Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Consecration Of The Thurston Lodge, No. 2525.
and John Slyman , P . M ., P . P . S . G . D ., as I . G . Bro . G . A . Myers , P . M ., P . G . Dir . of Cers ., took charge of the proceedings . Among the visitors were : Bros . John Mills , P . M . 1390 , P . P . J . G . W . ; Richard Worrall , P . M . 1021 , P . P . G . S . B . Cheshire ; George Nelson , P . M . 1021 , P . P . G . Std . Br . ; Wm . Turney , P . M . 1225 , P . P . G . Std . Br . ; R . Townley , P . M . 139 8 , P . P . G , Std . Br . ; H . Fox , P . M . 1390 , P . P . G . S . ; T . W . Rice , S . W . 1403 ; J . J Wadington , 1021 , and many other brethren .
The ceremony of consecration and installation was admirably performed by Bro . Simpson . The following officers were invested for the ensuing year . * Bros . Tom Hunter , P . M ., W . M . ; John Kendall , S . W . ; John Bell , J . W . ; J . Bowness , P . M ., Treas . ; W . G . Redhead , Sec ; J . D . Stamper , S . D . ; John Raven , 1 . D . ; and Robert Shaw , I . G . Bro . T . W . Rice presented the working tools in each Degree , and Bro . Slyman , P . P . S . G . D ., invested and addressed the officers , and Bro . Simpson addressed the W . M . and brethren . Subsequently a banquet was held at the Waterhead Hotel , when the usual toasts were given and responded to .
Address By Bro. Rev. E. Friedlander, Grand Chaplain Of Quebec.
ADDRESS BY BRO . REV . E . FRIEDLANDER , GRAND CHAPLAIN OF QUEBEC .
I esteem it an honour and a pleasure to be called upon to address this meeting of Grand Lodge , the more so , so it enables rae—a son of the Patriarchs—to discuss , though very briefly , the beautiful tenets of the Order to which we belong , and have so much at heart . Masonry , while it enjoins the belief in a Supreme Being , the Great Architect of the Universe : while it inculcates the belief in the volume of the
Sacred Law ; the unerring standard of truth and justice , which is to rule and govern our faith , it at the same time explains and expounds the teachings of the Bible by promulgating most pre-eminently the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of man . " Love thy neighbour as thyself" is the cardinal principle of Masonry . When the struggle for existence , the struggle for food and shelter , supremacy , and the satisfaction of the passions was
most fiercely contended between man and man ; when , united in clans , blood-thirsty men fought against each other like wild tigers ; when even in the more advanced stages of society , the few oppressed and enslaved the many , the few forming the favoured caste , and the masses passing all the days of their lives in contemptible misery , were made to feel they were accursed creatures , despised by the Gods and hated by men ; when in all
lands despots ruled by caprice , and drove their subjects by the whip of oppression ; when rulers for no other reason than the love of power , extended their boundaries , and by the force of arms unmercifully subdued nations separated from them by mountains and seas , and different from them in language and custom ; then like the morning star shining alone in the firmament of the heavens , was the sublime saying of the Bible , heard through
the medium of Masonry : " Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself . ' And when , even long afterwards , the Greeks and Romans , who are supposed to represent the most cultured and most advanced of all ancient civilisations , sneeringly styled those living outside of Greece and Italy " barbarians , " and treated them as such , then like the sun dispelling the darkness and brilliantly illuminating the horizon , the Bible , through the teachings of Masonry ,
removes the gloom that surrounded the soul , and aims to ennoble ths affections by proclaiming another cardinal principle of Masonry : " Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity . " And still later on , during the mediaeval ages , in modern times , and even in the last decade of the 19 th century in which we live when , notwithstanding the great progress in the arts and sciences , the enjoyment of free press and free speech ,
and , strange to tell , despite universal education and refinement , we still behold mankind swayed by pride and prejudice , the almost entire human family being torn into factions by jarring creeds and clashing interests—then the Divine voice pleads most vehemently through the tenets of Masonry , " Have we not all one Father ? Hath not one God created us ? Why dc we deal treacherously every man against his brother ? " Brethren , these
cardinal principles of our Order are wonders even to-day * , they are unsurpassable for brevity and beauty as well as for sublimity of sentiment and grandeur of conception . But viewed in the light of the times in which they were first proclaimed they are marvels of tolerance , unselfishness , tenderness , and sympathy . They are , to my mind , the principal pillars upon which the Masonic Temple stands , and will ever remain the strongest supports of the
Craft . Think of it * hen for hundreds of generations the chief occupations of men had been to plunder , bruise , and kill one another , and to be antagonistic in all the pursuits of life , and no other motive of conduct was krown but selfishness—Masonry preached the Biblical mandate , " Thou shalt love th y neighbour as thyself . " Think of it , that even to-day the most civilised nations of the world are being crushed beneath the weight of vast
armies , holding them in readiness to shed blood and take life , for which purpose the ingenuity of man is being taxed to the utmost to invent the most destructive weapons—Masonry cries for peace and says : " Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself . " In this connection let me quote a passage from the report ot an address by a distinguished brother , published in last year ' s proceedings of this Grand Lodge , which , however , I have myself
preached and advocated for many years previous : "The leaven of M isonry ' s influence is far more conducive to the welfare of the human race . . . . ' than any direct pressure it can exert upon statesmanship with the avowed < bject of reforming the world ' s methodsof dealing with the disputes of nations . " Masonry teaches that *' the greatest thing in theworld" is love ; that of the three principal steps of the ladder that reaches from earth to
heaven—Faith , Hope , and Charity—the greatest of these is Charity . Extend the influence of Freemasonry until its leaven permeates the entire habitable globe , and the necessity for an open declaration of war to hostilities amongst men must cease to exist , for what man , what statesman , what nation shall raise hand against another , when every man shall be in reality a brother man , and rach shall love the other as himself—as a member of a common
Brotherhood rejoicing in the common fatherhood of a God of love . Yes , indeed , Masonry should be the Court of Arbitration to be appealed to by all nations to settle national disputes in peace and harmony in accordance with Masonic principles . " Thou --halt love thy brother as thyself . " In all your thinking , in all your speaking and in all your acting , love shall rule and guide you .
Love shall unite you with your fellowman—a love whose end and aim is the common prosperity and happiness—a love which tries to promote activity and vigorously all lhat tends to put the family , the community , the human rice on a higher level , strives to ennoble them , to unite them in peace and harmony , and make them progress in the knowledge of truth and the practice of goodness . How wonderful , how truly Divine , is that admonition "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself , " which purifies the soul , and brings it
Address By Bro. Rev. E. Friedlander, Grand Chaplain Of Quebec.
nearer to the God of perfection and goodness , because it aims to make us labour for the common good , as well as it dictates sacrifices for the individual whose troubles we should lighten , whose cares we should free , whose pains we should soothe , whose poverty we should alleviate , and with whose distress we should sympathise .
As a logical sequence of this great principle , Masonry inculcates and enjoins upon its votaries " to free the soul from the dominion of pride _ and prejudice , to look beyond the narrow limits of particular institutions , whether civil or religious , and to view in every son of Adam , a brother of the dust . " Yes , the ethics of Masonry teach the sublime idea enunciated by an ancient sage who says : " I take heaven and earth to witness that all
men , without respect to any particular religion or rank , are judged by their works , and in accordance with these do they receive future reward . " Let us then , brethren , teach this glorious sentiment that all the righteous , and not only the few of a single sect will enjoy future bliss , because it is the deed and not the dogma , the action and not the belief , that is the grip and passing word , gaining admission into heaven . Let us , with all our mi ght and intelligence , extol the idea of a universal fatherhood and brotherhood ,
and let us pray for the time when all barriers between man and man may be broken down . And , finally , let us advocate the broadest Charity—a Charity that should be free as the air , confined to no single race , no single nationality , and no single creed , but should be as universal as is suffering , as general as is sympathy , as widespread as is the human family—and then shall we carry out the greatest principle of Freemasonry " Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself , " to which we all say " So mote it be . " —Canadian Craftsman .
Who Should Be Masons.
WHO SHOULD BE MASONS .
Among the first things taught in the lodge is the admonition to the newl ymade Entered Apprentice , when he is told : " If in the circle of your acquaintance you nnd a person desirous of being initiated into Freemasonry , be particularly careful not to recommend him unless you are convinced that he will conform to all our rules and regulations , that the honour , glory , and reputation of the institution may be firmly established . and the world at large
convinced of its good effects . " This is a proper warning at the right time , The new Mason is often zealous and enthusiastic . The light he has received , if properly displayed , has filled him with delight , and he is anxious that others should enjoy the same mysterious influence . Step by step he is led to regard the institution as one deserving the approbation and support of all good men , and if he appreciates the beauties and the purity of the lessons he
will see that there are certain internal qualifications every Mason should possess . His zeal , and his desire that his friends and companions should be with him in the lodge might lead him to hide grave defects and conclude that the lessons would work reformation , and he might be led into the error of proposing a friend whose life and habits might not be in harmony with the teachings of the Fraternity . Hence the warning .
We are led often to wonder how some who are members of the Fraternity ever gained admission . They do not seem to possess any of the qualifications that should recommend a man to Masonry . They are men , but have little more than the physical qualifications . They are not impressed by the ceremonies as they should be , they do not regard the lessons taught , make light of religion , and almost falsify their professed belief in God , for they
fairly scoff at Deny . That holy name which they were taught to mention only with reverence , they are continually taking , in vain , and almost eyery other word they utter is fouled with profanity . They do not regard ( he lessons of temperance , and we are led to doubt if such rnen possess fortitude sufficient to protect the Fraternity from a revelation of those sacred mysteries with which they have been instructed . Such men , to say the least of it / are too careless to make good Masons . *
A Mason should be well qualified mentally . He is to study certain important lessons that are to mark his consequence among men . He must have a mind able to grasp them , and an inclination to understand - and practice them . The mere learning by note of certain catechetical lectures is not sufficient . He should be able to understand the true meaning of each and every symbol and be able to apply it to his life , ennobling , beautifying , and strengthening him for the duties he owes to himself and his fellow man ;
A Mason should be morally as perfect as he can be in this imperfect , temptation-filled world . Of that his own heart must be the judge . Outward morality is good , but internal morality is the one great qualification necessary . No man can live in this world without doing wrong . If he shuts himself up in a cloister , and surrounds his life with onl y reli g ious books , that act of seclusion is in itself wrong . But when a man errs , he is true to God and his fellows to confess it and turn Irom it . And such a man will find his heart in
the right place , if his head goes wrong . A Mason , should be well qualified physically . One of the oldest of the charges was that an Apprentice or a Fellow should be perfect in all his members . He should be able bodied and competent to earn his living . The Ancient Charges set forth the whole matter of who should be Masons so clearly that we give it in full here :
"All preferment among Masons is grounded upon real Worth and . personal Merit only ; that so the Lords may be well served , the Brethren not put to Shame , nor the Royal Craft despised ; Therefore no Master or Warden is chosen by Seniority , but for his Merit . It is impossible to describe these things in writing , and every Brother must attend in his Place , and learn them in a way peculiar to this Fraternity ; Only candidates
may know , that no Master should take an Apprentice , unless he has sufficient Imployment for him , and unless he be a perfect Youth , having no Maim or Defect in his Body , that may render him uncapable of learning the Art of serving his Master ' s Lord and of being made a Brother , and then a Fellow Craft in due time , even after he has served such a term of Years as the Custom of the Country directs * , and that he should be descended of honest Parents ; that sowhen otherwise qualifiedhe may arrive to the Honour ot
, , being the Warden , and then the Master of the Lodge , the Grand Warden * and at length the Grand Master of all the Lodges , according to his merit . We are sometimes led to advise those seeking membership in the I'fS ' ternity to keep out of it because they cannot afford it . A man has no right to join any society at the expens e of his own or his family's comfort . 1
Masonry is not an asylum or school of correction , intended to reform men it seeks only to make reformed me n better ; neither is it an institution 01 benevolence , where the man goes to receive ceitain monetary benefits or better a crippled condition , it takes care of its own when misfortune over *' takes them . He should be able to support himself and family , arid to fay aside something for a rainy day , before he joins a Masonic lodge . Good men only should be Masons . — New York Dispatch .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Consecration Of The Thurston Lodge, No. 2525.
and John Slyman , P . M ., P . P . S . G . D ., as I . G . Bro . G . A . Myers , P . M ., P . G . Dir . of Cers ., took charge of the proceedings . Among the visitors were : Bros . John Mills , P . M . 1390 , P . P . J . G . W . ; Richard Worrall , P . M . 1021 , P . P . G . S . B . Cheshire ; George Nelson , P . M . 1021 , P . P . G . Std . Br . ; Wm . Turney , P . M . 1225 , P . P . G . Std . Br . ; R . Townley , P . M . 139 8 , P . P . G , Std . Br . ; H . Fox , P . M . 1390 , P . P . G . S . ; T . W . Rice , S . W . 1403 ; J . J Wadington , 1021 , and many other brethren .
The ceremony of consecration and installation was admirably performed by Bro . Simpson . The following officers were invested for the ensuing year . * Bros . Tom Hunter , P . M ., W . M . ; John Kendall , S . W . ; John Bell , J . W . ; J . Bowness , P . M ., Treas . ; W . G . Redhead , Sec ; J . D . Stamper , S . D . ; John Raven , 1 . D . ; and Robert Shaw , I . G . Bro . T . W . Rice presented the working tools in each Degree , and Bro . Slyman , P . P . S . G . D ., invested and addressed the officers , and Bro . Simpson addressed the W . M . and brethren . Subsequently a banquet was held at the Waterhead Hotel , when the usual toasts were given and responded to .
Address By Bro. Rev. E. Friedlander, Grand Chaplain Of Quebec.
ADDRESS BY BRO . REV . E . FRIEDLANDER , GRAND CHAPLAIN OF QUEBEC .
I esteem it an honour and a pleasure to be called upon to address this meeting of Grand Lodge , the more so , so it enables rae—a son of the Patriarchs—to discuss , though very briefly , the beautiful tenets of the Order to which we belong , and have so much at heart . Masonry , while it enjoins the belief in a Supreme Being , the Great Architect of the Universe : while it inculcates the belief in the volume of the
Sacred Law ; the unerring standard of truth and justice , which is to rule and govern our faith , it at the same time explains and expounds the teachings of the Bible by promulgating most pre-eminently the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of man . " Love thy neighbour as thyself" is the cardinal principle of Masonry . When the struggle for existence , the struggle for food and shelter , supremacy , and the satisfaction of the passions was
most fiercely contended between man and man ; when , united in clans , blood-thirsty men fought against each other like wild tigers ; when even in the more advanced stages of society , the few oppressed and enslaved the many , the few forming the favoured caste , and the masses passing all the days of their lives in contemptible misery , were made to feel they were accursed creatures , despised by the Gods and hated by men ; when in all
lands despots ruled by caprice , and drove their subjects by the whip of oppression ; when rulers for no other reason than the love of power , extended their boundaries , and by the force of arms unmercifully subdued nations separated from them by mountains and seas , and different from them in language and custom ; then like the morning star shining alone in the firmament of the heavens , was the sublime saying of the Bible , heard through
the medium of Masonry : " Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself . ' And when , even long afterwards , the Greeks and Romans , who are supposed to represent the most cultured and most advanced of all ancient civilisations , sneeringly styled those living outside of Greece and Italy " barbarians , " and treated them as such , then like the sun dispelling the darkness and brilliantly illuminating the horizon , the Bible , through the teachings of Masonry ,
removes the gloom that surrounded the soul , and aims to ennoble ths affections by proclaiming another cardinal principle of Masonry : " Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity . " And still later on , during the mediaeval ages , in modern times , and even in the last decade of the 19 th century in which we live when , notwithstanding the great progress in the arts and sciences , the enjoyment of free press and free speech ,
and , strange to tell , despite universal education and refinement , we still behold mankind swayed by pride and prejudice , the almost entire human family being torn into factions by jarring creeds and clashing interests—then the Divine voice pleads most vehemently through the tenets of Masonry , " Have we not all one Father ? Hath not one God created us ? Why dc we deal treacherously every man against his brother ? " Brethren , these
cardinal principles of our Order are wonders even to-day * , they are unsurpassable for brevity and beauty as well as for sublimity of sentiment and grandeur of conception . But viewed in the light of the times in which they were first proclaimed they are marvels of tolerance , unselfishness , tenderness , and sympathy . They are , to my mind , the principal pillars upon which the Masonic Temple stands , and will ever remain the strongest supports of the
Craft . Think of it * hen for hundreds of generations the chief occupations of men had been to plunder , bruise , and kill one another , and to be antagonistic in all the pursuits of life , and no other motive of conduct was krown but selfishness—Masonry preached the Biblical mandate , " Thou shalt love th y neighbour as thyself . " Think of it , that even to-day the most civilised nations of the world are being crushed beneath the weight of vast
armies , holding them in readiness to shed blood and take life , for which purpose the ingenuity of man is being taxed to the utmost to invent the most destructive weapons—Masonry cries for peace and says : " Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself . " In this connection let me quote a passage from the report ot an address by a distinguished brother , published in last year ' s proceedings of this Grand Lodge , which , however , I have myself
preached and advocated for many years previous : "The leaven of M isonry ' s influence is far more conducive to the welfare of the human race . . . . ' than any direct pressure it can exert upon statesmanship with the avowed < bject of reforming the world ' s methodsof dealing with the disputes of nations . " Masonry teaches that *' the greatest thing in theworld" is love ; that of the three principal steps of the ladder that reaches from earth to
heaven—Faith , Hope , and Charity—the greatest of these is Charity . Extend the influence of Freemasonry until its leaven permeates the entire habitable globe , and the necessity for an open declaration of war to hostilities amongst men must cease to exist , for what man , what statesman , what nation shall raise hand against another , when every man shall be in reality a brother man , and rach shall love the other as himself—as a member of a common
Brotherhood rejoicing in the common fatherhood of a God of love . Yes , indeed , Masonry should be the Court of Arbitration to be appealed to by all nations to settle national disputes in peace and harmony in accordance with Masonic principles . " Thou --halt love thy brother as thyself . " In all your thinking , in all your speaking and in all your acting , love shall rule and guide you .
Love shall unite you with your fellowman—a love whose end and aim is the common prosperity and happiness—a love which tries to promote activity and vigorously all lhat tends to put the family , the community , the human rice on a higher level , strives to ennoble them , to unite them in peace and harmony , and make them progress in the knowledge of truth and the practice of goodness . How wonderful , how truly Divine , is that admonition "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself , " which purifies the soul , and brings it
Address By Bro. Rev. E. Friedlander, Grand Chaplain Of Quebec.
nearer to the God of perfection and goodness , because it aims to make us labour for the common good , as well as it dictates sacrifices for the individual whose troubles we should lighten , whose cares we should free , whose pains we should soothe , whose poverty we should alleviate , and with whose distress we should sympathise .
As a logical sequence of this great principle , Masonry inculcates and enjoins upon its votaries " to free the soul from the dominion of pride _ and prejudice , to look beyond the narrow limits of particular institutions , whether civil or religious , and to view in every son of Adam , a brother of the dust . " Yes , the ethics of Masonry teach the sublime idea enunciated by an ancient sage who says : " I take heaven and earth to witness that all
men , without respect to any particular religion or rank , are judged by their works , and in accordance with these do they receive future reward . " Let us then , brethren , teach this glorious sentiment that all the righteous , and not only the few of a single sect will enjoy future bliss , because it is the deed and not the dogma , the action and not the belief , that is the grip and passing word , gaining admission into heaven . Let us , with all our mi ght and intelligence , extol the idea of a universal fatherhood and brotherhood ,
and let us pray for the time when all barriers between man and man may be broken down . And , finally , let us advocate the broadest Charity—a Charity that should be free as the air , confined to no single race , no single nationality , and no single creed , but should be as universal as is suffering , as general as is sympathy , as widespread as is the human family—and then shall we carry out the greatest principle of Freemasonry " Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself , " to which we all say " So mote it be . " —Canadian Craftsman .
Who Should Be Masons.
WHO SHOULD BE MASONS .
Among the first things taught in the lodge is the admonition to the newl ymade Entered Apprentice , when he is told : " If in the circle of your acquaintance you nnd a person desirous of being initiated into Freemasonry , be particularly careful not to recommend him unless you are convinced that he will conform to all our rules and regulations , that the honour , glory , and reputation of the institution may be firmly established . and the world at large
convinced of its good effects . " This is a proper warning at the right time , The new Mason is often zealous and enthusiastic . The light he has received , if properly displayed , has filled him with delight , and he is anxious that others should enjoy the same mysterious influence . Step by step he is led to regard the institution as one deserving the approbation and support of all good men , and if he appreciates the beauties and the purity of the lessons he
will see that there are certain internal qualifications every Mason should possess . His zeal , and his desire that his friends and companions should be with him in the lodge might lead him to hide grave defects and conclude that the lessons would work reformation , and he might be led into the error of proposing a friend whose life and habits might not be in harmony with the teachings of the Fraternity . Hence the warning .
We are led often to wonder how some who are members of the Fraternity ever gained admission . They do not seem to possess any of the qualifications that should recommend a man to Masonry . They are men , but have little more than the physical qualifications . They are not impressed by the ceremonies as they should be , they do not regard the lessons taught , make light of religion , and almost falsify their professed belief in God , for they
fairly scoff at Deny . That holy name which they were taught to mention only with reverence , they are continually taking , in vain , and almost eyery other word they utter is fouled with profanity . They do not regard ( he lessons of temperance , and we are led to doubt if such rnen possess fortitude sufficient to protect the Fraternity from a revelation of those sacred mysteries with which they have been instructed . Such men , to say the least of it / are too careless to make good Masons . *
A Mason should be well qualified mentally . He is to study certain important lessons that are to mark his consequence among men . He must have a mind able to grasp them , and an inclination to understand - and practice them . The mere learning by note of certain catechetical lectures is not sufficient . He should be able to understand the true meaning of each and every symbol and be able to apply it to his life , ennobling , beautifying , and strengthening him for the duties he owes to himself and his fellow man ;
A Mason should be morally as perfect as he can be in this imperfect , temptation-filled world . Of that his own heart must be the judge . Outward morality is good , but internal morality is the one great qualification necessary . No man can live in this world without doing wrong . If he shuts himself up in a cloister , and surrounds his life with onl y reli g ious books , that act of seclusion is in itself wrong . But when a man errs , he is true to God and his fellows to confess it and turn Irom it . And such a man will find his heart in
the right place , if his head goes wrong . A Mason , should be well qualified physically . One of the oldest of the charges was that an Apprentice or a Fellow should be perfect in all his members . He should be able bodied and competent to earn his living . The Ancient Charges set forth the whole matter of who should be Masons so clearly that we give it in full here :
"All preferment among Masons is grounded upon real Worth and . personal Merit only ; that so the Lords may be well served , the Brethren not put to Shame , nor the Royal Craft despised ; Therefore no Master or Warden is chosen by Seniority , but for his Merit . It is impossible to describe these things in writing , and every Brother must attend in his Place , and learn them in a way peculiar to this Fraternity ; Only candidates
may know , that no Master should take an Apprentice , unless he has sufficient Imployment for him , and unless he be a perfect Youth , having no Maim or Defect in his Body , that may render him uncapable of learning the Art of serving his Master ' s Lord and of being made a Brother , and then a Fellow Craft in due time , even after he has served such a term of Years as the Custom of the Country directs * , and that he should be descended of honest Parents ; that sowhen otherwise qualifiedhe may arrive to the Honour ot
, , being the Warden , and then the Master of the Lodge , the Grand Warden * and at length the Grand Master of all the Lodges , according to his merit . We are sometimes led to advise those seeking membership in the I'fS ' ternity to keep out of it because they cannot afford it . A man has no right to join any society at the expens e of his own or his family's comfort . 1
Masonry is not an asylum or school of correction , intended to reform men it seeks only to make reformed me n better ; neither is it an institution 01 benevolence , where the man goes to receive ceitain monetary benefits or better a crippled condition , it takes care of its own when misfortune over *' takes them . He should be able to support himself and family , arid to fay aside something for a rainy day , before he joins a Masonic lodge . Good men only should be Masons . — New York Dispatch .