Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Consecration Of The Sympathy Chapter, No. 483.
were no worthier companions who could have been selected for Grand office . If there was ever a hard-working brother in the province it was Bro . Spencer , who had been steadfast and always to be found ready when wanted . Comp . ALFRED SPENCER , Prov . Grand Scribe E ., replying , ssid it was not necessary for him to make any comment on the merits of the
c 0 mpanions named in the toast , the merits of each and all of them were , veII-known to all Masons . He might , however , say that every companion 0 f Kent would feel proud and honoured to think that the Prince of Wales had been pleased to give the position of G . H . to Earl Amherst , Grand Superintendent of the province . They all wished that Lord Amherst mig ht live long to occupy that proud and honourable position , and long also
might Crait and Royal Arch Masons of Kent rally around him to sustain him in that position . For the other Grand Officers he would say that as Comp . Russell had spoken of him in very eulogistic terms , he felt proud to occupy his high position given him by Earl Amherst , and he hoped in occupying that position he should be always worthy of the high terms Comp Russell had been kind enough to apply to him .
Comp . RUSSELL next proposed " Earl Amherst , Grand Superintendent of Kent . " The companions of the province had thought many years they were in the happy position of the good man in the Bible , who found a jewel of great price , anel went and' sold all that he had and bought it . Years ago they found their jewel of great price , sold all they had and bought it ; and they kept that jewel in the Province of Kent for 36 years , and some 20
years in Royal Arch Masonry . But the jewel , to a certain extent , had been taken from them ; there were companions who had come and demanded to share the rights of proprietorship in that jewel , and who could say them nay ? But Freemasonry was not a Society which appropriated what was good and valuable and kept it to itself . Masons were not niggardly or captious . It had pleased the Prince of Wales to appoint Earl Amherst to
a position in Grand Chapter , and so far from expressing any regret at others sharing with them the proprietorship of their Grand Superintendent that priceless jewel , they congratulated him on his preferment , and rejoiced that he had been promoted to a higher honour than it was in their powtr to give him . He trusted that Lord Amherst might be spared many years enshrined in the hearts of Freemasons of England and of Kent . But it was impossible
tor him to hold a higher place in the hearts of any Englishmen than he did in the hearts of Kentishmen . That night they had to thank him for his kindness in attending personally to consecrate their chapter , and start their barque on the sea of life . It was a happy omen to have fine weather to make good voyages and be successful in their career . They had the good wishes of the companions in the province generally , and if such kindly
acts as his lordship had showered on them that day could be of any value , he thought it was a happy augury for the success that would attend that chapter through many years of existence . Addressing Comp . Lord Amherst , Comp . Russell said the companions thanked him for the services he had rendered that day , and they hoped he would be spared many years to rule over the destinies of Arch Masonry in the Province of Kent , and that the
success which had attended his banner mi ght go on for many years to come . Comp . Earl AMHERST , in responding to the toast , which was most cordially received , said it was always customary—he thought it was a custom which ought to be abolished—to thank the Provincial Grand Master or Superintendent for attending to do his duty . In point of fact , he thought everv such Grand Master or Sunerintendent ourrht alwavs tn hr >
pleased to attend to constitute either a new lodge or a new chapter , because he knew that he was constituting that which would increase his influence in the cause of Masonry , and it would be ill to depute the duty to any one but himself . The duties ought to be performed by him , to whom Ihey were assigned , whether it was the duties of Master of a lodge , or Warden , or Deacon , or an Inner Guard , whatever was assigned to him he
ought to perform it . His duties were assigned to him by the G . Master , and he ought to perform them . Besides , there were few more beautiful ceremonies in Masonry than the consecration of a new Royal Arch chapter or a new Craft lodge . _ He was always obliged to Comp . Horatio Ward for his unvarying devotion to the Craft in his position of D . C . It was a very great matter that these ceremonies should be well peiformed and reverently
rendered . If a hitch occurred , or somebody did something improperly , the whole thing was marred , and the solemnity of the ceremony was done away with . He would impress upon the companions of his province that they should do as Comp . Ward had done , and study to take upon themselves duties which they might at some time be called upon to fulfil . Depend upon 11 , although it might involve taking trouble at the time , some day or other they would be called upon to take some part , and if they were not prepared
they would regret they were not as perfect as Comp . Ward in that part , as they would find the ceremonies would not be worked so smoothly . Ithad given mm very greatpleasure to attend at Gravesend and consecrate a new chapter , there was good room for it in Gravesend without interfering with the old cue . That was always the difficulty in recommendirgnewlodges or new chapters— whether the old lodgeor old chapter was likely to injure theprosperity of ¦ T oiner
. But he thought there was room for this chapter to go on and prosper , <« nd he hoped it would for many years to come adorn the roll of the Grand hapter of Kent . With respect to the kind observations which had been > 'iade concerning himself , he knew perfectly well the honour he had received ! ° the Grand Master and Grand ' / ,., had been felt more or less by every ' ° oge and chapter , and every brother throuohout Kent . The r / reat
aDDreciation by his Royal Highness of the services of the brethren of the Province ° ' Kent , was shown by the honour conferred on the head of it , and the lonours conferred on the other brethren . He could not grant collars to all IK ^ ) ren ' but Kent sti " received some share of the collars . Naturally •' -district of London not having a province of their own , took a large share ? ' 'he distinctions . Kent , however , had had no small share of Grand Lodtre iours
™ , and the appointment he had received from the Piince of Wales \ i I A ^' S aPPrecialion 0 I the wav in whicl 1 Ro )' al Arch Masonry had been orked in the Province of Kent . Let them show their appreciation of that ° y upholding the character of Royal Arch Masonry . Comp . RI ' SSELL , in submitting to the companions the toast of "The Ofl pUty , Grand Superintendent , and the rest of the Provincial Grand ytneers , ' said it Wai nnt mnn ., mnnlVie onn a llirill „ f -, ~„ , Dl , „ . , . . : ., . . « v . tntii 3 iuu ictn
thrnn l . 11 i _ — ....., ......... _ , .. « ^ , >> . > , > "fi / 1 , 'ougn all the members of the Masonic Craft , when they heard that Comp , eVp was dangerously ill . It must have afforded a thrill of pleasure to Ve | , rvconi P an'on lhat aflernoon to see Comp . Eastes among them looking as like lh did | and E 0 lar ncovered - II was ver > ' difficult on an occasion when ft pr ( LSent ' adec l " ately t 0 express ihe deep feeling they all experienced the a - y d ° f Com P- Eastes' illness ; it exhibited itself day by day in anxious enquiries to learn his condition . Thanks to the Great Architect
Consecration Of The Sympathy Chapter, No. 483.
Bro . Eastes recovered , was with them once more , and they were truly thankful that the Great Architect had in his unbounded mercv and goodness spared him . There was no Royal Arch Mason in the province more beloved than Comp . Eastes . He had a loving- heart , but a firm hand , and that made them good Masons . There were other Masons in the province who had also worked honestly , zealously , and truly in the cause , and it was to
be hoped that their familiar voices might be heard for years to come , consecrating , or assisting to consecrate , chapters and installing and investing officers . Comp . Warne was an Installing Master par excellence ; he was facile princeps . If anyone dared to do anything not as Comp . Warne did it he must be careful , for he rushed in where angels feared to tread . Other
companions did not hold office from year to year like Comp . Warne , but they had risen to their dignity through the hard work they had given to Royal Arch Masonry ; it was a reward of merit . Long might all those companions live to instruct , guide , and assist the vounger Royal Arch Masons , so that they might in their turn become Preceptors instead of pupils .
Comp . THOMAS S . WARNE , Prov . G . S . E ., who was called upon to respond , said Comp . Russell had feelingly alluded to their dear Comp . Eastes , and he was glad to hear those kind remarks as to the delight with which they all welcomed him again among them . Unfortunately Comp . Eastes was not able to stay to the banquet , and consequently he ( Comp . Warne ) had to reply for the Prov . Grand Officers . It was said by artists
that if you wanted to test the value of a painting you must look at it under two aspects—by a near examination and a view from some distance . He was afraid that in the kind remarks Comp . Russell had made he had looked at him at too great a distance , for if he had looked at him a litle nearer he doubted whether he could have said all the kind things they had heard . However , he ( Comp . Warne ) only gave expression to his belief and the
belief of his confreres , the Grand Officers , when he said he and they were proud to serve under Comp . Lord Amherst , because he always maintained that although the Grand Officers might be selected for Grand Office , it was not so much the brethren who were honoured as the lodges or chapters to which they belonged . Therefore , it should be the aim of the companions and the brethren to stand well with their chapter or lodge . As to the
events of the day , he had felt it a privilege to take part in the consecration of another new chapter for Kent . When he looked back to the last twenty years and remembered—holding the position he did-the first chapler he assisted in consecrating stood No . 1 1 on the roll , and now that the Sympathy was the 26 th chapter in Kent , he believed that much of the eclat and prestige acquired had occurred through the happy circumstance of having Comp .
Lord Amherst as the head of the Province . Without betraying confidence , he could inform the companions that a petition was about to be presented for another chapter in the province , so that shortly they might hope to see a roll of 30 chapters in Kent . He would impress upon Masons wherever he went , that it was all very well to attend the consecration of lodges and chapters , to extend the borders of Masonry , but what did it all mean and
what should it mean 1 That they were endeavouring to carry out the thres great principles of the Order—Brotherly Love , Relief , and Truth . If these were the watchwords they could view with calm equanimity the extension of their borders , because they knew wherever a chapter was , there was a centre of usefulness , the Charities were fostered , and the principles of Ma onrv were increased . He hoped there was a fine future for that chapter .
Comp . Earl AMHERST proposed " The Three Principals of the Chapter . ' ' The Provincial G . S . E . had spoken of enlarging vhe borders of R . A . M . and what it meant . One thing it did mean , that more members would come in , and the Grand Treasurer of Kent would rejoice in that , because he would have greater power in the cause of Charity , which had been the pride of the province hitherto . For many years
past Comp . Russell had been Treasurer of Kent , an honour and distinction which he hoped would be conferred on Comp . Russell for many years more . Under his considerable financial knowledge , the financial duties of the province had been well performed . At times his schemes were daring , as was the one he lately propounded ; but they had to thank Comp . Russell very often for his good advice at their provincial
meetings in laying out the funds to the best advantage . The voting power of the province had been enormously increased . He was the M . E . Z . of the Chapter of Sympathy , the Second Principal was the Master of the Lodge of Sympathy , and a most excellent and enthusiastic Mason was the Third . All had passed the chair in other chapters . They were all able and experienced , and it only remained for the companions to assist them properly to make the chapter a success .
Comp . RUSSELL thanked his lordship , and hoped the new vessel now fairly embarked on the sea might be a good and successful trader , and bring home much profit to its owners . Its owners were good Masons of the Province of Kent . All such profit meant increased prosperity to the Province of Kent in Royal Arch Masonry . They would all share in that , and he , as Grand Treasurer , would have pleasure in applying the funds .
They wanted to increase the power for good of the province . They had propounded many schemes ; some had been rejected ; but the bulk had been accepted , and the result had been an unbroken march of success , and if the scheme which had been lately before the Provincial Grand Lodge preparatory meeting was followed up by a grant from the Provincial Grand Royal Arch Chapter , he felt sure that the two branches of Masonry would
be so indissolubly linked together , that they would be stronger and more powerful , and would be able to defy anyone to say that an agricultural province like Kent was unable to cope with the great manufacturing provinces in relieving their fellow-creatures . As long as they could go on marching hand in hand with their companions in the south in this noble race , it seemed to him that the Province of Kent was embarked on a great undertaking and it was necessary absolutely that every zealous Mason should lend his
shoulder to push the business through , and he was sure no Kentish Mason would hold back . Comp . ' Russell then referred to the formation of the chapter , thanking Comps . Forss and White for what they had done , and stating that they were both excellent workers , and would be able to expound Royal Arch Masonry in the Province of Kent . When the province had such zealous and earnest members success must attend the banner . Comps . FORSS , H ., and WHITE , J ., also replied .
The toast of " Ihe Visitors was replied to by Comps . GROOME and WALKER , and Comps . ARTHUR RONALDSON , S . E . ; BEAMISH , S . N . ; and ORLTON CoorER , P . S ., responded to a toast , which Comp . RUSSELL very genially proposed , of the companions who conceived the idea , and had the ene-gy of carrying it into effect , of constituting the chapter . The proceedings then closed .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Consecration Of The Sympathy Chapter, No. 483.
were no worthier companions who could have been selected for Grand office . If there was ever a hard-working brother in the province it was Bro . Spencer , who had been steadfast and always to be found ready when wanted . Comp . ALFRED SPENCER , Prov . Grand Scribe E ., replying , ssid it was not necessary for him to make any comment on the merits of the
c 0 mpanions named in the toast , the merits of each and all of them were , veII-known to all Masons . He might , however , say that every companion 0 f Kent would feel proud and honoured to think that the Prince of Wales had been pleased to give the position of G . H . to Earl Amherst , Grand Superintendent of the province . They all wished that Lord Amherst mig ht live long to occupy that proud and honourable position , and long also
might Crait and Royal Arch Masons of Kent rally around him to sustain him in that position . For the other Grand Officers he would say that as Comp . Russell had spoken of him in very eulogistic terms , he felt proud to occupy his high position given him by Earl Amherst , and he hoped in occupying that position he should be always worthy of the high terms Comp Russell had been kind enough to apply to him .
Comp . RUSSELL next proposed " Earl Amherst , Grand Superintendent of Kent . " The companions of the province had thought many years they were in the happy position of the good man in the Bible , who found a jewel of great price , anel went and' sold all that he had and bought it . Years ago they found their jewel of great price , sold all they had and bought it ; and they kept that jewel in the Province of Kent for 36 years , and some 20
years in Royal Arch Masonry . But the jewel , to a certain extent , had been taken from them ; there were companions who had come and demanded to share the rights of proprietorship in that jewel , and who could say them nay ? But Freemasonry was not a Society which appropriated what was good and valuable and kept it to itself . Masons were not niggardly or captious . It had pleased the Prince of Wales to appoint Earl Amherst to
a position in Grand Chapter , and so far from expressing any regret at others sharing with them the proprietorship of their Grand Superintendent that priceless jewel , they congratulated him on his preferment , and rejoiced that he had been promoted to a higher honour than it was in their powtr to give him . He trusted that Lord Amherst might be spared many years enshrined in the hearts of Freemasons of England and of Kent . But it was impossible
tor him to hold a higher place in the hearts of any Englishmen than he did in the hearts of Kentishmen . That night they had to thank him for his kindness in attending personally to consecrate their chapter , and start their barque on the sea of life . It was a happy omen to have fine weather to make good voyages and be successful in their career . They had the good wishes of the companions in the province generally , and if such kindly
acts as his lordship had showered on them that day could be of any value , he thought it was a happy augury for the success that would attend that chapter through many years of existence . Addressing Comp . Lord Amherst , Comp . Russell said the companions thanked him for the services he had rendered that day , and they hoped he would be spared many years to rule over the destinies of Arch Masonry in the Province of Kent , and that the
success which had attended his banner mi ght go on for many years to come . Comp . Earl AMHERST , in responding to the toast , which was most cordially received , said it was always customary—he thought it was a custom which ought to be abolished—to thank the Provincial Grand Master or Superintendent for attending to do his duty . In point of fact , he thought everv such Grand Master or Sunerintendent ourrht alwavs tn hr >
pleased to attend to constitute either a new lodge or a new chapter , because he knew that he was constituting that which would increase his influence in the cause of Masonry , and it would be ill to depute the duty to any one but himself . The duties ought to be performed by him , to whom Ihey were assigned , whether it was the duties of Master of a lodge , or Warden , or Deacon , or an Inner Guard , whatever was assigned to him he
ought to perform it . His duties were assigned to him by the G . Master , and he ought to perform them . Besides , there were few more beautiful ceremonies in Masonry than the consecration of a new Royal Arch chapter or a new Craft lodge . _ He was always obliged to Comp . Horatio Ward for his unvarying devotion to the Craft in his position of D . C . It was a very great matter that these ceremonies should be well peiformed and reverently
rendered . If a hitch occurred , or somebody did something improperly , the whole thing was marred , and the solemnity of the ceremony was done away with . He would impress upon the companions of his province that they should do as Comp . Ward had done , and study to take upon themselves duties which they might at some time be called upon to fulfil . Depend upon 11 , although it might involve taking trouble at the time , some day or other they would be called upon to take some part , and if they were not prepared
they would regret they were not as perfect as Comp . Ward in that part , as they would find the ceremonies would not be worked so smoothly . Ithad given mm very greatpleasure to attend at Gravesend and consecrate a new chapter , there was good room for it in Gravesend without interfering with the old cue . That was always the difficulty in recommendirgnewlodges or new chapters— whether the old lodgeor old chapter was likely to injure theprosperity of ¦ T oiner
. But he thought there was room for this chapter to go on and prosper , <« nd he hoped it would for many years to come adorn the roll of the Grand hapter of Kent . With respect to the kind observations which had been > 'iade concerning himself , he knew perfectly well the honour he had received ! ° the Grand Master and Grand ' / ,., had been felt more or less by every ' ° oge and chapter , and every brother throuohout Kent . The r / reat
aDDreciation by his Royal Highness of the services of the brethren of the Province ° ' Kent , was shown by the honour conferred on the head of it , and the lonours conferred on the other brethren . He could not grant collars to all IK ^ ) ren ' but Kent sti " received some share of the collars . Naturally •' -district of London not having a province of their own , took a large share ? ' 'he distinctions . Kent , however , had had no small share of Grand Lodtre iours
™ , and the appointment he had received from the Piince of Wales \ i I A ^' S aPPrecialion 0 I the wav in whicl 1 Ro )' al Arch Masonry had been orked in the Province of Kent . Let them show their appreciation of that ° y upholding the character of Royal Arch Masonry . Comp . RI ' SSELL , in submitting to the companions the toast of "The Ofl pUty , Grand Superintendent , and the rest of the Provincial Grand ytneers , ' said it Wai nnt mnn ., mnnlVie onn a llirill „ f -, ~„ , Dl , „ . , . . : ., . . « v . tntii 3 iuu ictn
thrnn l . 11 i _ — ....., ......... _ , .. « ^ , >> . > , > "fi / 1 , 'ougn all the members of the Masonic Craft , when they heard that Comp , eVp was dangerously ill . It must have afforded a thrill of pleasure to Ve | , rvconi P an'on lhat aflernoon to see Comp . Eastes among them looking as like lh did | and E 0 lar ncovered - II was ver > ' difficult on an occasion when ft pr ( LSent ' adec l " ately t 0 express ihe deep feeling they all experienced the a - y d ° f Com P- Eastes' illness ; it exhibited itself day by day in anxious enquiries to learn his condition . Thanks to the Great Architect
Consecration Of The Sympathy Chapter, No. 483.
Bro . Eastes recovered , was with them once more , and they were truly thankful that the Great Architect had in his unbounded mercv and goodness spared him . There was no Royal Arch Mason in the province more beloved than Comp . Eastes . He had a loving- heart , but a firm hand , and that made them good Masons . There were other Masons in the province who had also worked honestly , zealously , and truly in the cause , and it was to
be hoped that their familiar voices might be heard for years to come , consecrating , or assisting to consecrate , chapters and installing and investing officers . Comp . Warne was an Installing Master par excellence ; he was facile princeps . If anyone dared to do anything not as Comp . Warne did it he must be careful , for he rushed in where angels feared to tread . Other
companions did not hold office from year to year like Comp . Warne , but they had risen to their dignity through the hard work they had given to Royal Arch Masonry ; it was a reward of merit . Long might all those companions live to instruct , guide , and assist the vounger Royal Arch Masons , so that they might in their turn become Preceptors instead of pupils .
Comp . THOMAS S . WARNE , Prov . G . S . E ., who was called upon to respond , said Comp . Russell had feelingly alluded to their dear Comp . Eastes , and he was glad to hear those kind remarks as to the delight with which they all welcomed him again among them . Unfortunately Comp . Eastes was not able to stay to the banquet , and consequently he ( Comp . Warne ) had to reply for the Prov . Grand Officers . It was said by artists
that if you wanted to test the value of a painting you must look at it under two aspects—by a near examination and a view from some distance . He was afraid that in the kind remarks Comp . Russell had made he had looked at him at too great a distance , for if he had looked at him a litle nearer he doubted whether he could have said all the kind things they had heard . However , he ( Comp . Warne ) only gave expression to his belief and the
belief of his confreres , the Grand Officers , when he said he and they were proud to serve under Comp . Lord Amherst , because he always maintained that although the Grand Officers might be selected for Grand Office , it was not so much the brethren who were honoured as the lodges or chapters to which they belonged . Therefore , it should be the aim of the companions and the brethren to stand well with their chapter or lodge . As to the
events of the day , he had felt it a privilege to take part in the consecration of another new chapter for Kent . When he looked back to the last twenty years and remembered—holding the position he did-the first chapler he assisted in consecrating stood No . 1 1 on the roll , and now that the Sympathy was the 26 th chapter in Kent , he believed that much of the eclat and prestige acquired had occurred through the happy circumstance of having Comp .
Lord Amherst as the head of the Province . Without betraying confidence , he could inform the companions that a petition was about to be presented for another chapter in the province , so that shortly they might hope to see a roll of 30 chapters in Kent . He would impress upon Masons wherever he went , that it was all very well to attend the consecration of lodges and chapters , to extend the borders of Masonry , but what did it all mean and
what should it mean 1 That they were endeavouring to carry out the thres great principles of the Order—Brotherly Love , Relief , and Truth . If these were the watchwords they could view with calm equanimity the extension of their borders , because they knew wherever a chapter was , there was a centre of usefulness , the Charities were fostered , and the principles of Ma onrv were increased . He hoped there was a fine future for that chapter .
Comp . Earl AMHERST proposed " The Three Principals of the Chapter . ' ' The Provincial G . S . E . had spoken of enlarging vhe borders of R . A . M . and what it meant . One thing it did mean , that more members would come in , and the Grand Treasurer of Kent would rejoice in that , because he would have greater power in the cause of Charity , which had been the pride of the province hitherto . For many years
past Comp . Russell had been Treasurer of Kent , an honour and distinction which he hoped would be conferred on Comp . Russell for many years more . Under his considerable financial knowledge , the financial duties of the province had been well performed . At times his schemes were daring , as was the one he lately propounded ; but they had to thank Comp . Russell very often for his good advice at their provincial
meetings in laying out the funds to the best advantage . The voting power of the province had been enormously increased . He was the M . E . Z . of the Chapter of Sympathy , the Second Principal was the Master of the Lodge of Sympathy , and a most excellent and enthusiastic Mason was the Third . All had passed the chair in other chapters . They were all able and experienced , and it only remained for the companions to assist them properly to make the chapter a success .
Comp . RUSSELL thanked his lordship , and hoped the new vessel now fairly embarked on the sea might be a good and successful trader , and bring home much profit to its owners . Its owners were good Masons of the Province of Kent . All such profit meant increased prosperity to the Province of Kent in Royal Arch Masonry . They would all share in that , and he , as Grand Treasurer , would have pleasure in applying the funds .
They wanted to increase the power for good of the province . They had propounded many schemes ; some had been rejected ; but the bulk had been accepted , and the result had been an unbroken march of success , and if the scheme which had been lately before the Provincial Grand Lodge preparatory meeting was followed up by a grant from the Provincial Grand Royal Arch Chapter , he felt sure that the two branches of Masonry would
be so indissolubly linked together , that they would be stronger and more powerful , and would be able to defy anyone to say that an agricultural province like Kent was unable to cope with the great manufacturing provinces in relieving their fellow-creatures . As long as they could go on marching hand in hand with their companions in the south in this noble race , it seemed to him that the Province of Kent was embarked on a great undertaking and it was necessary absolutely that every zealous Mason should lend his
shoulder to push the business through , and he was sure no Kentish Mason would hold back . Comp . ' Russell then referred to the formation of the chapter , thanking Comps . Forss and White for what they had done , and stating that they were both excellent workers , and would be able to expound Royal Arch Masonry in the Province of Kent . When the province had such zealous and earnest members success must attend the banner . Comps . FORSS , H ., and WHITE , J ., also replied .
The toast of " Ihe Visitors was replied to by Comps . GROOME and WALKER , and Comps . ARTHUR RONALDSON , S . E . ; BEAMISH , S . N . ; and ORLTON CoorER , P . S ., responded to a toast , which Comp . RUSSELL very genially proposed , of the companions who conceived the idea , and had the ene-gy of carrying it into effect , of constituting the chapter . The proceedings then closed .