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Article THE ANGLO-AMERICAN BANQUET IN YORK. ← Page 2 of 3 Article THE ANGLO-AMERICAN BANQUET IN YORK. Page 2 of 3 →
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The Anglo-American Banquet In York.
characteristic . It is also a singular coincidence that the present President of the United States was bom in 1 S 37 , the year in which her Majesty commenced her reign —( app lause)—and our brethren from that part of the world know full well that his actions have always been marked by devoted and noble purpose . ( Applause . ) Believe me , I have a great admiration for your American President , and although the two countries are governed in a different manner , I believe they have the same purpose , and that is , the amelioration of the condition of the human race , and the bringing of peace and good will upon earth . ( Loud applause . ) I give you the President of the United
The toast having been duly honoured , the Quartette sang "Hail Columbia . " Bro . the DEAN OF YORK gave the toast of "The Prince of Wales , Grand Master of the Temple in England and the Great Priory . " He said My Lord Mayor , Ladies and Brethren , it is recorded of the wise Dr . Johnson that on one occasion a gentleman in his presence remarked that he was conscious of , he hoped , and thankful for , all his blessings ; on which the wise man said to him ,
" Why , are you conscious of your ignorance ? " To which he said he thought that he was . "Then , " said the doctor , "Sir , you maybe thankful for that ; it is a very great blessing indeed . " ( Laughter . ) Well , I feel in rising to propose this toast that , although a Freemason , I am bound to confess 1 am conscious of my ignorance , for 1 have to propose the health of the Prince of Wales , Grand Master of the Temple in England , and the Great Priory . ( Loud Applause . ) And I honestly confess that I am a stranger to the secrets and mysteries referred to in these words "The Temple in England and
the Great Priory . " But however ignorant I may be of the Masonic value of these words , at all events I know the value of the Prince of Wales , and can do that which every Englishman can do , and that is to commend his good health to the hearty acceptance of every gathering of Englishmen , wherever they may be . ( Applause . ) Certainly the Prince of Wales seems to be ubiquitous . He seems to be in all places , and to combine in himself every conceivable office . Only this morning I saw in the paper that he had been appointed honorary admiral ; and therefore I am not surprised to find that he also
has the office of Grand Master of the Temple in England . But there is this about the Prince of Wales , —and I am quite sure that every one here present will allow that it is the language of truth and not the language of flattery—that every association is glad to have him identified with it for his own personal sake , as well as for the sake of the position which he holds . ( Hear , hear . ) The Prince of Wales has that remarkable faculty , which is not given to everybody , and that is of thorougly throwing himself into everything that interests other people to such an extent as to persuade them that the
thing which interests them is the very thing which interests him . ( Hear , hear . ) A little while ago we had the pleasure of receiving him here in York , and I think he left here with the golden opinions of everybody . ( Hear , hear . ) He visited many places . He went to the agricultural show : he carefully went round through all the different species of stock exhibited there ; every sort of machinery . He attended two or three bazaars which were held for charitable purposes ; he came to the Minster , and I had the privilege of showing him the parts of the beautiful structure ; he went
to the Library , where Canon Raine showed him all the missals and valuable books , and everybody seemed to gather just the same opinion , and that was that his own particular interest was that which the Prince seemed to care the most about . That is a very great faculty—the power of throwing himself so cordially into all the interests of the English people , which makes him so appreciated , and so acceptable to us all . Therefore , I am quite sure that the brethren of the Temple in England and the Great Priory rejoice to have him , not merely because he happens to be the Prince of Wales , but because they
know that in having him as Grand Master they have at the head of their Society one whose heart is thoroughly with them , and who takes a deep interest in all that appertains to the welfare of the Order . ( Applause . ) Very similarly I confess my ignorance , and therefore I am not going to say what the particular merit of the Order of the Templars amongst Freemasons may be . Neither am I going to indulge in any great speculations in things which are too high for me . ( Laughter ) But I know what Templars were in days gone by . They were one of the most powerful and , I believe , one of the
most noble of all ancient Orders . ( Applause . ) They flourished in times when the world was very different to what it is now—when it was full of disturbance from end to end , and when it was needful that men with true hearts , and strong hands , and firm faith should rise up to be a support and a help to their brethren . And such were the Knight Templars of old . In the Temple Church , in London ; in the Round Church , Northampton ; and in many other churches in England , are seen the remmants of their handy-work , and many of us love to look upon the effigies which rest upon the tombs of
those whom we know by their posture have been members of this ancient Order . But the Knight Templars , as you know , came to an end , and were extinguished ; and what was the reason ? The reason why they were extinguished was their great prosperity and their great power . When communities rose in those days , which obtained great power and influence—which seemed to threaten the weaker around them—then , of course , the effort was to put them down , and the easiest way to put them down was to bring some accusation against them which would make them hateful in the eyes of their brethren ,
and accomplish their downfall . Soitwas in thehistoryof the Knight Templars , who suffeied from the most savage and most unfounded calumnies ever heaped upon any body of men . That great Order of Knight Templars , whose dignity , and whose bravery , and whose faith , and whose courage , shone out like a bright lode star , in those dark days were extinguished by worthless men , who had no other aim than that which was selfish , and wanted themselves to be enriched by the spoil . I can only believe that the knight-templars have the same high aim in these days as the knight templars of old . I am quite
sure as a loyal Freemason , that the Craft will allow nothing to be associated with it in any of its branches which is lacking in integrity of principle or honesty of purpose—( applause)—and I feel quite sure that in the happy days in which we live , the knight templars of the nineteenth century need not look forward to any such terrible fate as that which befel their predecessors . These are better days , at least , in that respect . Great changes have come , and communities which are doing their best to promote the welfare of their brethren , are more likely on the whole to receive the respect and regard rather
than the jealousy and enmity of those around them . I think 1 am not wrong in forecasting that the Order of the Knight Templars of England is an Order which has before it the highest aims , and is actuated by the truest and best of motives ; and , therefore , while as a Freemason I rejoice to find myself associated with the brethren of the advanced Order of the Craft , I also rejoice as an Englishman to think that the heir apparent to the Queen should also be himself associated with the community . ( Applause . ) It is a great pleasure to me to be here to-night , and to feel that the strands of Freemasonry
are more numerous than those which are contained in our insular community ; I feel 'hat in this great Society of Freemasons we link together in one common brotherhood ffien of every nationality and race , and that we reknit together in the V of one communion and fellowship those who many years ago seemed as it were , estranged from their own mother country . We meet them here to-night , no doubt , as not commanding the same authority as we do in England ; but yet I am sure they are one with us in all the antient associations and traditions of the past—remembering that we are men of one common blood —( applause)—of one common stock , and hat
' , though we may be divided for a little while by that narrow streak which seems to Us on this side of it so wide , and yet to those on the other side so narrow —( laughter)—^> that we are still united together by those ties of friendship , _ regard , and affection which knit together Freemasons in all parts of the world , and which draw together the f ™ ' Anglo-Saxon race . ( Applause . ) I have great pleasure in proposing the toast of The Prince of Wales , Grand Master of the Temple of England and the Grand YJory , " and couple with it the name of Bro . T . W . Tew , Prov . Prior of West Yorkshlr e . ( Applause . )
, Bro . TEW , in response , said it has fallen to my lot this evening to have the honour th a -t tern P '' l ? t 0 respond for his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , Grand Master of ne temple of England , and of the Great Priory . It is very difficult indeed to supply y remarks after the very elegant and eloquent manner in which the very Rev . the v ea " ° f York has proposed this toast , but I may say that throughout the length and eadth of the county of York , the very Rev . the Dean is truly loved , esteemed , and „ P ? c'e <^» and nothing gives the Craft , in any one of its branches and departments , our P ' . sure and satisfaction than to have him come amongst us , and take part in 1 . Sa'herings and festivities . fAnplause . ) Responding to this toast this evening .
here ^ j s l 'hat we are all very much obliged to the Dean for coming that tlf" J ' ' S' charge of this very important toast . I for one much regret rec j *; Prior of North and East Yorkshire , Lord Londesborough , who has just and ' S ° " mer , ' ed a distinction at the hands of our Gracious Sovereign the Queen , an ( j !? the Earl of Londesborough —( applause)—is unable to respond to this ~ toast , ever c '' has fallen into such comparatively feeble hands as mine . But let me say that the 0 ' i ? t ^ ° ya ' Highness has been so gracious as to place himself at the head of tt'asonr F fv ! ¦ tlle temple in England it has , like the various other branches of FreefVj thriven and prospered immensely ; and I cannot but think that so long as every
The Anglo-American Banquet In York.
one of us in these various branches of the Craft is true to the three grand principles of loyalty , philanthropy , and patriotism , thai , every one of those Urd .-rs will prosper in this country . ( Applause . ) But the prosperity of those Orders in England , so far as Knight Templary is concerned , is not felt in so great an extent as in the United States of America . I had the honour of being here not many years ago—in this vi-ry hailwhen we received the comtnaudery from Chicago , and I rejoice to be present at this latest reception . So far as the Province of West Yorkshire is concerned , with which
province I am intimately connected , the Order of the Temple has prospered immensely , and during the short time I have had the honour of administering the affairs of the Temple of the West Riding , every ; one of our preceptories has been resuscitated , and is now in a very prosperous condition . It affords us very great pleasure to-night to have the honour , my Lord Mayor , of meeting under your presidency and joining with the knights of York in giving eclat to this meeting . And I am quite sure that his Royal
Highness the Prince of Wales , if made aware of the enthusiasm of this meeting towards him as our Grand Master , would be gratified with these feelings and sentiments of loyalty and attachment to him as heir to the throne . I thank you very much for the noble and generous manner in which you have received this toast , and thank you for the hearty manner in which you have responded to the health of the Prince of Wales , and I hope that in every one of our homes the sentiments will spring up and bear fruit in sincerity and truth— "God bless the Prince of Wales . " ( Loud applause . )
The quartette sang a verse of " God bless the Prince of Wales . " Bro . J . W . WOODALL , Sub-Prior of N . and E . Yorkshire , gave the toast of " Charles Roome , G . M . of the Temple in the United States and the Grand Encampment . " He said : I can assure you that it is with feelings of very great pleasure that I rise on this occasion to propose to you the toast which I have in my hands , although I feel I shall not be able to do it justice . I believe that I am the onl y Freemason in Yorkshire in this room who has had the pleasure of being present at a gathering
of our brethren of the United States , and more particularly in that great city of Philadelphia , from which many of our brethren hail . ( Applause . ) I am sure you will allow me to say just for one moment how glad we are to find that the same principle which actuates us in this country is so largely developed in the United States , and that every brother stands by brother , and tries to do the best he can there just as we have been trying to do in this country for many years past . If in troublous times we should hang out a signal for a pilot , I have no doubt an answer would be given from the United
States of America . ( Applause . ) The toast I have to propose to you is " The Health of Bro . Charles Roome , the Grand Master of the Temple in the United States , and the Grand Encampment . " ( Applause . ) Many of you , no doubt , will have read of the great development of the Templar Order in the United States , and I trust that many of you will be able before you leave the world to make yourselves acquainted with the organisations that exist there , and see how admirably the usages and traditions of the old Society have been revived and shaped to the exigencies of a new community . I trust
¦ ve shall always be able , in this country , to hold out the right hand of fellowship , and to wish them God speed in their undertaking , feeling sure that they are working for the best interests of their own country , and in so doing for the best interests of the world . I am directed to couple with this toast the name of one who has filled the throne of the Order with very great ability—the Hon . J . H . Hopkins . I feel sure you will all give him a hearty reception . ( Applause ) . CHOIR— "Star Spangled Banner . "
Bro . J . H . HOPKINS , Past Grand Master , and especial representative from ths present Grand Master , said—I have very great pleasure in responding to the toast of the Grand Master ' s Health . Standing at the head of sixty thousand knights of the Temple , selected because of his exalted character , his eminent ability , and his great zeal for the Order , and supported by the loyalty and love of the vast array who follow his bannerhe certainly occupies a proud and enviable position , and deserves any honour that can be paid him . ( Hear , hear . ) And yet he will be especially grateful to know of the
distinguished courtesy shown him by the brotherhood of Templars here ; and in his name I thank you for the most graceful and eloquent manner in which you have proposed the toast , and all the knights , and brethren , and ladies present for their most cordial greeting . I take this occasion to thank you all most profoundly for your most generous hospitality and kind consideration shown to your guests . Although our homes are separated by thousands of miles , and although we never looked in each others eyes before , we have not been received as strangers . Even these walls seem to smile round a welr-rims
for us , and instead of barred and defended gates we find the portals thrown wide open , and your hearts wider open still . ( Applause . ) It is true , as has been said , that we have the same lineage , and the same language , and the same literature . We have a common inheritance of glorious memories . We have the same a-pirations and the same hopes ; but more than that , as ihe Very Rev . the Dean has said , we have the common tie of Brotherhood , which is wide as the world —( hear , hear)—and is universal as humanity . ( Applause . ) Zealous Mahomedans willingly toil
in the dreary desert for the acquisition of fancied blessings to be derived at the tomb of their prophet ; devout Roman Catholics perform wearisome pilgrimages to kneel before the throne of some favourite saint ; and so these American Templars , without any of that superstition , but with all the same enthusiasm , leave their homes , and cross the stormy sea to visit this ancient and historic city , where almost a thousand years ago Freemasonry found a home , which has been sheltered through all the intervening centuries , through all . the vicissitudes of Government , through all rises and decays of many
dynasties . And , remembering this historic fact , and sitting , as it were , under the shadow of the ivy covered memory of York , the mother to our Freemasonry —( loud applause)—through the mists of time we are enabled to see the origin and grafting of the Order of the Temple upon the sturdy trunk of the Craft . We know that the union has been honoured through ages . Amidst these crowding memories we can almost expect to hear the . matttaUread of those olden kni ghts along the corridors of time , and to see their stately forms marshalled for another crusade , or ready for a gallant fight . We cannot
but honour the stem and rugged virtues of those knights , who , finding no geniality in the society of their day , separated themselves from the world , and its temptations and vanities , and devoted their lives to the unselfish service of their fellow men , and to the devout , though quiet , worship of their God . Their postures and prayers , their penances and exercises , their inexorable statutes and rigorous discipline , made all these firm zealots of religion and heroes of mankind . ( Applause . ) And that spirit lives yet ennobled and brightened by the higher and purer civilisation of our day . Remembering
the one rule of the statutes of St . Bernard which denied a Knight of the Temple the luxury of a smile from any fair friend or even relative , and , seeing that our board tonight is enlightened by the bright eyes and the grace and beauty around this table—( loud applau-e)—who would turn back the hands upon the dial of time ? Your Poet Laureate has expressed a thought which , I am sure , we all feel to-night , that it is better to have the peaceful and refined enjoyment of one such night as this than a who ' e field
of slaughtered Saracens or even a hard-fought tournament . ( Applause . ) But let us not forget that these are but the light draperies which conceal somewhat , but do not weaken the plated armour of the knight . In the name of the Grand Master of the United States of America , I bring you Knights of the Temple of England the loving homage of a far distant , but filial , child . ( Applause . ) We will return and "ive the fraternal blessings to our Grand Master , cheered by the tender regard you have shown to him through us . ( Loud applause . )
Bro . T . B . WHYTEHEAD said I think this is the third time I have had the honour of rising to propose "The Health of the American Knight Templars " who have visited York . I do so with great pleasure on this occasion , because we are visited by brethren who were here several years ago—such brethren as our Bros . Meyer , Sutter , Packer , Matthews , and others of the Order of the Tem pie , whose acquaintance and friendship we made with the greatest pleasure so many years ago , and who have now returned once more to renew the fraternal grip in the ancient city of York . ( Applause . ) Our kins has made allusion to
Bro . Hop the connection of ancient Freemasonry and Templary with this city . Well , that connection is very anciennt , and very close , and very interesting . You doubtless all know that it is supposed the first Grand Lodae ever held in the world was held in York . Traditionally it was held in the year 92 S , when Athelstan granted a charter to the Masons who met here . Traditionally we hear of various meetings at differei . t times through the several reigns of kings and queens , and when we come to the reign of Elizabeth we are told that then a suspicion rested upon the Freemasons of York of seditious proceedings , and that her Majesty sent down fr . im Lnnd . in .
Sir Thos . Sarkville to prosecute the Masons of York and to close perernp'O'ily the Grand Lodge then being held . Sir Thomas came down , and being a ivta-on himself , took the officers who accompanied him to the Grand Lodge in York , had them iuitiaed , "hen they were treated so well that the officers reported immediately to h .-r Maj-sry tftat the Masons in York were a most estimable body of men , and there was nothing to fear from them . ( Laughter and applause . ) And we Masons of the Victorian ' era are anxious to win for ourselves the same character for good behaviour , goad cheer , and good fellowship as our brethren , of the sixteenth century . With
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Anglo-American Banquet In York.
characteristic . It is also a singular coincidence that the present President of the United States was bom in 1 S 37 , the year in which her Majesty commenced her reign —( app lause)—and our brethren from that part of the world know full well that his actions have always been marked by devoted and noble purpose . ( Applause . ) Believe me , I have a great admiration for your American President , and although the two countries are governed in a different manner , I believe they have the same purpose , and that is , the amelioration of the condition of the human race , and the bringing of peace and good will upon earth . ( Loud applause . ) I give you the President of the United
The toast having been duly honoured , the Quartette sang "Hail Columbia . " Bro . the DEAN OF YORK gave the toast of "The Prince of Wales , Grand Master of the Temple in England and the Great Priory . " He said My Lord Mayor , Ladies and Brethren , it is recorded of the wise Dr . Johnson that on one occasion a gentleman in his presence remarked that he was conscious of , he hoped , and thankful for , all his blessings ; on which the wise man said to him ,
" Why , are you conscious of your ignorance ? " To which he said he thought that he was . "Then , " said the doctor , "Sir , you maybe thankful for that ; it is a very great blessing indeed . " ( Laughter . ) Well , I feel in rising to propose this toast that , although a Freemason , I am bound to confess 1 am conscious of my ignorance , for 1 have to propose the health of the Prince of Wales , Grand Master of the Temple in England , and the Great Priory . ( Loud Applause . ) And I honestly confess that I am a stranger to the secrets and mysteries referred to in these words "The Temple in England and
the Great Priory . " But however ignorant I may be of the Masonic value of these words , at all events I know the value of the Prince of Wales , and can do that which every Englishman can do , and that is to commend his good health to the hearty acceptance of every gathering of Englishmen , wherever they may be . ( Applause . ) Certainly the Prince of Wales seems to be ubiquitous . He seems to be in all places , and to combine in himself every conceivable office . Only this morning I saw in the paper that he had been appointed honorary admiral ; and therefore I am not surprised to find that he also
has the office of Grand Master of the Temple in England . But there is this about the Prince of Wales , —and I am quite sure that every one here present will allow that it is the language of truth and not the language of flattery—that every association is glad to have him identified with it for his own personal sake , as well as for the sake of the position which he holds . ( Hear , hear . ) The Prince of Wales has that remarkable faculty , which is not given to everybody , and that is of thorougly throwing himself into everything that interests other people to such an extent as to persuade them that the
thing which interests them is the very thing which interests him . ( Hear , hear . ) A little while ago we had the pleasure of receiving him here in York , and I think he left here with the golden opinions of everybody . ( Hear , hear . ) He visited many places . He went to the agricultural show : he carefully went round through all the different species of stock exhibited there ; every sort of machinery . He attended two or three bazaars which were held for charitable purposes ; he came to the Minster , and I had the privilege of showing him the parts of the beautiful structure ; he went
to the Library , where Canon Raine showed him all the missals and valuable books , and everybody seemed to gather just the same opinion , and that was that his own particular interest was that which the Prince seemed to care the most about . That is a very great faculty—the power of throwing himself so cordially into all the interests of the English people , which makes him so appreciated , and so acceptable to us all . Therefore , I am quite sure that the brethren of the Temple in England and the Great Priory rejoice to have him , not merely because he happens to be the Prince of Wales , but because they
know that in having him as Grand Master they have at the head of their Society one whose heart is thoroughly with them , and who takes a deep interest in all that appertains to the welfare of the Order . ( Applause . ) Very similarly I confess my ignorance , and therefore I am not going to say what the particular merit of the Order of the Templars amongst Freemasons may be . Neither am I going to indulge in any great speculations in things which are too high for me . ( Laughter ) But I know what Templars were in days gone by . They were one of the most powerful and , I believe , one of the
most noble of all ancient Orders . ( Applause . ) They flourished in times when the world was very different to what it is now—when it was full of disturbance from end to end , and when it was needful that men with true hearts , and strong hands , and firm faith should rise up to be a support and a help to their brethren . And such were the Knight Templars of old . In the Temple Church , in London ; in the Round Church , Northampton ; and in many other churches in England , are seen the remmants of their handy-work , and many of us love to look upon the effigies which rest upon the tombs of
those whom we know by their posture have been members of this ancient Order . But the Knight Templars , as you know , came to an end , and were extinguished ; and what was the reason ? The reason why they were extinguished was their great prosperity and their great power . When communities rose in those days , which obtained great power and influence—which seemed to threaten the weaker around them—then , of course , the effort was to put them down , and the easiest way to put them down was to bring some accusation against them which would make them hateful in the eyes of their brethren ,
and accomplish their downfall . Soitwas in thehistoryof the Knight Templars , who suffeied from the most savage and most unfounded calumnies ever heaped upon any body of men . That great Order of Knight Templars , whose dignity , and whose bravery , and whose faith , and whose courage , shone out like a bright lode star , in those dark days were extinguished by worthless men , who had no other aim than that which was selfish , and wanted themselves to be enriched by the spoil . I can only believe that the knight-templars have the same high aim in these days as the knight templars of old . I am quite
sure as a loyal Freemason , that the Craft will allow nothing to be associated with it in any of its branches which is lacking in integrity of principle or honesty of purpose—( applause)—and I feel quite sure that in the happy days in which we live , the knight templars of the nineteenth century need not look forward to any such terrible fate as that which befel their predecessors . These are better days , at least , in that respect . Great changes have come , and communities which are doing their best to promote the welfare of their brethren , are more likely on the whole to receive the respect and regard rather
than the jealousy and enmity of those around them . I think 1 am not wrong in forecasting that the Order of the Knight Templars of England is an Order which has before it the highest aims , and is actuated by the truest and best of motives ; and , therefore , while as a Freemason I rejoice to find myself associated with the brethren of the advanced Order of the Craft , I also rejoice as an Englishman to think that the heir apparent to the Queen should also be himself associated with the community . ( Applause . ) It is a great pleasure to me to be here to-night , and to feel that the strands of Freemasonry
are more numerous than those which are contained in our insular community ; I feel 'hat in this great Society of Freemasons we link together in one common brotherhood ffien of every nationality and race , and that we reknit together in the V of one communion and fellowship those who many years ago seemed as it were , estranged from their own mother country . We meet them here to-night , no doubt , as not commanding the same authority as we do in England ; but yet I am sure they are one with us in all the antient associations and traditions of the past—remembering that we are men of one common blood —( applause)—of one common stock , and hat
' , though we may be divided for a little while by that narrow streak which seems to Us on this side of it so wide , and yet to those on the other side so narrow —( laughter)—^> that we are still united together by those ties of friendship , _ regard , and affection which knit together Freemasons in all parts of the world , and which draw together the f ™ ' Anglo-Saxon race . ( Applause . ) I have great pleasure in proposing the toast of The Prince of Wales , Grand Master of the Temple of England and the Grand YJory , " and couple with it the name of Bro . T . W . Tew , Prov . Prior of West Yorkshlr e . ( Applause . )
, Bro . TEW , in response , said it has fallen to my lot this evening to have the honour th a -t tern P '' l ? t 0 respond for his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , Grand Master of ne temple of England , and of the Great Priory . It is very difficult indeed to supply y remarks after the very elegant and eloquent manner in which the very Rev . the v ea " ° f York has proposed this toast , but I may say that throughout the length and eadth of the county of York , the very Rev . the Dean is truly loved , esteemed , and „ P ? c'e <^» and nothing gives the Craft , in any one of its branches and departments , our P ' . sure and satisfaction than to have him come amongst us , and take part in 1 . Sa'herings and festivities . fAnplause . ) Responding to this toast this evening .
here ^ j s l 'hat we are all very much obliged to the Dean for coming that tlf" J ' ' S' charge of this very important toast . I for one much regret rec j *; Prior of North and East Yorkshire , Lord Londesborough , who has just and ' S ° " mer , ' ed a distinction at the hands of our Gracious Sovereign the Queen , an ( j !? the Earl of Londesborough —( applause)—is unable to respond to this ~ toast , ever c '' has fallen into such comparatively feeble hands as mine . But let me say that the 0 ' i ? t ^ ° ya ' Highness has been so gracious as to place himself at the head of tt'asonr F fv ! ¦ tlle temple in England it has , like the various other branches of FreefVj thriven and prospered immensely ; and I cannot but think that so long as every
The Anglo-American Banquet In York.
one of us in these various branches of the Craft is true to the three grand principles of loyalty , philanthropy , and patriotism , thai , every one of those Urd .-rs will prosper in this country . ( Applause . ) But the prosperity of those Orders in England , so far as Knight Templary is concerned , is not felt in so great an extent as in the United States of America . I had the honour of being here not many years ago—in this vi-ry hailwhen we received the comtnaudery from Chicago , and I rejoice to be present at this latest reception . So far as the Province of West Yorkshire is concerned , with which
province I am intimately connected , the Order of the Temple has prospered immensely , and during the short time I have had the honour of administering the affairs of the Temple of the West Riding , every ; one of our preceptories has been resuscitated , and is now in a very prosperous condition . It affords us very great pleasure to-night to have the honour , my Lord Mayor , of meeting under your presidency and joining with the knights of York in giving eclat to this meeting . And I am quite sure that his Royal
Highness the Prince of Wales , if made aware of the enthusiasm of this meeting towards him as our Grand Master , would be gratified with these feelings and sentiments of loyalty and attachment to him as heir to the throne . I thank you very much for the noble and generous manner in which you have received this toast , and thank you for the hearty manner in which you have responded to the health of the Prince of Wales , and I hope that in every one of our homes the sentiments will spring up and bear fruit in sincerity and truth— "God bless the Prince of Wales . " ( Loud applause . )
The quartette sang a verse of " God bless the Prince of Wales . " Bro . J . W . WOODALL , Sub-Prior of N . and E . Yorkshire , gave the toast of " Charles Roome , G . M . of the Temple in the United States and the Grand Encampment . " He said : I can assure you that it is with feelings of very great pleasure that I rise on this occasion to propose to you the toast which I have in my hands , although I feel I shall not be able to do it justice . I believe that I am the onl y Freemason in Yorkshire in this room who has had the pleasure of being present at a gathering
of our brethren of the United States , and more particularly in that great city of Philadelphia , from which many of our brethren hail . ( Applause . ) I am sure you will allow me to say just for one moment how glad we are to find that the same principle which actuates us in this country is so largely developed in the United States , and that every brother stands by brother , and tries to do the best he can there just as we have been trying to do in this country for many years past . If in troublous times we should hang out a signal for a pilot , I have no doubt an answer would be given from the United
States of America . ( Applause . ) The toast I have to propose to you is " The Health of Bro . Charles Roome , the Grand Master of the Temple in the United States , and the Grand Encampment . " ( Applause . ) Many of you , no doubt , will have read of the great development of the Templar Order in the United States , and I trust that many of you will be able before you leave the world to make yourselves acquainted with the organisations that exist there , and see how admirably the usages and traditions of the old Society have been revived and shaped to the exigencies of a new community . I trust
¦ ve shall always be able , in this country , to hold out the right hand of fellowship , and to wish them God speed in their undertaking , feeling sure that they are working for the best interests of their own country , and in so doing for the best interests of the world . I am directed to couple with this toast the name of one who has filled the throne of the Order with very great ability—the Hon . J . H . Hopkins . I feel sure you will all give him a hearty reception . ( Applause ) . CHOIR— "Star Spangled Banner . "
Bro . J . H . HOPKINS , Past Grand Master , and especial representative from ths present Grand Master , said—I have very great pleasure in responding to the toast of the Grand Master ' s Health . Standing at the head of sixty thousand knights of the Temple , selected because of his exalted character , his eminent ability , and his great zeal for the Order , and supported by the loyalty and love of the vast array who follow his bannerhe certainly occupies a proud and enviable position , and deserves any honour that can be paid him . ( Hear , hear . ) And yet he will be especially grateful to know of the
distinguished courtesy shown him by the brotherhood of Templars here ; and in his name I thank you for the most graceful and eloquent manner in which you have proposed the toast , and all the knights , and brethren , and ladies present for their most cordial greeting . I take this occasion to thank you all most profoundly for your most generous hospitality and kind consideration shown to your guests . Although our homes are separated by thousands of miles , and although we never looked in each others eyes before , we have not been received as strangers . Even these walls seem to smile round a welr-rims
for us , and instead of barred and defended gates we find the portals thrown wide open , and your hearts wider open still . ( Applause . ) It is true , as has been said , that we have the same lineage , and the same language , and the same literature . We have a common inheritance of glorious memories . We have the same a-pirations and the same hopes ; but more than that , as ihe Very Rev . the Dean has said , we have the common tie of Brotherhood , which is wide as the world —( hear , hear)—and is universal as humanity . ( Applause . ) Zealous Mahomedans willingly toil
in the dreary desert for the acquisition of fancied blessings to be derived at the tomb of their prophet ; devout Roman Catholics perform wearisome pilgrimages to kneel before the throne of some favourite saint ; and so these American Templars , without any of that superstition , but with all the same enthusiasm , leave their homes , and cross the stormy sea to visit this ancient and historic city , where almost a thousand years ago Freemasonry found a home , which has been sheltered through all the intervening centuries , through all . the vicissitudes of Government , through all rises and decays of many
dynasties . And , remembering this historic fact , and sitting , as it were , under the shadow of the ivy covered memory of York , the mother to our Freemasonry —( loud applause)—through the mists of time we are enabled to see the origin and grafting of the Order of the Temple upon the sturdy trunk of the Craft . We know that the union has been honoured through ages . Amidst these crowding memories we can almost expect to hear the . matttaUread of those olden kni ghts along the corridors of time , and to see their stately forms marshalled for another crusade , or ready for a gallant fight . We cannot
but honour the stem and rugged virtues of those knights , who , finding no geniality in the society of their day , separated themselves from the world , and its temptations and vanities , and devoted their lives to the unselfish service of their fellow men , and to the devout , though quiet , worship of their God . Their postures and prayers , their penances and exercises , their inexorable statutes and rigorous discipline , made all these firm zealots of religion and heroes of mankind . ( Applause . ) And that spirit lives yet ennobled and brightened by the higher and purer civilisation of our day . Remembering
the one rule of the statutes of St . Bernard which denied a Knight of the Temple the luxury of a smile from any fair friend or even relative , and , seeing that our board tonight is enlightened by the bright eyes and the grace and beauty around this table—( loud applau-e)—who would turn back the hands upon the dial of time ? Your Poet Laureate has expressed a thought which , I am sure , we all feel to-night , that it is better to have the peaceful and refined enjoyment of one such night as this than a who ' e field
of slaughtered Saracens or even a hard-fought tournament . ( Applause . ) But let us not forget that these are but the light draperies which conceal somewhat , but do not weaken the plated armour of the knight . In the name of the Grand Master of the United States of America , I bring you Knights of the Temple of England the loving homage of a far distant , but filial , child . ( Applause . ) We will return and "ive the fraternal blessings to our Grand Master , cheered by the tender regard you have shown to him through us . ( Loud applause . )
Bro . T . B . WHYTEHEAD said I think this is the third time I have had the honour of rising to propose "The Health of the American Knight Templars " who have visited York . I do so with great pleasure on this occasion , because we are visited by brethren who were here several years ago—such brethren as our Bros . Meyer , Sutter , Packer , Matthews , and others of the Order of the Tem pie , whose acquaintance and friendship we made with the greatest pleasure so many years ago , and who have now returned once more to renew the fraternal grip in the ancient city of York . ( Applause . ) Our kins has made allusion to
Bro . Hop the connection of ancient Freemasonry and Templary with this city . Well , that connection is very anciennt , and very close , and very interesting . You doubtless all know that it is supposed the first Grand Lodae ever held in the world was held in York . Traditionally it was held in the year 92 S , when Athelstan granted a charter to the Masons who met here . Traditionally we hear of various meetings at differei . t times through the several reigns of kings and queens , and when we come to the reign of Elizabeth we are told that then a suspicion rested upon the Freemasons of York of seditious proceedings , and that her Majesty sent down fr . im Lnnd . in .
Sir Thos . Sarkville to prosecute the Masons of York and to close perernp'O'ily the Grand Lodge then being held . Sir Thomas came down , and being a ivta-on himself , took the officers who accompanied him to the Grand Lodge in York , had them iuitiaed , "hen they were treated so well that the officers reported immediately to h .-r Maj-sry tftat the Masons in York were a most estimable body of men , and there was nothing to fear from them . ( Laughter and applause . ) And we Masons of the Victorian ' era are anxious to win for ourselves the same character for good behaviour , goad cheer , and good fellowship as our brethren , of the sixteenth century . With