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Article PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF LEICESTERSHIRE AND RUTLAND. Page 1 of 1 Article PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF LEICESTERSHIRE AND RUTLAND. Page 1 of 1 Article PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF LEICESTERSHIRE AND RUTLAND. Page 1 of 1 Article Original Correspondence. Page 1 of 2 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Provincial Grand Lodge Of Leicestershire And Rutland.
PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF LEICESTERSHIRE AND RUTLAND .
On Monday , the 3 rd inst ... a special meeting of this Provincial Grand Lodge was summoned for tbe purpose . of assisting in laying the Memorial Stone of the new Municipal Buildings , for
the Borough of Leicester . The lodge was opened at one o ' clock by the R . W . Bro . W . Kelly , F . R . Hist . S ., Past Prov . G . M ., in the absence of the R . W . P . G . M .. the Earl Ferrers , Bro . the Rev . J . Denton , M . A ., P . P . S . G . W ., actin-r as D . P . G . M .
The invitation from the Mayor and Corporation to the Freemasons of the Province , to assist in laying the stone with the customary Masonic ceremonial , and the necessary authorisation from the P . G . M . for such ceremonial having been read , the meeting was adjourned ,
and the brethren went in procession to the Town Hall , to join the procession , of the Mayor , Corporation -X . The united procession started from the Town HaU shortly after two o ' clock , and proceeded through the principal streets of the town to the
place of ceremony . The ceremony commenced by the school children singing ' the Old Hundredth Psalm , accompanied by thu Militia Band , conducted by Mr . W . H . Nicholson . Tho stone was then raised while " Rule Britannia" was played by
the band , and a collect having been said by the Provincial Grand Chaplain , the Mayor deposited a bottle in a cavity under the stone , containing a copy of the Times of the day , the local papers , an illuminated scroll with the names of the present magistrates , aldermen , and councillors of the
borough , and the following : — " This stone was laid by Alderman William Kempson , the Mayor of Leicester , on the 3 rd day of August , A . D . { S 74 . William Millicin , Chairman of the Committee : architect , Francis T . James ;
surveyor , Franklin and Andrews ; bunder , William Brass ; surveyor , Edward Lonev Stephens ; Officer of Health , Joseph Wyatt Crane , M . D . ; accountant , Thomas Coltman , jun . ; Thomas Stanbridge , Town Clerk . "
Mr . Millican presented the Mayor with a silver trowel , hoping that as his name would remain on the building for many centi-srie -, that the trowel mi g ht be handed down as an heirloom in his family as a remembrance of the day . The Mayor having spread the cement , the
stone was slowly lowered into its place , having inscribed on its face , " Municipal Buildings Memorial Stone , laid by Alderman William Kempson , the Mayor of Leicester , on the 3 rd day of August , 1874 . " The Masonic portion of the ceremony was then proceeded with in the
usual form , the Mayor , after giving the three mystic strokes with the mallet upon the stone , declared it to be duly laid , and the ceremony so far was concluded by the singing of the National Anthem . After an address by the Mayor the procession
was reformed in reverse order , and . proceeded to the Corn Exchange , where a dejeuner took place under the presidency of the Mayor . The usual loyal toasts were duly proposed and honoured , and also others having special reference to the proceedings of the day . Of the
latter , that of "The Freemasons" was proposed by the Mayor of Derby , ( G . Wheldon , Esq . ) , who coupled with the toast the name of R . W . Bro . William Kell y ; F . R . Hist . Soc , P . P . G . M . Bro . Kelly in responding thanked the company for the compliment they had paid to the
ancient fraternity which he had the honour to represent . He was sure that it must be a source of regret to them , as it was to him , that owing to the absence of the Earl Ferrers in the South of England , the ceremony of the day had devolved upon him , instead of being performed by
the Right Worshipful the Provincial Grand Master in person . Before the failure of his health compelled his resignation of the high office in the Craft which the Earl now held , his lordship did him the honour of holding office
under him as his Deputy ; when therefore he requested him to take his part on this occasion , he felt bound to accept the task , which he must admit was ] a pleasurable one , because from having been connected for fourteen years with the Corporation of Leicester , he felt pleased to take a
Provincial Grand Lodge Of Leicestershire And Rutland.
prominent psrt in such an interesting event as that of laying the memorial stone of the new municipal buildings—an edifice in which they might very well assume that thu vastl y increased municipal business of the town would be conducted for at Wst as many centuries as it had
been in the old Guildhall , which carried them back to a period of at least 400 years . The society to which he belonged had claims in ancient associations . A friend , a few days ago , who he believed was now present , asked him the question , What is the good of Freemasonry ?
and he had no doubt , in the ceremony of that day , many of the spectators at least mentally asked the same question , What is Freemasonry ? What is the good of it ? Why do the members bedizen themselves in what to the public eye may seem but glittering gewgaws and fantastic trappings ?
and why is it the custom to ask the Freemasons to assist in laying the foundation-stones of churches and other public buildings , like the one which has called us together to-day ? These questions were more easily asked than answered . The late Dr . Oliver , the historian of the Order , who
spent a long life in investigating its history and symbols , and the more he searched into Masonry , the more he found there was to learn in it , and the more he admired it . Masonry might be more easily described as what it was r . ot , than
what it was . It was not a benefit society , like the Oddfellows , Foresters , and other excellent kindred institutions , which to some extent were copied from it ; because every man who entered the Order must be ac least at the time in
reputable circumstances , and must declare that he did not join the Order from mercenary or unworthy motives , but from a desire for knowledge , and a sincere wish to render himself more extensively serviceable to his fellow creatures . Secondly , it was neither a political
nor , strictly speaking , a religious society . Nevertheless , it was a loyal society , as every one who entered it was strictly enjoined to be exemplary in the discharge of his civil duties by never proposing or countenancing any act which might tend to subvert the happiness or good
order of society , and by paying due obedience to the laws of any state which might from time to time become his place of residence . It was not an irreligious society , because the volume of the sacred law was always open in their lodges , and the Alason was taught to look upon it as
the great light of the Order , to consider it as the unerring standard of truth and justice , and to regulate his life and actions by the divine precepts which it contained . Freemasonry was certainly the most Catholic of all institutions existing . It had within its fold good men and
true of all religious faiths throughout the world —the atheist , the unbeliever in the Great Architect of the Universe , being the only one excluded from his pale , and the one common ground of the Order being faith in God and good will to men—the particular phase of each
individual s belief being left between him and his Maker ; and hence Freemasonry approached more nearly than any existing institution to the ideal scheme of universal brotherhood . Freemasonry was aptly described in their lectures as a system of morality veiled in allegory and illustrated by
symbols . As to its symbols , the colours and aprons which they wore were badges which pointed out specific ranks in the order , just as the colour of the hood and gown indicated the degree in different schools of learning . And now as to why they should be invited to assist in
such ceremonies as that which had taken place to-day . In the proceedings it was said that they were established of old in peace and honour to ereut magnificent structures , Now this assertion that they were established to erect magnificent structures , although not now true ,
was formerly literally a fact , because the Freemasons of to-day were the direct descendants of those travelling guilds or lodges of Freemasons in the middle ages , by whom were erected those magnificent and wonderful cathedrals , both in this country and on the continent , as
York , Canterbury , Westminster , which had been the admiration of every succeeding age . As an operative guild their work was done ; they no longer erected magnificent temples in stone or marble , but they were engaged in what they might call a still nobler work , in the
Provincial Grand Lodge Of Leicestershire And Rutland.
erection , ns to speak , of living- t-.: mp ' es to the glory of God . He alluded to the chirities of the Order , their Boys ' . and Girls' Schools at Woodgreen and Battersea , for the maintainance and education of thc orphai children of deceased brethren , not a few of whom had been sunk by
adverse circumstances from the hei ght of luxury to the greatest poverty—to their handsome asylum at Croydon , and their Benevolent Fund which afforded a home to the aged . These four noble institutions were maintained by the voluntary contributions of the Order at an
annual cost of not less than £ 30 , 000 . Besides these they had funds applicable to the relief of cases of distress , in some of which as much as £ 250 had been given . He thought they would admit that was a proper answer to the question as to what was the good of Masonry ,
and that if the Order could boast of its antiquity and extent , spread as it was over every part of the habitable globe , it could also boast that it possessed as its brightest jewel the greatest of the Christian graces , Charity . He felt that in . responding to the toast he should not have been
doing his duty , if he did not endeavour to give them an explanation of the principles of an Order to which for thirty years he had been proud to belong . The Freemasons afterwards returned to the Masonic HaU , where the Provincial Grand Lodge was closed in due form .
1 he day , which was beautifully fine , was observed as a general holiday . Large crowds thronged the streets to view the procession . The presence of the Freemasons in their Masonic regalia , and with banners displayed , added a considerable degree of attractiveness to the proceedings .
Original Correspondence.
Original Correspondence .
[ We do not hold ourselves responsible for , or even as afcprovlnj . of thc opinion * expressed by our correspondents , but w _ wish , in a spirit of fa * play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . —liti . J
FREEMASONS AND GOOD TEMPLARS . To the Editor of thc Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — I am rather at a loss to understand the drift of your correspondent " M . M ' s . " letter in The Freemason of August ist .
There is no reason why a good Mason should not , if he wishes , become a so-called " Good Templar , " but , according to your corespondent ' s own showing , there are some reasons why a " Good Templar , " as such , could not become a good Mason .
If M . M . has had the honour of affixing these two letters to his name for any length of time , he must certainly have met many worthy brethren , both during labour and refreshment , who are not only good and excellent Masons , but total abstainers , and , as such , leaving nothing to be desired of " Good Templarism for
Freemasonry . For Freemasons to " embrace Good Templarism , in order to prove to our detractors that Freemasonry means something more than festivity and carousal , " is most decidedly not . necessary ; let M . M . urge his friends and .
younger brethren fully to endorse and faithfully carry out the grand teaching contained in the address to the brethren at the installation ot the W . M ., and he will find that "Good Templarism " will not be wanted amongst us , and they will thus prove to the world that the brotherly love and affection we profess is not an empty boast ,, but distinguishes us , not only as Masons , but as
men . That " the large-heartedness of Masonry " fully recognises the total abstainer as " a brother of equal honour with the rest , " is , and always has , and will be , a matter of simple fact ; moreover , should the said total abstainer be a worthy
and good Mason , not parading his quasi virtue under the guise of " Good Templarism , " or any other such humbug , but steadily , according to his light , working on for the good of all , he may , like our good and worthy Bro . Hughan ,
not only be a total abstainer , but eventually rise , like him , to the very hig hest honours the Craft can bestow , besides being honoured and loved by his friends and brethren , and there are , besides Bro . Hughan , many excellent and worthy brethren who are total abstainers . Masons , being .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Provincial Grand Lodge Of Leicestershire And Rutland.
PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF LEICESTERSHIRE AND RUTLAND .
On Monday , the 3 rd inst ... a special meeting of this Provincial Grand Lodge was summoned for tbe purpose . of assisting in laying the Memorial Stone of the new Municipal Buildings , for
the Borough of Leicester . The lodge was opened at one o ' clock by the R . W . Bro . W . Kelly , F . R . Hist . S ., Past Prov . G . M ., in the absence of the R . W . P . G . M .. the Earl Ferrers , Bro . the Rev . J . Denton , M . A ., P . P . S . G . W ., actin-r as D . P . G . M .
The invitation from the Mayor and Corporation to the Freemasons of the Province , to assist in laying the stone with the customary Masonic ceremonial , and the necessary authorisation from the P . G . M . for such ceremonial having been read , the meeting was adjourned ,
and the brethren went in procession to the Town Hall , to join the procession , of the Mayor , Corporation -X . The united procession started from the Town HaU shortly after two o ' clock , and proceeded through the principal streets of the town to the
place of ceremony . The ceremony commenced by the school children singing ' the Old Hundredth Psalm , accompanied by thu Militia Band , conducted by Mr . W . H . Nicholson . Tho stone was then raised while " Rule Britannia" was played by
the band , and a collect having been said by the Provincial Grand Chaplain , the Mayor deposited a bottle in a cavity under the stone , containing a copy of the Times of the day , the local papers , an illuminated scroll with the names of the present magistrates , aldermen , and councillors of the
borough , and the following : — " This stone was laid by Alderman William Kempson , the Mayor of Leicester , on the 3 rd day of August , A . D . { S 74 . William Millicin , Chairman of the Committee : architect , Francis T . James ;
surveyor , Franklin and Andrews ; bunder , William Brass ; surveyor , Edward Lonev Stephens ; Officer of Health , Joseph Wyatt Crane , M . D . ; accountant , Thomas Coltman , jun . ; Thomas Stanbridge , Town Clerk . "
Mr . Millican presented the Mayor with a silver trowel , hoping that as his name would remain on the building for many centi-srie -, that the trowel mi g ht be handed down as an heirloom in his family as a remembrance of the day . The Mayor having spread the cement , the
stone was slowly lowered into its place , having inscribed on its face , " Municipal Buildings Memorial Stone , laid by Alderman William Kempson , the Mayor of Leicester , on the 3 rd day of August , 1874 . " The Masonic portion of the ceremony was then proceeded with in the
usual form , the Mayor , after giving the three mystic strokes with the mallet upon the stone , declared it to be duly laid , and the ceremony so far was concluded by the singing of the National Anthem . After an address by the Mayor the procession
was reformed in reverse order , and . proceeded to the Corn Exchange , where a dejeuner took place under the presidency of the Mayor . The usual loyal toasts were duly proposed and honoured , and also others having special reference to the proceedings of the day . Of the
latter , that of "The Freemasons" was proposed by the Mayor of Derby , ( G . Wheldon , Esq . ) , who coupled with the toast the name of R . W . Bro . William Kell y ; F . R . Hist . Soc , P . P . G . M . Bro . Kelly in responding thanked the company for the compliment they had paid to the
ancient fraternity which he had the honour to represent . He was sure that it must be a source of regret to them , as it was to him , that owing to the absence of the Earl Ferrers in the South of England , the ceremony of the day had devolved upon him , instead of being performed by
the Right Worshipful the Provincial Grand Master in person . Before the failure of his health compelled his resignation of the high office in the Craft which the Earl now held , his lordship did him the honour of holding office
under him as his Deputy ; when therefore he requested him to take his part on this occasion , he felt bound to accept the task , which he must admit was ] a pleasurable one , because from having been connected for fourteen years with the Corporation of Leicester , he felt pleased to take a
Provincial Grand Lodge Of Leicestershire And Rutland.
prominent psrt in such an interesting event as that of laying the memorial stone of the new municipal buildings—an edifice in which they might very well assume that thu vastl y increased municipal business of the town would be conducted for at Wst as many centuries as it had
been in the old Guildhall , which carried them back to a period of at least 400 years . The society to which he belonged had claims in ancient associations . A friend , a few days ago , who he believed was now present , asked him the question , What is the good of Freemasonry ?
and he had no doubt , in the ceremony of that day , many of the spectators at least mentally asked the same question , What is Freemasonry ? What is the good of it ? Why do the members bedizen themselves in what to the public eye may seem but glittering gewgaws and fantastic trappings ?
and why is it the custom to ask the Freemasons to assist in laying the foundation-stones of churches and other public buildings , like the one which has called us together to-day ? These questions were more easily asked than answered . The late Dr . Oliver , the historian of the Order , who
spent a long life in investigating its history and symbols , and the more he searched into Masonry , the more he found there was to learn in it , and the more he admired it . Masonry might be more easily described as what it was r . ot , than
what it was . It was not a benefit society , like the Oddfellows , Foresters , and other excellent kindred institutions , which to some extent were copied from it ; because every man who entered the Order must be ac least at the time in
reputable circumstances , and must declare that he did not join the Order from mercenary or unworthy motives , but from a desire for knowledge , and a sincere wish to render himself more extensively serviceable to his fellow creatures . Secondly , it was neither a political
nor , strictly speaking , a religious society . Nevertheless , it was a loyal society , as every one who entered it was strictly enjoined to be exemplary in the discharge of his civil duties by never proposing or countenancing any act which might tend to subvert the happiness or good
order of society , and by paying due obedience to the laws of any state which might from time to time become his place of residence . It was not an irreligious society , because the volume of the sacred law was always open in their lodges , and the Alason was taught to look upon it as
the great light of the Order , to consider it as the unerring standard of truth and justice , and to regulate his life and actions by the divine precepts which it contained . Freemasonry was certainly the most Catholic of all institutions existing . It had within its fold good men and
true of all religious faiths throughout the world —the atheist , the unbeliever in the Great Architect of the Universe , being the only one excluded from his pale , and the one common ground of the Order being faith in God and good will to men—the particular phase of each
individual s belief being left between him and his Maker ; and hence Freemasonry approached more nearly than any existing institution to the ideal scheme of universal brotherhood . Freemasonry was aptly described in their lectures as a system of morality veiled in allegory and illustrated by
symbols . As to its symbols , the colours and aprons which they wore were badges which pointed out specific ranks in the order , just as the colour of the hood and gown indicated the degree in different schools of learning . And now as to why they should be invited to assist in
such ceremonies as that which had taken place to-day . In the proceedings it was said that they were established of old in peace and honour to ereut magnificent structures , Now this assertion that they were established to erect magnificent structures , although not now true ,
was formerly literally a fact , because the Freemasons of to-day were the direct descendants of those travelling guilds or lodges of Freemasons in the middle ages , by whom were erected those magnificent and wonderful cathedrals , both in this country and on the continent , as
York , Canterbury , Westminster , which had been the admiration of every succeeding age . As an operative guild their work was done ; they no longer erected magnificent temples in stone or marble , but they were engaged in what they might call a still nobler work , in the
Provincial Grand Lodge Of Leicestershire And Rutland.
erection , ns to speak , of living- t-.: mp ' es to the glory of God . He alluded to the chirities of the Order , their Boys ' . and Girls' Schools at Woodgreen and Battersea , for the maintainance and education of thc orphai children of deceased brethren , not a few of whom had been sunk by
adverse circumstances from the hei ght of luxury to the greatest poverty—to their handsome asylum at Croydon , and their Benevolent Fund which afforded a home to the aged . These four noble institutions were maintained by the voluntary contributions of the Order at an
annual cost of not less than £ 30 , 000 . Besides these they had funds applicable to the relief of cases of distress , in some of which as much as £ 250 had been given . He thought they would admit that was a proper answer to the question as to what was the good of Masonry ,
and that if the Order could boast of its antiquity and extent , spread as it was over every part of the habitable globe , it could also boast that it possessed as its brightest jewel the greatest of the Christian graces , Charity . He felt that in . responding to the toast he should not have been
doing his duty , if he did not endeavour to give them an explanation of the principles of an Order to which for thirty years he had been proud to belong . The Freemasons afterwards returned to the Masonic HaU , where the Provincial Grand Lodge was closed in due form .
1 he day , which was beautifully fine , was observed as a general holiday . Large crowds thronged the streets to view the procession . The presence of the Freemasons in their Masonic regalia , and with banners displayed , added a considerable degree of attractiveness to the proceedings .
Original Correspondence.
Original Correspondence .
[ We do not hold ourselves responsible for , or even as afcprovlnj . of thc opinion * expressed by our correspondents , but w _ wish , in a spirit of fa * play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . —liti . J
FREEMASONS AND GOOD TEMPLARS . To the Editor of thc Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — I am rather at a loss to understand the drift of your correspondent " M . M ' s . " letter in The Freemason of August ist .
There is no reason why a good Mason should not , if he wishes , become a so-called " Good Templar , " but , according to your corespondent ' s own showing , there are some reasons why a " Good Templar , " as such , could not become a good Mason .
If M . M . has had the honour of affixing these two letters to his name for any length of time , he must certainly have met many worthy brethren , both during labour and refreshment , who are not only good and excellent Masons , but total abstainers , and , as such , leaving nothing to be desired of " Good Templarism for
Freemasonry . For Freemasons to " embrace Good Templarism , in order to prove to our detractors that Freemasonry means something more than festivity and carousal , " is most decidedly not . necessary ; let M . M . urge his friends and .
younger brethren fully to endorse and faithfully carry out the grand teaching contained in the address to the brethren at the installation ot the W . M ., and he will find that "Good Templarism " will not be wanted amongst us , and they will thus prove to the world that the brotherly love and affection we profess is not an empty boast ,, but distinguishes us , not only as Masons , but as
men . That " the large-heartedness of Masonry " fully recognises the total abstainer as " a brother of equal honour with the rest , " is , and always has , and will be , a matter of simple fact ; moreover , should the said total abstainer be a worthy
and good Mason , not parading his quasi virtue under the guise of " Good Templarism , " or any other such humbug , but steadily , according to his light , working on for the good of all , he may , like our good and worthy Bro . Hughan ,
not only be a total abstainer , but eventually rise , like him , to the very hig hest honours the Craft can bestow , besides being honoured and loved by his friends and brethren , and there are , besides Bro . Hughan , many excellent and worthy brethren who are total abstainers . Masons , being .