Bro . Kenning then called on Bro . Muckley to propose a toast , but calling him " Mackley" at first , was corrected . Bro . Muckley , in proposing the toast of " The Masonic Press all over the world , " said , Bro . Chairman and brethren , I thank you very much for correcting my name . At the same time I remember distinctly a line or two of
Shakespeare in which he says . " A rose by any other name smells just as sweet . " Now , I don ' t pretend to say I have the odour of rose about me , but whether Muddey or Mackley it is just the same to Mrs . Muckley . Now , brethren for the toast allotted to me , "The MasonicPress all over the World , " and I know no special reason why it should be confided to such poor hands as mine , except that I have spent 3 6 years
of my life in the newspaper business ; but not a Masonic press business ; and when I remember as far back as 30 years in Masonry that a great many publications that should have been made in those days a strong use of their great work were kept back or kept away from the printers ' hands with as much care as if they were surreptitious matter , they made a mistake . To-day there is nothing which does the Order so much good as publishing to
the world the good that we do ; and I think if a man does good he should not hide his light under a bushel . I see to-night in the chair a gentleman and a brother whose name and fame as a publisher in Freemasonry is known all over the globe . ( Hear , hear . ) We know him in Philadelphia , and in fact in the United States , just as well as the brethren who meet with him once a week or once a month , at least I have felt so towards him , and I feel I am
Complimentary Dinner To Distinguished American Freemasons.
asserting that which every American Maso 1 feels . If we have good Masonic news , good and true , spread it to the world ; let our deeds be known by the only charities which are under your charge . In the City of London the sums of money you give to the education of children , both those * g who are o phans and those who are not , ate v . iy large . So d > jou in Masonry ,
and it is that which the profane cannot understand , but we do . We have the pulsation , the electrical pulsation in our hearts which binds us to the widows and the orphans . Then again , brethren , would we to night have been gathered together in this good , social , Masonic style if it had rc been for a Masonic journal ? ( Hear , hear ) . We are a 1 Masons , but I can assure you , brethren , that some of us
have not had lighter hearts than the others . Why it is I know not , for it is no use grumbling against the Almighty . If He makes a large body , He makes a large heart ; if He makes a small body , He makes a small heart , therefore , when I look at an English n , bleman , as I call your chair man , in form , and manly form , and see how much bigger he is than I am , I come to the conclusion that he has a
heart twice as large as I have . If he has not got tbat , I trust he may have a purse a thousand times larger , good luck , good fortune , long life , and good health . I trust that all of these may attend Bro . Kenning , and all of those who surround this board to-night to do him honour . This is my toast , " The Masonic Press all over the World . "
Bro . the Rev . A . F . A . Woodford in reply said , Bro . Chairman and brethren , before I commence the few remarks it is my great privilege to make to you to-night , I have been requested by a most distinguished brother of our Order , whose name is a " household word' ' among us—I allude to our esteemed Bro . John Havers ( cheers)—to state that through ill health , and being with
his family at Matlock , he is unable to be present , as he says , to-night , to thank Bro . Kenning for his patriotic and Masonic assembly , and to offer his hearty good wishes to his American brethren . ( Applause . ) Brethren , the toast to which 1 have been called upon to reply is one of no little difficulty . We all of us in this room to-night are agreed with regard to the advantages of a well-regulated
press . As the guardian of our liberties , as the upholder of civilisation , as the preacher of toleration , as the advocate of justice , —I do not think there is a brother around this table who is insensible to the advantages of a properly regulated press . Thos * of us who have studied the history of mankind will do justice to the principles of the press , proclaimed thoroughly in consonance with our
Masonic teaching , namely the advocacy of the sacred principles of justice and liberty , e . f toleration and truth . But when we come to the Masonic press the way is not so clear . Masonry is a peculiar system , and many of us have some hesitation in agreeing at once to a general and indiscriminate public-ition of all Masonic proceedings . But I venture , Sir , to say
to-night that so long as thc Masonic press continues , as our eloquent brother from America s * . ys , to advocate its own unchanging principles , to support our great Charitable Institutions , to vind cate alike legitimate auihoiity and the rights of the Craft , and yet to proclaim universal goodwill and brotherly love , hatred of persecution , and liberty of conscience , the Masonic press is eqoally a
blessing both to our Order and to the world . ( Cheers . ) _ I know of an admirable Masonic paper of America , for instance—a credit to Freemasonry and to its country—I allude to the Keystone , conducted by my esteemed brother and friend Clifford McCalla , which equally with the Freemason advocates the true and lasting principles of universal Freemasonry . I therefore venture to advocate on every
ground the value and utility of the Masonic press . Brethren , it has struck me to night that one of the advantages of the Masonic Press , as some of us have already said , has been to bring together by our hospitable host this goodly gathering . Here ivc are , English brethren and American brethren , met together in fraternal goodwill and amity ; and be it remembered that in that great struggle
which has been thrown upon us on the Continent by the unwise proceedings of the Grand Orient of France the whole of the American Masons are standing with the English Ma = ons side by side and shoulder to shoulder , advocating those noble principles which as our Pro Grand Master puts it are not only the distinguishing characteristic , but the eternal heritage of Freemasonry . ( Cheers . ) I
remember a story which I think is a very good one , and which illustrates our position as English and American Freemasons , and which some of us may call to mind ^ appeared in the pages of Blackwood , some years ago , in a most graphic account by the late Admiral Sherard Osborn . It was at the time our fleet attacked the ports in the Peiho River , under a very gallant officer , Admiral
Hope . The shells ivere flying , and some of our gun boats were in flames , and though the American sailors were told to remain perfectly neutral , yet they were to be seen leaving the vessel to help the English blue jackets to put out the fire . ( Cheers . ) But as the American Commodore said , " Blood is thicker than water . " ( Cheering . ) That , sir , I believe to be the principle you wish to inculcate
tonight , that" blood is thicker than water . ' ] The American Masons are bound together by pleasant ties of amity , affection , and goodwill with us . Yes , sir , I believe tbat in the kindly and glorious principles of Freemasonry we have found a bond of union which shall cement our two great countries more and more . A poet said in very beautiful words , which I take the liberty of adapting to the present occasion , and which I think we shall all heartily agree to ,
Their sons and ours have walked abreast as kinsfolk and as friends , As men who seek the same hig h goal and choose the same high ends ; Their sons and ours have sought to teach the world to Keep in awe The cloudless face of liberty , tbe level gauge of law .